United States Cruise Ports
When it comes to the wonderful world of cruising, there is one country that can only be described as the world-wide leader and that is the United States of America.
The sheer size and variety of the country and the many big cities that are located along its 1’000’s of miles of shoreline make for some of the business turnaround ports for starting/ending your holiday and there are also some incredible ports of call to enjoy on your next holiday.
The US is also home to widest variety of cruise lines and cruise ships that offer one of the widest varieties of cruise itineraries to such great destinations as Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, the Caribbean and Pacific coastal’s, as well as many others.
If you are looking to cruise to the USA from these shores, there are a number of opportunities to cross the Atlantic onboard a cruise ship but for the majority of us heading over to America for a cruise holiday, our holidays will start in a UK airport.
Thankfully, the US is one of the best connected country’s from these shores with many major airports offering direct flights and many regional airports offering connections to a number of US port cities.
Cruises To America
Cruise Holidays To The USA
If you are looking to enjoy a cruise to the USA, there are 3 big options for a Transatlantic cruise and that is the ‘Northern Route’, the ‘Southern Route’ and the ‘Direct Route’.
These options are about as self-explanatory as you would expect with the ‘Northern Route’, also known as the ‘Cold Route’, heading to countries such as Iceland, Greenland, and Canada before ending their journey’s in north east ports such as Boston or New York.
Ships that choose to head across the Atlantic using the ‘Southern Route’, also known as the ‘Warm Route’, usually heads down the Iberian coast before calling into the Canary’s and/or The Azores before heading to southern ports such as Fort Lauderdale or Miami to end their journeys.
The ‘Direct Route’ is almost entirely services by the Cunard line and see’s ships set sail from Southampton and head straight to New York with no stops.
Transatlantic cruises are exactly what you expect from their name, they are cruises that cross the Atlantic, with the majority going from Europe to North America, although some cruise lines offer Transatlantic heading straight to/from the Caribbean and even South America.
USA Cruise Guide
If you are looking for a US cruise holiday, either sailing there from these shores or flying over and starting your holiday from a United States cruise port, there is an incredible array of choices but the great news is that here at CruiseHols, we bring you all of the information that you need to know to keep things simple and get rid of the confusion.
With so many cruise ports all around the US, it is perhaps best to break them down by region and by if they are a turnaround port for embarking and/or disembarking your ship or if they are a port of call offered on itineraries visiting the country.
Embarkation Ports
The following are the USA’s most popular turnaround cruise ports which is where cruisers start or end there holidays.
When it comes to cruising the Caribbean there is one go to port for starting your holiday and that is the port of Miami.
Not only does the port offer one of the widest ranges of cruise lines and cruise ships but it also offers a huge choice of itineraries heading south for some sun, sea, and sand.
From a UK cruiser point of view, the great aspect of the port is that there are plenty of options for flying there and you can enjoy a great holiday in the popular tourist resorts of Miami/Southern Florida before or after your cruise.
The port of Fort Lauderdale is another hugely popular cruse port for those wanting to mix a land holiday with a cruise holiday as you can enjoy the beaches and resorts of northern Miami and take advantage of a wide range of ships, lines and itineraries heading to the Caribbean.
If you are wanting to mix some time exploring the big theme parks and attractions located in Kissimmee with a cruise holiday, Port Canaveral is the choice for you.
The port is around an hour from the centre of Florida tourist attractions including the likes of Sea World, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios and there are lots of connections to the port.
The port of New York, which includes terminals in both Manhattan and New Jersey, is a great choice for those wanting to spend a few das shopping, taking in a Broadway show and enjoying all that New York has to offer before or after a cruise holiday.
The great news is that the port offers a wide range of cruise ships and lines visiting a number of different destinations from the likes of Canada and Greenland in the north to the Caribbean in the South and of course New York is also the US home for many Transatlantic journeys for those not wanting to fly.
The New England city of Boston is another popular destination to visit before or after your cruise and whilst it doesn’t have the same range of cruises as near neighbour New York, it is still possible to head to great destinations such as Canada, Greenland, Iceland and even Transatlantics.
The city of New Orleans offers a unique experience for those visiting, with its mixture of Creole and French influences and that extends to the cities cruise port on the Gulf of Mexico that offers a different start to cruise of the Caribbean.
Tampa is another Florida cruise port but this time it is on the west coast of the state, where holidaymakers stat off sailing the Gulf of Mexico before heading south to the Caribbean.
The city of Mobile in the state of Alabama may not be a go to tourist destination for those of us in the UK but its small cruise port on the Gulf of Mexico can often offer the chance to grab a bargain cruise to the Caribbean.
This is a port for those looking at a smaller and older cruise ship offering a party experience for a budget price.
