Table Of Content
- Celebrity Cruises' ships Beyond and Reflection to visit Royal Caribbean's private island CocoCay
- 5 Day Cruises to Key West
- Hotels With Cruise Shuttles For Every Major Port in America
- Taste the Local Key Lime Pie
- ACL-American Cruise Lines christens American Glory ship in Key West Florida
- Take a Trolley Tour
Head out and within just a minute you can be at the Mallory Square Market, an area with all the beach town attractions you could ever want. Souvenir stores, a museum of shipwrecks (different than the Mel Fisher museum mentioned earlier), food, and more are all available right here. Yes, it’s a bit touristy, but if you don’t want to go far, there is plenty to see.
Celebrity Cruises' ships Beyond and Reflection to visit Royal Caribbean's private island CocoCay
Float through the air as one of the 12-passenger parasailing boats glides you past sights that can only be seen from the air. As you parasail, take a look below to spot dolphins playing in the surf, or colorful tropical birds flying past. Located at the southernmost tip of the United States, this cool little island hideaway is closer to Havana, Cuba, than it is to Miami. Visit two of Key West's best attractions, the Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum and the Key West Aquarium.
5 Day Cruises to Key West
If docked at the latter, a tourist trolley shuttles you off the base into town. 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. Hold sea stars, hermit crabs, and conches in the palm of your hands in the “touch tank” of the Key West Aquarium, plus enjoy free guided tours and maybe even a shark feeding session.
Hotels With Cruise Shuttles For Every Major Port in America
Key West isn’t as famous for its beaches as it is for other activities, but you can still lay down a beach towel and read a book at Smathers Beach. You’ll find this half-mile stretch of white sand is the largest public beach in Key West. If you have time, drive less than an hour northeast to Bahia Honda for the kind of Florida beach experience the state is famous for.
Even in December, the forest and plants at this botanical garden in Key West retain their leaves and lush palms. The Garden describes themselves as “frost-free,” a benefit of the tropical climate. Bring the kids for an educational tour on the native plants, and don’t miss the butterfly garden. Damage from Hurricane Irma in 2017 affected the plant life, but passionate employees are working tirelessly to bring the garden back to peak fullness. At the corner of South Street and Whitehead Street in Key West is a concrete buoy marker of the southernmost point of the continental United States.
Cuban Coffee Queen also serves hearty breakfasts, refreshing smoothies, and Cuban sandwiches to keep you going as you continue on your way through town. Walk in the footsteps of famous Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ernest Hemingway, who lived at 907 Whitehead Street in Key West from 1931 to 1939. Come see where Hemingway wrote several critically-acclaimed short stories, plus catch sight of the six-toed cats roaming the grounds. Key West is the perfect destination for relaxation and revelry, where the slow rising tide of warm hospitality will wash away your worries. With year-round sunshine, crystal-clear waters, and coral reefs, Key West is paradise personified. From the insta-worthy southernmost buoy to the bubbling boisterous energy of Duval Street, Key West has a one-of-a-kind bustle you feel in your soul.
ACL-American Cruise Lines christens American Glory ship in Key West Florida
Open 9am to 6pm, the Key West Aquarium is a delight for the entire family. No Caribbean cruise is quite complete without experiencing Key West’s day-and-night bustle. If you have enough time, book a catamaran 70 miles west for a day trip to the one-of-a-kind Dry Tortugas National Park, home to the historic Fort Jefferson. Wander (slightly) off the beaten path with stops at both Key West and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula aboard the all-new Margaritaville at Sea Islander. From conch-style architecture to ancient ruins, this is a completely unique cruise vacation complete with two days at sea to roll the dice, say "spahhh" or splash the day away with the family. On this ACL ex-Florida voyage, on days 3 and 4 the ship stays in Key West overnight.
Key West doesn't need more, or bigger, cruise ships - Washington Blade
Key West doesn't need more, or bigger, cruise ships.
Posted: Mon, 04 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Decked out in new and familiar bars and restaurants, our newest flagship offers new ways to discover fun opportunities for dining, dancing and diving. With innovations like the world’s only three-story poolside Landshark Bar and the Caribbean Amphibian Splash and Slide, embarking on an Islander adventure is every bit about the journey as it is the destination. Port Key West cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Key West, Florida. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.
Visit Dry Tortugas National Park – Take a boat ride tour and explore Dry Tortugas National Park, a 19th century 100-square mile open water park with seven small islands. World-famous for being the home of magnificent Fort Jefferson, azure blue waters, and unique coral reefs, Dry Tortugas National Park is a must-see while in Key West. What’s a visit to Key West without having a bite of its famous Key Lime Pie? You’ll find it around the island, but one of the most well-known spots is The Original Key Lime Pie Bakery. It is located on Greene Street, almost in the shadow of the cruise ship.
And not just because a myriad of artists from Jimmy Buffet to Judy Blume will make art inspired by the island’s evening end. Furthermore, Cruise Critic makes no guarantees for availability of prices advertised on our site. Listed prices may have blackout dates, qualifications or restrictions. 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. 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.
Keep an eye on your belongings while you're downing a rum drink or frosty brew, or while singing along with the whole bar to a Jimmy Buffett or Kenney Chesney classic. Cruises that stop in Key West help the world become familiar with the city’s culture and history. Key West became a Spanish territory, then called Cayo Hueso, in the 16th century. The British claimed ownership of Florida in the 18th century, expelling Native Americans and the Spanish from the area. Start your day in Key West with a cortadito, cafe con leche, or Cuban coffee. Coffee is taken seriously in Key West, just like in neighboring Miami, heavily influenced by the Cuban coffee tradition.
Key West’s official currency is the U.S. dollar (USD), and ATMs are widely available. Credit cards like VISA and MasterCard are accepted most places as well. Don’t forget to tip your barista for your morning cafe con leche, too.
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. It’s also known for an inclusive, close-knit LGBTQ-friendly community. Most cruise ships in Key West dock at The Fisherman Wharf (aka Mallory Pier/Mallory Square). Alternatively, the cruise port has two more berths - Outer Mole Pier (Truman Waterfront Park) and Margaritaville Resort (near Mallory Square). The famous “buoy” for the point is just over a mile from the cruise ships and you can walk it in about 20 minutes.
Spots like Sloppy Joe’s, Green Parrot, and Hog’s Breath Saloon are all within walking distance of the cruise ships. While things will be fairly tame during the day, they are still cool places to grab a drink and hang out a bit while you soak in the history of these spots that are synonymous with the island. When your cruise ship docks, seek out a cafe con leche and a slice of key lime pie immediately. Then set out for attractions along Duval Street or Mallory Square, both hubs for shopping and nightlife. Don’t miss the six-toed cats living at Ernest Hemingway’s famed Spanish Colonial house-turned-museum. And, of course, a photo op awaits at the Southernmost Point of the United States, a concrete buoy memorializing Key West’s geography.
