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What Cruise Lines Depart From Charleston Sc

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Pros: Why Should You Choose The Port Of Charleston

2.5 Hour Uncut View From Cargo Ship Departing Charleston, SC | Life At Sea

Charleston has a long history and some amazing sights to see. The city itself is very accommodating to those who cruise form their ports. There are many options for entertainment. You can find a hotel to suit you without issue as they have everything from the more historically themed bed and breakfast type places to the more sleek and modern style hotels.

There are tons of restaurants, clubs, and bars to choose from too. There is plenty of parking, and many hotels will accommodate cruisers. Of course, all of these things are just the icing on the cake. The main reasons for cruising out of Charleston are the ships and the port!

Blount Small Ship Adventures: Cultures And Traditions

The Cultures and Traditions cruise with Blount Small Ship Adventures takes you northward from Charleston to Philadelphia over 10 days, stopping at ports in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland along the way. The first stop, Georgetown, offers well-preserved antebellum architecture and a history dating to 1732. In North Carolina, visit Wilmington with its mile-long Riverwalk. Explore a state-of-the-art aquarium in Beaufort, and cruise the scenic Inner Banks region on the way to Belhaven. Other historic coastal towns on the schedule are Norfolk, at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, the seaport of Baltimore, and finally, Philadelphia, where you have half a day to see the Liberty Bell and other celebrated sights.

Cruises Departing From Charleston South Carolina

Coastal Charleston offers direct access to several waterways.

Charleston, South Carolinas port is served by one major cruise line and two small-ship cruise companies. Options for cruises from Charleston range in duration from five to 10 days, and will take you to one of three regions: across the Atlantic to the Bahamas and the Eastern Caribbean, northward up the Eastern Seaboard to Philadelphia, or south to navigate the barrier islands and coastal towns stretching from the Carolinas to Florida.

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Charleston Sc Cruise Terminal

Charleston cruise port terminal is located at the Union Pier, in the historic district of the city’s downtown. It is easily accessible via Highway 17-North, Highway 17-South, and also Interstate 26. Charleston International Airport is at approx 20 min drive distance from the terminal.

The current cruise terminal building dates from 1973. The terminal facility is operated by South Carolina Ports Authority. Longterm parking: at the terminal is available for cruise passenger vehicless only . Reservations for the parking are not required.

About The Carnival Fantasy

Carnival announces new cruise ship to depart from ...

The leader of the Fantasy Class group of ships, the Carnival Fantasy is presently the cruise line’s oldest working vessel. For those that don’t know, the Carnival Fantasy debuted in 1990, scheduled during its first few years from Miami. At the time, the ship was the first to offer three- to four-night cruises from the Florida city to the Bahamas.

Three years later, the Carnival Fantasy would be based out of Mobile, Ala., and sent to Charleston, where it has since remained to the present.

Although the Fantasy currently remains Carnival’s oldest ship, it went through the full Evolutions of Fun upgrade in 2008.

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Luxury Cruise Ship Anchorage Since 2017

In January 2017, the city agreed to limit the per-year number of cruise vessels scheduled to dock in Port Charleston. However, it doesn’t apply to Charleston Harbor.

  • Smaller and luxury cruise ships will be anchored close to Fort Sumter, from where their passengers will be transported via locally provided tender boats to Patriots Point. The area is known as “Commercial Anchorage A”. It is located between Fort Sumter and Crab Bank, and could suit ships with smaller capacity .
  • The passenger tendering service to the shore is provided by the local tour company “SpiritLine Cruises”. The company has a fleet of 4 boats and serves its passengers from a dock at Patriots Point, where they board its vessels for harbor tour cruises.
  • Cruise ships to Charleston visiting the port as “port of call” cause fewer problems than the homeported here larger vessels, because their passengers don’t have cars to park.

List Of Cruise Lines Departing From Port Of Charleston Sc

The Carnival Fantasy disembarks from the Port of Charleston’s Union Pier Terminal.

