I’ve sailed on many cruise ships within the Caribbean, and considered 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 if you happen to want any refills. However, it’s additionally a lovely, walkable city with so many actions which are 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 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 simple port to discover.
There are three completely different docks in Key West the place your cruise ship might 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 vital 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 may nonetheless be allowed, bigger ships wouldn’t be permitted. Whereas the Key West residents did approve this, it hasn’t been carried out.
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. As an illustration, we didn’t see any upcoming Disney Cruise Strains or Royal Caribbean ships on the schedule. So control these proposed modifications if you happen to’d like to go to this common 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 e-book an official cruise ship tour. Not like another ports, that is actually a spot the place you may simply comfortably head off by yourself. However there are many tour choices to think about if you happen to’d favor to do one thing scheduled.
These are more likely to fluctuate based mostly on availability and may 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 may additionally be capable of go to Fort Zachary Taylor State Park or Dry Tortugas Nationwide Park.
Usually, excursions ought to be toured prematurely, as a result of they could promote out. Reserving a cruise-sponsored tour is often the most secure choice – you’ll be refunded if the ship can’t cease there for some purpose, and also you’ll remember to 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 individual factor for the day. It’s pretty straightforward to get round, and getting again to the ship on the finish of the day most likely received’t be too tough. There are a number of choices for getting round. You possibly can stroll round, and even lease 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 lovely 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 concerning the historical past of Key West. The Conch Tour Practice presents a pleasant stability between all of these. Tickets may be bought on-line prematurely, 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 all the way down to the Ernest Hemingway Residence and Museum. Whereas youngsters might 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 house.
It’s vital 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 possibly can simply stroll by way of the home your self, studying the reveals. No reservations are required on your go to.
Southernmost Level of america
The most well-liked picture 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 types as vacationers need to take their picture by the marker. It’s a stunning space on the waterfront as effectively. We discovered that everybody in line was pleasant and prepared to take photographs 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 situated in Key West. Tickets may 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
In case you are visiting with younger youngsters, it’s possible you’ll 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 may 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.
Displays 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 common 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.
Purchasing 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 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 outlets and cafes. In case you are 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 may e-book some last-minute excursions if you happen to’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 objects. Then, we walked to Books & Books on the Studios, the bookstore co-owned by famed young-adult creator Judy Blume. This can be a great spot to choose up the most recent seaside learn, particularly if you happen to want a e-book to learn in your cruise. They’ve plenty of great books, together with workers ideas if you happen to aren’t positive what to buy.
Hooked up to the bookstore is the Studios, a lovely area with a number of visiting artwork galleries. It’s positively price visiting after selecting up some books.
We then headed to Duval Road, the most well-liked and busy road on Key West. That is the place you’ll discover many of the outlets, bars, and eating places – many providing stay music.
A lot 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. Throughout 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 ambiance 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 positive to go to the Cuban Espresso 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 possibly can actually have your alternative of expertise on the Port of Key West – from journey excursions to the informal strolling round that we did. Simply understand that if you happen to do need to take part in an tour, it’s all the time greatest to e-book these prematurely.
