Top 10 United States Cruise Ports
With so many options, it can actually be incredibly confusing when deciding which US port to sail from or to visit on a cruise of the region but there are actually a number of simple things to take into account to make it a much simpler decision.
One big thing to take into account is where you are wanting to visit on your cruise? If you are wanting to head to the Caribbean, then Florida ports are probably best but if you are wanting to head to Alaska, a port such as Seattle would be best.
A second big issue is if you are wanting to enjoy a holiday on land before or after your cruise as you need to pick a port near to somewhere you would like to spend some time and in a similar fashion, you will likely want to start and/or end your cruise in a port near to a major international airport to make it easier and cheaper to get there or back home again.
To make things even easier, here is our top 10 choices for cruise ports in the USA, where we have taken all of those issues mentioned above and more into account.
We have made mention of the key reasons for ranking the ports so highly to give you a brief introduction to the port but if it is sounding like one that you could see yourself visiting, check out our more in-depth port/destination reviews by following the links.
Our Top 10 United States Cruise Ports
Miami
The port of Miami is the go to port of departure for those wanting to explore the Caribbean but it also offers cruises heading north up the Atlantic coast, to the Bahamas, trans-Atlantic’s, to South America and through the Panama Canal to Mexico and California.
Miami offers a massive choice of lines and ships to suit all preferences and of course it is also a fantastic options for pre or post cruise holiday as you can either enjoy spending time enjoying the Florida sunshine at one of the cities famous beaches or you can enjoy the Hispanic and Cuban neighbourhoods that are full of culture and colour.
The final big reason to make Miami our number 1 choice for cruising in the USA is the strong connections the city has to the UK with regular direct flights to Heathrow, Gatwick, and Manchester.
Seattle
If you are wanting to head to the breathtakingly beautiful Alaska on a cruise, you have a few options of where to start and/or end your cruise of the inside passage but arguably the best option for us over in the United Kingdom is the Washington state port city of Seattle.
Although not the biggest city in the US, there is a good range of attractions to enjoy before or after your cruise to make it well worth adding a land based holiday to your trip including the iconic Space Needle.
The city is backed by Mount Olympus and runs along the banks of the Pugent Sound which get’s you in the mood for what is to come before you even make it into Alaskan waters with the stunning views out over the 1000’s of islands found in the sound only broken up by the many ferries going backwards and forwards.
Seattle is also home to a major international airport with direct flights to the UK and lots of connections to all parts of Canada and the US for those wanting to take indirect flights from their local airports.
New York / New Jersey
The port of New York, which takes in cruise terminals in both the city of New York and New Jersey, offers one of the greatest sailaway’s available to cruisers as you sail down the Hudson, past the iconic NY skyline and past the Statue of Liberty.
From a UK point of view, it is possible to visit New York on a direct cruise from the United Kingdom but the majority of those choosing to visit it for a cruise will spend some time in the ‘city that never sleeps’ and that can make for just as great of a holiday as your cruise.
The city and surrounding area is also the best connected city to the UK in terms of direct flights with many airlines offering flights from airports around the British Isles.
Cruises offered out of New York include destinations such as trans-Atlantic’s, Canada, the Caribbean and Greenland.
Los Angeles
The City of Angeles is one of the world’s leading tourist cities but many often overlook the fact that it is also a leading cruise port, so why not mix a few days on shore visiting all of the iconic landmarks seen on movies before setting sail on a cruise?
The city is well connected to major international airports in the UK and there is a good range of destinations on offer from its cruise terminal including Hawaii, Mexico, Pacific Coastal, Canada and Panama Canal cruises.
Port Canaveral (Orlando)
The itineraries offered from Port Canaveral tend to be limited to the Caribbean, with a few trans-Atlantic’s thrown in, but what makes the port rank so highly on this list is its proximity to Orlando and the theme parks of Kissimmee.
If you are looking for a family holiday before a cruise, where better than Florida and the likes of Disney, Universal Studios and SeaWorld?
Boston
The north-east city of Boston is full of history and is often thought of as the friendly neighbour of New York but whilst that is up to you to decide, what we can say with certainly is that Boston is a much more relaxed city that its giant ‘neighbour’.
The downtown area is also relatively compact which make sit easy to explore in short time so why not add on a weekend break before a cruise to Canada, the Caribbean or Greenland/Iceland?
San Francisco
The Californian city of San Francisco is famed for the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, and its steep hills, amongst many other attractions, but it is also a city with a growing reputation for cruises.
It has long been a popular port of call for Pacific Coastal cruises but there are now a growing number of cruises starting and ending in the city which makes it easy to enjoy some time exploring all that San Fran has to offer.
New Orleans
New Orleans is a city that offers something different around every corner and with a great mix of cultures, it offers a unique experience.
Another unique twist on cruising from New Orleans is the city centre location of its cruise terminal and the fact that you start and end your holiday by cruising for a few hours down the iconic Mississippi River before heading south to the Caribbean.
Seward
Although every cruise port of call in Alaska offers stunning views and each has its own stand out offering, it is the port of Seward that is the main turnaround port in the state and that make sit our pick for this list.
Located near to the capital city of Anchorage, from where you can easily connect from many international airports across the USA and Canada, it is easy to reach the port via the Alaskan railway, which just adds another fantastic element to your holiday.
By flying up to Anchorage, you can not only spend time on land exploring the beauty of Alaska before your cruise but it also allows you to spend more time cruising Alaska and the inside passage.
Honolulu, Hawaii
If spending some time in ‘paradise’ sounds like the perfect way to start or end a cruise holiday for you then Honolulu could be the perfect choice for you.
Famed for its beautiful beaches, great weather and its relaxed vibe, the capital of Hawaii is also home to the archipelago’s main cruise terminal from where you can enjoy cruising the islands, heading across the Pacific to Asia or cruising back to the US mainland for your flight home.
