Boston (Massachusetts)
Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news
Region
East Coast USA and Canada New England
Local Time
2021-01-26 00:42
-1.8°C
3.3 m/s
25 °F / -3 °C
Port Boston is owned and operated by 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 total area approx 124 km2 (48 mi2) and population over 685,000.
Port Boston has been historically important for city's growth. It was originally in what is now the downtown area (Long Wharf. Conversion). After major land reclamation projects, this area is no longer opened to commercial shipping traffic, despite the considerable ferry operations. Port's main cargo handling facilities are now in the neighborhoods Charlestown, South Boston, East Boston, and also in Everett MA.
MassPort (established in 1956) maintains its own police force. These 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 locations significant to the US history). The annual number of visiting tourists is over 16 million, many of whom arrive on cruise ships. Among the big cruise companies with scheduled calls at Port Boston are Royal Caribbean, Holland America, NCL Norwegian, Cunard, Princess, Celebrity, Hapag Lloyd, Fred Olsen, Ponant.
Port's cruising industry supports over 8000 state jobs and generates around USD 479 million (annual income). In 2012, the cruise port handled 117 ship calls (9% increase over 2011) and 274,000 passengers plus over 100,000 crew. Of all itineraries, 63 were roundtrips. 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 passengers.
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 (Portland, 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 Caribbean depart from Boston and dock in turnaround USA ports in Florida (Fort Lauderdale) or Louisiana (New Orleans).
- Repositioning - Transatlantic crossings between USA and Europe often visit ports in the UK (including British Isles), Iceland, Greenland and Canada New England, or Bermuda combined with ports in southern Europe (Azores, Canaries, Mediterranean ports, etc).
- Today, more than 100 cruises start here each year. The most popular destinations are Europe, Bermuda, throughout the USA Easct Coast (Eastern Seaboard). Boston port's cruise terminals welcome more than 250,000 tourists per year.
- For all current and future (scheduled) cruise itineraries, lines and ships to and from Boston MA, see at the port's "Schedule" section above (located to the right of the "Map" button).
Boston cruise terminal
Boston cruise port terminal is called Black Falcon Cruise Terminal. Boston has a great geographical location and a deep harbor, which has made it commercial port since the 1600s.
Black Falcon cruise terminal
Boston’s Black Falcon terminal is located in South Boston Waterfront, 2 mi / 3 km away from Boston downtown. The terminal is named after a 440-ft / 134 m long Norwegian merchant ship Black Falcon which caught fire on Nov 2, 1953. At the time, the terminal was an US Army Base. The building is large, converted to a terminal in 1986. The 2010 refurbishment doubled the terminal's capacity by simultaneous handling embarking/disembarking passengers.
- address: "1 Black Falcon Ave, Boston, MA 02210, United States"
- location - 10 min drive distance from BOS (Boston Logan International Airport, via Ted Williams Tunnel), and 3 mi / 5 km (within 15 min drive distance) from Boston’s Back Bay shopping areas.
- GPS coordinates - 42°20'35.0"N+71°02'01.1"W
- phone number +1 617-330-1500
- Parking: indoor parking garage with 5 levels, $15.00 per day (Port Authority subject to change). There is no need of long-term parking advance reservations.
Statistics show that ~70% of all Canada New England cruise ship passengers leaving from Boston arrive here by air. Approximately 95% of Bermuda cruise passengers or repositioning cruise ship passengers (going to Caribbean) live in or near Boston (within a 4-hour drive).
There is a lot of opportunities to reach the Boston cruise port terminal from the airport. You can use subway, taxi, bus or even ferry if you want. If you prefer walking, you will need half an hour via Northern Avenue, new Harborwalk and the Northern Avenue bridge for pedestrians.
From the cruise terminal you can take a taxi, a bus or use the cruise line's shuttle bus service.
Cruise ship terminal directions & parking
- From North (driving south on I-93) - drive Inside Tip O’Neill Tunnel, take Exit 23 (Purchase Street). Turn left onto Seaport Blvd and continue straight (changes to Northern Ave). At the end of Northern Ave, turn right on Tide Street, then make an immediate left onto Drydock Ave. Follow Drydock Ave and turn right on Black Falcon Ave. Follow the signs to the cruise ship terminal.
- From South (driving north on I-93) - take Exit 20 to I-90 (Logan Airport). Inside the tunnel, take Exit 25 (to South Boston). At the traffic lights continue forward onto East Service Drive. At next traffic lights turn right onto Seaport Blvd (changes to Northern Ave). At the end of Northern Ave, turn right on Tide Street, then make an immediate left onto Drydock Ave. Follow Drydock Ave and turn right on Black Falcon Ave. Follow the signs to the cruise ship terminal.
- From West (Turnpike MA, driving eastbound on I-90) - follow the Turnpike MA toward Logan Airport. In the tunnel take Exit 25 (to South Boston). At the traffic lights continue forward onto East Service Drive. At next traffic lights turn right onto Seaport Blvd (changes to Northern Ave). At the end of Northern Ave, turn right on Tide Street, then make an immediate left onto Drydock Ave. Follow Drydock Ave and turn right on Black Falcon Ave. Follow the signs to the cruise ship terminal.
- From Logan Airport (driving westbound on I-90) - when exiting the airport, follow the signs to enter Ted Williams Tunnel (toll charge). Take Exit 25 (to South Boston), stay in the right lane. Turn right onto Congress Street, then turn left onto B Street. At the next traffic lights turn right onto Seaport Blvd (changes to Northern Ave). At the end of Northern Ave, turn right on Tide Street, then make an immediate left onto Drydock Ave. Follow Drydock Ave and turn right on Black Falcon Ave. Follow the signs to the cruise ship terminal.
- Convenient parking is available at the BRA-EDIC garage (close location to the terminal).
Boston port also has facilities to handle cargo ships (bulk and container vessels).
- UN-LOCODE (United Nations location code) - USBOS.
- opened in 1986 (first season - 13 cruise ships, 11,723 passengers)
- supported by excellent road, rail and air infrastructure
- deep water berths
- The cruise season runs from late April through late October/November.
- Cruise ships usually arrive in Boston in early morning (7 or 8 am) and depart from Boston in late afternoon (4, 4:30 or 5 pm).
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.
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