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Cruise Port of Fort Lauderdale

Also known as Port Everglades, the cruise port in Fort Lauderdale is a popular turnaround port in Florida for cruises to the Caribbean, Bahamas, and Mexico.

Useful Links:
Fort Lauderdale Port (Official Site)
Port Everglades Ship Schedule
Visit Lauderdale

cruisetravelmama

⚓️Living 6 months per year on cruise ships with my husband @captain_tony_ruggero
📍Currently in Toronto 🇨🇦
❤️Mom of twins

Biidaasige Park is a new park on Toronto’s waterfr Biidaasige Park is a new park on Toronto’s waterfront that opened in July 2026 and it has some of the best sunset views in Toronto.

Biidaasige Park is located on 19 acres of land that was once an industrial area. It’s located an easy walk from the Distillery District, just off Cherry Street.

Biidaasige Park is pronounced “bee-daw-si-geh” and is an example of Toronto’s Indigenous placekeeping.
Nathan Phillips Square is one of Toronto’s most ic Nathan Phillips Square is one of Toronto’s most iconic places to visit.

➡️ However, October is a transitional time to visit this popular tourist attraction as it is getting refurbished.

➡️ The reflecting pool is a decorative feature during the summer, but the space is probably best known as a skating rink in the winter. The skating rink is open to the public from November to March.

➡️ Nathan Phillips Square is next to Toronto City Hall.

➡️ One of the closest hotels to Nathan Phillips Square is the Sheraton, with hotel room views that overlook the Toronto sign.

➡️ The best time to visit this spot (for the best lighting) is after 12 noon when the sun shines on it as the sun rises above the buildings. However, there will be less tourists in the morning.
The Toronto Eaton Centre is one of the largest mal The Toronto Eaton Centre is one of the largest malls in Canada, with close to 250 retailers, and over 2 million square feet.

➡️ It is home to retailers like Simons, Uniqlo, Apple, Aritzia, Zara, and many other brands including an Eataly restaurant.

➡️ Have you shopped in Toronto?
Sunset LAX ✈️ Flight LAX to SFO Sunset LAX

✈️ Flight LAX to SFO
End of contract, bags are packed and ready to go. End of contract, bags are packed and ready to go.

🚢 This morning I got off the ship around 7:30am, so I could exit as a passenger and do immigration.

🚢 The disembarkation process is different for me than for regular disembarking guests or for in transit guests.

🚢 Once I did the facial recognition immigration process, then I exited the cruise terminal and walked over to the Visitor/Crew entrance.

🚢 My name is on the visitor list so I can get back on the ship and wait for Tony to complete his handover with the incoming Captain.

🚢 Once Tony is done, we have a car coming to pick us up and take us to a hotel near the airport. (We have a flight home later this evening).
Spotlight Bar is one of my favourite shows. I love Spotlight Bar is one of my favourite shows. I love to watch how the cast interacts with each other and makes each story line unique and I feel that each performance is different.

➡️ Have you seen Spotlight Bar?
Have you heard the Love Boat horn on departure of Have you heard the Love Boat horn on departure of a Princess Cruise?

🚢 Discovery Princess departed from Puerto Vallarta this evening and the Love Boat horn was sounded as we pulled away from the dock.

🚢 The Love Boat TV series featured the cruise ship Pacific Princess which regularly sailed from Los Angeles to stops that included  Puerto Vallarta.

🚢 This was our last Puerto Vallarta call of this contract.
Discovery Princess arrived in Puerto Vallarta this Discovery Princess arrived in Puerto Vallarta this morning, but also managed to visit Mazatlán yesterday and Cabo San Lucas the day before (despite Hurricane Simon).

🚢 While cruise ships such as Brilliant Lady, Carnival Panorama, and Voyager of Seas all modified their Mexican Riviera cruises this week due to Hurricane Simon (and remnants of Hurricane Rachel), Discovery Princess managed to keep the same itinerary.

🚢 For example, Brilliant Lady was supposed to be with us in all of our Mexican Riviera ports, but it rerouted to a California coastal cruise instead.

🚢 @captain_tony_ruggero carefully and expertly monitored the weather, kept the Discovery Princess safe, and brought the ship to all the ports on the itinerary.

🚢 It’s not always possible to keep the same itinerary during hurricane season, but we were fortunate this week.

