These Caribbean Islands Are On The Cdcs Do Not Travel Listheres How Cruise Lines Navigate Covids Murky Waters
A cruise ship plies the waters near Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas.
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Its getting harder to find a Caribbean cruise itinerary that doesnt include a stop on the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions Do Not Travel list. Over the past few weeks, the list of popular Caribbean cruise ports given the CDCs dreaded Level 4 designation has ballooned.
The CDC uses a four-level system to alert travelers to health threats around the world. Countries with a Level 4 travel health notice are deemed to have a very high risk of Covid-19 with a Do Not Travel recommendation for Americans.
The Caribbean islands at Level 4 now include: Aruba, the Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Curacao, Dominica, Haiti, Jamaica, Martinique, Puerto Rico, St. Barts, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Martin/Sint Maarten and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Its an understatement to say that cruise lines and Caribbean nations share a common interest in navigating the murky waters of the Covid pandemic together. The North American cruise market is dominated by the easily accessible Caribbean, Bahamas, and Bermuda.
Likewise, cruising plays an outsized and growing role in the regions tourism. In 2019, nearly 12 million people visited the Caribbean on a cruise ship, roughly double the 6.2 million recorded in 2010.
Passengers age 12 and up must prove they are fully vaccinated to visit Royal Caribbeans private island in the Bahamas.
Royal Caribbean
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Why You Should Drive To A Cruise In Palm Beach Fl:
Sandwiched between the gargantuan ports of Cape Canaveral to the north, and Port Everglades and PortMiami to the south, the Port of Palm Beach is quite modest. But its proximity to the Bahamas has made it a convenient launching point for exploring the archipelago. Technically located in Riviera Beach, cruisers sailing from the Port of Palm Beach can easily explore the region’s attractions in the cities of West Palm Beach and Palm Beach. And if you have time to hit the links, the Palm Beaches are considered Florida’s Golf Capital, with more than 160 golf courses spread throughout the county.
One cruise line calls the Port of Palm Beach home: . Starting operations in May 2022, the Jimmy Buffet-themed line sails year-round to Grand Bahama on roundtrip, two-night itineraries on its one ship, Margaritaville at Sea Paradise.
Cities Within Driving Distance of Palm Beach: Delray Beach, FL Fort Myers, FL Naples, FL and Boca Raton, FL .
Choose Fort Lauderdale If Youd Rather Stay At A Major Hotel Chain Very Close To The Port
Theres no dearth of hotel options in Fort Lauderdale, but theyre all clustered near each other along major highways in the city. The downside is Fort Lauderdale doesnt offer a ton in the way of accommodations with distinct personality and a sense of local culture. The plus side is there are plenty of options less than a mile from port, meaning embarkation day is relatively stress free when the ship is within arms reach.
Check out the best hotels near Fort Lauderdale cruise port.
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Port Of Key Westkey West Fl
The Port of Key West, Floridas most southern port, consists of three docking facilities: Mallory Square, the Navys Outer Mole Pier, and the privately-owned Pier B. These facilities constitute one of the busiest cruise ports of call in the nation and one of the states strongest and most sustained ferry- port operations. The port hosts cruise ships from Miami, Port Everglades, Canaveral, Tampa and Jacksonville as well as ferries from Fort Myers and Marco Island. Due to the COVID pandemic the port only hosted 161,197-cruise passengers.
The Port of Key West is a major economic engine for the city and local businesses, resulting in an economic impact annually of $85 million . The port provides 1,250 direct and indirect jobs to the 25,000 citizens of Key West, while contributing 6 percent of the citys total general tax revenue. Key West is one of the most popular ports in the Caribbean and passengers are introduced to the unique charm of Key West without contributing vehicular traffic to the overburdened US-1 corridor.
Cruise Ship Terminal Directions And Parking
- From North – take I-95 South, drive eastbound I-395 . Continue driving on I-395 East . The entrance of Port Miami Tunnel is on the left. Follow the signs to your Cruise Terminal.
- From North – take I-95 South. Exit 3B-Bayside. Drive south to Northeast 5th Street, turn left. 5th Str leads onto PortMiami Bridge. Continue over the bridge and follow the signs to your terminal.
- From South – take SR-826 North to SR-836 East. Drive eastbound on SR-836 to I-395 East . Continue driving on I-395 East . The entrance of Port Miami Tunnel is on the left. Follow the signs to your Cruise Terminal. You can also take I-95 North and drive eastbound I-395 .
- From South – take I-95 North. Exit at Northwest 2nd Street. Drive straight to NW 5th Street, make a right. 5th Str leads onto PortMiami Bridge. Continue over the bridge and follow the signs to your terminal.
- From Miami Beach – take I-395 , drive westbound, exit on Biscayne Blvd ramp and make U-turn on North Bayshore Drive to enter MacArthur Causeway eastbound. Then continue on I-395 East .
- Parking rates – USD 20.00 per day. All parking lots are outdoor and located in front their corresponding terminals. Special arrangements are offered for cruise passengers with disabilities.
