Key West (Florida)
Cruise Port schedule, live map, terminals, news
Region
Bahamas - Caribbean - Bermuda
Local Time
2024-10-15 17:43
27.5°C
2.4 m/s
78 °F / 26 °C
Port Key West cruise ship schedule shows timetable calendars of all arrival and departure dates by month. The port's schedule lists all ships (in links) with cruises going to or leaving from Key West, Florida. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link.
Day | Ship | Arrival | Departure |
---|---|---|---|
1 October, 2024 Tuesday | Celebrity Reflection | 07:00 | 16:00 |
2 October, 2024 Wednesday | Margaritaville Paradise | 07:00 | 16:00 |
4 October, 2024 Friday | Valiant Lady | 08:00 | 17:00 |
5 October, 2024 Saturday | MSC Magnifica | 09:00 | 18:00 |
7 October, 2024 Monday | Carnival Dream | 10:00 | 18:00 |
8 October, 2024 Tuesday | Celebrity Reflection | 07:00 | 15:00 |
9 October, 2024 Wednesday | Margaritaville Islander | 13:00 | 19:00 |
12 October, 2024 Saturday | MSC Magnifica | 09:00 | 18:00 |
14 October, 2024 Monday | Margaritaville Islander | 13:00 | 19:00 |
15 October, 2024 Tuesday | Carnival Liberty | 08:00 | 16:00 |
16 October, 2024 Wednesday | Margaritaville Paradise | 07:00 | 16:00 |
18 October, 2024 Friday | Valiant Lady | 08:00 | 17:00 |
19 October, 2024 Saturday | MSC Magnifica | 09:00 | 18:00 |
21 October, 2024 Monday | Carnival Dream | 12:00 | 18:00 |
22 October, 2024 Tuesday | Celebrity Reflection | 07:00 | 16:00 |
23 October, 2024 Wednesday | Margaritaville Islander | 13:00 | 19:00 |
26 October, 2024 Saturday | Celebrity Reflection | 07:00 | 15:00 |
27 October, 2024 Sunday | Carnival Miracle | 10:00 | 18:00 |
28 October, 2024 Monday | Margaritaville Islander | 13:00 | 19:00 |
29 October, 2024 Tuesday | Carnival Paradise | 12:00 | 18:00 |
30 October, 2024 Wednesday | Celebrity Reflection | 07:00 | 16:00 |
Key West is an island, city and cruise port in the Florida Strait (within Monroe County, Florida USA) with population around 25,000. Key West City includes also the nearby islands Dredgers Key, Fleming Key, Sunset Key and also Stock Island's northern part.
Key West (port locode USEYW) is approx 150 mi (240 km) from Miami and just 90 mi (145 km) from Havana Cuba.
As cruise port, Key West has 2 ship docking piers. The first/principal (Fisherman Wharf) is within walking distance from downtown. The second (Outer Mole Pier) is a free trolley bus ride away from downtown.
In mid-July 2020, to the November ballot was added a referendum (3 proposed amendments) to limit the number of big-sized cruise ships calling at Key West. The ballot's amendments restricted the ship's size (max passenger capacity 1300), limited the number of disembarking tourists (max 1500 per day) and also gave priority to newer and safer liners - more environmental (engines, technologies) and with fewer accidents (especially onboard illness outbreaks) and better VSPs (CDC vessel sanitation records).
- According to a CLIA-commissioned study conducted in August 2020 (CLIA-Cruise Lines International Association), the industry's economic impact for Key West is that ~7% of the island's total spending is from cruise ship tourists who contribute ~USD 73 million of the island's total ~USD 1,2 billion annual visitor spending.
- In November 2020, Key West's residents voted for the three proposals and effectively banned the large cruise ships, including the fleets of Carnival, Royal Caribbean, NCL, MSC.
