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Attractions include sharks, sea turtles, jellyfish and a touch tank. Key West, the southernmost city in the continental U.S., is the last in a chain of tiny tropical islands -- the Florida Keys -- scattered off the mainland. Dubbed the "Conch Republic," Key West is a very popular destination on Western Caribbean itineraries -- and is easily one of the funkiest and fascinating ports of call in all of cruising. Relax into the rhythms of the Caribbean on Labadee, a private destination on the north coast of Haiti, where forested mountains plunge into the azure sea. Swim from five white-sand beaches, snorkel over teeming coral reefs, or head out on a sailing boat from which you can admire the lush shoreline, sculpted with green, lagoon-like bays. Or boost your adrenaline and whizz along the half-mile overwater zipline, race down the alpine coaster, or whoosh through the Dragon’s Splash waterslide.
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Key West was also a home away from home for President Harry Truman, whose one-time respite from Washington, D.C., is the "Little White House," a museum by the waterfront. Key West is only about four miles long and two miles wide, which means tackling the city on foot isn’t such a daunting idea. But there are also a variety of other methods to see Key West, like the Old Town Trolley. You can also rent bikes or scooters to catch the Key West breeze while you explore. For a sightseeing tour you’ll never forget, take the Conch Tour Train, which has been showing tourists around town since 1958.
Key West, Florida
From here, you are roughly 90 miles to Cuba, meaning you are closer to Cuba than Miami. One thing is that when you get there, you might find a line of people waiting to get a picture, so pack a little patience. Before getting to things to do, it’s helpful to have a lay of the land. While you can explore the whole island, many of the most famous landmarks and things for cruise passengers are on the western quarter of the island. That makes it extremely convenient to easily get to some of the most popular things to do and see. World famous for its laid-back lifestyle, the island is much more than just a place to party (although you can certainly do that).
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And for doing the ever-important — but also fun — work of saluting heroes, raise a glass at the Heroes Tribute Bar. Fancying things up a little are the Italian classics of Cucina del Capitano®, while another notch up you'll find Fahrenheit 555 Steakhouse™. The move to secede was short-lived but remains a point of pride for Key Westers, who still fly the blue "Conch Republic" flag in the subtropical heat and ocean breezes. Key West was first settled in 1822 and by 1886 had become America's richest city per capita. Compact, cozy and adorable, the city's Old Town neighborhood is filled with cottages with gingerbread-topped porches, Victorian compounds, sidewalk cafes, cigar stands and T-shirt shops.
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Keep an eye on your belongings while you're downing a rum drink or frosty brew, or while singing along with the whole bar to a Jimmy Buffett or Kenney Chesney classic. While federal agents were trying to stymie drug smugglers, Keys residents decried the roadblock as a tourism disaster as well as disrespectful to its people. But Key West's mayor and his supporters failed to sway a federal court in Miami to lift the roadblock. Soon after, he read a proclamation at Mallory Square declaring the Keys no longer a part of the U.S. and demanding $1 million in foreign aid. Located at the southernmost tip of the United States, this cool little island hideaway is closer to Havana, Cuba, than it is to Miami. Visit two of Key West's best attractions, the Key West Shipwreck Treasures Museum and the Key West Aquarium.
Explore Mallory Square
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Head to this Florida State Park and National Historic Landmark for swimming, snorkeling, fishing, paddling, and more. Walk along the beach directly overlooking the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Stop at nearby sandwich stand Cayo Hueso for a cold drink or a sandwich. Catch a Key West sunset from Mallory Square, a waterfront plaza facing the Gulf of Mexico.
Top Sights & Attractions for Cruises to Key West
Mallory Square is known for coming alive around sunset, but it’s also where the cruise ships dock. One suggestion is that the spots near the cruise ship offer the less expensive gifts. If you want things that are nicer quality, explore Whitehead Street where there are some more boutique shops with unique souvenirs.
