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 possibly can flip in your mobile service, use US {dollars}, and even cease at an American pharmacy for those who want any refills. However, it’s additionally a wonderful, walkable city with so many actions which can be nice for households and cruise ship passengers.
Whereas 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 could dock. These embrace Mallory Sq. 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 Sq., which appears to be mostly utilized by cruise ships.
Information to Crusing to the Key West Cruise Port
It’s essential to notice that there was some discuss of native ordinances and modifications to cruise ship guidelines in Key West. Through 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. Whereas smaller vessels might nonetheless be allowed, bigger ships wouldn’t be permitted. Whereas 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 example, we didn’t see any upcoming Disney Cruise Traces or Royal Caribbean ships on the schedule. So keep watch over these proposed modifications for those who’d like to go to this well-liked port of name.
Excursions or Going Solo
In case your cruise ship goes to cease at Key West for a day, you’ll need to take into account whether or not or not you’d prefer to guide an official cruise ship tour. Not like another ports, that is actually a spot the place you possibly can simply comfortably head off by yourself. However there are many tour choices to think about for those who’d desire 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 motorbike 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 Nationwide Park.
Normally, excursions needs to be toured upfront, as a result of they could promote out. Reserving 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 be sure you be again on the ship in time on the finish of the night.
You can even 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’ll be able to 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 Practice. 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 Level, and the Hemingway Home.
It was good to get a trip to these locations, whereas additionally studying in regards to the historical past of Key West. The Conch Tour Practice provides a pleasant stability between all of these. Tickets might be bought on-line upfront, however you can too purchase them when you arrive on the port.
Hemingway Residence and Museum
We selected to go to the Hemingway Residence and Museum on our first go to to Key West. After visiting the Southernmost Level, we walked right down to the Ernest Hemingway Residence and Museum. Whereas children could not know a lot about Ernest Hemingway, they may definitely love the 40-50 six-toed cats that make the home/museum their dwelling.
It’s essential to know that the Hemingway House is money solely, so ensure you have some with you. Guided excursions are supplied at no extra value on a set schedule. We had simply missed one and determined to skip it. You’ll be able to simply stroll by way of the home your self, studying the displays. No reservations are required in your go to.
Southernmost Level of america
The most well-liked photograph alternative in Key West, the Southernmost Level marker is certainly a must-see and among the finest issues to do in Key West. Go early, as a result of a line varieties as vacationers need to take their photograph by the marker. It’s a beautiful space on the waterfront as properly. We discovered that everybody in line was pleasant and keen to take photographs of the group in entrance of them, so you possibly can all be within the image.
Mel Fisher Maritime Museum
The Mel Fisher Maritime Museum is a nonprofit maritime museum situated in Key West. Tickets might be bought upfront or on the door. It’s open 7-days every week, and displays embrace each everlasting and rotating touring displays.
Key West Aquarium
If you’re visiting with younger youngsters, you might take into account visiting the Key West Aquarium. It’s a brief stroll from the Mallory Sq. pier, and it’s situated amongst outlets and eating places.
Tickets for the aquarium might be bought on-line. Mixture tickets, together with tickets to excursions in Key West just like the Conch Tour Practice and the Outdated City Trolley Tour, are additionally supplied.
Reveals on the aquarium give attention to 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 well-liked points of interest. Take a look at their schedule on-line earlier than you go to see the instances of the Shark Feeding and Conservation Tour.
Buying and Consuming in Key West
Whereas 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 outlets and cafes. If you’re trying 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 possibly can guide some last-minute excursions for those who’ve made a last-minute resolution to do one.
We began our journey on the close by CVS, to select 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 can be a good spot to select up the most recent seaside learn, particularly for those who want a guide to learn in your cruise. They’ve plenty of great books, together with employees options for those who aren’t certain what to buy.
Hooked up to the bookstore is the Studios, a wonderful area with a number of visiting artwork galleries. It’s undoubtedly price visiting after choosing up some books.
We then headed to Duval Avenue, the preferred and busy avenue on Key West. That is the place you’ll discover many of the outlets, bars, and eating places – many providing dwell music.
A lot of the eating places are informal and don’t require reservations, so you possibly can even select a restaurant simply by strolling by. Two of the preferred ones for vacationers embrace Sloppy Joe’s and Irish Kevin’s. Throughout our most up-to-date go to, we ate at Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar & Restaurant, which additionally has different places. We actually loved the environment in addition to our meals and drinks.
Earlier than going again to the ship, we stopped at Mallory Sq., an space with some nice memento outlets and kiosks. We made certain to go to the Cuban Espresso Queen, a espresso store within the indoor constructing adjoining to the sq.. It’s an incredible place to select up a cup of espresso or a snack earlier than heading again to your ship.
You’ll be able to actually have your selection of expertise on the Port of Key West – from journey excursions to the informal strolling round that we did. Simply remember that for those who do need to take part in an tour, it’s all the time greatest to guide these upfront.
