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Caribbean Island Cruise Ports
Caribbean island cruise ports, offering gateways to explore the tropical beauties of the Caribbean are a dream for many travelers, and choosing the right cruise port can enhance that experience tremendously.
In this guide, we’ll provide an overview some of the major cruise ports in the United States that offer exciting voyages to the Caribbean, starting from the bustling atmosphere of New York and heading down to the sunny shores of Galveston, Texas.
Whether you're a seasoned cruiser or planning your first adventure, this information about each Caribbean cruise port will help you make informed decisions.
New York Cruise Port (Manhattan)
If you live in the northeast, you may consider sailing out of New York City (Manhattan). Departing from the New York Cruise Port (Manhattan Cruise Terminal) is basically the same as departing out of Florida.
For those who must fly into New York City to board your cruise ship, there are some additional attractions to bear in mind. You may check out the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building, or Times Square.
Caribbean Cruise lines leaving from the Port of Manhattan include Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Lines and Princess Cruises with sailings to the Bahamas, Bermuda and the Eastern Caribbean.
New York City Cruise Port Address: 711 12th Avenue (between 46th and 54th Streets), New York, NY 10019.*
*In addition to the cruise port in Manhattan, note that there is port is Brooklyn with sailings to the Caribbean.
* Where there is more than one cruise ship terminal, following the directions above will get you to the general area and from there you can follow pointers to your ship's terminal.
Caribbean Island Cruise Port
Cape Liberty Port, Bayonne, NJ
Families in the northeast have another port from which to choose - Cape Liberty in New Jersey.
The Cape Liberty pier is only a few miles across from the Statue of Liberty in lower Manhattan, on the New Jersey side.
If this cruise port is your chosen departure point and you have to fly into the area, you can also add the sites and sounds of New York City to your vacation.
Caribbean cruise lines leaving from cruise terminals at Cape Liberty include Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, with sailings to Bermuda and the Bahamas plus the Eastern and Southern Caribbean.
Celebrity also offers cruises from Cape Liberty to Bermuda and the Eastern Caribbean.
Cape Liberty Cruise Port Address: 14 Port Terminal Boulevard, Bayonne, NJ 07002.*
* Where there is more than one cruise ship terminal, following the directions above will get you to the general area and from there you can follow pointers to your ship's terminal.
Baltimore Cruise Terminal Maryland
Yes, there is another U.S. departure port on the east coast: Port of Baltimore, Maryland.
This port allows great access to would-be cruisers from several nearby states - Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia and from the nation's capitol, Washington, D.C.
Royal Caribbean International and Carnival Cruise Line are the top cruise lines offering cruises from Baltimore to Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Eastern, Western and Southern Caribbean.
Port of Baltimore Address: 2001 E. McComas Street, Baltimore, MD 21230.*
* Where there is more than one cruise ship terminal, following the directions above will get you to the general area and from there you can follow pointers to your ship's terminal.
Caribbean Island Cruise Ports
Norfolk Cruise Terminal
Good news for residents in and around the Norfolk, Virginia area: you can now sail to the Caribbean from a port in your town - Port of Norfolk.
Carnival Cruise Line offers sailings to the Bahamas from the cruise terminal in Norfolk, Virginia.
Note that Caribbean cruise sailings from Norfolk are currently limited in number.
Norfolk Cruise Port Address: 1 Waterside Drive, Norfolk, VA.*
* Where there is more than one cruise ship terminal, following the directions above will get you to the general area and from there you can follow pointers to your ship's terminal.
Jacksonville Cruise Port (JAXPORT)
The Port of Jacksonville is one of five U.S. cruise ports in Florida, offering cruise itineraries to the Caribbean.
For residents from parts of Georgia, northeastern Florida and even southwestern South Carolina, there are a few year-round cruise sailings from which to choose.
Carnival is currently the major Caribbean cruise line with inclusive cruises from Jacksonville, Florida.
Carnival sails 4-day cruises and 5-day cruises out of Jacksonville to the Bahamas.
Jacksonville Cruise Port Address: 9810 August Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32226.*
* Where there is more than one cruise ship terminal, following the directions above will get you to the general area and from there you can follow pointers to your ship's terminal.
Port Canaveral (Orlando Cruise Port)
Port Canaveral, Florida is one of the most popular U.S. cruise terminals. In fact, several cruise lines sail out of Port Canaveral to the Bahamas and the Caribbean.
If you are searching for a Disney cruise, this is the place to look.
For those who choose inclusive cruises leaving from Orlando or Port Canaveral, Florida and fly to get there, there is the added vacation opportunity of Orlando.
Cruisers have the Disney theme parks, Universal Studios, Sea World, The Holy Land Experience and many other attractions from which to choose.
Caribbean cruise lines which sail out of Port Canaveral, Florida include Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International with sailings to the Bahamas, and the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
Cruise Port Address: Terminal #2 - 180 Christopher Columbus Drive, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920*
* Where there is more than one cruise ship terminal, following the directions above will get you to the general area and from there you can follow pointers to your ship's terminal.
