I’ve sailed on many cruise ships within the Caribbean, and certainly one of my favourite ports of name ever is Key West within the Florida Keys. As a US port, it’s a pleasant cease the place you may flip in your mobile service, use US {dollars}, and even cease at an American pharmacy for those who want any refills. But, it’s additionally a gorgeous, walkable city with so many actions which are nice for households and cruise ship passengers.
While some frequent cruisers skip getting off the ship at ports in favor of spending extra time on the ship, I extremely suggest leaving the ship in Key West. At a minimal, it’s nice to stroll round, store, and have a scrumptious meal earlier than going again to the ship. It’s a straightforward port to discover.
There are three totally different docks in Key West the place your cruise ship could dock. These embody Mallory Square Dock, Outer Mole Pier (owned by the U.S. Navy), and Pier B (which is privately owned and is in entrance of the Westin Resort). Our latest Virgin Voyages cruise (in addition to my final Disney Cruise Line Key West crusing) docked at Mallory Square, which appears to be mostly utilized by cruise ships.
Guide to Sailing to the Key West Cruise Port
It’s essential to notice that there was some discuss of native ordinances and adjustments to cruise ship guidelines in Key West. During the cruise shutdown, Key West voters to restrict cruise tourism within the space.
The proposed ordinance would restrict the variety of ships primarily based on the variety of passengers. While smaller vessels may nonetheless be allowed, bigger ships wouldn’t be permitted. While the Key West residents did approve this, it hasn’t been applied.
In wanting on the cruise calendar for the entire cruises in Key West, it’s clear that not the entire cruise traces have returned to the port of Key West. For occasion, we didn’t see any upcoming Disney Cruise Lines or Royal Caribbean ships on the schedule. So keep watch over these proposed adjustments for those who’d like to go to this common port of name.
Excursions or Going Solo
If your cruise ship goes to cease at Key West for a day, you’ll wish to think about whether or not or not you’d wish to e-book an official cruise ship tour. Unlike another ports, that is actually a spot the place you may simply comfortably head off by yourself. But there are many tour choices to think about for those who’d choose to do one thing scheduled.
These are prone to fluctuate primarily based on availability and may differ by the cruise line. On my final crusing to Key West, choices included a motorcycle tour, wildlife safari, a trolley tour, parasailing, a catamaran tour, a snorkel journey, a strolling tour, a pub crawl, and a rum tasting tour. You might also have the ability to go to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park or Dry Tortugas National Park.
In normal, excursions ought to be toured upfront, as a result of they could promote out. Booking a cruise-sponsored tour is usually the most secure possibility – you’ll be refunded if the ship can’t cease there for some motive, and also you’ll you should definitely be again on the ship in time on the finish of the night.
You may also choose to stroll off the ship and do your personal factor for the day. It’s pretty simple to get round, and getting again to the ship on the finish of the day in all probability gained’t be too tough. There are a number of choices for getting round. You can stroll round, and even hire a golf cart to drive your self across the city.
On our first go to to Key West, we opted to buy tickets to the Conch Tour Train. This cute practice makes three stops round Key West, whereas additionally providing narration and details about the city. It stops on the seaport, the Southernmost Point, and the Hemingway House.
It was good to get a experience to these locations, whereas additionally studying in regards to the historical past of Key West. The Conch Tour Train gives a pleasant steadiness between all of these. Tickets might be bought on-line upfront, however you can even purchase them when you arrive on the port.
Hemingway Home and Museum
We selected to go to the Hemingway Home and Museum on our first go to to Key West. After visiting the Southernmost Point, we walked all the way down to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. While youngsters could not know a lot about Ernest Hemingway, they are going to actually love the 40-50 six-toed cats that make the home/museum their dwelling.
It’s essential to know that the Hemingway Home is money solely, so be sure to have some with you. Guided excursions are provided at no further value on a set schedule. We had simply missed one and determined to skip it. You can simply stroll by means of the home your self, studying the displays. No reservations are required to your go to.
Southernmost Point of the United States
The hottest picture alternative in Key West, the Southernmost Point marker is unquestionably a must-see and top-of-the-line issues to do in Key West. Go early, as a result of a line kinds as vacationers wish to take their picture by the marker. It’s a beautiful space on the waterfront as nicely. We discovered that everybody in line was pleasant and prepared to take images of the group in entrance of them, so you may all be within the image.
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum
The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum is a nonprofit maritime museum positioned in Key West. Tickets might be bought upfront or on the door. It’s open 7-days every week, and displays embody each everlasting and rotating touring displays.
Key West Aquarium
If you might be visiting with younger kids, you could think about visiting the Key West Aquarium. It’s a brief stroll from the Mallory Square pier, and it’s positioned amongst retailers and eating places.
Tickets for the aquarium might be bought on-line. Combination tickets, together with tickets to excursions in Key West just like the Conch Tour Train and the Old Town Trolley Tour, are additionally provided.
Exhibits on the aquarium deal with the native marine life, together with sea turtles and sharks. A Sea Turtle Conservation Tour, a jellyfish exhibit, a shark exhibit, and a contact tank are among the many common points of interest. Check out their schedule on-line earlier than you go to see the occasions of the Shark Feeding and Conservation Tour.
Shopping and Eating in Key West
While there are some enjoyable factors of curiosity and excursions in Key West Florida, throughout this previous go to, I loved simply strolling across the city. We had a number of locations in thoughts to go to, and armed with Google maps, simply walked round on our personal.
As quickly as you stroll off your ship, you’ll be confronted with memento retailers and cafes. If you want to have a slice of that well-known Key Lime pie, there are ample alternatives all through the city (together with on the port). You’ll additionally see some kiosks the place you may e-book some last-minute excursions for those who’ve made a last-minute choice to do one.
We began our journey on the close by CVS, to choose up a number of forgotten objects. Then, we walked to Books & Books on the Studios, the bookstore co-owned by famed young-adult writer Judy Blume. This is a superb place to choose up the newest seaside learn, particularly for those who want a e-book to learn in your cruise. They have numerous great books, together with employees strategies for those who aren’t certain what to buy.
Attached to the bookstore is the Studios, a gorgeous area with a number of visiting artwork galleries. It’s undoubtedly price visiting after choosing up some books.
We then headed to Duval Street, the most well-liked and busy avenue on Key West. This is the place you’ll discover many of the retailers, bars, and eating places – many providing stay music.
Most of the eating places are informal and don’t require reservations, so you may even select a restaurant simply by strolling by. Two of the most well-liked ones for vacationers embody Sloppy Joe’s and Irish Kevin’s. During our most up-to-date go to, we ate at Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant, which additionally has different areas. We actually loved the environment in addition to our meals and drinks.
Before going again to the ship, we stopped at Mallory Square, an space with some nice memento retailers and kiosks. We made certain to go to the Cuban Coffee Queen, a espresso store within the indoor constructing adjoining to the sq.. It’s a fantastic place to choose up a cup of espresso or a snack earlier than heading again to your ship.
You can actually have your selection of expertise on the Port of Key West – from journey excursions to the informal strolling round that we did. Just take into account that for those who do wish to take part in an tour, it’s at all times greatest to e-book these upfront.