- In late April 2021, the Forida Senate passed (in a 25 to 14 vote) "Senate Bill 426" that could overturn Key West's initiative to limit cruise shipping. The bill (aka "State Preemption of Seaport Regulations") was introduced by Jim Boyd (Senator of District 21). In the bill, he indicated that allowing each port city in Florida to impose its own rules on the port's maritime activities could result in "abrupt changes in the supply lines bringing goods into and out of this state", thus disrupting the state's economy. However, to become a law, Bill 426 must pass Florida's House of Representatives.
- On June 29, 2021, Florida's Governor Ron DeSantis signed "Senate Bill 1194 (2021)" (aka Transportation Bill). The Bill contains various transportation-related (road, airports, seaports) provisions but also doesn't allow ballots/referendums (conducted by local municipalities and counties) to impact the state's seaport businesses. "[the Bill] Provides that with respect to any port that has received or is eligible to apply for or receive certain state seaport funding, a local ballot initiative or referendum may not restrict maritime commerce in such port based on specified but unlimited factors. These provisions apply retroactively and prospectively, prohibiting, rendering void, and preempting to the state any conflicting initiative or referendum".
- Since July 1, 2021, Key West's ban on cruise liners is history.
In 2019, the cruise port handled 417 ship calls and nearly 965,000 passengers.
On December 1, 2017, RCI-Royal Caribbean added a 5-night itinerary on Empress of the Seas visiting Key West and Havana (overnight). For summer season 2018, Empress OTS had scheduled roundtrips to Cuba from Tampa FL with a series of 4-5-night itineraries to Key West, Mexico (Costa Maya, Cozumel) and Cuba (Havana). For winter season 2018-2019, the ship was homeported in Fort Lauderdale.
On November 27, 2018, upon leaving Key West, due to heavy winds, the luxury liner Silver Spirit collided with The Fisherman Wharf (aka Mallory Pier/at Mallory Square). The ship departed the berth at ~6:30 PM and started to turn around when strong winds stopped it and pushed it back towards the dock. The crash resulted in minor hull damages and no injuries, but the concrete structure sustained damage that left the berth unusable (remained closed until May 2019). Berth damages were estimated ~USD 0,5-0,75 million. Silversea agreed to pay for the repairs plus ~US$50,000 reimbursement (for not-received passenger fees during the restoration period).
In 2023, ACL-American Cruise Lines included Key West as a call port of its 7-night/8-day "Florida Gulf Coast and Keys" itinerary. The roundtrip from Tampa was specifically designed for ACL's newbuild catamarans (Coastal Cats) and was first operated by American Glory in 2023.
Date / Time | Port |
---|---|
DAY 1 | Departing from Tampa |
DAY 2 | Marco Island |
DAY 3-4 (overnight) | Key West |
DAY 5 | coastal cruising |
DAY 6 | Punta Gorda/Fishermen's Village |
DAY 7 | St Petersburg |
DAY 8 | Arriving in Tampa |
On this ACL ex-Florida voyage, on days 3 and 4 the ship stays in Key West overnight. This allows tourists to explore Key West City on Day 3 (with a complimentary guided tour to the Ernest Hemingway Home & Museum) and the Dry Tortugas National Park on Day 4 (visiting Fort Jefferson/Civil War prison).
The Caribbean island Key West was initially called "Bone Key" (Cayo Hueso) honoring the Indian skeletons found by the Spaniards on its shores when they landed here for the first time in the 16th-century. The USA bought Cayo Hueso from Spain in the early-19th-century, and eventually, the name was Americanized to Key West. Today, the island is best-known with its pleasantly warm weather and great beaches, architecture, historical sites, and easily-traversed streets lined with restaurants, bars, nightclubs, shops, galleries, theatres, museums. Cruise ship tourists may easily explore the downtown on foot and see Duval Street, Mallory Square, visit the Aquarium, Mel Fisher Museum, Audubon House, Hemmingway's House. A quick tour is offered by the Conch Train.
