United States Ports« Back to Port Information
Anchorage, Alaska↑ Back to top
Cosmopolitan Anchorage is a city that has its own symphony and ballet yet offers rugged wilderness only minutes away. Art enthusiasts will enjoy the Anchorage Museum of History and Art and the many galleries. Shoppers will discover excellent native Alaskan arts and crafts.
Baltimore, Maryland (Annapolis / Washington, D.C.)↑ Back to top
When Francis Scott Key wrote “The Star Spangled Banner” during the siege of Fort McHenry in 1814, no one knew that the little town would become a great American seaport. Baltimore has a unique turn-of-the-century flavor enhanced by such attractions as the Streetcar Museum, its revitalized Inner Harbor and the new/old Camden Yards, home of the Baltimore Orioles. Nearby, discover 18th-century Annapolis and the U.S. Naval Academy. Just an hour away is the nation’s capital and a treasure-trove of U.S. history, including The White House, Jefferson and Lincoln memorials, and the many, outstanding Smithsonian museums.
Bangor, Maine↑ Back to top
From shipbuilding to steamships and lumberyards, this picturesque port has proven its resiliency and flourished in the last century into a city once described by Henry David Thoreau as “a shining light on the edge of wilderness.” Today Bangor proudly displays a touch of modern culture with museums and revival architecture forever encapsulating a fascinating history.
Bar Harbor, Maine↑ Back to top
Tucked into a cove in the shade of the Acadian National Park, Bar Harbor is the quintessential New England coastal town. Enjoy the great outdoors with a bike ride or kayak adventure. Participate in a lobster bake. Savor hand-stretched taffy from a local candy shop.
Boston, Massachusetts↑ Back to top
The history and brick-adorned beauty of Boston is easy to enjoy. Discover landmarks of America’s birth along the Freedom Trail, past the Old North Church, Paul Revere Park, Faneuil Hall, Old Ironsides and the Boston Common, the oldest city park in the United States. Across the Charles River is Cambridge, home to Harvard University. Further afield is Lexington and Concord to the north. Be sure to enjoy New England clam chowder near the wharf, or great Italian food in the city’s North End.
Brooklyn, New York (New York City)↑ Back to top
The new Brooklyn cruise terminal, located in this city’s Red Hook section, is one of three cruise ship terminals serving New York City. The 180,000-square-foot facility opened in the spring of 2006. Most visitors make the short trip to the island of Manhattan to catch a Broadway show, go to the top of the Empire State Building, to explore one of New York City’s renowned museums or to shop Fifth Avenue’s glamorous department stores.
Cape Liberty, Bayonne, New Jersey (New York City)↑ Back to top
When it was opened in 2004, this became the first new cruise port in New Jersey in 40 years. It is on the site of the Bayonne Military Ocean Terminal. Bayonne is just 45 minutes by car or coach from New York City and its many world-famous attractions (see New York City below).
Catalina Island, California↑ Back to top
Santa Catalina Island has been inhabited for more than 7,000 years, ever since the Pimungan tribe settled there, attracted by the island’s rich marine life. Yet Catalina’s popularity dates from 1919 when chewing gum tycoon William Wrigley purchased the island. Overnight, Catalina secured its reputation as a playground for magnates and movie stars. Since 1975, the Santa Catalina Island Conservancy has held most of Catalina in trust. Buffalo, imported for a 1924 movie, roam the island’s arid uplands. Offshore, kelp beds shelter brightly colored Garibaldi fish, barking sea lions, playful seals and dolphins. It’s no wonder Catalina still woos yachtsmen, deep-sea fishermen and divers.
Charleston, South Carolina↑ Back to top
Aristocratic, stately, and gracious, Charleston personifies the flavor of the Old South. Tour the town’s many historic homes and gardens by coach or by horse-drawn carriage. Boone Hall Plantation recreates the antebellum grandeur, and the Isle of Hope recalls the Low Country past. Tour Fort Sumter where, on April 12, 1861, local troops opened fire beginning the Civil War.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida (Port Everglades)↑ Back to top
Originally a fort built by the U.S. Army in 1838, the Greater Fort Lauderdale area welcomes visitors with 23 miles of broad, palm-fringed beaches. Shoppers will enjoy fashionable boutiques along Las Olas Boulevard and upscale department stores at The Galleria mall. There are also sightseeing cruises through the city’s 300+ miles of waterways, boasting more canals than Venice. If you have more time, venture to the wildlife sanctuary of the Everglades, or to Sawgrass Mills, Florida’s largest outlet mall, with more than 350 name-brand stores.