Caribbean Island Cruise Ports
Ft. Lauderdale Cruise Port (Port Everglades)
Residents of and travelers to southeastern Florida will find a great cruise terminal in Fort Lauderdale - Port Everglades.
This port competes with Port Miami as the busiest cruise port in the United States, offering the most Caribbean cruises from Florida.
Enjoy the beautiful beaches of the area, before getting on your cruise ship to the Caribbean and even Panama.
Caribbean cruise lines sailing out of Fort Lauderdale include Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International, with sailings to the Bahamas, the Eastern and Western Caribbean and the Southern Caribbean (Dutch Antilles).
Port Everglades Cruise Port Address: 1850 Eller Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33316.*
* Where there is more than one cruise ship terminal, following the directions above will get you to the general area and from there you can follow pointers to your ship's terminal.
Miami Cruise Port
(Port Miami)
Think "Miami Vice" and the beautiful South Beach area.
The Port of Miami is the busiest cruise homeport in Florida. Miami is the city of fun and therefore cruisers will find much to do there before sailing to the Caribbean.
Whether you like the beach or nightlife, you will have unforgettable moments in Miami.
The Miami Port itself processes millions of cruise passengers each year.
Caribbean cruise lines sailing out of the Port of Miami include Carnival Cruise Line, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruises, MSC Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean Cruises, with sailings to the Bahamas, the eastern, southern and western Caribbean, including stops in Mexico.
Miami Cruise Port Address: 1015 N America Way, Miami, FL 33132.*
* Where there is more than one cruise ship terminal, following the directions above will get you to the general area and from there you can follow pointers to your ship's terminal.
Tampa Cruise Port
The Port of Tampa - southwestern Florida - is not as busy as Miami, but for me is quite attractive.
For cruise passengers flying into the Tampa area, you will have the added attractions of aquariums, wildlife at the beautiful Busch Gardens and a strong Cuban influence.
Caribbean cruise lines sailing out of the cruise port in Tampa include Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International with sailings to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean (including Mexico).
Tampa Cruise Port Address: 651 Channelside Drive, Pier #2, Tampa, FL 33602.*
* Where there is more than one cruise ship terminal, following the directions above will get you to the general area and from there you can follow pointers to your ship's terminal.
Galveston Cruise Port
The Port of New Orleans sits among the busiest port complexes - Louisiana's Lower Mississippi River.
Without argument, for those who cruise out of New Orleans, there is the offering of two vacations: enjoy the famous hangout spots of New Orleans, as well as a fun-filled family cruise to the Caribbean.
Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean offer several inclusive cruises from New Orleans to the Bahamas plus the Eastern and Western Caribbean.
New Orleans Cruise Port Address: 1350 Port of New Orleans Place, New Orleans, LA 70123.*
Families in the southeastern United States have another convenient option for sailing to the Caribbean — the Mobile Cruise Terminal in Mobile, Alabama.
This port is especially appealing for those driving from Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and parts of Georgia who want a simpler, less crowded embarkation experience compared to the major Florida ports.
Currently, the only Caribbean cruise line sailing from Mobile is Carnival Cruise Line, offering select seasonal and short‑duration itineraries to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean.
Mobile Cruise Port Address:
201 S. Water Street, Mobile, AL 36602.
Caribbean Island Cruise Ports
Mobile Cruise Terminal
New Orleans Cruise Port
The Port of Galveston is not as busy as other ports, but it gives the residents of Texas and the surrounding areas a great opportunity to cruise to the Caribbean right from home. The city of Galveston is also a great area to explore.
Carnival Cruise Line, Disney Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean International offer inclusive cruises from Galveston to the Bahamas and the Western Caribbean.
Galveston Cruise Port Address: 123 25th Street, Galveston, TX 77550.*
* Where there is more than one cruise ship terminal, following the directions above will get you to the general area and from there you can follow pointers to your ship's terminal.
Caribbean Island Cruise Ports - Personal Experience at US Cruise Home Ports
For the Caribbean cruises my family has been blessed to experience, we have sailed from six departure ports and have driven to all of them.
My family has sailed twice with Carnival Cruise Line from Tampa, Florida; multiple times with Carnival and other cruise lines from Port Canaveral, Florida; several times from Miami Port; several times from Ft. Lauderdale; once with Carnival from Mobile, Alabama; and once from New Orleans, Louisiana.
We have also sailed from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
If I were to pick a favorite cruise departure port from which we sailed, Tampa stands out as the best. The cruise port in Tampa, Florida was easy to get to, was not very complicated to navigate and parking was less than $20 per day - both times. (That might have changed.)
I will especially remember the parking fee, because parking at the other ports was more than $20 per day!
In addition to the cruise ports listed above, note that there are other ports with sailings to the Caribbean, Panama and South American ports of call.
These ports include: San Juan, Puerto Rico; Bridgetown, Barbados; and Colon, Panama.
Whichever cruise itinerary your family wishes to experience, there is a Caribbean cruise departure port near you.
Happy sailing!
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