The Port of Charleston in South Carolina is one of many cruise departure points on the Eastern Seaboard and ranks among the most charming. Before boarding ship and setting sail for the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Bermuda or even a far-flung adventure through the Panama Canal, ease into vacation mode through the historic sights and celebrated cuisine of the city of Charleston. Many cruise lines offer itineraries featuring Charleston as a port of call, and a handful have cruises departing from there. The latter present options that vary in terms of destination and duration.

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Cruises Leaving Out Of Charleston Sc

Can you cruise a small ship in winter? Yes, you can. One of our annual favorites is the Historic South & Golden Isles cruise, 8-days from Jacksonville to Charleston .

Historic SouthThe ports of the South are living history! Explore wildlife refuges of untouched wilderness, the grace and beauty of antebellum society, and the layers of culture evident in all aspects of the cities, from the architecture to the cuisine!

Golden IslesThe Intracoastal Waterway is a series of protected bays, canals and rivers that wind between the eastern coastline of the US and outlying islands. Because youre not out on open water, the chance of seasickness is decreased when compared to an ocean cruise.

Ports of call: Amelia Island, Florida Georgias Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island, Sapelo Island, and Savannah South Carolinas Hilton Head Island and Beaufort

Charleston Cruise Port Address

Cruises From Charleston SC

The Port of Charleston lies conveniently in the heart of the historic district, at the end of Market Street. It offers the amazing opportunity to combine a visit to one of Americas most historic cities with a cruise to one or more tropical islands.

  • The address of the Charleston cruise port is: 196 Concord Street, Charleston, SC 29401
  • The cruise terminal parking in Charleston is at: 201-293 Concord Street, Charleston, SC 29401

Get a price on a cruise in this post

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Update #1: Carnival Extends Voluntary Pause In Charleston Cruise Operations To 2022

Update #18: Carnival extends voluntary pause in Charleston cruise operations to 2022

Carnival Cruise Line is however planning to resume more of its guest operations and ship restarts in some U.S. ports as part of a phased-in approach, the company said in a news release.

We are very pleased with the progress of our restart which will grow to 15 ships sailing from seven U.S. homeports by mid-November, said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line, in a statement. We are making slight adjustments to our timeline to take into account supply chain realities and ensure that our destination and shore excursion offerings can meet the strong demand we are seeing from our guests. Our teams, ship and shore, are prepared to continue delivering on our great guest experience and manage all health and safety protocols.

SC Ports does not currently have a confirmed date for when the Carnival Sunshine will resume operations in Charleston. SC Ports also does not currently have a confirmed date for when Port of Calls will resume operations in Charleston.

SC Ports continues to work with federal agencies and cruise line partners in support of the Charleston community updates will be shared with the community.

If you have any questions about your current booking onboard the Carnival Sunshine, please contact Carnival Customer Care at 1-800-764-7419.

Update #17: Carnival extends voluntary pause in Charleston cruise operations through Oct. 31

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Top Things To Do In Charleston

Shuck Oysters on the Bay

Dont miss the chance to try fresh oysters while in port from Charleston cruises. The citys coastal location provides delicious seafood, and there are plenty of cafes, bars, and eateries with bayside views for you to take in the sights.

Enjoy a Horse & Carriage Ride

Whether youre looking for a romantic excursion with your loved one or an unforgettable ride for the family, a horse and carriage trip through the cobblestoned streets of Charleston is an experience for all ages. Admire the Antebellum architecture as you go.

Shop at the Historic City Market

Find the perfect souvenir or handmade craft to bring back home at the Charleston Historic City Market, which is one of the oldest public markets in the United States. Shop the stalls and chat with dozens of local vendors.

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Carnival Cruise Line From Charleston South Carolina

For many travelers along the East Coast, Florida’s many ports, including Miami and Fort Lauderdale, were long the go-to places for starting a cruise. But smaller cruise ports began popping up along the Atlantic seaboard, with Charleston being one of them.