🚢 Have you cruised during hurricane season, and did your itinerary change?
Mazatlán on your own, come ashore with Captain Ton Mazatlán on your own, come ashore with Captain Tony and I

🚢 Mazatlán is a very easy port to get around without an organized shore excursion.

🚢First, take the free shuttle from the ship to the cruise terminal building.

🚢Although you can book an independent shore excursion in the terminal building, you can also safely walk independently in Mazatlán.

🚢 At the cruise terminal building, walk through the shopping area to the outside of the gate then look for the Blue Line signs.

🚢 Walk from the cruise terminal to the historic old town by following the “Blue Line”.

🚢 In the old town there is shopping, restaurants, and the Catedral Basílica de la Inmaculada Concepción.

🚢 You can also easily walk to the coast from the downtown area, however if you want to go to the hotel zone, there are plenty of taxis, too.

🚢 Liverpool Alley in Mazatlán is a popular photo spot for Beatles fans.
Timelapse arrival of Discovery Princess in Mazatlá Timelapse arrival of Discovery Princess in Mazatlán, Mexico

🚢 The port of Mazatlán made the decision this morning to open the port for Discovery Princess to arrive.

🚢 The port had been closed yesterday, and was supposed to be closed today, in anticipation of Hurricane Simon.

🚢 @captain_tony_ruggero continued to monitor the weather and proceeded towards Mazatlán last night in hopes that the Harbour Master (port authority) of Mazatlán would change their mind and reopen.

🚢 And in fact they did change their mind this morning as they realized that Hurricane Simon was no longer a threat to Mazatlán.

🚢 Therefore Discovery Princess will be in Mazatlán as originally scheduled.

🚢 However, ship organized tours had already been cancelled and shore side tour operators did not want to reschedule.

🚢 This shouldn’t be a problem for guests because there are plenty of independent tour operators in the cruise terminal. Plus, Mazatlán is a very walkable port (just follow the Blue Line).

🚢 Discovery Princess will leave at 6pm, instead of 5pm due to the later arrival.
Update: Discovery Princess (October 13, 2026) 🚢 A Update: Discovery Princess (October 13, 2026)

🚢 Although Discovery Princess was in Cabo San Lucas today as scheduled, there has been a change to the current cruise.

🚢 @captain_tony_ruggero made an announcement this evening upon departure informing guests and crew of the changes.

“As per the latest information received from the Mexican port authorities, the ports of Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta are currently closed due to Hurricane Simon being a risk for the safe operation of both harbours.”

“The Harbour Master in Cabo Dan Lucas has informed us that the port may be closed tomorrow to small traffic including water shuttles.”

“Therefore, while we wait to receive more information with regards to the port authority decision to reopen the ports of Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta for commercial operations, tomorrow we will remain at sea”.

“We will continue to monitor the hurricane’s progress as we cruise in a southeasterly direction tonight and tomorrow.”

“I’d like to reassure you that the ship will be safe at all times.”

“I will update you tomorrow with the latest weather forecast during my noon announcement.”
Cruising translation: Red sky at night, sailors de Cruising translation: Red sky at night, sailors delight.

➡️ We’ve all heard the proverb, which means if the sky is red in the evening, hopefully there is good weather tomorrow.

➡️ Here’s hoping for good weather for the rest of the cruise🤞
Carnival Panorama arrived in Cabo San Lucas today Carnival Panorama arrived in Cabo San Lucas today but didn’t stay.

🚢 Discovery Princess was basically the only cruise ship in the port of Cabo San Lucas again today (October 12th). We arrived at noon and enjoyed a great day in Cabo.

🚢 Carnival Panorama was scheduled to be at sea today, but changed their itinerary to be in Cabo today due to Hurricane Simon hovering off the coast of Mazatlán and Puerto Vallarta.

🚢 Carnival Panorama arrived at her anchorage at about 2:30pm today. However, while I watched the arrival, I also watched her sail away from Cabo, less than two hours later.

🚢 I heard from a crew member that works onboard Carnival Panorama, that they had problems attaching the pontoon. Without being able to attach the pontoon, they would not have been able to run their water shuttle service.

🚢 Anyone sailing on Carnival Panorama have any other details, please write them in the comments.
Last Welcome Onboard Party of this cruise ship con Last Welcome Onboard Party of this cruise ship contract on Discovery Princess

🚢 Tonight was our last Welcome Onboard Party of Tony’s contract. 

