THE 25 BEST 3 Day Cruises to Key West Prices & Itineraries on Cruise Critic
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My biggest tip for any cruise — but especially for Americans traveling to Europe for a Mediterranean cruise — is to arrive at your embarkation city at least a day before your sailing starts. Picking the right port is important not just for convenience, but because the port is a destination in itself. The port is your home base, and you'll want to take full advantage of it either before you board or after you depart.
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Carnival: New Cruise Itineraries Featuring Celebration Key - Cruise Industry News
Carnival: New Cruise Itineraries Featuring Celebration Key.
Posted: Thu, 28 Sep 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]
Or take on the Yucatán in the east and soak up the sun on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches. Key West is an island, or Key, that is just two miles long by four miles wide, so all the essentials are near the docks -- bars, restaurants, shopping, scuba diving and beach-going. Mallory Square, on the waterfront near the docks, has restaurants, shops and public restrooms. Before the Overseas Highway was built in 1912 to connect the various Florida Keys, Key West itself was in isolation from the rest of the world. Just 90 miles from Cuba, Key West features a huge influence of Cuban culture, particularly in its food and drink.Today, Key West’s economy is driven by tourism. Calypso Lagoon, just to the west, is home to the sport court, the freshwater lagoon and lounging options galore.
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Cruise ships usually dock at either Pier B, near the Truman Annex, or the Navy-owned Outer Mole pier, near Fort Zachary Taylor State Park. If docked at the latter, a tourist trolley shuttles you off the base into town. The move to secede was short-lived but remains a point of pride for Key Westers, who still fly the blue "Conch Republic" flag in the subtropical heat and ocean breezes.
Stop at nearby sandwich stand Cayo Hueso for a cold drink or a sandwich. Catch a Key West sunset from Mallory Square, a waterfront plaza facing the Gulf of Mexico. Mallory Square is the site of a long-running tradition to watch the sunset. Gather among locals and fellow tourists, musicians, and food vendors for a taste of Key West culture. No Caribbean cruise is quite complete without experiencing Key West’s day-and-night bustle.
Top Food and Drink Spots Near the Key West Cruise Port
Add the rambunctious pigs on Great Exuma Island and snorkeling among the reefs, and you've got more than enough fodder for an epic Bahamas vacation. Experience a taste of Caribbean culture in this southern most town in the continental U.S. In addition to its stunning natural beauty, Key West has a rich history which is celebrated in the many museums of the island. Popular bars, T-shirt and souvenir shops and art galleries line both sides of the street and can be found from the 200 block to the end near Mallory Square.
If you’re looking for art galleries and clothing boutiques, head to Duval Street. But I only book with third-party operators if the ship docks right at the city I want to explore because I never want to miss the all-aboard time. You can't visit the Bahamas for vacation without seeing the famous swimming pigs of the Exuma Island chain. Big Major Cay is the island most famous for its pig population, with around 20 pigs and piglets living here completely carefree.
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You’ll have two nights to explore the legendary jazz bars and pubs of atmospheric Bourbon Street. By day, there are paddle steamer cruises on the Mississippi to enjoy, the grand Oak Alley Mansion to discover, and boat trips out into the bayous to spot alligators, turtles, and wild birds. South Pacific cruises are the perfect way to embrace exotic island life.
If the ship docks in a secondary location and you have to travel to the big tourist destinations, I always book excursions through the cruise line. For instance, the day my family and I explored Rome, the ship docked in Civitavecchia, Italy, and we had to take a two-hour bus ride into the city. You will find your favorite Caribbean cruise ports no matter what direction you go. Travel the Southern side and wander down the colorful streets of San Juan, Puerto Rico.
Beyond the items for sale, the space will have music and murals to enhance the space, and local food. Debuting in summer 2025, the port of call will welcome ships from Florida ports Port Canaveral, PortMiami, Tampa and Jacksonville, as well as six other U.S. ports. Some ports of call, like Nice, France, were easy to get around, but others like Rome were packed to the gills. I wanted the day to end before we even made it to the Vatican on our tour. As someone who's taken over 50 cruises all over the world, I know firsthand how popular cruising is this year.
Cruises to Key West, Florida are one of the most popular ways to see this walkable, immersive city. It’s easy to feel at home in Key West among swaying palms and small fishing boats glittering off the harbor. Once mostly cut off from the rest of the world, it has persevered through countless hurricanes. Paradise Plaza features a rainbow-colored walkway through a sunshine entranceway with a 10-story “Suncastle” as a centerpiece.
For any cruises listed, Cruise Critic does not guarantee any specific rates or prices. Art galleries, Cuban coffee, fine dining and overstuffed sandwiches all abound in Key West. Locals will serve you fresh coconut water by drilling a straw hole into one of the green fruits that come from the island's palm trees. Find Caribbean food and classic Cuban fare at Bien, a primarily takeout spot with outdoor seating in a laid-back, casual setting. They’re known for their grill-roasted corn-on-the-cob, served with aioli, cilantro, salt, paprika, and lime juice.
Select from a variety of well-curated excursions, including the Key West Old Town Literary Walking Exploration or the Private Ghost Tour at Fort East Martello. In the evening, venture to the world-famous Duval Street, to enjoy a meal, listen to live music, or pick up a souvenir to take home. While federal agents were trying to stymie drug smugglers, Keys residents decried the roadblock as a tourism disaster as well as disrespectful to its people. But Key West's mayor and his supporters failed to sway a federal court in Miami to lift the roadblock. Soon after, he read a proclamation at Mallory Square declaring the Keys no longer a part of the U.S. and demanding $1 million in foreign aid. Even in December, the forest and plants at this botanical garden in Key West retain their leaves and lush palms.
The city is not only known for its warm weather, but also for having the most consecutive days of sunshine. Be welcomed on board with a reception as you begin your amazing exploration of the Florida Gulf Coast & Keys. Spend a full day exploring the best of St. Petersburg, including the numerous art museums and beautiful botanical gardens. Also, the Key West Police Department reports are filled with lost-and-found property reports from visitors.
After a day of adventure, dine at one of the elegant waterfront restaurants or peruse the artsy boutiques and designer outlets, before heading back to the ship. Though best known for their beautiful beaches, Caribbean destinations offer much more than that — like bold cuisine, colorful colonial towns, and rich cultural traditions from all over the world. Accessible only by boat or seaplane, this beautiful park features picturesque blue waters, amazing coral reefs and marine life, and a variety of incredible bird life. The park is also home to the 19th century Fort Jefferson, Fort Jefferson, was once used as a prison during the Civil War. One of the first things you’ll notice on your Key West cruise is the colorful gingerbread wooden houses and the amazing sunsets, and the constant crowing of roosters.
Whether you're watching whales splash in the Pacific Ocean or gazing up at Hubbard Glacier, Alaska cruises are all about wild natural wonder. Key West, the southernmost city in the continental U.S., is the last in a chain of tiny tropical islands -- the Florida Keys -- scattered off the mainland. Dubbed the "Conch Republic," Key West is a very popular destination on Western Caribbean itineraries -- and is easily one of the funkiest and fascinating ports of call in all of cruising. In Mallory Square, you’ll find lots of local vendors selling seashells, souvenirs, cigars, rum, and of course, key lime pie.
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