Galveston is another port where you will not likely want to holiday before or after your cruise but the Texas city does give the opportunity to grab a bargain for those wanting a party cruise to the Caribbean.
The northern Florida city of Jacksonville may be far from the first place for tourists but it is another choice for those looking for a budget cruise to the Caribbean.
The city of Baltimore may only offer a small number of cruises but with good connections to Washington, Philadelphia and New York, the city is a good choice for those wanting to budget cruse whist exploring America’s north-east corridor.
Charleston offers the chance to enjoy the southern charms of South Carolina before or after a cruise of the Caribbean but the choice of itineraries, ships and lines operating out of the port is limited.
The city of Seattle offers lots of attractions for visitors to enjoy including the iconic Space Needle but from a cruisers point of view, the largest city in the Pacific northwest is the home of cruises to Alaska.
With direct links to the UK and the widest range of lines, ships and itineraries heading along the Inside Passage to Alaska, Seattle stands out as the most popular choice for those wanting an Alaskan cruise.
There is more than one choice of cruise port when it comes to starting in LA but the choices of destinations tend to remain the same with Hawaii, the Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal transits, Pacific coastal’s and Central America amongst the most popular options.
Los Angeles is one of the leading tourist destinations on the Pacific Coast and makes for a great place to spend some time before or after your cruise and it is also well connected to many UK airports ever directly or indirectly.
San Fran is another popular tourist destination in California with a number of iconic attractions awaiting visitors, so it is no surprise that it makes for a popular cruise port either as part of a Pacific coast cruise or as a starting or ending cruise for destinations such as Hawaii and the Mexican Riviera.
San Diego is another California city that offers lots of great attractions to visitors and its location near to the Mexican border allows for easy access to the Mexican Riviera and a shorter journey for those heading to the Atlantic coast on a Panama Canal transit.
Alaskan and its famous Inside Passage is one of the worlds greatest cruise regions, especially for those who love wildlife and nature.
The port of Seward is the leading cruise port in Alaska and allows for holidaymakers to spend some time on land enjoying the majestic beauty of the region.
The port is easily reached via rail from the capital city of Anchorage from where it is straightforward to connect from a number of US airports.
For many visitors to the Hawaiian islands, it is Oahu where many of us start off with the city of Honolulu home to the region’s largest international airport.
It is perhaps fitting that it is also home to the main cruise port of Hawaii, which make sit easy for those heading straight there from the UK.
The city also makes for a great getaway before or after your cruise for those wanting to explore the paradise island of Oahu or to simply enjoy relaxing on the stunning sandy beaches in Honolulu.
Ports of Call
These ports may from time to time offer the chance to start or end your holiday but when it comes to the major cruise lines, these are ports that make for a great port of call to allow holidaymakers to explore all that they have to offer.
The iconic Key West is the southernmost city in the US and acts as a stopping off port of call for cruises heading from the ‘mainland’ to the Caribbean.
As part of the stunning Florida Keys, ships are able to almost ‘drive’ int the city entre and simply ‘park’ up like a car making it easy to explore on your own.
Newport is a beautiful city on Aquidneck Island in the state of Rhode Island that is a popular stopping off port of call for cruise ships heading to the ‘Great White North’, or Canada, if you prefer!
The city of Norfolk is intrinsically lined with the Navy and remains one of the US’ biggest naval bases but there is lots mor eon offer for visitors.
Located at the mouth of Chesapeake bay, Norfolk offers lots of attractions and many areas to explore on cruises heading up or down the Atlantic coast.
Oregon’s biggest city known for its natural beauty and for it’s coffeehouses and microbreweries that are just part of the laid back way of life this city has.
Juneau is simply a breath-taking port of call where the incredible natural beauty of south-west Alaska can be easily viewed from the town centre Cable Car that takes you to a viewing platform on top of a mountain.
Cruise ships dock in the centre of town and allow you to explore on your own.
If you are a train fan, or simply want to explore a piece of Alaskan history whilst enjoying stunning views, then Skagway is the destination for you.
The White Pass and Yukon railway stops right next to cruise ships when they docked to take visitors on a trip along the route taken by trying to find there fortune in the gold rush.
Aside from the train, there is a small town that is light taking a trip back in town to the wild west days that makes for a fascinating visit.
The small town of Sitka is simply a great place to stroll around, enjoy the friendly hospitality of locals and take in the incredible scenery that can only be seen in this incredible part of the world.
Not too many cruise line scall into Whittier but if you are fortunate to be on one that does, you can look forward to some incredible views as you sail down the Passage Canal near to the capital of Anchorage.
Dutch Harbor is on the small Amaknak Island which is part of an archipelago of Alaskan islands that stretches out into the Bering Sea and that makes it difficult for many ships to visit on an Alaskan cruise but for those ships heading over towards Asia or heading back from the far east to North America, it is a great place to enjoy a day onshore.