🚢 This Mexican Riviera cruise we have 3,637 guests onboard with 3,200 of them coming from the United States. There are 1,394 guests onboard that are first time cruisers with Princess.

🚢 We’ve been onboard Discovery Princess since July 25th, from when we joined the cruise ship in Whittier, Alaska.

🚢 We will be back onboard December 12th, so we will be back soon.

🚢 FYI Tony’s favourite music is AC/DC in case you were wondering, lol
Sunset at sea with the Captain 🚢 This evening Di Sunset at sea with the Captain 

🚢 This evening Discovery Princess is cruising towards Cabo San Lucas on  7-day Mexican Riviera cruise.

🚢 Tonight was also the Welcome Onboard Party and Champagne Waterfall. 

🚢 We watched the sunset and then headed downstairs to the Piazza for the party.
Views of the Crew Deck from the Navigational Bridg Views of the Crew Deck from the Navigational Bridge

🤷‍♀️ Why are there so many birds flying around the cruise ship today? Is this because of the tropical storms nearby?

🚢 The Crew Pool Deck is very dirty today due to the extra visitors perched on the mast. 

🚢 BTW How do you like the duck collection on the bridge? These are the only kind of birds that don’t make such a mess.
Live from Discovery Princess 🚢 Discovery Princess Live from Discovery Princess

🚢 Discovery Princess is cruising the Mexican Riviera and managed to avoid the worst of Hurricane Rachel last cruise and this week Hurricane Simon is off the coast of Mexico.

🚢 Last week Cabo San Lucas closed the port on October 3rd and 4th due to Hurricane Rachel. However, on October 5th it was reopened and Discovery Princess had a great day there as we were the only ship in port. (Virgin Voyages had cancelled their call there.)

🚢 Last night Discovery Princess experienced waves up to 4 metres (13 feet). The ship was pitching and rolling a bit, but the ship can safely and comfortably handle that kind of swell.

🚢 The weather is better today and this afternoon it has been sunny and hot with most guests out on deck enjoying the ship.

🚢 Tomorrow we will be in Cabo San Lucas again and the weather is forecasted to be sunny and hot.

🚢 Captain Tony made an announcement today informing guests and crew that he is monitoring Hurricane Simon which is currently off the coast of Puerto Vallarta.

🚢 So far, our itinerary remains the same, with Mazatlan on Tuesday and Puerto Vallarta on Wednesday. However if the weather changes, he will make another announcement.

🚢 One thing to note is that Discovery Princess is a very stable ship (and we have the best Captain 😉). When we did the crossing from Alaska to Japan last October, we experienced waves up to 30 feet. Guests were still doing Zumba in the Piazza.
A new cast joined Discovery Princess in Los Angele A new cast joined Discovery Princess in Los Angeles on October 3rd.

💃🕺This cast has a Sky Triple contract which means that they’ve already been dancing together starting with a contract on Sky Princess, then a contract on Enchanted Princess, and now they are here on Discovery Princess.

🕺💃After getting their costumes altered, they performed Spotlight Bar on October 7th and then Rock Opera last night.

👏👏👏Great opening night!
Cruise ship shuttle in Puerto Vallarta 🚢 In Puert Cruise ship shuttle in Puerto Vallarta

🚢 In Puerto Vallarta there are three cruise ship berths located in the Marina Vallarta area, approximately 3 miles (5 km) from the Romantic Zone or Old Town.

🚢 Pier 1 (aka Muelle 1) is the main cruise terminal located at the Puerto Magico Mall. There are duty free shops, crafts market, a restaurant, and more.

🚢 Passengers from cruise ships docked at Pier 2 and Pier 3 need to walk or take a shuttle to Pier 1 even if all you want to do is cross the street to go to Walmart. In previous years, passengers were able to exit through a gate closer to the ship, but during our last call this wasn’t possible.

🚢 This week Discovery Princess was docked at Pier 3 and a Virgin Voyages ship was at Pier 1. 

🚢 Although the Walmart and Galerias Vallarta mall is directly across the street from the Pier 3, you need to walk/shuttle to Pier 1 first.
First Puerto Vallarta of the Mexican Riviera seaso First Puerto Vallarta of the Mexican Riviera season

➡️ Cruise ship lines are passed to dock workers on a small boat which are then brought to a bollard in the harbour.
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