Can Large Ship Travel Thru The Florida Keys?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

, , , ,


Florida lifts its ban on large cruise ships in Key West

. Large cruise ships have won their battle with idyllic Key West. Key West residents approved a ban on cruise ships carrying more than 1,500 passengers in November, a time when the industry was effectively shut down by the pandemic.

Do cruise ships stop in the Florida Keys?


Cruise ships of all sizes will continue to visit Key West, one at a time, docking only at the privately run Pier B

. The two city-controlled docks will only host smaller ships, and only if no ships are at Pier B.

Will cruise ships be allowed in Key West?

It imposes restrictions on the city-run downtown Mallory Square Pier as well as the outer Mole Pier, which is owned by the U.S. Navy.

The city piers will only accept smaller cruise ships that accommodate less than 1,300 passengers

and they will only be available when the privately-run Pier B is not in use.

Why is Carnival Not in Key West?


The majority of local voters on the Florida Keys’ southernmost island voted to restrict the number of daily cruise ship visitors

, ban vessels carrying more than 1,300 passengers, and prioritize docking for cruise lines with the best health and environmental records during an election in November 2020.

Can cruise ships dock in Florida?


Florida boasts a whopping 6 separate cruise ports throughout the state

. Here’s the quick run-down: PORT OF MIAMI (Miami) PORT EVERGLADES (Fort Lauderdale)

Will cruise ships still call at St Petersburg?

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Lines said: “

Due to the escalated situation between Russia and Ukraine we have made the decision to alter itineraries and remove calls to St. Petersburg, Russia from our 2022 sailings

.” The cruise line continues to confirm replacement ports for the involved itineraries within 2022.

Does Carnival own mahogany bay?


Mahogany Bay Port is owned and in large part operated by the Carnival Corporation

. In recent years, Roatan has become a popular stop for cruise ships touring the western Caribbean.

What airport is near Key West?

The closest airport to Key West is

Key West International

, airport code EYW. It is located directly on the island.

How long is a cruise from Miami to Key West?

You’ll have approximately

6 hours

to explore Key West at your leisure.

Why are cruises not going to Key West?

Most cruise ships are no longer welcome, 62% of Key West’s voters decided in November 2020, when they approved local referendums to drastically reduce the number of ships — and the number of people aboard — that can dock in Key West.

Where is Carnival going instead of Grand Cayman?

There is an itinerary change for the Carnival Vista too. The ship’s February 5 seven-day cruise from Galveston, Texas, will no longer call Ocho Rios and Grand Cayman. The Carnival cruise ship will now be visiting

Mahogany bay in Honduras and Belize

. The original call in Cozumel will also remain.

What is the largest cruise ship port in Florida?


Port Miami

is Florida’s largest cruise ship port with nine separate cruise ship terminals. Port Miami hosts cruise ships from world-famous luxury lines like Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruise Lines, Carnival Cruise Lines, and more.

Where do the cruise ships leave from in Florida?

Florida has more ports from which to cruise than any other state. In fact, there are five —

Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Tampa and Port Canaveral

. And with Miami being recognized as “The Cruising Capital of the World” your options are extensive.

Why is Carnival not sailing from Fort Lauderdale?

Right now, Carnival is not sailing out of Ft. Lauderdale due to

dredging work being done by the port, limiting ship traffic

.

Are cruise ships still stopping in Russia?

Sister-brand

Regent Seven Seas Cruises will remove all its planned stops in Russia

, which include the Solovetsky Islands, Arkhangelsk, Murmansk and St. Petersburg, as well as Odessa, Ukraine. Oceania Cruises confirmed it would also remove Russian and Ukrainian ports from its 2022 itineraries.

Are Black Sea cruises Cancelled?


Windstar Cruises has cancelled all sailings and cruise tours in the Black Sea region

and will change its Baltic itineraries to replace calls in St. Petersburg, Russia with calls in a non-Russian port, according to a press release.

Are cruise ships allowed to dock in St. Petersburg?

Location:

Only small cruise ships can dock close to city center at either English Embankment or Lieutenant Schmidt Embankment

. All others dock at Marine Façade. The Marine Façade is a brand new facility, consisting of 8 berths and 4 identical terminals all linked together.

Who owns Isla Roatan?

One, known as the Port of Roatan, is in the island’s largest town of Coxen Hole. It is owned by

a Mexican corporation

and serves ships primarily from Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Lines.

What country owns Roatan island?

Geography
Honduras
Department Bay Islands Municipality Islas de la Bahia Largest settlement Coxen Hole (pop. 12,500)

What does Cozumel plus mean?

Cozumel Plus is

a new program for Carnival Cruise Line in which port calls have been extended on more than 750 voyages

, providing guests with even more opportunities to experience and explore this diverse vacation destination.

What should you avoid in Key West?

  • T-Shirt Shops. For years, Key West had a well-documented problem with Duval Street t-shirt shops. …
  • $5 Shops. Many of the shady t-shirt shops have tried a new line of attack – the $5 store. …
  • Jewelry Stores. …
  • Shady Art Galleries. …
  • Cosmetic Shops.

Can you fly into the Keys?


Visitors can also fly directly into the Keys

. Regularly scheduled commercial flights are available into Key West and Florida Keys Marathon Airport accommodates charter and private aircraft.

Do I need a car in Key West?


You don’t really need a car in Key West unless you’re planning to do a lot of shopping or are heading out to multiple far-fetched points in the Keys

. The island is only four miles long and about one mile wide, so almost everything is located within walking distance.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.