The Port of Charleston, which includes the Union Pier Cruise Terminal, is situated in the Southern city’ss historical district, adjacent to many restaurants, shops, and hotels. In 2013, a new terminal is scheduled to open in the area, as part of a few concept plan involving a move to the northern end of the pier. This way, Charleston’s historical charm remains intact while freeing up the city’s infrastructure around the terminal.

Currently, just Carnival Cruise Lines departs from Charleston’s terminal, with the Carnival Fantasy leaving year round to the Bahamas, Bermuda, or the Caribbean.

Cruises Departing From Charleston Sc

List of Cruise Lines Departing From Port of Charleston, SC ...

While many cruises make a port stop in Charleston, South Carolina, only one ship, the Carnival Fantasy, disembarks out of this port. Itineraries aboard the Carnival Fantasy, which are offered year-round, include five- and seven-day voyages to port stops in the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean. Cruises depart out of Charleston every week of the year.

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Top Food And Drink Spots Near The Charleston Cruise Port

Luckily, Charleston has a variety of dining experiences for every palate, whether you prefer fast casual or fine dining. Many of the citys chefs and restaurants have received a James Beard award, but dont let that fool you into thinking the food is pretentious. Cuisine in Charleston is inventive while sticking to classic flavors and Southern comforts. For meat lovers, head to the casual Artisan Meat Share for bratwurst and all sorts of fine meats. At 167 Raw, slurp down a dozen fresh oysters in style. The Codfather is a local favorite for authentic fish and chips.

Blount Small Ship Adventures: Southern Antebellum

The Southern Antebellum cruise with Blount Small Ship Adventures is an eight-day voyage from Charleston to Jacksonville, Florida. Along the way youll stop to see the sights of Beaufort, South Carolina Savannah, Brunswick, Jekyll Island and St.Marys in Georgia and Amelia Island in Florida. Traveling on a small cruise ship allows for exploration of numerous waterways, including the Eastern Seaboard, the Intracoastal Waterway, the Savannah River and St. Andrews Sound. Some highlights of the journey are an antebellum dance performance which gives insight into the Gullah language in Beaufort, a trolley tour of historic Savannah, a low-country cooking demonstration with dinner on Amelia Island, and a visit to the Submarine Museum in St. Marys.

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Mount Pleasant Cruise Port

The port of Mount Pleasant SC emerged as a Charleston alternative cruise port and will receive its first ship call in May 2017. As Charleston SC self-imposed the 104-vessel limit per year , the Mount Pleasant port emerged as a nearby alternative for smaller-sized and luxury cruise vessels. After anchoring here, they will tender their passengers to Fort Sumter, from where is approx 30-min bus travel to downtown Charleston.

The first-ever ship that anchored in Mount Pleasant SC was Silversea‘s superyacht Silver Whisper .

Carnival Cruises From Charleston Returning In January

Carnival cruises from Charleston to Cuba cancelled due to new Trump policy

CHARLESTON, S.C. – Carnival cruises are returning to the Holy City in a few months. The company announced that cruises on the Carnival Sunshine from Charleston will start back up on Jan. 13, 2022.

The Carnival Sunshine is one of the latest ship restarts the company has announced it its plan to return its full fleet sailing from U.S. homeports by the spring of 2022.

Our restart plan continues to excel across all metrics, and we are looking forward to completing the restart of the fleet in the new year, said Christine Duffy, president of Carnival Cruise Line. We appreciate the support and patience of our guests, travel agents and port and destination partners who have been key to this successful restart.

Duffy said that Carnival continues to carefully monitor the status of public health and adjust its operating protocols accordingly.

We are optimistic that vaccines will be approved for children between the ages of 5-11 before the end of the year and we look forward to welcoming more families back on board, she added. As it relates to ships operating in January and February, Carnival will continue to operate vaccinated cruises under its current protocols.

According to company officials, cruises on Carnivals three remaining U.S.-based ships Carnival Ecstasy from Jacksonville, Carnival Paradise from Tampa, and Carnival Sensation from Mobile have been cancelled through February.

