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You’ll find this half-mile stretch of white sand is the largest public beach in Key West. If you have time, drive less than an hour northeast to Bahia Honda for the kind of Florida beach experience the state is famous for. Even in December, the forest and plants at this botanical garden in Key West retain their leaves and lush palms. The Garden describes themselves as “frost-free,” a benefit of the tropical climate.
Garden Party
Cruise Critic is not a booking agent and does not charge any service fees to users of our site. When you book with one of our partners, please be sure to check their site for a full disclosure of all applicable fees as required by the U.S. Cruises to Key West are packed with coastal-town energy and layers of American history just waiting to be discovered. Enjoy a laidback Caribbean vibe with a dash of the high life on Carnival cruises to Key West.
Night Western Caribbean ExplorerDetails
Today the spot is home to dozens of cats, of which roughly half are polydactyl (meaning they have six toes). In our visit, tourists seemed much more enamored with seeing the cats than with the author himself. Love of Key West goes back a century and includes some of the most famous people you can imagine. President Truman has what was called “The Little White House” on the island and would visit on working vacations during his presidency. Beyond that, it was visited and used by other presidents including Eisenhower, Kennedy, Carter, and Clinton. The island has adopted the Mile 0 marker, and you’ll see it pasted on everything from stickers to t-shirts to hats to business names.
CONCH CABOOSE
We think you see by now that, from sun-up to sunset and well into the night, you'll find a day aboard Carnival Sunrise full of amazing ways to have fun. (Plus, don't forget the amazing destinations to see!) Best of all, at the end of the day... Remember that your vacation on Carnival Sunrise features another great one tomorrow. Also, the Key West Police Department reports are filled with lost-and-found property reports from visitors.
Key West Cruise Port Facilities?
Hats, t-shirts, novelty signs, keychains, and tons more are available. Mel Fisher was a famous treasure hunter, perhaps most famous for discovering the wreck of the Atocha. In this museum that’s right by the cruise terminals, you can explore some of his finds. Displays include everything from cannons to enormous silver bars to gold jewelry and coins pulled up from shipwrecks dating back to the 1600s. The city famously appeals to all types of folks, and attracts artists, hipsters, foodies and beach bums along with cruise ships. Locals love to repeat the line about never knowing if the guy beside you at the bar in flip flops and a tank top is a millionaire or a former merchant marine -- or both.
Sun lovers can relax on a waterfront daybed at Chill Island, taking a break for Caribbean bites and cocktails. Elevate your experience even further with an overwater cabana at the luxurious Coco Beach Club, and gaze over the sparkling aquamarine sea. Key West’s official currency is the U.S. dollar (USD), and ATMs are widely available. Credit cards like VISA and MasterCard are accepted most places as well. Don’t forget to tip your barista for your morning cafe con leche, too. Key West isn’t as famous for its beaches as it is for other activities, but you can still lay down a beach towel and read a book at Smathers Beach.
American Glory cruise ship docks in Punta Gorda - Wink News
American Glory cruise ship docks in Punta Gorda.
Posted: Tue, 02 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]
No Caribbean cruise is quite complete without experiencing Key West’s day-and-night bustle. If you have enough time, book a catamaran 70 miles west for a day trip to the one-of-a-kind Dry Tortugas National Park, home to the historic Fort Jefferson. In Mallory Square, you’ll find lots of local vendors selling seashells, souvenirs, cigars, rum, and of course, key lime pie. If you’re looking for art galleries and clothing boutiques, head to Duval Street.
The pre-purchase window for certain products and activities closes between one and three days prior to the sail date. If you missed the purchase window, check with us once you're on board — we'll help you find what you’re looking for. Hop on the world-famous Conch Train to get a lesson in Key West history and hear local legends while touring Old Town and some of the island’s most iconic landmarks. What first-time visitors to the island might be surprised by is that despite being surrounded by water, there isn’t a lot of beach. Most of the shoreline in this area is rocky or there is no beach at all. The Southernmost Point is by far the most famous landmark in Key West, and we think it’s a must-see if you visit.
Rich retirees rub elbows here with those who work two and three jobs to be able to call Key West home. Quirky Key West, at the southern tip of the continental USA, lives by its own rules. The island is famous as the former home of writer Ernest Hemingway, whose villa is now a museum, and as the location of the Little White House, beloved by President Harry S. Truman. Ride the Conch Train to see the sights, or join a boat tour to snorkel over colorful coral reefs and spot wild dolphins. Browse the shops and pubs on Duval Street, and leave time to savor a slice of Key lime pie. The famous “buoy” for the point is just over a mile from the cruise ships and you can walk it in about 20 minutes.
Cruises to Key West, Florida are one of the most popular ways to see this walkable, immersive city. It’s easy to feel at home in Key West among swaying palms and small fishing boats glittering off the harbor. Once mostly cut off from the rest of the world, it has persevered through countless hurricanes. To 5 p.m., making it ideal to visit if you’re in Key West on a cruise.
Today you can tour the famous facility and its grounds and see a number of artifacts and exhibits from the Truman era. Anyone that’s a fan of presidential history will love this spot, just a short five-minute walk from the ship. By far the easiest (and the least expensive!) thing to do in Key West is take a simple walking tour. There’s a style of beach life for every taste at Perfect Day at CocoCay, our award-winning private island. Thrill-seekers can fly along the zipline, or plunge down Daredevil’s Peak, the tallest waterslide in North America.
Mallory Square is the site of a long-running tradition to watch the sunset. Gather among locals and fellow tourists, musicians, and food vendors for a taste of Key West culture. It’s not every day you get a chance to eat something this unique, so don’t miss your chance. Here, you’ll sit on a man made beach overlooking the water and have your choice of a number of options including salads and sandwiches. Rich and with lots of flavor, the pie costs about $30 and will easily feed two adults. The Conch Tour Train is an open air “train” that navigates the street of Key West while you get to sit back and take in the sights.
Key West cruise ship passengers, who number some 820,000 a year among the island's 3 million visitors, disembark at Mallory Square, a Navy pier near the Westin Resort. But the island city is a breeze to explore by walking, bike, scooter or even pedicab. Famous residents have included Pulitzer Prize-winner Ernest Hemingway, whose home on Simonton Street is now a museum where six-toed cats roam the grounds, pool and living quarters.
The southernmost island of the Florida Keys, Key West is a sunny, fun-loving place with plenty of charm, and more than a little touristy goofiness. (But that’s optional.) Key West cruises deliver you to palm-shaded streets lined with gaily-painted bungalows, vintage saloons and blooming tropical flowers. Whether life’s a beach or you’re life of the party, cruises to Key West definitely over-deliver.
