Fort Lauderdale takes its holiday decorating onto the water. Every year the Intracoastal's waterfront mansions, marinas and boats light up, and the city's long-running Winterfest tradition turns December into a floating parade of lights. This cruise is the way for visitors to see it from the best angle: an evening boat outing along the Intracoastal Waterway, with the canal homes glowing on either side and the skyline across the water. It is a seasonal product that runs in the holiday season rather than year-round, so check dates for your trip before building plans around it. Dress warmly by Florida standards, since the breeze on the water is cooler than the dock, and book ahead, as the festive weeks are among the busiest of the year.
The case for doing this cruise is simple: in Fort Lauderdale, the best holiday lights are visible from the water. Many of the finest decorated properties front the canals and Intracoastal, and the boats themselves become part of the display. Owners string lights along rigging and rooflines, and the whole waterway takes on an evening glow that you cannot reproduce from the street. For visitors from colder parts of the country, a lights cruise in shirtsleeves-and-a-sweater weather is also a memorable change of pace.
Timing is the main thing to understand. This is a seasonal outing, so it operates during the holiday weeks and not through the rest of the year. The city's annual Winterfest boat parade is the headline event of the season, and demand for water-based activities rises around it, so start by checking which dates your trip overlaps. Evening outings are the ones to look for, since the lights are at their best after dark. Bring a light jacket, camera and a charged phone, and arrive early for boarding.
Who it suits
Families with children who will be thrilled by the spectacle, couples looking for a seasonal date, and groups traveling in December. Pair it with a daytime visit to the Riverwalk, Las Olas or the beach, and consider the Water Taxi or a river cruise earlier in the same trip if you want the same waterways in daylight. It is a niche, seasonal choice, not a year-round must-do, but in the right weeks it is among the most charming outings in the city.
What to expect
The experience
An evening boat cruise along the Intracoastal Waterway during the holiday season, passing waterfront homes, marinas and boats decorated with lights.
Best time
Holiday season only; evenings after dark for the best lights. Check dates carefully, as it does not run year-round.
How long
About one to two hours on the water; check the exact length when you choose a departure.
Tips
Bring a light jacket and a camera, arrive early for boarding, and book ahead for the festive weeks.
Quick picks
- Best for
- December visitors who want a festive, only-in-Florida evening.
- Families
- Kids love the glowing boats and houses; it is a short, easy outing.
- Couples
- A romantic seasonal cruise with the skyline across the water.
- Pair with
- A Las Olas dinner or a daytime Riverwalk stroll.
- Time needed
- One to two hours, in the evening.
Good questions
When does the cruise run?+
During the holiday season only. Check the dates for your trip before planning around it.
What will I see?+
Waterfront homes, marinas and boats decorated with holiday lights along the Intracoastal Waterway.
What is Winterfest?+
A long-running holiday tradition in Fort Lauderdale that turns the waterway into a parade of lit boats each December.
What should I bring?+
A light jacket for the breeze on the water, a camera and a charged phone.
Should I book ahead?+
Yes. The holiday weeks are among the busiest of the year for boat outings.