Miami port, besides its 9 cruise terminals also has facilities to handle cargo ships and dry dock facilities for marine vessel refurbishments and repairs.
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Cruise Itineraries To And From Miami Florida
Follows a list of destinations visited by ships leaving out of Miami:
- World Cruises – around the world voyages from Miami are offered in January, as well as shorter itinerary segments part of the main round-trip itinerary.
- South America itineraries from Miami are operated by luxury lines or by budget lines ships on relocation routes to Brazil or Argentina . Round-trip itineraries usually visit ports in the Southern Caribbean, Brazil , then go back to Florida.
- 8-day Southern Caribbean itineraries visit Grand Turk Island, Dominican Republic, Aruba , Curacao .
- Panama Canal transits between Miami and California ports are offered with one-way itineraries . They include transition through Panama Canal and usually visit ports in Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Mexico .
Seasonal ship relocations include Panama Canal transits from Florida to Alaska in late Spring. The itineraries end either in California ports or in the turnaround ports for Alaskan roundtrip from Vancouver BC or Seattle WA. The reverse routes are in early Fall.
Transatlantic crossings from Florida to Europe are offered in Spring. Relocation routes from Miami usually include the Canary Islands and Mediterranean ports, and often Bermuda . The longest relocation itineraries end in Baltic Sea turnaround ports .
Transatlantic crossings from Europe to Florida usually depart from the UK or Mediterranean and often stop in Bermuda .
United States Cruise Port At Oahu
Cruise ships in Oahu, Hawaii dock close to the Aloha Tower Marketplace, which is conveniently located about a 10-20 minute drive from Honolulu International Airport. It’s very easy to book a tour from the Oahu, Hawai cruise porti too.
The most popular cruise line sailing the Hawaiian Islands is Norwegian Cruise Line. They are docked at Port of Honolulu Pier 2 and easy to access. You can get a taxi/Uber/Lyft from the airport and is about $30 USD each way.
For parking, the public parking is about ¾s of a mile away and the cost is about $21 a day. It may be easier to just take a taxi from the airport so you dont have to pay for a rental car and to park it for the duration of your stay.
Norwegians Cruise Ship in Hawaii used to do 7 day sailings around the island but has now included French Polynesia in some of their itineraries. It is like getting two vacations in one and you get to stay on the same boat.
Most cruises originate in and out of Oahu, so you will want to plan to stay an extra day or two as to not miss anything. Some things you should have on your Oahu bucket list include: a visit to the North Shore, Pearl Harbor, Waikiki Beach, piping hot malasada from Leonards Bakery, shave ice, and some snorkeling.
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Porters At Disembarkation Ports Wont Wait With You Once You Exit The Terminal
This is something that may not be obvious to everyone. It certainly wasnt obvious to me at first.
When you are leaving your cruise ship, there will usually be porters with luggage carts running around to help you collect your luggage from the discharge area. They will wait with you in line and walk with you through customs. The porters will walk you all the way to the curbside pick-up or the taxi line. But they will not continue to wait with you once you have stepped foot outside the terminal.
They will deposit your luggage at the curb and return inside.
So why is this worth mentioning? If you have a significant amount of luggage, it is yet another reason to arrange for a ride ahead of time.
You dont want to have to struggle with your luggage through a long taxi line nor is it ideal to have your luggage deposited near the front of the line to wait for you when you are dozens of people deep in the line. The terminal areas in the major Florida cruise ports are very busy, and it is not a comfortable feeling to have all of your luggage beyond arms reach.
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Florida provides great opportunities for kicking off your fun-filled family vacation. And, incorporating these simple steps in your advanced planning will help you sail off and return smoothly.
List Of Busiest Cruise Ports By Passengers
This is a list of busiest cruise ports by passengers. Some Asian ports are not included due to lack of information.
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Go Off The Beaten Path In Orlando
With so many things to do in Orlando, youll quickly discover your options are limitless. From award-winning golf courses to fascinating museums and outdoor adventures, this bustling city has fun activities for every type of adventure seeker. Before you cruise out of Orlando, venture out to explore and discover for yourself why its nicknamed The City Beautiful.
When Booking A Hotel Stick Close To The Port
If booking a hotel, choose one close to the port .
In the ideal world, you will have plenty of time to get from any hotel in town to the port. But, in reality, lots of unexpected and uncontrollable things happen. Like construction, traffic delays, and road hazards. Or a pre-embarkation shopping trip that goes awry. It is much better to have a shorter distance to cover on embarkation day.
Each of the major Florida cruise port cities has excellent hotel options:
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Orlando And The Space Coast
Cape Canaveral isnt launching many spaceships anymore, but cruise ships are frequently setting sail from the port there. Cities and towns along the Space Coast include Viera, Melbourne, and Palm Bay, and theyre minutes from the port. The port is also easy to reach from Orlando and other areas in Central Florida. These 55+ communities are great home bases for frequent cruisers.
