Historicals on the High Seas Cruise Ports of Call
Key West, Florida
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. 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. Key West is also famously rough around the edges. Once mostly cut off from the rest of the world, it has persevered through countless hurricanes.
Spend the day visiting Hemingway’s house with his famous plethora of polydactyl cats; learn about Tennessee William’s time in Key West at his home and museum; soak in the history with a guided tour of the Truman Little White House; or visit the Audubon house and museum - Key West is brimming with both sunshine and history for all!
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. And, of course, a photo op awaits at the Southernmost Point of the United States, a concrete buoy memorializing Key West’s geography.
Bimini, Bahamas
Just 50 miles from the coast of Florida, Bimini is a world unto itself. It was one of Ernest Hemingway’s favorite places where he came to write as well as fish for the elusive blue marlin. With a population of only 2,000, the islands never feel crowded. On your Bimini cruise, you’ll find the North Island is a bit more lively, the South Island a bit more relaxed.
These unspoiled islands are endowed with peaceful, pristine beaches, friendly locals, fresh seafood, and some of the best sportfishing and water sports in the world. Diving and snorkeling enthusiasts will be in paradise here, where gorgeous coral reefs, colorful fish, blue holes created by sunken limestone, and shipwrecks await.
Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Fort Lauderdale has a little bit of everything: smooth, white sandy beaches, endless shopping on Las Olas Boulevard, and the Atlantic Ocean welcoming you to swim almost year-round. Once a spring break town, Fort Lauderdale is now known as the “Venice of America” for its intricate system of canals and lush tropical landscape. Head to Hugh Taylor Birch State Park for trails and biking blanketed by mangroves. Travel down the Florida Everglades on an airboat tour, complete with alligator and flamingo sightings. Or beat the heat with a trip to the Museum of Science and Discovery in downtown Fort Lauderdale, where kids and adults alike will learn something new.
Aside from being a city full of fun experiences, Fort Lauderdale is also home to one of the biggest cruise ports in the world: Port Everglades. On cruises from Fort Lauderdale, you can sail to the idyllic beaches of the Bahamas and more stunning tropical locations scattered throughout the Caribbean.