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There are wonderful restaurants, unique boutiques and art galleries to enjoy before or after your cruise, much of which is within walking distance from the terminal. After that deal is finished, the Ports Authority said it will continue to follow a voluntary limit of no more than 104 cruise ship visits a year, and no stops by ships that carry more than 3,500 passengers. Watch out for young people trying to sell palmetto roses, made from the fronds of the local trees. Yes, they are cute and make nice souvenirs, but the sellers will remind you of Caribbean beach vendors. The Holy City, Charleston, is so named for the skyline of steeples seen by ships' passengers as they enter Charleston harbor.
Charleston Cruise Port: Terminal, Overview and What to Do
Take a nature tour and discover the flora and fauna of South Carolina along the way. You’ll discover the history of South Carolina’s plantations from the 19th century to today. The Port of Charleston is located 12 miles from the Charleston International Airport. Parking is $20.00 per day (rates subject to change by Port Authority).
Culture & History of Charleston Cruise Port
Don’t miss the chance to try fresh oysters while in port from Charleston cruises. The city’s coastal location provides delicious seafood, and there are plenty of cafes, bars, and eateries with bayside views for you to take in the sights. The Cruise Ship Passenger Terminal is located in downtown Charleston in the heart of the historic district. The major routes into Charleston are via Interstate 26, Highway 17-South, Highway 17-North.
Cruise Lines Operating or Calling at Charleston Cruise Port
Secure, patrolled parking is available for a per-day fee; an open public garage, about two to three blocks away, also offers daily parking. Cruises out of Charleston are a great idea for foodies and anyone who loves American history. Give in to the genteel feel of the old South on Carnival cruises from the beautiful port of Charleston, South Carolina. This is a gracious city of antebellum 18th- and 19th-century houses and sprawling plantations, easy to appreciate from the comfort of a horse-drawn carriage. The city’s unique Lowcountry cuisine and dozens of delicious restaurants make it a popular southern foodie destination. Enjoy warm southern hospitality and a breezy waterfront as you prepare to depart on your cruise from Charleston.
Shopping and Food
The Port of Charleston features both covered and non-covered parking in a safe and secure location. Follow our social media and blog for the latest cruise and travel news, including our best vacation deals. They even offer porter agents to help direct and assist those with wheelchairs and other mobility needs. As a bonus, the port even offers complimentary parking and shuttles from the parking lots to those with vehicles displaying a valid handicap placard or identification card. If you are driving to the city and its port, rather than flying into Charleston, there are plenty of simple ways to get there by bus or car. In January 2017, the city agreed to limit the per-year number of cruise vessels scheduled to dock in Port Charleston.
For those looking to spend more time in the city, three car rental services are located just a few blocks from the cruise terminal. Not only will we cover practical details, like the port’s location and proximity to the airport, but we’ll also explain some of the most exciting things to do in the city and the surrounding area. 2022 became the Port's record year by annual TEU container volumes - nearly 2,8 million , or 1,5% increase over 2021.
You will have plenty of options, with numerous restaurants showing off the city’s renowned culinary scene. Particular highlights are the many soul food and Southern cuisine restaurants in the historic downtown area. Even those ships that are allowed to use the port will be limited to 104 cruise ship visits per year. Ships carrying over 3,500 passengers will also be prohibited from using the port. Port Charleston is located in South Carolina (SC), on the Atlantic coast of the USA. This major port city (population around 120,000) is located on the state's central coast, and on the estuaries where Cooper River meets Ashley River.
The majority of those were by the homeported here Carnival Ecstasy, operating on year-round 5-day roundtrips to Bahamas (Nassau, Freeport, Half Moon Cay). Among the new cruise ships visiting in 2017 was TUI Mein Schiff 6 (2 calls). Scheduled were transition calls from large-sized vessels of Royal Caribbean, AIDA, P&O UK.
Carnival Cruise Ship Delayed Back to South Carolina - Cruise Hive
Carnival Cruise Ship Delayed Back to South Carolina.
Posted: Sun, 17 Dec 2023 08:00:00 GMT [source]
Spring temperatures usually sit between 60° and 80°F, but rainfall can be an issue. Even though Charleston gets plenty of springtime rain, showers are usually brief, so you can still enjoy exploring the city and everything it has to offer. There are some cruise lines that do make calls at the port, including Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line. As mentioned, Carnival Cruise Line is the only cruise line that uses Charleston as a homeport; however, others make temporary use of the port by featuring it as an occasional departure point and port of call.
The most popular way to get around the city is to take taxis, which are available directly at the cruise terminal. Despite its popularity, Charleston Cruise Port is a relatively small part of the main seaport, with only one cruise ship pier capable of handling full-sized cruise ships. Given its limited capabilities, it is only used as a homeport for a single cruise line – Carnival Cruise Line. Charleston Cruise Port, a section of the Port of Charleston, is located in the city’s historic downtown area.
With that said, plenty of the 2024 cruise season is left, and cruise ships are still expected to visit Charleston’s Union Pier Terminal as a port of call. Charleston cruise port passenger terminal is located on 196 Concord Street. Cruise passengers should go to Gate 2 of the Union Pier Terminal, the entrance of which is at the Concord and Laurens intersection near Washington Street. Located in Charleston’s downtown area, the port can be reached easily by way of Interstate 26, Highway 17-South and Highway 17-North. It looks like Charlestonians want the cruises, but don't want the new terminal to be located on the edge of the city's historic district.
Port Charleston SC 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 Charleston SC, South Carolina. To see the full itineraries (ports of call dates and arrival / departure times) and their lowest rates – just follow the corresponding ship-link. Charleston, SC cruises dock in the Port of Charleston, which is very centrally located to the historic downtown area. Shops, restaurants, and tourist activities are a short walk away from the terminal.
Not only does the location make it convenient and easily accessible for passengers arriving by air or car, but it also allows passengers to explore one of the oldest and most historic cities in the United States. Charleston, South Carolina, has been a prominent departure point for many of the world’s top cruise lines for years. Downtown Charleston is rich in history with period architecture, much of which was built before the Revolution.
Cruise ships can continue to dock at Charleston, but only for brief, same-day port of call stops, The Post and Courier of Charleston reported. Charleston is a vibrant city full of history, world-renowned dining, period architecture, arts and culture, and recreation. Here you can step back in time to the eighteenth century, before the Revolution, when Charleston was the seat of British rule and the cultural capital of the New World. Located a 30-minute drive opposite Folly Beach, you can find the picture-perfect Isle of Palms Beach. Its white sand and sand bar make you feel like you’re in a tropical beach town rather than just being a short drive from the state’s most populous city. You’ll need more time to visit the fort, but it can be accessed via dedicated ferries from the Fort Sumter Visitor Center.
Located half a mile from the Cruise Port, this departure point is the closest to the Charleston Cruise Port. Fort Sumter is a well-preserved sea fort built on an artificial island off the mainland of Charleston. View gun emplacements and a Civil War Museum on the exact location where the war’s first shots were fired. Located just a five-minute walk from the aquarium is the International African American Museum.
