As a New Englander who loves heat climate and cruising, I discover that I’m often cruising from Florida. It’s fairly simple to fly there from Boston, my dwelling airport, and there are such a lot of totally different cruise ports going to many warm-weather locations from the Sunshine State. As well as, there are numerous totally different itinerary choices on Florida cruises, whether or not you’re on the lookout for a brief cruise or a longer-duration crusing.
In case you are on the East Coast and are on the lookout for a handy warm-weather cruise dwelling port, take into account taking a cruise from Florida. There are lots of cruise strains, cruise locations, and residential ports to select from.
Listed below are one of the best cruises from Florida, in addition to suggestions in your subsequent Florida crusing.
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Examine costs for cruises right here.
The Finest Cruises From Florida
Standard Florida Cruise Ports
There are a number of nice cruise ports in Florida. All of them are conveniently positioned close to airports and have loads of airports and points of interest close by. A few of the world’s largest cruise ports are in Florida.
Port Canaveral: This cruise port, positioned in Central Florida, is closest to the Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO). That is additionally the closest cruise port to Walt Disney World.
Whereas I usually fly into MCO and keep in a single day on the Hyatt Orlando Airport Resort, you may as well keep in close by Cocoa Seaside. Be aware that it’s about 45-60 minutes from the airport to the cruise port.
Port Miami: Port Miami is likely one of the largest cruise ship ports on this planet. It’s additionally one in all my favourite cruise ports to sail from.
When crusing from Port Miami, you’ll be able to fly into the Miami Worldwide Airport or the Fort Lauderdale Airport. Generally, to get higher flights and costs, I’ll fly into one airport and fly out of the opposite.
You’ll even have a number of areas to remain in. There are many nice accommodations close to the port, or you’ll be able to select to remain within the Miami Seaside/South Seaside space. One among my favourite inexpensive accommodations on this space is the Marriott Trip Membership Pulse South Seaside Resort, positioned proper on Ocean Drive.
Port Everglades: Situated north of Port Miami is Port Everglades, in Fort Lauderdale. Like Miami, you’ll be able to fly into both airport. Loads of accommodations are positioned proper close to the port, or you’ll be able to keep on the seaside.
Port Tampa Bay: It is a smaller cruise port, positioned alongside the Gulf Coast in Tampa Bay. It has three cruise terminals. If you wish to go to Tampa, Clearwater Seaside, or different close by locations both earlier than or after your cruise, Port Tampa Bay is a good choice.
There’s additionally the Jaxport Cruise Terminal (in Jacksonville) and the Port of Palm Seaside, each positioned alongside the Atlantic Ocean in Florida. These terminals are much less busy than those listed above.
Standard Florida Cruise Locations
Questioning what choices you’ll have for locations/ports of name throughout your cruise from Florida? There are lots of totally different ports that your chosen ship might go to. Listed below are a few of the commonest spots. Many of those provide historic points of interest, water sports activities, and delightful seashores in your cruise trip.
- Caribbean Locations: Sometimes, these itineraries shall be cut up between Jap Caribbean and Western Caribbean sailings. Ports embrace Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Aruba, St. Maarten, Puerto Plata Dominican Republic, San Juan Puerto Rico, Grand Turk, and Roatan.
- The Bahamas: Some shorter itineraries (particularly three-night sailings) go solely to the close by Bahamas, with Nassau and Bimini as well-liked ports of name. As well as, many well-liked cruise strains provide non-public islands/non-public locations within the Bahamas. These embrace Disney’s non-public island Castaway Cay, MSC’s Ocean Cay, Half Moon Cay owned by Carnival Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean’s Good Day at CocoCay.
- Mexico: Mexican Ports of Name embrace Progresso, Cozumel, and Costa Maya. Generally these are mixed with a few of the Caribbean locations.
- Bermuda: In some circumstances, cruise ships crusing from Florida will journey north to Bermuda. Generally, these ships will keep in a single day in Bermuda so that you’ll have extra time to discover this stunning island.
- Transatlantic: When ships are repositioning for the season, you’ll typically see one-way, transatlantic sailings from Florida to a European vacation spot.
- Key West: One among my all-time favourite cruise ports is Key West within the Florida Keys. It’s very simple to discover and affords nice eating places and retailers. As a plus, you’ll be able to even use your cellphone as regular because you’ll nonetheless be in the US.
Of all of those, my favourite posts are Costa Maya, Puerto Plata, Grand Cayman, and Key West.
Cruise Strains crusing from Florida
In case you are crusing to the Caribbean, I believe it’s best to select the cruise line earlier than deciding on a selected itinerary. There are such a lot of choices that you’re prone to discover an excellent itinerary for your loved ones from the cruise line you choose.
A few of the cruise strains crusing from Florida embrace:
- Disney Cruise Line
- Movie star Cruises
- Carnival Cruises
- Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
- Norwegian Cruise Line
- Princess Cruises
- MSC Cruises
- Virgin Voyages
- Margaritaville at Sea
- Holland America Line
When selecting a cruise line, you’ll wish to take into account necessities, together with facilities, staterooms, itineraries, worth, onboard actions and leisure, and meals. In case you are touring with youthful youngsters, it’s crucial that you just fastidiously take into account what your youngsters will like – take into consideration issues like youngsters’ golf equipment, youngsters’ menus, and actions like water slides and swimming pools.
Ideas for Crusing from Florida
When you’re crusing from Florida, there are a couple of suggestions we advocate.
Time of Yr: An important factor is to contemplate whenever you wish to sail. Whereas Florida and the Caribbean can have nice seaside climate all 12 months lengthy, hurricane season is an enormous consideration.
We’ve sailed many occasions throughout hurricane season, and don’t take into account it a deal-breaker. However it would be best to plan figuring out that there’s all the time an opportunity that you just’ll have an itinerary interruption. Examine our expertise on a crusing that was prolonged for 2 days.
Have a look at Costs: Costs between cruise strains, and even throughout the identical cruise line on totally different itineraries, can differ. Have a look at a number of totally different choices earlier than selecting your cruise.
Ebook in Advance: You’ll be able to often get monetary savings by reserving prematurely, and may have extra choices for stateroom places and classes. You’ll additionally need to do a little analysis in regards to the varied ports which can be in your itinerary (in addition to sea days) and bookable actions/eating places in your ship. That manner, you’ll be ready when the reserving window opens up for excursions and onboard actions.
Pack Thoughtfully: Packing for a cruise requires cautious consideration. You gained’t wish to pack an excessive amount of as a result of the staterooms will not be usually very massive. Nevertheless, you’ll have restricted choices to buy replacements for gadgets you’ve forgotten.
Keep in a single day the evening earlier than: As tempting as it could be to fly in on the morning of your cruise, that may be dangerous. You’ll probably must take care of delayed/canceled flights in addition to misplaced baggage. Flying within the day earlier than might be costly, nevertheless it’s value it for the peace of thoughts.
Have you ever sailed from Florida? What are your favourite itineraries and residential ports?
