Frequent cruisers are seemingly acquainted with common East Coast cruise ports, corresponding to Boston, Baltimore, New York City and Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey. But do you know you too can cruise from the Carolinas? The cruise port in Charleston, South Carolina, is a driveable distance from a number of cities, together with Charlotte (three hours) and Raleigh (4 hours) in North Carolina.
Charleston won’t be a bustling cruise dwelling port like PortMiami, however the metropolis is a vacation spot in its personal proper. And for those who’re crusing with American Cruise Lines or Carnival Cruise Line, you may discover a lot to do in the Holy City earlier than or after your cruise.
Plus, the Port of Charleston is simple to get to from Charleston International Airport (CHS), and the metropolis gives a wide variety of factors lodges for a pre- or post-cruise keep.
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Here’s every little thing you want to learn about cruising from the Port of Charleston.
Port of Charleston quick information
Port of Charleston cruise terminal info
Address: 32 Washington St., Charleston, SC 29401
Number of terminals: 1 (passenger terminal)
Map (PDF hyperlink)
Cruise strains crusing from the Port of Charleston
Currently, two cruise strains depart from the Port of Charleston.
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American Cruise Lines’ Historic South & Golden Isles Cruise and Holidays in the Southeast cruise depart from Charleston. Additionally, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Sunshine cruises out of Charleston on round-trip four- to 10-night sailings to the Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean.
Charleston additionally serves as a port of name on repositioning cruises or longer East Coast and Bahamas/Bermuda itineraries with cruise strains corresponding to Viking, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Royal Caribbean.
Related: How to e book a cruise utilizing factors and miles
Airport close to the Port of Charleston
The Port of Charleston is 12 miles (about 25 minutes) from Charleston International Airport (CHS). Various airways fly to CHS from different U.S. cities, together with American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Spirit Airlines and Frontier Airlines.
Your disembarkation time won’t align with your outbound flight time. So, when you’ve got time to kill at the airport, you’ll be able to spend it at The Club CHS lounge. The lounge is in the principal terminal on the second stage towards Concourse B. A daypass is $50 per particular person until you’ve a Priority Pass membership by premium bank cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or The Platinum Card® from American Express (enrollment required). AAA members get in at a reduced charge of $42.50.
How to get to the Port of Charleston
You have a number of choices for getting to the cruise port from the airport or a lodge in Charleston.
Hotel shuttles
On-site parking is not obtainable at each lodge in downtown Charleston, so leaving your automobile at the lodge when you cruise seemingly will not be the finest manner to go. However, some space lodges supply shuttle service to the port or present complimentary transportation inside a sure distance from the property. For instance, The Dewberry Charleston gives friends complimentary transportation inside 5 sq. miles of the lodge through its Volvo home vehicles. The cruise port is simply over a mile from the lodge.
When you’re selecting a pre-cruise lodge, inquire about transportation to the cruise port earlier than you make your reservations.
Independent van/automobile providers
You can prepare non-public pickup and drop-off by automobile and van providers like GCT Chauffeured Services, which can value between $100 and $199 for up to three folks.
Taxis and ride-hailing providers
Hailing a taxi to get to the Port of Charleston is easy. At the airport, taxi service is at the middle median simply outdoors baggage declare. Taxis cost a $17 minimal charge from CHS. Taxi fares are primarily based on a trip meter charge of $3 per mile, which incorporates up to two passengers. You’ll both pay the $17 minimal or the charge displayed on the meter at the finish of the trip (whichever is the better quantity). Additional passengers are $7 per passenger, per trip. Based on taxi charges in Charleston and the distance from the airport to the cruise port, the estimated fare is $30 to $40.
Ride-hailing providers corresponding to Uber and Lyft are additionally an possibility. Follow the indicators outdoors the baggage declare space to the sheltered pickup space throughout each roadways. You’ll discover it to the proper of the final sidewalk.
Public transportation
Charleston’s public bus service, Charleston Area Regional Transportation Authority, doesn’t at present present a handy station or cease to the cruise port.
