Planning A Cruise - The Smooth Jazz Cruise 2026

For what time(s) should I schedule my flights?

Historically, boarding begins at 11:30 AM on embarkation day and the ship departs promptly at 4:00 PM after every guest has completed the mandatory safety drill. We recommend that guests arrive in Fort Lauderdale the day before sailing to avoid any issues on their arrival day. More guests miss the ship’s departure due to severe weather and missed flights than for any other reason.

The ship returns to the port by 7:00 AM the day of disembarkation. Due to the time it takes to clear Customs and Immigration at the cruise terminal and to navigate security checkpoints at the airport, we do not recommend any flight scheduled prior to noon from the Fort Lauderdale International Airport.

Can I park at the Cruise Port?

A reliable resource for finding parking is the official website of Port Everglades, the cruise port. To get more information about the cruise port, including a list of available parking places, click here.

What documentation will I need to bring with me?

We strongly recommend that guests travel with a valid passport six (6) months beyond their travel dates and contain two blank passport pages. However, for sailings that begin and end in the same United States Port, in lieu of a passport, U.S. citizens may travel provided they have BOTH a Government-issued Birth Certificate (with raised seal and signature) and a Government-issued Picture ID Card, such as a Driver’s License.