The island is one of nearly a thousand coral islets (Florida Keys archipelago) stretching southward from Miami. Key West is directly linked to mainland-USA (Miami) via Overseas Highway (113 mi / 182 km long US Route 1). Overseas Highway is part of US Highway 1 (serving East Coast USA) that has total length 2369 mi (3813 km), starts in Key West and ends in Fort Kent (Maine, at the USA-Canada border).
US Highway 1 connects most large US East Coast cities (Miami, Jacksonville FL, Raleigh NC, Richmond VA, Washington DC, Baltimore MD, Philadelphia PA, NYC, Boston MA) and is the USA's longest south-north route linking Southeastern US to New England.
Key West cruise terminal
Most cruise ships in Key West dock at The Fisherman Wharf (aka Mallory Pier/Mallory Square). Alternatively, the cruise port has two more berths - Outer Mole Pier (Truman Waterfront Park) and Margaritaville Resort (near Mallory Square).
Key West tours, shore excursions, hotels
City Tours and Shore Excursions
Next are listed the most popular Carnival Cruise Lines tours in Key West, with USD prices per adult:
- catamaran and snorkeling tour ($50)
- Butterfly Conservatory ($40)
- Trolley and Train tours ($30-65)
- History tours ($40)
- parasailing ($90)
- Key West Pub ($40)
- kayaking ($55)
- speedboat ride ($100)
- scuba diving tour ($115)
- biking tour ($45)
- boat rides ($70)
- Accidents
Cruise lines alter itineraries as Hurricane Debby approaches Florida
As Hurricane Debby approached Florida's West Coast, Margaritaville at Sea adjusted the schedules for two of MAS Islander ship's voyages. Originally...
August 5, 2024 - Accidents
Greece considers limiting cruise ship visitors amid overtourism concerns
Greece is reportedly considering restrictions on the number of cruise visitors to its popular destinations, following similar measures seen in other...
June 16, 2024 - Cruise Industry
Margaritaville at Sea's newest ship MAS Islander sets sail from Tampa FL
The newest addition to the Jimmy Buffett-themed Margaritaville at Sea cruise line has arrived in Tampa, Florida. MAS Islander, the company's second...
June 12, 2024 - Cruise Industry
Margaritaville at Sea's ship Islander sets sail for homeport Tampa Florida after major refurbishment
The newest Margaritaville at Sea vessel, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander, has commenced her voyage to Tampa, Florida USA. Departing from the...
May 24, 2024 - Cruise Industry
Savannah Buffett named Godmother of Margaritaville at Sea Islander
Savannah Buffett has been appointed as the Godmother of Margaritaville at Sea's latest vessel, the Margaritaville at Sea Islander. Savannah Jane...
May 15, 2024 - Cruise Industry
Margaritaville at Sea introduces Key West cruise aboard MAS Paradise ship
Margaritaville at Sea is offering a voyage to Key West Florida and Freeport Grand Bahama on its MAS Paradise ship, providing a convenient alternative...
May 1, 2024 - Cruise Industry
Celebrity Cruises ships Reflection and Beyond made first calls at CocoCay Bahamas
In recent years, CocoCay Bahamas has emerged as a beloved destination for RCI-Royal Caribbean’s ships. However, until this week, it had...
April 26, 2024 - Cruise Industry
Celebrity Cruises introduces short Caribbean voyages for 2025-2026 season
Celebrity Cruises has unveiled its newly announced 2025-2026 cruise season, catering to guests seeking short Caribbean getaways on Celebrity...
March 30, 2024 - Cruise Industry
Sea Cloud Spirit embarks on inaugural Bahamas voyage from Nassau
Sea Cloud Cruises (fleet) marked a significant milestone with the inaugural visit of Sea Cloud Spirit схип at Nassau Cruise Port. Mirell Reyes...
March 7, 2024 - Cruise Industry
ACL-American Cruise Lines christens American Glory ship in Key West Florida
American Glory, the second catamaran-type vessel in American Cruise Lines/ACL's fleet of 100-passenger Coastal Cats, was officially christened in Key...
January 23, 2024 - show more news