Bridgewater at Viera in Melbourne is an exciting and in-demand 55+ community that attracts residents who like to stay busy and social. There are attached and single-family new construction homes offering a short commute to Port Canaveral. Solivita in Kissimmee and Del Webb Orlando in Davenport are also great options if you want to stay inland when youre not on a boat. They offer tons of amenities, modern and spacious homes, and a lifestyle thats low-maintenance and full of social activities.
United States Cruise Port Map
On the map below. we’ve starred all the ports. If the port is colored in we have information on it below. If it’s white it’s not included below, however check back for updates as we will continue to add to this post.
Disclosure: There are affiliate links in this post, which means we may earn a small commission if you click the link and proceed with a purchase at no cost to you. We truly only recommend cruises, experiences, products, and services we personally use. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases.
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Why You Should Drive To A Cruise In Baltimore:
Strategically located on the upper northwest shore of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland’s largest city has one of the premier ports of the Mid-Atlantic region. And there’s plenty for cruisers to discover in town as well. Fort McHenry, where the national anthem was composed by Francis Scott Key, sits next to the port while other attractions — like the National Aquarium, the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African American History and Culture, and the National Historic Seaport — are located in nearby Inner Harbor. And if you have the time, a quick jaunt to nearby Annapolis is another great way to enjoy Maryland’s history.
The Baltimore cruise port, officially known as Cruise Maryland, is home to two year-round cruise ships: Carnival Legend and Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas. Both offer itineraries from Baltimore that sail to the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Caribbean, as well as occasional New England and Canada cruises.
Cities Within Driving Distance of Baltimore: Atlantic City, NJ Washington, D.C. Philadelphia Hershey, PA Harrisburg, PA Allentown, PA Charlottesville, VA and Richmond, VA .
Why You Should Drive To A Cruise In Los Angeles:
Located on San Pedro Bay, roughly 25 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, the Port of Los Angeles is the largest cruise ship terminal on the West Coast of the United States. Contrary to other ports in North America and owing to the sprawling nature of the Los Angeles metro area, the World Cruise Port and the adjacent Long Beach Port aren’t particularly close the LA’s main attractions. But Old San Pedro is worth exploring, where you’ll find plenty of shops and restaurants as well as historic landmarks and museums.
Dubbed World Cruise Center, the Port of Los Angeles features three terminals. Cruise lines that homeport in the World Cruise Center include Princess, Norwegian and Celebrity Cruises . In 2021, Navigator of the Seas marked Royal Caribbean’s return to California for the first time in more than a decade, sailing year-round from the Port of Los Angeles.
Cities Within Driving Distance of Los Angeles: Anaheim, CA San Bernardino, CA and Irvine, CA San Diego .
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Why You Should Drive To A Cruise In Montreal:
Montreal is a hub for cruises sailing Canada and New England routes and is an awesome embarkation destination. On the west bank of the St. Lawrence River, Montreal’s Iberville Cruise Terminal is located not only within the bustling downtown area, but also in the historic part of the city, placing you right within the iconic Vieux Port area of the city. In fact, you can see the twin bell towers of Montreal’s Notre-Dame Basilica from the dock and in less than a 10-minute walk, you can be inside the church.
Montreal’s cruise season runs from late May to mid-October, with a greater concentration of itineraries taking place in the fall to take advantage of the region’s spectacular autumn foliage. During this time, Holland America Line, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas and Seabourn all homeport in Montreal, while other cruise lines offer one-way sailings, including Windstar, Ponant and Viking.
Cities Within Driving Distance of Montreal: Ottawa, ON Sherbrooke, QC Kingston, ON Burlington, VT Syracuse, NY and Albany, NY . Rail service is also available from Ottawa and Toronto on Via Rail.
Why You Should Drive To A Cruise In Tampa Fl:
The Port of Tampa Bay is Florida’s only Gulf of Meico cruise port. Tampa’s cruise terminals are part of the city’s Channelside District development, which includes shopping, dining, nightlife and a number of Tampa’s best attractions, including the Florida Aquarium and the American Victory Ship and Museum. Elsewhere, Busch Gardens amusement park is one of Tampa Bay’s biggest draws, while the nearby cities of Clearwater and St. Petersburg ahve awesome beaches.
Tampa homeports numerous vessels from four cruise lines: Carnival Paradise and Carnival Pride Royal Caribbean’s Brilliance of the Seas, Serenade of the Seas, Grandeur of the Seas and Radiance of the Seas Norwegian Dawn and Norwegian Jade and Celebrity Constellation. Itineraries from Tampa cover the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean as well as Panama Canal crossings, and the occasional transatlantic sailing.
Cities Within Driving Distance of Tampa: Clearwater, FL St. Petersburg , FL Sarasota, FL Orlando, FL Fort Myers, FL Cape Coral, FL Naples, FL Gainesville, FL Tallahassee, FL Jacksonville, FL and Lakeland, FL .
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