Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida has completed an extensive survey of more than 7,000 cruise guests, spanning four months and covering both peak and off-peak cruise days.
Several cruise lines were included in the survey, and the results show a strong interest in cruises and what travelers are looking for not only from the cruise, but also from the home port.
Port Everglades Conducts Survey of Cruise Guests
From December 2022 to March 2023, Port Everglades – the third busiest port in the world – he investigated in detail and post-trip visitors, both peak travel times and off-peak periods to ensure a sample of visitor experiences and preferences.
A total of 7,186 guests completed the survey, with people from Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea, and Viking Cruises.
Other travelers using the Baleária Caribbean ferry, which operates between Fort Lauderdale and Grand Bahama Island and Bimini, also participated in the survey. In total, visitors from 25 different ships were interviewed.
“We really want to know how we can help visitors, and how the port affects the Broward County economy,” he said. said Jonathan Daniels, Port Everglades CEO and Port Director.
Daniels noted that the period in which the study can affect the answers, from the end of 2022 to 2023 is still a period of recovery after the epidemic of cruises, but now the port expects three million travelers in the financial year, compared to 1.9 million that was predicted.
“We can confidently say ‘Cruising is Back’ and your opinion matters,” Daniels said.
A similar survey was conducted in 2015, but only included responses from 1,800 travelers and was conducted over an 8-day period during spring break. However, some numerical comparisons show an interesting growth in the cruise industry and a change in travel trends.
Research results
A series of studies, conducted by Moffatt & Nichol and Dickey Consulting Services (DCS), revealed some interesting findings about passenger traffic and port decisions and travel plans.
Riders surveyed were between the ages of 18 and 75, with the highest ridership (18%) being 55-64. Of those surveyed, 22% were first-time cruisers and 36% used an agent to book their cruise. The majority of travelers (45%) were traveling in groups of 2, while 30% were in groups of 3-4 and 20% were traveling in large groups of 5-20 passengers.
Of the domestic travelers (US residents) surveyed, 53% live in the southeastern US, which is higher than the 38% reported in 2015. This shows that many travelers prefer a cruise port close to home, and that cruises are growing in popularity as a preferred vacation option. Of those surveyed, 56% have traveled to Port Everglades before, indicating that the majority of travelers are returning visitors.
Also Read: IDEAL Hotels NEAR Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port (Port Everglades)
Fewer tourists, however, are arriving at the cruise port days before their trip. In a recent survey, 34% of respondents stayed in a hotel for overnight trips, while in 2015, 51% preferred to stay in a hotel before departure.
This may indicate a greater availability of short-haul cruises, which attract more local travelers who can drive to the port.
To get to the port, while 26% of travelers drive their own car, 35% use taxis or shared transportation and only 4% use cruises.
What’s Port Everglades Like?
Several research questions were addressed specifically at Port Everglades. An astonishing 94% of travelers rated the port as Excellent or Good “Ease of Sailing” while 93% rated the port as excellent or good. In terms of cleanliness, 93% also rated the port as very good or good.
A series of open-ended questions allow visitors to provide real feedback about the marina, especially where improvements could be made. Improved comfort and more seating, better amenities, and better Wi-Fi were all listed as things guests would appreciate. Signals on the terminal were also identified as confusing or unclear.
ParkingVehicle handling, and cargo handling were also identified as requiring improvement.
Local Impact
Some of the research collected is about the local economy, hotel preferences, and tourist spending.
In support of the local economy, most travelers surveyed reported spending $288 on lodging, $134 on food and beverages, and $450 on other expenses such as travel, entertainment, transportation, and souvenirs each day they visit South Florida.
Overall, Port Everglades supports 2,575 direct jobs and contributes $786 million to Broward County and the surrounding area’s economy.
Have you ever flown from Port Everglades? How would you rate the port? Share your thoughts on Cruise Hive Forums!