Port of Charleston parking
The majority of cruisers crusing out of the Port of Charleston will likely be driving to the port, arriving the day of departure or the night time earlier than. Therefore, the port gives plentiful on-site parking.
Long-term parking for cruise passengers’ autos at the port doesn’t require reservations. Parking is positioned inside a gated space obtainable solely to cruise passengers and never the basic public, and port police safe and patrol the web site throughout the cruise.
A complimentary shuttle bus runs between the car parking areas and the passenger terminal on each departure and return dates of the cruise.
The value for parking standard-size autos is $21 per day. The parking charge for oversize autos longer than 20 toes (campers, leisure autos, buses) is $50 per day. You pays for cruise parking with a bank card, debit card or cash order. Cash is now not accepted as fee for parking.
The Port of Charleston supplies free parking for autos displaying a legitimate accessible parking placard or license plate with ID. Wheelchair providers can be found inside the terminal. Alert a cruise port employees member for help.
Off-site parking is out there with non-public firms like Park & Go, which gives cruise parking for $10 per day. It doesn’t present shuttle transportation from the lot to the cruise terminal, so that you would wish to take a taxi or Uber to the port.
A public parking storage can be an possibility. The most charge is $18 per day. The Cumberland Street parking storage (90 Cumberland St.) is the closest one to the port, lower than a mile away.
Related: The finest bank cards for reserving cruises
Hotels close to the Port of Charleston
The Charleston space gives an abundance of lodges, together with some properties at which you need to use or earn factors. Whether you need handy entry to the cruise port and the metropolis’s historic downtown or to get pleasure from a riverfront pre- or post-cruise keep, listed below are a number of to take into account.
Hilton lodges close to the Port of Charleston
For a fast in a single day earlier than a cruise, the Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Waterfront/Downtown is a perfect possibility (41,000 to 60,000 Hilton Honors factors per night time).
Its location on Ashley Marina supplies quick access to the Charleston Historic District and different downtown sights, and it is slightly below 2 miles from the cruise port. Amenities embrace an out of doors pool, a health middle and free breakfast.
If you are in search of an upscale keep, Mills House Charleston, Curio Collection by Hilton is a superb alternative (80,000 to 459,000 Hilton Honors factors per night time). It exudes laid-back luxurious with a distinctly Southern fashion, and the rooftop pool bar space is a chief spot for spectacular views of Charleston’s steeple-filled skyline.
Related: Best Hilton bank cards
Marriott lodges close to the Port of Charleston
For Marriott Bonvoy loyalists, there’s the Courtyard Charleston Waterfront (30,000 to 59,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time), which sits about 3 miles from the cruise port. On sure dates all through the 12 months, you too can use a Marriott 35,000-point free night time certificates to cowl a keep right here.
Relax by the fireplace pit, or take a dip in the out of doors waterfront pool. The Bistro is the lodge’s solely restaurant, nevertheless it additionally serves specialty Starbucks drinks if you cannot perform with out your morning caramel macchiato latte.
For a boutique lodge expertise, e book a keep at The Lindy Renaissance Charleston Hotel, obtainable from 40,000 to 81,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time. An out of doors saltwater pool and upscale on-site eating venues like Vivian Howard’s Handy & Hot and Lenoir are amongst many causes to in a single day right here earlier than or after your cruise.
Hyatt lodges close to the Port of Charleston
Hyatt Place Charleston/Historic District is a stunning lodge proper in the coronary heart of Charleston’s historic space and inside strolling distance of space eating places, bars and purchasing. It additionally has a rooftop bar space for a nightcap with good metropolis views. Nights begin at 12,000 World of Hyatt factors, and your keep contains free breakfast.
Non-points lodges close to the Port of Charleston
Charleston teems with lodges that do not take part in conventional loyalty packages. When it comes to these, listed below are a number of of our favorites.
For a mid-mod vibe, try The Dewberry Charleston. Overlooking Marion Square, the lodge is handy to King Street purchasing, eating places and historic websites.
Families will love the resort-style trip ambiance of The Beach Club at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. Though not positioned downtown, it is proper on the water, with taxi service from the marina to the metropolis middle.