Galveston, Texas (Houston)↑ Back to top
Texans flock to sandy barrier isles like Galveston Island to frolic in the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Visitors can do this, or absorb the atmosphere of Galveston itself. Stately homes grace the island. There is also the chance to visit mainland Houston and the impressive NASA Space Center.
Haines, Alaska↑ Back to top
Alaska’s heritage comes alive in the handcrafted artistry of the Tlingit (pronounced “Klink-it”) Indians and in the lively performances of the Chilkat dancers with their brightly painted tribal masks. Take a walking tour of Haines and get a glimpse of the town’s gold-rush history in local museums. You can also visit the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve. Haines boasts the world’s largest concentration of the magnificent birds, drawn to the area by the salmon-rich waters.
Hilo (Island of Hawaii), Hawaii↑ Back to top
The “Big Island” of Hawaii is the youngest and largest of the Hawaiian Islands, and the most varied in landscape – with striking black- and green-sand beaches, tropical rain forests, ancient Hawaii heiau ruins, alpine terrain, and surreal lava-rock landscapes. Green gardens and cascading waterfalls encircle Hilo, the eastern side’s port city, where the seat of the Big Island’s government resides. Hilo is also a launching point for many Big Island attractions, including Volcanoes National Park.
Honolulu, Hawaii↑ Back to top
Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor – these names evoke magic, mystery, drama, and history, and they are all located in Honolulu. The capital of Hawaii, this city not only offers some of the best beaches alongside big-city skyscrapers but also parks, shopping, the only royal palace in America, the Polynesian Cultural Center and more. A highlight of any visit to Honolulu is a visit to the Arizona Memorial and the Missouri, a preserved battleship at anchor. The two provide a counterpoint involving the defeat and tragedy at Pearl Harbor and the triumphant signing of the Japanese surrender which took place on board Missouri.
Juneau, Alaska↑ Back to top
Alaska’s capital can’t be reached by road. You fly or sail here to enjoy its greeting of dockside flags and flowers. It is surprisingly urban and cultured for being so remote. Visit the museum for insights into Inuit culture and crafts. Drive up to Mendenhall, the only glacier inside city limits! Or get an aerial view from a helicopter. Fish for silver salmon, or just enjoy some at a local restaurant – then kick back at the Red Dog Saloon.
Ketchikan/Misty Fjord, Alaska↑ Back to top
Ketchikan is the salmon capital of the world. The canneries are busy, and the stream below Creek Street’s rustic boardwalk bustles with life. Visit the ancient grove of Totem Bight, the largest collection of authentic totem poles anywhere. If you like, you can also fly to nearby Misty Fjords, a breathtaking vista of Alaska’s unspoiled wilderness and America’s newest national monument. Salmon fishing is also available.
Key West, Florida↑ Back to top
Located 155 miles south of Miami, Key West is the best known and southernmost spot in the continental U.S. It is a tropical blend of exotic foliage, beautiful waters and history-rich attractions. Since its founding in 1822, the town has gone through many phases. Over the years pirates, smugglers, writers and revolutionaries have made the Conch Republic their home. Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, Robert Frost and Thornton Wilder are among the most noted who came here to enjoy the idyllic setting and casual, relaxed atmosphere.
Kona (Island of Hawaii), Hawaii↑ Back to top
Located on the leeward side of the Big Island and best known for its coffee, Kona was once the playground of Hawaii’s royalty. You can visit both coffee and macadamia nut plantations, Kealakekua Bay where Captain James Cook first landed (and was later murdered) in 1779, and The Sacred City of Refuge, a haven for ancient lawbreakers. There is also Parker Ranch, the largest cattle ranch in the world with over a quarter of a million acres.
Kauai (Nawiliwili), Hawaii↑ Back to top
This quaint port was named for the wiliwili trees that grow here in profusion. Known as the Garden Isle, Kauai claims the wettest spot on earth – Mount Waialeale – with 486 inches of rain per year. All this rain makes for lush vegetation, taro, pineapple and sugar plantations. Among the attractions: Fern Grotto, a huge variety of native flora, Waimea (the Grand Canyon of the Pacific), and Sprouting Hole, a blowhole that sends a geyser 50 feet into the air. You can also swim at the very beach where the movie South Pacific was filmed!
Maui (Kahului), Hawaii↑ Back to top
Located on the north side of Maui, known as the Valley Island, Kahului is the principal seaport and the best “jumping off point” for this island’s attractions. You may visit the old provincial town of Wailuka and its museum; or the Valley of the Kings, with its towering rock monolith, Iao Needle – dramatic, beautiful and isolated. You’ll also find fabulous beaches, and Lahaina, an old whaling town and the first capital of the islands. Maui also boasts the largest dormant volcano in the world.
