Among the many Florida cruise ports throughout the state, passengers can get pleasure from a variety of advantages, adventures and enjoyable discoveries. Six of those locations function homeports for quite a few cruise strains and the seventh (Key West) stays a high port of name for a lot of ships and itineraries.
Every of the cruise ports in Florida has fashionable, up-to-date services with a wide range of facilities, creating a snug and handy course of to embark and disembark. And so they every have their very own “persona” with distinctive attributes and alternatives for guests to get pleasure from.
Some are huge in scope and scale, whereas others are surprisingly small – one, single berth! Every prioritizes consolation and comfort for passengers with ample seating, ADA-compliant facilities, parking services, and useful workers members able to reply questions and provide help the place wanted.
All these cruise ports in Florida are simply accessible from main airports, interstates, and even rail transportation.
Cruise Ports in Florida
Beneath are the details and primary details about every of those cruise ports in Florida, interspersed with useful hints and insider recommendations on “must-see and do” objects at every port, which cruise strains sail from there, and anything to make your cruise departure or arrival as clean as potential.
PortMiami
Typically referred to as the “Cruise Capital of the World,” Port of Miami is named the biggest and busiest port on the planet to come back aboard for a trip at sea. This may possible be your homeport in case your itinerary carries you to Mexico, the Bahamas, or numerous Caribbean locations.
Situated with a view of the Miami skyline from Biscayne Bay, the vastly well-liked Florida cruise port welcomed over 7 million passengers for the 2023 fiscal 12 months, a 6.7% improve in comparison with 2019.
Journey choices to achieve your ship are quite a few – shuttle companies from the airport, rideshares, public transportation and private autos (with loads of parking obtainable).
Touring from Miami Worldwide Airport to PortMiami takes as much as round 20 minutes, relying on the site visitors, and the gap is simply over 8 miles. A taxi can price as much as $33.
Of all of the cruise ports in Florida, this one units the usual for state-of-the-art infrastructure, bringing consolation and comfort to passengers. Moreover, environmental sustainability guides lots of the enhancements and plans transferring ahead.
For instance, a number of of the cruise strains’ terminals enable docking ships to “plug in” to what’s referred to as the “largest shore energy system on the planet.” This implies turning off the engines, thereby decreasing emissions and noise!
Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania, MSC Cruises, Superstar Cruises, Azamara, and Carnival Cruise Line all set sail from PortMiami.
Price Studying: Miami Cruise Port Parking – The place to Park Information
Arrive early and discover this vibrant metropolis famend for its nightlife, seashores, tradition, sightseeing, and meals scenes. Begin your get together on Ocean Drive; calm down on the well-known South Seashore; immerse within the sights, sounds and tastes of Cuba in Little Havanna; or, take a guided tour for an summary of this thrilling metropolis.
Port Canaveral
Like different cruise ports in Florida, Port Canaveral embraces the necessity for stewardship of the delicate ecosystems the place ships journey. This is without doubt one of the many causes it continues to earn awards like “Greatest Cruise Homeport within the U.S.” with Cruise Hive readers. What started as a naval and cargo port 60 years in the past now serves over 5 million cruise ship passengers throughout greater than 900 cruise ship calls per 12 months.
The port has six terminals, all simply navigable due to clear signage. You’ll have no bother finding your ship’s line within the midst of the busiest cruise port on the planet.
Insider tip: If there’s time, go to the port attraction generally known as Exploration Tower. It’s a multi-story construction (that appears like a sail) with fascinating displays concerning the port and THE finest views of the realm.
You might also wish to take a “day” journey to the offshore waters on a on line casino cruise. Visitors heading there for a cruise also needs to go to the Kennedy House Middle at Cape Canaveral, solely a 21-minute drive north of the port. The world-famous Walt Disney World and its theme parks in Orlando are simply 58 miles away.
Price Studying: Port Canaveral Cruise Parking – What You Must Know
Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises all have homeported ships on the port. Port Everglades additionally receives greater than 100 port-of-call dockings from different cruise strains akin to Costa Cruises, Cunard Line, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, and extra.