Related: The 18 finest lodges in Charleston, from historic inns to fashionable stays
Restaurants close to the Port of Charleston
Charleston lands on many “best foodie destination” lists — and for good purpose. Visitors can select amongst just-caught seafood, native Lowcountry delicacies and upscale meals from James Beard Award-winning cooks. The Port of Charleston is handy to the historic downtown space, so cruisers will discover a bevy of vacation spot eating and stable native eateries inside strolling distance or a brief taxi journey away.
Fleet Landing Restaurant & Bar (186 Concord St.), the place for recent seafood and waterfront views, is true subsequent door to the cruise port. Head to Poogan’s Porch (72 Queen St.) for conventional Southern dishes served in a historic Victorian dwelling (5 minutes from the port). Other choices inside a 10-minute drive of the port embrace Chubby Fish (252 Coming St.) or native favorites like Rodney Scott’s BBQ (1011 King St.) and Cru Cafe (18 Pinckney St.).
Related: Best eating bank cards
Things to do in Charleston earlier than or after your cruise
Charleston tops many “best destinations” lists thanks to its array of historic websites, cultural sights and pure diversions. If you resolve to spend extra time in the Holy City earlier than or after your cruise, listed below are some issues to do in Charleston.
Hit the seaside
The metropolis of Charleston is on a peninsula surrounded by a harbor, so there isn’t any seaside entry inside its limits. However, for those who crave a little bit further sand time, you may discover some common seashores inside a reasonably brief drive.
A bit of over 9 miles (about 20 minutes) from Charleston, Sullivan’s Island is a captivating seaside city that provides vast seaside areas with water sports activities alternatives (kayaking, paddleboarding and crusing). Peruse native retailers, or discover historical past at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie National Historical Park.
Folly Beach is lower than 12 miles (about 21 minutes) from downtown. Its 6 miles of seaside present loads of room for shelling, browsing or shark-tooth searching. Or, take a guided kayak tour to Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Preserve for a better take a look at the historic Morris Island Lighthouse.
Visit the International African American Museum
This 150,000-square-foot museum homes greater than 150 artifacts, paintings and interactive digital displays that chronicle the survival and resilience of slaves who seemingly made their manner to Charleston by Gadsden’s Wharf, the nation’s largest slave public sale web site from 1772 to 1808. The museum resides on that web site (Gadsden’s Wharf, 14 Wharfside St.).
Explore the aquarium
Cruising with the youngsters? Families will need to try the South Carolina Aquarium (100 Aquarium Wharf), lower than a mile from the cruise port (a couple of four-minute drive). The waterfront facility is dwelling to greater than 5,000 animals, together with rehabilitating sea turtles in the Zucker Family Sea Turtle Recovery facility. Two contact tanks maintain sharks, horseshoe crabs, stingrays and sea stars. The aquarium additionally hosts every day dive exhibits and rotating displays.
Take in some artwork
If you are into artwork, two Charleston museums ought to positively be on your radar. The three-story Gibbes Museum of Art (135 Meeting St.) is the oldest museum facility in the South. Here, you may discover a assortment of greater than 10,000 work, sculptures, images and furnishings.
Head to the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston (161 Calhoun St.) to peruse modern works of rising artists, seasonal exhibits and rotating displays. Admission is free.
Related: How to spend 48 hours in Charleston
Shopping close to the Port of Charleston
Pick up last-minute cruise gadgets at Tanger Outlets Charleston (4840 Tanger Outlet Blvd.), a couple of seven-minute drive from CHS. Harris Teeter (290 East Bay St.) is lower than half a mile from the cruise port, must you want to seize snacks, drinks and different groceries.
If souvenirs or upscale gadgets are on your listing, spend a while alongside Charleston’s iconic King Street. Retailers like Free People, Urban Outfitters and Kate Spade line the cobblestone road together with domestically owned retailers providing jewellery, dwelling items and Charleston-branded gadgets.
One of the metropolis’s hottest sights is the historic Charleston City Market (188 Meeting St.). The open-air spot showcases native artisans promoting work, spices and crafts, together with hand-woven sweetgrass baskets.
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