Maui (Lahaina), Hawaii↑ Back to top
Historic Lahaina was once a rough-and-tumble whaling town in days gone by. Today visitors come to watch, not hunt, the humpbacks in Lanai Channel. You can ascend through waving sugar cane fields to the summit of Haleakala for sweeping views over its vast dormant crater and of this beautiful island. Another activity is a tram ride through the Tropical Plantation on its slopes.
Miami, Florida (Miami Beach/South Beach)↑ Back to top
Cosmopolitan Miami serves as a gateway to the Caribbean, Central and South America. Visitors can stroll through quaint Coconut Grove, with its art galleries; tour Vizcaya, a National Historic Landmark built by agricultural industrialist James Deering; or discover over 50 diveable wreck sites, including ships, oil platforms, army tanks and a Boeing 727 jet, sunk to provide artificial reefs for marine life. Miami Beach, just a short drive away, is home to the trendy South Beach neighborhood, with its carefully preserved Art Deco architecture and plentiful cafés. Inland, at Everglades National Park, visitors can spot alligators and other wildlife.
Midway Island, Hawaii↑ Back to top
Located near the geographical midpoint of the Pacific Island, Midway Atoll is the last of the volcanic sea mounts that form the Hawaiian Islands. It was also the site of the most decisive naval battle of World War II. Today, Midway is an internationally acclaimed wildlife refuge. The peaceful beaches are home to terns, albatrosses and myna birds. Over 250 species of fish frequent Midway’s unique fringed reef, and Hawaiian monk seals and Hawaiian spinner dolphins frequent the azure waters. For World War II buffs, Midway still bears the marks of war, including the original 1941 seaplane hanger.
New Orleans, Louisiana↑ Back to top
Unique in all the world, the lacy Creole look and carefree atmosphere of the “Big Easy” set it apart. In spite of the devastation caused in August 2005 by Hurricane Katrina – the costliest and one of the deadliest hurricanes in the history of the U.S. – the city’s irrepressible spirit came through the storm unscathed. Whether you take time to savor authentic Creole cuisine, browse through quaint antique shops in the French Quarter, or tour historic mansions that date back over a century, you’re sure to find dozens of other things to delight you in this high-spirited city that pulses with the beat of Dixieland jazz.
Newport, Rhode Island↑ Back to top
A posh summer resort with a vivid history dating back to colonial times, Newport is home to fabulous summer “cottages” of the turn-of-the-century wealthy. You can tour The Breakers, a 70-room estate surrounded by magnificent grounds and pounding surf or Marble House, patterned after Versailles, or Belcourt Castle, a 62-room mansion resplendent with treasures from 32 countries.
New York City, New York↑ Back to top
This vibrant metropolis is actually a rich mosaic of many neighborhoods. Feel the excitement of Broadway with its plays and musicals. Explore Little Italy and the Wall Street financial district. Walk the streets of Chinatown, stopping for dim sum along the way – and don’t forget Soho’s art galleries and artsy Greenwich Village. Visit the Empire State Building for a panoramic city view. Pop into the glamorous department stores and designer boutiques. Visit any number of world-renowned museums. It truly is a wonderful city!
Norfolk, Virginia↑ Back to top
Steeped in naval lore, Norfolk got its start shortly after Jamestown was founded in 1607. Its deep-water harbor is now the site of the largest naval base in the world. On an excursion, discover 18th-century Virginia in Colonial Williamsburg, restored by John D. Rockefeller as a gift to all Americans. See the Governor’s Palace and the House of Burgesses, where Patrick Henry, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson served prior to the Revolution.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania↑ Back to top
No city reflects America’s birth and colonial beginnings better than the “City of Brother Love.” From Revolutionary War battlefields and the Liberty Bell, to once serving as our nation’s capital, Philly, itself, is an historic site. Visit the Liberty Bell, with its famed cracked lip; the 160,000-square-foot National Constitution Center, dedicated to one of our most important documents; and Independence Hall, where our nation declared its independence from England in 1776. You can also travel through the scenic countryside to the Pennsylvania Dutch country.
Port Canaveral, Florida (Orlando)↑ Back to top
Port Canaveral is home of the Kennedy Space Center, featuring exhibits and an IMAX theater which takes you through the entire history of America’s space program. From here you can also visit nearby Orlando, home to more theme parks than anywhere else on earth – including Walt Disney World® Resort, Universal OrlandoSM and SeaWorld® Adventure Park.