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When your cruise ship docks, seek out a cafe con leche and a slice of key lime pie immediately. Then set out for attractions along Duval Street or Mallory Square, both hubs for shopping and nightlife. Don’t miss the six-toed cats living at Ernest Hemingway’s famed Spanish Colonial house-turned-museum. And, of course, a photo op awaits at the Southernmost Point of the United States, a concrete buoy memorializing Key West’s geography. Key West is famous for its party culture, and that includes a number of bars that are well-known. Spots like Sloppy Joe’s, Green Parrot, and Hog’s Breath Saloon are all within walking distance of the cruise ships.
Set sail on a blissful escape on our cruises from Port Canaveral to Key West and beyond. You’ll have a day to explore free-spirited Key West, where you can head for the beach, take in the buzz of lively Mallory Square, and sample the famous Key lime pie. Visit Key West on the all-new Margaritaville at Sea Islander, a completely new way to cruise into an Island State of Mind. Decked out in new and familiar bars and restaurants, our newest flagship offers new ways to discover fun opportunities for dining, dancing and diving. While on cruises to Key West, Florida, you’ll find no shortage of souvenir shacks, roadside t-shirt vendors, and Florida-related memorabilia celebrating and embracing Key West’s quirkiness. Head to Duval Street for the majority of shops, independently-owned boutiques, and galleries in the city.
From beaches to history to food, there’s something for everyone in Key West when you visit on a cruise. Popular bars, T-shirt and souvenir shops and art galleries line both sides of the street and can be found from the 200 block to the end near Mallory Square. Although there is an open-container law in Key West prohibiting alcohol on public streets, it isn't largely enforced on visitors along the 100 and 200 blocks of Duval. Key West is an island, or Key, that is just two miles long by four miles wide, so all the essentials are near the docks -- bars, restaurants, shopping, scuba diving and beach-going. Mallory Square, on the waterfront near the docks, has restaurants, shops and public restrooms. Lowest pricing is based on our 3rd party pricing supplier and valid as of April 23rd, 2024.
Residential throughout, every sign, window and awning in Old Town must pass scrutiny of the city-appointed Historic Architectural Review Commission. Cruises that stop in Key West help the world become familiar with the city’s culture and history. Key West became a Spanish territory, then called Cayo Hueso, in the 16th century. The British claimed ownership of Florida in the 18th century, expelling Native Americans and the Spanish from the area. Start your day in Key West with a cortadito, cafe con leche, or Cuban coffee. Coffee is taken seriously in Key West, just like in neighboring Miami, heavily influenced by the Cuban coffee tradition.
Or shop at Mallory Square for interesting goods like sandal and surf shops or markets for seashells and sea sponges. Even with limited time in Key West, it’s tradition to cut into a huge slice of key lime pie while you’re there. The shop has been locally owned and operated for over twenty years. They offer a lunch menu as well, but the key lime is literally their namesake. Try a slice of key lime pie on a stick dipped in chocolate for a really adventurous, decadent take on a classic.
You can catch all kinds of exotic fish in Key West’s tropical waters, so it’s no surprise that much of the local cuisine centers on fresh seafood. Be sure to try some conch fritters and the iconic key lime pie, of course. When it comes to bars, you’ll find no shortage along lively Duval Street.
Wander (slightly) off the beaten path with stops at both Key West and Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula aboard the all-new Margaritaville at Sea Islander. At the corner of South Street and Whitehead Street in Key West is a concrete buoy marker of the southernmost point of the continental United States. Passengers on cruises that stop in Key West should see why this is one of the most photographed tourist attractions in the world. Just the right amount of kitsch, Key West bursts with sunlight, boasts year-round tropical weather, and some of the clearest snorkeling and most preserved coral reef structures in the world.
There’s also the Old Town Trolley that features 13 stops and a hop-on, hop-off system where you can come and go as your please. There’s also a real-time bus tracker so you can see exactly where it is. Art galleries, Cuban coffee, fine dining and overstuffed sandwiches all abound in Key West. Locals will serve you fresh coconut water by drilling a straw hole into one of the green fruits that come from the island's palm trees.
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