I’ve sailed on many cruise ships within the Caribbean, and one in every 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 ravishing, walkable city with so many actions which can be 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 advocate 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 completely different docks in Key West the place your cruise ship might dock. These embrace 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 current 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 necessary to notice that there was some speak 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 based mostly on the variety of passengers. While smaller vessels might 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 strains 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 widespread port of name.
Excursions or Going Solo
If your cruise ship goes to cease at Key West for a day, you’ll wish to contemplate whether or not or not you’d prefer 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 more likely to range based mostly on availability and might 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 can also be capable of go to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park or Dry Tortugas National Park.
In basic, excursions needs to be toured prematurely, as a result of they might 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 purpose, and also you’ll you should definitely be again on the ship in time on the finish of the night.
You may 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 most likely 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 lovable 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 journey to these locations, whereas additionally studying concerning the historical past of Key West. The Conch Tour Train provides a pleasant steadiness between all of these. Tickets could be bought on-line prematurely, however you may as well 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 right down to the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum. While youngsters might not know a lot about Ernest Hemingway, they may definitely love the 40-50 six-toed cats that make the home/museum their house.
It’s necessary 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 way of the home your self, studying the reveals. No reservations are required in your go to.
Southernmost Point of the United States
The hottest photograph alternative in Key West, the Southernmost Point marker is certainly a must-see and among the best issues to do in Key West. Go early, as a result of a line kinds as vacationers wish to take their photograph by the marker. It’s a stunning space on the waterfront as properly. We discovered that everybody in line was pleasant and prepared to take pictures 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 could be bought prematurely or on the door. It’s open 7-days per week, and reveals embrace each everlasting and rotating touring reveals.
Key West Aquarium
If you might be visiting with younger kids, you could contemplate 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 could 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 concentrate on 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 widespread sights. Check out their schedule on-line earlier than you go to see the instances 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 just a few 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 determination to do one.
We began our journey on the close by CVS, to choose up just a few forgotten gadgets. Then, we walked to Books & Books on the Studios, the bookstore co-owned by famed young-adult writer Judy Blume. This is a good place to choose up the newest seaside learn, particularly for those who want a e-book to learn in your cruise. They have a number of fantastic books, together with employees solutions for those who aren’t positive what to buy.
Attached to the bookstore is the Studios, a ravishing area with a number of visiting artwork galleries. It’s undoubtedly price visiting after selecting up some books.
We then headed to Duval Street, the most well-liked and busy road on Key West. This is the place you’ll discover many of the retailers, bars, and eating places – many providing reside 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 embrace 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 positive to go to the Cuban Coffee Queen, a espresso store within the indoor constructing adjoining to the sq.. It’s an awesome 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 remember that for those who do wish to take part in an tour, it’s at all times finest to e-book these prematurely.
