Boston (Massachusetts)

Port Boston is owned and operated by the Massachusetts Port Authority (abbrev MASSPORT). Boston is a major cargo port (the largest in Massachusetts USA), one of the principal East Coast USA ports, and also New England's largest city, with population around 680,000. Flynn Cruiseport Boston supports ~2200 local jobs and annually generates ~USD 136 million in economic activities.

Port Boston (locode USBOS) has been historically important for the city's growth. It was built in the early-18th-century (1710-21) and was originally positioned downtown (the current Long Wharf Pier). After major land reclamation projects, this area is no longer open to commercial shipping traffic, excluding the ferries. Port's main cargo handling facilities are now in the neighborhoods Charlestown, South Boston, East Boston, and also in Everett MA.

MassPort (1956-established) maintains its own police force. Its officers are responsible for law enforcement and physical security at all port terminals and MassPort-owned properties. In 2010, Massport invested USD 11 million to renovate Black Falcon Cruise Terminal.

Port Boston is approx 3 km (2 mi) from Faneuil Hall (Government Center) and Freedom Trail (4 km / 2,5 mi long pathway passing by 16 historic locations). The annual number of visiting/mainly domestic tourists is 16+ million, many of whom arrive on cruise ships. Among the big-ship cruise companies with scheduled calls at Port Boston are RCI-Royal Caribbean, HAL-Holland America, NCL-Norwegian, Cunard, Princess, Celebrity, Oceania. The USA-flagged ACL-American Cruise Lines is among Boston's regular homeporting companies. ACL offers from the city two very popular roundtrip itineraries:

• 7-night "The Cape Codder Cruise" that visits ports in Oregon (Portland), Maine (Rockland), New Jersey (Camden), Maine (Rockland, Bucksport, Bar Harbor, Bucksport, Boothbay Harbor, Bath), Massachusetts (Gloucester), Rhode Island (Newport), Massachusetts (Oak Bluffs/Martha's Vineyard Island, Provincetown).
• 10-night "Grand New England Cruise" that visits only ports in Massachusetts (Gloucester, Plymouth, Cape Cod Canal, Martha's Vineyard Island, Falmouth, New Bedford, Provincetown).

Port's cruising industry supports 8000+ state jobs and generates ~USD 480 million (annual income). In 2012, the Port handled 117 cruise ship calls (9% increase over 2011) and ~274,000 passengers (plus 100,000+ crew). Of all itineraries, 63 were roundtrips by Boston-homeported liners. In 2013, it handled 116 calls and 382,885 passengers, with economic impact ~USD 50 million (USD 0,94 million in state taxes). In 2014 were handled 113 ship calls, in 2015 - 115 ship calls and nearly 300,000 tourists.

Following the 2-year cruise shipping pause due to the COVID crisis, for season 2022 Flynn Cruiseport Boston handled 128 ship calls (berthings booked by 19 different lines/companies), of which 12 were maiden port calls (first-time visiting vessels) and 310,767 passengers. The homeported vessels were 5 (Norwegian Pearl, MS Zaandam, MS Nieuw Statendam, Celebrity Summit, Voyager of the Seas, Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess, Carnival Legend). Prior to the global pandemic (season 2019/record year), the Port handled 138 ship calls and 402,346 tourists.

On January 16-17, 2022, at Conley Container Terminal docked the Port's largest container ship (so far) - Ever Fortune (2020-built, IMO 9850563, cargo capacity 12000 TEU-containers, owned by EVERGREEN Marine). The call followed the completion of a USD 850 million project that included Conley Terminal's modernization and expansion, Boston Harbor's dredging/deepening, adding 3x large STS gantry cranes (ship-to-shore), and a new berth. Currently, Conley Terminal can handle large boxships (with max capacity 14000 TEUs) and is New England’s only full-service container terminal that serves 2500+ local traders (importers/exporters).

In 2023, MASSPORT received 149 cruise calls (~16% increase over 2022), of which 58 homeporting and 91 transiting. Flynn Cruiseport Boston reported a 20% increase in cruise passenger numbers (~373000).

For season 2024 (May-November), Flynn Cruiseport reported a total of 169 booked berthings (15% increase over 2023) made by 24 different cruise companies. Of those, 90x were from transiting vessels, 13x maiden visits, 8x homeporting vessels (6x different companies), 16x 3-ship days.

On February 11, 2025, Massport approved a US$3 per passenger arrival fee (effective 2026) which will increase incrementally by US$3 each year, reaching US$15 pp by 2030. The generated from the fee revenue will be allocated toward upgrading Flynn Cruiseport's facilities, enhancing terminal operations, and implementing shore power infrastructure to reduce noise and emissions (93% in NO, 85% in SO2, 65% in CO2) from berthed vessels. Infrastructure improvements also include a new passenger boarding bridge, expanding the terminal’s reception area, and increasing its seating capacity.

Cruise itineraries to and from Boston MA

Follows a list of destinations visited by cruise ships leaving out of Boston:

• 7-day Boston to Canada cruises are one-way itineraries visiting ports in both Canada and USA's New England. The list of visited USA and Canadian ports includes Maine (Bar Harbor), Nova Scotia (Halifax, Sydney), New Brunswick (Saint John), Prince Edward Island (Charlottetown), Quebec (Gaspe, Saguenay, Quebec City, Montreal).
• 7-day Bermuda cruises from Boston visit Kings Wharf exclusively, with 2 overnight stays in port.
• Ships repositioning to the Caribbean depart from Boston and dock in turnaround USA ports in Florida (Fort Lauderdale) or Louisiana (New Orleans).
• Ship relocation voyages (RepositionCruises.com) - Transatlantic crossings between USA and Europe often visit ports in the UK (including British Isles), Iceland, Greenland, Canada-New England, or Bermuda, combined with Southern European ports (Portugal's Azores, Spain's Canaries, Mediterranean).

Today, 100+ voyages start here each year. The most popular destinations are Europe, Bermuda, throughout the USA East Coast (Eastern Seaboard). Boston port's cruise terminals welcome 250,000+ tourists per year.

Boston cruise terminal

Boston tours, shore excursions, hotels

City Tours and Shore Excursions

The State House: the red-bricked house designed by the first professional architect in America, Charles Bulfinch.

Park Street Church: part of the abolitionist history, built in 1810.

Old South Meeting House: the place where Benjamin Franklin was baptized.

King’s Chapel Burying Ground: the first cemetery of Boston, dates from 1630. Mary Chilton, John Winthrop and Hezekia Usher (famous colonists) are buried there.

Old Corner Bookstore: built as an apoth ecary shop in 1712. The place where Thoreau, Emerson, Hawthorne and Stowe books were printed.

Paul Revere House: the oldest Downtown Boston house, dates from 1680. Home of Paul Revere from from 1770 to 1800.

Old State House, Boston Massacre Site: enjoy great exhibitions of historic artifacts in those famous museums in Boston.

Old North Church: dates from 1723, the oldest worship place in Boston.

Old Granary Burying Ground: Paul Revere, John Hancock, James Otis and Samuel Adams are buried there.

Boston Red Sox: the legend Boston team, founded in 1901.

Harvard Square: a place that you have to visit on your trip to Cambridge.

Faneuil Hall: a historic complex that comprises buildings and serves as a mall.