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Cruises Out Of Charleston South Carolina

There are 11 cruises that depart from Charleston, SC in the year 2021. All of these cruises are offered by one cruise line – Carnival – on its Carnival Sunshine cruise ship.You can see Charleston cruise schedule for 2021 in the table below. Be sure to look at the $/Day column to find cheap Charleston cruise deals in 2021.
Departure

What Youneed To Know

  • Port Name & LocationPort of Charleston, South Carolina. Ship will DOCK at this port.
  • Time Zone
  • The local language is English.
  • Currency & ShoppingU.S. Dollar Charleston offers an abundance of shopping opportunities, from high-end fashion to unique, locally-owned stores. King Street, one of the city’s most popular shopping districts, is lined with galleries, bookstores, clothing boutiques and more.
    • Famous ForCharleston is known for its numerous historic buildings, museums, picturesque downtown centre and beaches.
    • ImportantCharleston is a walkers paradise, so slip on a comfortable pair of shoes and bring plenty of sunscreen and water because summers are hot and humid.
    • Fun Fact #1Located on a small island in the Charleston Harbour, Fort. Sumter was the site of the first shots fired during the Civil War.
    • Fun Fact #2Situated at the mouth of Charleston Harbour, Sullivan’s Island Beach is known for its expansive sands, sandbars and gentle waves and is considered the ideal place for families to soak in a relaxing beach day.
      • Fun Fact: FoodiesStop by one of the city’s numerous delicious restaurants and cafes and savour the best of Southern cooking, from boiled peanuts and shrimp and grits to fried chicken, deviled crabs and much more – all served up with a giant glass of sweet tea.
      • Fun Fact: LandmarksHaving been founded in 1773, the Charleston Museum boasts the distinction of being Americas first museum and offers exhibits detailing regional cultures and history.

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American Cruise Lines: Historic South And Golden Isles

American Cruise Lines seven-day Historic South and Golden Isles cruise showcases the storied southern cities of Savannah, Charleston and Beaufort, as well as the natural beauty and wildlife of the bays and rivers of the Intracoastal Waterway. In addition to city sightseeing, passengers have the chance to explore the Sea Pines Forest Preserve of Hilton Head Island, where you might see the native American alligator the antebellum plantations of St. Simons Island and Sapelo Island on the Georgia Coast the Pulitzer, Rockefeller and Vanderbilt estates on Jekyll Island and the picturesque Victorian homes of Amelia Islands historic district. The cruise ends in Jacksonville, Florida.

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Travel Hotels Parking And Thesights

Aerial showing Carnival Cruise Lines ship departing ...

Now that we have covered the cruise linesthemselves we can get to some of the other great features and reasons for usingthe port in Charleston SC! The city is full of beauty and convenience. The factthat Charleston is close to the center of the East Coast means it is easilyaccessible to people from all around. The airport is conveniently located onlya 20-minute drive away, and there are also buses and trains coming in from upand down the coast.

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Union Pier Cruise Terminal

The plan for development of Charleston cruise ship terminal includes construction of a new building. It will be located at the Union Pier’s northern end. The old part of the building will be redeveloped. The Ports Authority will sell 0,15 km2 Union Pier property for private development right after the completion of the new terminal. This premium waterfront area will be developed as a new neighborhood and will be of no maritime use. It will feature new streets, public parks, shops, residential homes and businesses, thus increasing the access to the waterfront.

The concept plan also includes relocating of all cargo shipping operations from Union Pier. It will serve only as cruise pier.

The new passenger terminal’s construction will cost USD 35 million. Its opponents have sued in both state and federal courts. Public hearing was also called by the US Army Corps of Engineers after receiving a new federal permit for putting additional pilings beneath one of the old terminal’s warehouses.

It looks like Charlestonians want the cruises, but don’t want the new terminal to be located on the edge of the city’s historic district. Among their major concerns are the air quality and traffic congestion. The cruise port will have to install electric ship-to-shore power to reduce air pollution by docked vessels.

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