Best Stores Near Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port for Last-Minute Items

By Brian Dohrn | Dohrn Travels | Stores Near Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port

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Looking for stores near Fort Lauderdale cruise port before you board? Forgot sunscreen, toiletries, snacks, medicine, or another last-minute cruise essential? You have several easy options just minutes from Port Everglades.

I’ve had to make these last-minute stops before a cruise myself, and the SE 17th Street area is usually the easiest place to start. It puts several useful stores close together, including Publix, CVS, Walgreens, and Total Wine.

Staying near the port makes things even easier, with many of these stores just a short walk or quick ride from nearby hotels. That makes it easy to grab what you need the night before instead of rushing around on embarkation morning.

My preference is to get any shopping done ahead of time. It keeps cruise morning simple, and once you head for the terminal, you can focus on boarding the ship instead of worrying about what you forgot.

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Quick Answer

The easiest place to find stores near Fort Lauderdale cruise port is around SE 17th Street, where you’ll find Publix, CVS, Walgreens, Total Wine, and other convenient stops close to Port Everglades.

This guide is for cruisers who need groceries, drinks, medicine, toiletries, or other last-minute supplies before boarding. I’ll show you which stores are best for different needs, so you can make a quick stop without wasting time before your cruise.

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Best Stores Near Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port on SE 17th Street

Before getting into each store, it helps to know that most of the easiest pre-cruise shopping is concentrated around SE 17th Street, just west of Port Everglades. That means you can usually pick up groceries, drinks, medicine, toiletries, and other last-minute cruise supplies without going far out of your way.

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Publix at Harbor Shops (Grocery Store Near Port Everglades)

For one quick stop before your cruise, Publix at Harbor Shops is probably the most useful. It’s one of the easiest places near Port Everglades to pick up bottled water, soda, snacks, toiletries, and grab-and-go food all in one stop.

I like Publix for pre-cruise shopping because you can handle several needs at once instead of bouncing between different stores. Staying nearby on SE 17th Street makes it especially convenient for picking up what you need the night before embarkation..

For most cruisers, this is the store I’d prioritize first.

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Total Wine & More Near Port Everglades

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Total Wine & More at Harbor Shops is a convenient stop if you want to pick up wine before your cruise. It’s in the same general shopping area as Publix, so it’s easy to combine both stops without going far out of your way.

The main thing to check is your cruise line’s alcohol policy. Many cruise lines allow a limited amount of wine or champagne, but not beer or hard liquor, and the rules can vary by line. For example, Royal Caribbean and Carnival currently allow one sealed 750 ml bottle of wine or champagne per eligible adult on embarkation day, while Holland America allows wine and champagne with a corkage fee and its own limits.

I’d check your cruise line’s current policy before buying anything. That way, you avoid spending money on something you won’t be allowed to bring onboard.

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Walgreens and CVS Near Port Everglades

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Walgreens and CVS near Port Everglades are two of the easiest places to stop for small but important items you may have forgotten. They’re especially useful for sunscreen, toiletries, pain relievers, motion sickness medicine, phone chargers, and other last-minute cruise essentials.

I like these stops when you don’t need a full grocery run. You can usually get in, grab what you need, and get back on your way without turning it into a bigger shopping trip.

If you’re heading straight to the port, either store is also a good place to grab anything you realize you forgot before boarding.

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What to Buy Before Your Cruise in Fort Lauderdale

A quick stop before your cruise can save you from overpaying onboard and make embarkation day a little easier. I’d focus on the basics you’re most likely to use right away:

• Bottled water or soda, if your cruise line allows it
• Snacks for the cabin or shore days
• Wine or champagne, if permitted by your cruise line
• Sunscreen and aloe
• Basic medicine, including pain relievers and motion sickness medication
• Small cruise essentials like lanyards, magnetic hooks, and phone chargers

Snacks are one of the things I almost always like having on hand, especially for longer shore days. Granola bars, trail mix, or beef sticks are easy to toss in a bag when you head off the ship.

I also recommend picking up sunscreen and a few basic medications before boarding. I’ve gotten sick right before a cruise and had to make a last-minute CVS run, so now I try to have pain relievers, cold medicine, and motion sickness medication packed ahead of time.

For wine or champagne, check your cruise line’s current policy before buying anything. The rules can vary quite a bit, and you don’t want to buy something at Total Wine that you can’t bring onboard.

Making a last-minute stop usually means something got missed. My Cruise Packing List can help you double-check everything else before heading to the port.

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My Pre-Cruise Shopping Tips Near Port Everglades

A little planning here can save you from rushing around on embarkation morning. These are the things I’d focus on if you’re doing any last-minute shopping near Port Everglades.

Stay close to SE 17th Street.
This area is one of the easiest places to shop before a cruise because Publix, Total Wine, CVS, Walgreens, and several cruise-friendly hotels are nearby.

Still deciding where to stay? My Where to Stay Near Port Everglades guide covers the nearby hotel options.

Shop the night before if you can.
This is what I prefer. You’ll have more time, you won’t feel rushed, and you can head to the cruise terminal the next morning knowing everything is already taken care of.

Check your cruise line’s rules before buying drinks.
Policies for bottled water, soda, wine, and champagne vary by cruise line. I’d check the current rules before buying anything you plan to carry onboard.

Flying in the same day? Keep it simple.
Arriving in Fort Lauderdale the morning of your cruise leaves less room for errands, so I wouldn’t plan a shopping stop unless you have plenty of extra time. Flight delays happen, and getting to the ship is more important than squeezing in one more errand.

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FAQs About Stores Near Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port

What stores are near Port Everglades?

Some of the most convenient options are along SE 17th Street, including Publix, Total Wine, Walgreens, and CVS. These are all a short distance from Port Everglades and work well for last-minute cruise shopping.

Is there a grocery store near Port Everglades?

Yes. Publix at Harbor Shops is one of the most convenient full grocery stores near the cruise port. It’s a good stop for bottled water, soda, snacks, grab-and-go food, and other basics before boarding.

Where can I buy last-minute cruise essentials in Fort Lauderdale?

For groceries and snacks, Publix is usually the best all-around stop. CVS and Walgreens are better for toiletries, sunscreen, medicine, motion sickness products, chargers, and other small items you may have forgotten.

Is SE 17th Street walkable for shopping before a cruise?

If you’re staying at one of the nearby hotels, parts of SE 17th Street can be walkable. For stores that are farther apart, or if you have luggage with you, a short rideshare is usually the easier option.

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Final Thoughts on Shopping Near Port Everglades

For stores near Fort Lauderdale cruise port, SE 17th Street is the easiest area to focus on. Publix, Total Wine, CVS, and Walgreens cover most of the last-minute things cruisers need, from snacks and drinks to toiletries, medicine, and forgotten essentials.

I still prefer getting any shopping done the night before embarkation. It keeps cruise morning simple, especially if you’re staying at a hotel near SE 17th Street and can take care of everything without going far out of your way.

If you’re still planning the rest of your trip, my Fort Lauderdale cruise port guide covers where to stay, how to get to the terminal, and other practical details that can make embarkation day a lot easier.

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