Portland, Maine↑ Back to top
Long ago, ships relied on the steady glow of a lighthouse to guide them from rough waters to port and safety. Today, visitors to Portland can visit the oldest lighthouse in Maine, one of a swiftly, dwindling number left in North America. You will also find a lively city with a broad range of architectural styles and a charming section known as Old Port, where visitors can walk through quaint, lantern-lit streets. You can also visit Longfellow’s boyhood home.
Providence, Rhode Island↑ Back to top
The state capitol of Rhode Island is known as the “Renaissance City.” Over three centuries of fascinating history are preserved and celebrated here, from Benefit Street’s “Mile of History” to immaculate examples of Colonial, Federal, Greek Revival and Victorian architecture. There are plenty of historic landmarks to discover, such as the Rhode Island State House, the John Brown House and the Meeting House of the First Baptist Church in America.
San Diego, California (Coronado)↑ Back to top
Father Junipero Serra journeyed from Spain and settled San Diego in 1769 in order to Christianize the local Indians. Blessed with a sunny climate and a fine natural harbor, San Diego has grown from a Spanish mission into California’s second-largest city. Visitors enjoy a host of attractions, including a world-class zoo and safari park, museums and 70 miles of beaches. Nearby is Coronado, a small island in San Diego Bay, which is home to the famous Hotel Del Coronado, a National Historic Landmark built in 1888.
San Francisco, California↑ Back to top
Sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge and into San Francisco’s broad bay will surely be a highlight of your cruising life. Once docked along the Embarcadero, you’re within a cable car ride of Fisherman’s Wharf, Chinatown, North Beach, the Castro, Alcatraz and other attractions that make this one of the world’s favorite cities. Acclaimed Sonoma and Napa valley wine estates are nearby, too.
San Pedro, California (Los Angeles, Hollywood)↑ Back to top
This city serves as the port for Los Angeles, one of the world’s most exciting cities, and Hollywood, the movie-making capital of the world. Compare your footprints and handprints with those of your favorite celebrities at Mann’s Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard, shop the fashionable boutiques along Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, visit Disneyland in nearby Anaheim, or join a movie studio tour to learn the history of motion pictures and how films are made.
Savannah, Georgia↑ Back to top
This genteel Southern city is an excellent example of urban historic preservation, with approximately two square miles of downtown granted landmark status and thereby protected from modern development. A pleasant walk will take you to some of the city’s most important old buildings for a glimpse into her gracious past, and through the spacious squares and the mansion-museums that mark this district. A little further afield, there is historic Fort Pulaski and also Wormsloe, an eloquent example of Southern plantation life.
Seattle, Washington↑ Back to top
Situated on Puget Sound, surrounded by the Olympic and Cascade mountain ranges, the Seattle city skyline is impressive with shimmering glass high-rises and hundred-year-old buildings standing side by side. This beautiful port city came into its own after gold was discovered in the Klondike and 100,000 people passed through the Northwest in 1897 and 1898 on their quest for wealth in Alaska.
Sitka, Alaska↑ Back to top
When Alaska belonged to Russia, Sitka was the capital and center of its fur trading empire. Today, Sitka’s Russian heritage and magnificent setting make it an enchanting destination. The city features a harbor studded with islands, a backdrop of mountains, and spectacular Mt. Edgecumbe, a volcano often compared to Japan’s Mt. Fuji. Sitka displays its past in such attractions as St. Michael’s Cathedral, with its striking onion-shaped dome; the Russian Blockhouse, and Historic Park, where Tlingit Indians battled Russian settlers in 1804.
Skagway, Alaska↑ Back to top
Skagway was born during the great Alaska gold rush. Those were the days when Skagway had 80 saloons and was known as “the roughest town on earth.” The city’s rip-roaring past will come alive when you walk down Broadway, a main street so authentic it is part of the Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park. This is also the starting point for train trips up White Pass, and flights that take you over Glacier Bay National Park.
Tampa, Florida↑ Back to top
Florida’s third-largest city, Tampa is a lively Gulf Coast port that still hints of its Spanish heritage. In the Latin Quarter stands Ybor City, site of the once flourishing cigar industry. Hugging Tampa Bay and near Tampa is St. Petersburg. Some of the attractions found in the area include Busch Garden’s The Dark Continent and Adventure Island, a water theme park.
Wilmington, North Carolina↑ Back to top
Wilmington was the only open seaport in the Confederacy from 1863 until the last months of the war – nearly two years. Fort Fisher kept the port open to blockade runners. Another attraction is the Bellamy Mansion Museum of History and Design Arts. In 1865, it was commandeered as headquarters for the Union forces.Some content provided courtesy of CLIA (Cruise Line International Association)