Top 10 United States Atlantic Coast Cruise Ports
When it comes to choosing a cruise holiday, most of us have a favourite type of destination to head for including beach resorts, fjords, and mountains as well as big cities or small villages.
That often is the big motivator is deciding on where to cruise from but all of those options and more are available on a cruise from the Atlantic coast of the US but best of all, the majority of the cruise ports listed below offer a great place to spend some time on land before or after the cruise part of the getaway.
For the ranking of this list, we have taken lots of aspects into consideration including the choice of cruises from and/or to the port, the attraction of the port for a holiday, the ease in reaching the port and our own personal view.
Our Top 10 United States Atlantic Coast Cruise Ports
Miami
If you are looking for a cruise to the Caribbean, there is no better starting point than the port of Miami.
Not only is it one of the biggest and busiest cruise ports in the world with a vast choice of lines and ships all heading south to the Caribbean, but it also makes for a fantastic place to spend some time before or after your holiday as it is a great tourist city in its own right.
Another great aspect of cruising from Miami is the great air connections it has to a number of UK airports that makes it easy to reach.
New York (New Jersey)
The cruise port of New York, that also includes a terminal across the water in New Jersey, has to be one of the most iconic sailaways in the world as you leave the city, sail past or close to the statue of Liberty and head out to sea with the always impressive Manhattan skyline behind you.
The city of New York is of course one of the world’s leading tourist cities and offers lots of visitors to enjoy and thanks to its relatively compact nature, it is easy to take most of those sights in during a short break before or after your cruise.
You also have a good range of itineraries out of the port including those heading down to the Caribbean, up to Canada and of course trans-Atlantic cruises remain one of the most iconic trips out there.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
If mixing a few days on the beach in Florida before heading to the Caribbean sounds like your idea of the perfect holiday, the port of Fort Lauderdale is the choice for you.
Located just to the north of Miami, the port offers a good range of cruises that are often priced lower than those leaving Miami itself.
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston stands out on this list as just from a quick glance you can sense it is different from most major US cities.
Famed for its red brick buildings that will give the city a familiarity for us Brits, Boston has really developed over the past few decades as a popular tourist destination after living in the shadow of the nearby New York for far too long.
There are a number of cruises that start or end in the city or you can spend a day onshore as part of a cruise itinerary taking in the north east of the US and Canada.
Port Canaveral, Florida
Port Canaveral is another Florida cruise port that has a strong focus on itineraries to the Caribbean but what makes this port so popular with holidaymakers is its close proximity to Orlando.
Famed around the world for its attractions and theme parks including the iconic Disneyworld, families can enjoy a once in a lifetime holiday before they even set sail.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans mixes a number of different cultures to create one of its own and that makes for a memorable experience for all that visit.
Although the city is perhaps best known for its Mardi Gras and Bourbon Street party scene and music venues, there is also lots for families to enjoy before setting sail across the Gulf of Mexico to the Caribbean.
Tampa, Florida
The port of Tampa is another located on the Gulf of Mexico that focuses on cruises to the Caribbean but it offers a more relaxed starting base when compared to the bigger Florida cities offering cruises, which can make it a great choice for many.
Tampa still has lots to offer those wanting to explore before or after their cruise with the Tampa Bay area home to the beautiful beaches of Clearwater and the popular Busch Gardens theme park.
Newport, Rhode island
The small city of Newport in Rhode island is your quintessential small New England coastal port that offers a relaxed port of call on cruises heading between the US and Canada.
Bar harbor, Maine
Bar Harbor is located on the rugged coastline of the north-east state of Maine and is another small port of call close to the Canadian border that is just a great place to walk around, take in the views and meet the friendly locals.
Baltimore, Maryland
Aside from fans of the Hairspray Musical, Baltimore may not be the first city that comes to mind when looking for a holiday in the US and even less so for a cruise holiday but it is somewhat of a hidden gem.
Located within a short train journey of Washington, Philadelphia and New York, Baltimore can make for a great end city of a tour of the north-east of America before heading out on a cruise that is often much cheaper out of the port of Baltimore when compared to other US ports.