Vacationers set sail to greater than 50 locations situated all through the Caribbean, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Whereas on this space of the state, add a visit to close by Disney World (one hour away), Cocoa Seashore, or the Kennedy House Flight Middle earlier than or after your cruise.
Port Everglades
Whereas embarking and disembarking on a cruise trip generally is a hectic and hurried endeavor, Port Everglades affords a distinct expertise. Passengers at this Florida cruise port uncover that they’ve a cause to decelerate, go searching and discover the environment. The explanation: artwork, and plenty of it!
Distinctive amongst cruise ports in Florida, this location is a vacation spot in and of itself. It’s situated in Fort Lauderdale on the east coast of Florida. Eight of the cruise terminals have public artwork shows by famend artists.
These embrace luminous wall and glass sculptures, tile mosaics, lighted maps and splendid murals all awaiting the right photograph alternative. And, whereas on the terminal, obtain leisure (books, films, music and extra) by way of the county library’s Immediate eCard privileges – all totally free.
Reaching this port, which welcomed its first cruise ships greater than 90 years in the past, is handy. It sits on the southeastern coast of the state close to three worldwide airports, three interstates, and the Florida Turnpike. The realm is served by three prepare techniques in addition to public buses, taxis and rideshare choices.
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This Florida cruise port serves a powerful variety of strains with household ships and ferries to themed ships and luxurious liners, together with Azamara, Balearia, Superstar Cruises, Cunard, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Ritz-Carlton, Royal Caribbean, Silversea and Viking.
Voyages can be found all through the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Mexico, Africa, Europe, the Pacific coast, and even Antarctica. Choose from both a spherical journey or a one-way passage on your subsequent dream trip at sea.
Port Tampa Bay
The most effective advantages of setting sail from a smaller Florida cruise port is entry to native sights. At Port Tampa Bay, two of town’s well-liked locations are inside strolling distance of all three terminals – The Florida Aquarium and Sparkman Wharf.
The previous is a top-rated facility for stewarding aquatic and terrestrial animals and their habitats “from tree degree to sea degree.” The wharf showcases town’s downtown waterfront with retail outlets, eateries, and dwell occasions.
Whereas within the space, remember to go to Busch Gardens and Zoo Tampa or catch an expert sports activities group in motion. Stroll the native seashores and uncover vibrant nightlife in native institutions.
Insider ideas: Watch time “soften away” at The Dalí Museum; get pleasure from Latin eating in Ybor Metropolis; and, hunt for actual shark tooth on the seashores in close by St. Pete. (Trace: convey alongside a small container, or your pockets are going to get moist!)
4 cruise strains name Port Tampa Bay “residence,” together with Carnival Cruise Line, Superstar Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian Cruise Line. Itineraries from this location on the western (Gulf) aspect of the state embrace voyages to a number of Caribbean islands and locations in Mexico, Central America, and Venezuela.
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Touring from the Tampa Worldwide Airport to Port Tampa Bay takes roughly 20-Half-hour, relying on the site visitors, which is simply over 10 miles. A taxi to the port can price round $35, which is a flat charge and will change, so at all times ask first.
Upon arrival, passengers can seize last-minute procuring objects and a few tasty treats from meals vehicles situated alongside the waterfront space. Ample seating, ADA-compliant services, and free Wi-Fi in any respect terminals make this a snug port.
JAXPORT
Nestled alongside the St. Johns River within the higher northeastern a part of the state sits JAXPORT (or the Jacksonville Port Authority). Whereas its fundamental space of commerce is as a container port (Florida’s largest), one passenger terminal welcomes voyagers to their subsequent cruise journey.
This port, whereas up-to-date, appears like a trip from one other period, in a optimistic method! There are fewer crowds, ease of entry, and solely Carnival Cruise Line ships at this small Florida port.
Taxis and minivans provide companies from the airport, and passengers driving their very own autos will discover the parking space is well-lighted, fenced and secured 24 hours per day. Passengers arriving on the 15,000-square-foot embarkation space can decide up drinks, snacks, and miscellaneous objects at a small store within the terminal. Ships leaving from this small port are typically boarding for four- and five-day excursions to the Bahamas.
