Colorful New Mural Welcomes Cruise Passengers to Port Everglades

by Sarah Kuta
Last updated: 2:15 PM ET, Tue December 30, 2025

As Broward County gears up to celebrate 50 years of public art in 2026, cruise passengers can admire a gorgeous new masterpiece at Port Everglades.

The new mural, called “Plumage Passage,” was created by Miami-based Cuban-American artist Ernesto Maranje. The piece, which adorns the 12-story Harbormaster Tower, depicts a great blue heron and a roseate spoonbill in celebration of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s native birds.

In 2019, Maranje painted a mural called “Avian Odyssey” at the same location, but was recently invited to reimagine the space.

“For many travelers, the cruise port is their first impression of the destination, and bringing bright and colorful art into that space helps set the tone for their journey,” says Phillip Dunlap, director of the Broward County Cultural Division. “‘Plumage Passage’ by Ernesto Maranje is a great example of how creativity comes to life at the port, greeting visitors as they arrive and showcasing our destination’s creative energy.”

With the addition of “Plumage Passage,” Port Everglades now features more than 40 artworks commissioned by the Broward County Cultural Division, which is dedicated to supporting and investing in the creative community. The pieces, which range from installations to sculptures, are all designed to “give visitors a sense of what makes Greater Fort Lauderdale so unique, from our culture to our history and natural environment,” says Dunlap.

Cruise passengers should also keep an eye out for “Vista Unveiled,” a large-scale digital print by Olalekan Jeyifous on the port’s Palm Garage that captures the Everglades’ native flora and fauna. Another stunning piece is “Heron,” a 70-foot mural by Manuel Di Rita (Peeta) featuring the great white heron, a bird native to South Florida. And “Transcendence,” a 75-foot-long mural by Leon Bedore, greets travelers as they walk toward check-in at Terminal 25.

It’s been a busy few months for Port Everglades. In addition to the new mural, the port recently welcomed three brand-new ships: Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Xcel, Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Destiny and Princess Cruises’ Star Princess. It’s also celebrating significant capital improvements, including an expanded convention center and an elevated roadway to relieve traffic. New infrastructure at the port also includes the Omni Fort Lauderdale Hotel, a 29-story property connected to the Broward County Convention Center.

“As Broward County celebrates 50 years of public art in 2026, we are proud to continue sharing that legacy at Port Everglades and throughout Greater Fort Lauderdale, where art is not just seen, but is an essential part of the visitor experience,” says Dunlap.

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