This is as close to a visitor attraction as you will find in Alaska as it has been purpose built for cruise visitors to have fun all whilst supporting the indigenous Tlingit people who call the community of Hoonah home.
From a large canary to a huge zip slide and from a cable car to whale watching, there is lots to see and do at this port of call that some visitors love and some hate.
Haines is a stunning small town located in the northern part of the Alaskan Panhandle that is a popular stopping off port for cruises heading into the nearby Glacier Bay that simply has to be seen to be believed.
Hilo, on what is known locally as the ‘Big Island’ is a great place to take in the best of what the Hawaiian islands have to offer as visitors can enjoy visiting the Wailuku River State Park, featuring the beautiful Rainbow Falls.
Lahaina is the biggest town on the island of Maui and is fame for its incredible scenery, stunning beaches, and popular beach resorts but there is lots more to explore in this thriving tourist resort.
Kona is a district of the island of Hawaii which is again known for its stunning scenery and is perhaps best known around the world as the location of the islands Ironman World Championship Triathlon.
Nawiliwili is home to the Kauai Cruise terminal that offers the chance to explore the beautiful beaches, bustling town centre and visit local sights such as an historic lighthouse all whilst taking in the views of the nearby verdant mountains.
Popular Cruise Lines
When it comes to cruise lines either operating out of the US or ones that offer cruises to the USA, it is more of a question of which line does not operate in the US.
If you are looking for a luxury experience all of the most popular lines operate in the US including the likes of Cunard, Oceania Cruises, Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, Silversea Cruises and Azamara Cruises.
For those wanting a more premium product, the likes of Princess Cruises, Holland America Line, Celebrity Cruises and Disney Cruise Line.
If you are wanting a more family friendly experience, there is no shortage of options with the likes of Royal Caribbean, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL), MSC Cruises and P&O Cruises all offer a wide range of itineraries.
If you are wanting a cheap and cheerful cruise or are looking for more a party like atmosphere for visiting destinations such as the Caribbean then Carnival Cruise Line, Marella Cruises and Virgin Voyages are the best options for you.
United States of America
Location: North America
Capital City: Washington
Currency: Dollar ($)
Language: No Official but English and Spanish widely spoken.
Demonym(s): American
Top Ports: Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Seattle, New York, Los Angeles
The USA is one of the world’s leading tourist destinations and it is no surprise why. Not only does the sheer size of the country and its geological variety give lots of opportunities to enjoy just what you like to do and see whilst on holiday but the country is one of the most diverse and the culture of a city or region changes vastly from one to another.
If big cities are your favourite type of destination, the US is home to many of the biggest metropolises in the world including the likes of New York and Los Angeles but if you prefer to relax and enjoy time relaxing at the beach, there are also lots of options for you including the also popular regions of Florida and southern California.
Then there is of course the many lake and mountain regions found all around the country and from a cruising point of view there is both Alaska and Hawaii that make for a simply stunning backdrop no matter which h ports of call you head for.
Best Time To Visit
The variety of destinations in the US also make sit a great country to visit all year around with Alaska an annual favourite during the summer and trips from Florida to the Caribbean always a popular choice for finding some winter sun.
Cruises around Hawaii, Panama Canal cruises and many other holidays can be enjoyed all year aThere are many options for visiting the United States from these shores including round trips, repositioning cruises, and traditional Transatlantic cruises.
United States Cruises From UK
There are many options for visiting the United States from these shores including round trips, repositioning cruises, and traditional Transatlantic cruises.
The most iconic trip across the Atlantic from these shores is the direct service offered from Southampton to New York, which is offered all year around onboard Cunard cruise ships.
Many ships winter in the Caribbean and summer in Europe and that means they have to cross the ‘Pond’ at least twice a year and it is often these repositioning cruises that are the most popular with cruises.
That is because they are often amongst the best value for money cruises on the market and whilst you will have lots of days at sea, many still call into ports on both sides to make for an interesting holiday.
Another thing to take into consideration is that many cruises ships are built in Europe and then head over to the US for there first ‘home porting’ and that often means a stop in Southampton to pick up passengers so not only can you enjoy a Transatlantic journey but you can also be amongst the first to experience all of the latest technology and activities on board a brand new ship.
Aside from repositioning cruises, it is possible to enjoy a round trip from these shores, across the Atlantic and then back again and whilst you will of course need lots of spare time, usually 24-35 days, they can offer great value.
Cruise lines such as P&O offer round trips to the Caribbean in winter whilst if you love your sea days and have a big budget, you can of course book back to back trips onboard Cunard’s direct service.
Here at CruiseHols.co.uk we bring you all of the information you will ever need to choose the right cruise destination for you and your family.
Our destination guides include everything from ports to attractions and excursion to the positives and negatives of the destination.