Whereas touring by the “flip aspect of Florida” (as Jacksonville calls itself), get pleasure from 22 miles of seashores and 40 miles of the Intercoastal Waterway – extra shoreline than every other metropolis within the nation.
Fishing expeditions, the road arts scene together with rotating displays within the Cork Arts District and style creations from a brand new era of Southern cooks await. Additionally, make time to go to one of many twelve museums within the metropolis providing spectacular collections of the tradition, historical past, artwork, and science from the realm.
Port of Palm Seashore
Uncover a singular journey at this location with just one terminal and one berth – a land and sea mixture positive to please everybody in your group. Port of Palm Seashore is situated 80 miles north of Miami and is even farther from Port Canaveral at 135 miles out.
This Florida cruise port is residence to primarily one mainstream cruise line created from a partnership between the previous Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line and Margaritaville at Sea. Nonetheless, there’s a multitude of the way to create simply the proper bundle on your subsequent cruise trip.
Yr-round, ebook cruises for two-night/three-day excursions to Freeport on Grand Bahama Island aboard a Margaritaville at Sea ship. Most passengers take this chance to “catch a experience” on a fantastically appointed floating resort and ebook a keep on the island for an prolonged tropical getaway.
Discover pristine seashores, dive crystal clear waters (Insider tip: Unexso to swim with dolphins!), golf, go boating and fishing, attempt your luck on the casinos, keep out late on the nightclubs, and store for duty-free souvenirs.
To encourage passengers to return repeatedly, the cruise line has supplied limitless trip passes. These passes alongside with a “cruise & keep” bundle – cruise plus luxurious resort lodging on the island – generally is a reward for the pockets with a bit of fine timing.
Earlier than and after the cruise, take a brief drive from the terminal to Manatee Lagoon for household enjoyable, interactive occasions, and an opportunity to see these light giants of the ocean. For an additional nature expertise, Singer Island affords mountaineering, biking, snorkeling, and a nature heart for the eco-adventurers.
Key West
Cruise passengers whose itineraries embrace a cease at this port of name are in for a deal with! Situated on the southernmost tip of the continental United States, this Florida cruise port lies on the finish of a sequence of islands.
The encompassing group is a mix of cultures, creative endeavors and culinary delights celebrating range. Guests can simply discover all that the city of Key West has to supply.
Strategically, there are three piers utilized by a number of hundred visiting ships annually, which might be crusing to or from the Caribbean. Two of the piers (Mallory Sq. and Pier B) are inside a straightforward stroll of downtown. The third (Outermole) is simply a 10-minute shuttle experience away.
Key West can at occasions be a cease for transatlantic and repositing cruises and is frequented by ships which might be a part of the Holland America Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and some extra strains all year long.
When disembarking on the fashionable terminals, cease at among the kiosks to inquire about guided excursions (akin to sandbar hopping, boating, paddling and haunted excursions) or set out on a self-guided strolling tour.
Seize a chunk to eat at one of many many eateries that vary from upscale eating to locally-owned seafood shacks. Head over to Duval Road for a vibrant nightlife scene full with dwell music and attractive tropical drinks. Spend time in nature at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park, the Butterfly and Nature Conservatory, Key West Aquarium and stroll the seashores.
Get the digital camera prepared for a snap on the iconic Southernmost Level Buoy and be part of the sundown celebration at Mallory Sq. near the ship. Insider tip: Take the chance to see unique artistic endeavors and literature at The Audubon Home and The Ernest Hemingway House and Museum, respectively.
Ultimate Ideas
Whether or not your journey upon the ocean launches from the world’s largest and busiest port or a single terminal, boarding a ship at any Florida cruise port can turn into a part of everybody’s enjoyable trip reminiscences.
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Every port affords one thing totally different, with totally different experiences within the surrounding space. Relying on which cruise line, ship, and itinerary might also influence which cruise port in Florida you select, comparatively all of them embrace Caribbean voyages.
