Hotel Review: Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port & Convention Center
Hotel Review for stay on January 1, 2026
For my 2026 MSC Cruise, I once again chose The Hyatt Place Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port. I really like the location of this hotel, close to many stores and restaurants. My cruise was actually leaving out of Miami, but I like the Fort Lauderdale area better for a pre-cruise location. Just as I did for my Virgin Voyages cruise, I took the Brightline train to Miami on embarkation day.
I hope this review will give you some information to help you decide if this is the right hotel for you. I’ll also let you know about things in the area at the end.
Cost
One thing to keep in mind about all Fort Lauderdale hotels is the rate will really jump up during spring break as it is a popular destination for college students. Also the winter is high season so expect rates to be higher then. The normal room rate for this hotel is around $450 as of 2026. But for Spring Break the rate jumps up about $100 a night to $550. That’s a lot to pay for a basic hotel and you are definitely paying for the location. It’s a good time to use points if you have them or look for discounts.
Transfer from the Fort Lauderdale Airport
Lately I have been using Uber to get me around locally. It is less expensive to rent a car, but then you have the problem of dropping it off. For me, it’s just easier to use Uber. The older I get, the more I am willing to pay a little more to make things easier. I also get an Uber credit with my credit card, so that helps.
TIP: Have the Address Printed
If you do plan to take a taxi, I recommend printing the hotel name and address and bringing that with you as many hotel chains have multiple hotels in the area with similar names. Having the address printed makes things much easier for everybody. The image to the left is an example of what I do. It shows a picture of the hotel and the address and phone number.
Check-in and Lobby
This hotel was recently renovated and the changes are immediately noticeable as you enter the lobby. I did not have time for breakfast in the morning, but the area looked very inviting.
Room
If you have stayed at other Hyatt Place hotels, the room will look very familiar to you. The renovation updates the colors to the new dark blue. They also improved the lighting at the desk which was needed. One outstanding feature of the room was the shower water pressure. Wow, it was fantastic and really appreciated. The room was clean and everything in the room worked as expected.
Fitness Center
The fitness center was updated since my last stay. Treadmills, glider and a bike were available along with a selection of dumbbells. If you are looking for more, there is an LA Fitness just across the street. (see photo in the “Things Nearby”)
Pool
The pool has been updated with new chairs and new pavers around the perimeter. A cold snap had just occurred in Florida, so the pool was not as busy as usual. Be sure to have a physical key card to get back into the hotel. The electronic key in the Hyatt App will not work on this door.
Laundry
The small laundry room is still there with new payment methods added to the machines. The laundry can come in handy, especially if you have had a long journey to get here.
Things Nearby
The area around the hotel has quite a few shops and restaurants and is why I like this hotel. As I mentioned there is an LA Fitness right across the street. A Starbucks and Bank of America are nearby. There are also several other banks with ATMs as well.
A short walk from the hotel is a plaza that includes Publix (an excellent supermarket chain that has nearly everything including drug store items) , TJ Maxx (I always stop in to see what they have), a huge wine store and many restaurants.
Transfer to the Port of Miami
As my cruise was leaving from Miami, I took the Brightline train down to the Port. The people who work there are great and it’s a great way to avoid the traffic. I noticed a lot of Princess and Cunard advertising all over the station and the trains.
Here’s a tip for you. I print my luggage tags on photo paper as it is a heavier weight paper and it prints much clearer. I attach them to my luggage using plastic covers. If you are interested, the covers I use are listed in my Cruise Hacks Kit where you can find other suggestions I have to make your cruise easier and more enjoyable. In addition to the tags, I also put a zip tie on my suitcase. That way I can tell if the suitcase has been opened and it also keeps the zipper from opening accidentally. (yes this has happened to me) I also put another printed luggage tag in the inside front pocket of the suitcase, just in case the tags were to both fall off, there’s a chance they might find the third tag easily in the front pocket. Don’t put a zip tie on that pocket so it’s easier for them to find it.
Would I stay here again?
The location of this hotel is it’s selling point. If you had to pay full rate for the room, it’s hard to justify it, but if you can get the rate down, it’s a great place to stay for one night. Overall, I think the Hilton is a better hotel, but it is even pricer still.
I hope this has been helpful and if you have questions, please leave a comment below.
