Frequent cruisers are possible accustomed to standard East Coast cruise ports, akin to Boston, Baltimore, New York Metropolis and Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey. However do you know you may also 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 may not be a bustling cruise house port like PortMiami, however the metropolis is a vacation spot in its personal proper. And in the event you’re crusing with American Cruise Traces or Carnival Cruise Line, you may discover lots to do within the Holy Metropolis earlier than or after your cruise.
Plus, the Port of Charleston is straightforward to get to from Charleston Worldwide Airport (CHS), and the town gives a wide selection of factors resorts for a pre- or post-cruise keep.
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This is the whole lot you want to find out about cruising from the Port of Charleston.
Port of Charleston quick info
Port of Charleston cruise terminal data
Tackle: 32 Washington St., Charleston, SC 29401
Variety of terminals: 1 (passenger terminal)
Map (PDF hyperlink)
Cruise traces crusing from the Port of Charleston
At present, two cruise traces depart from the Port of Charleston.
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American Cruise Lines‘ Historic South & Golden Isles Cruise and Holidays within the Southeast cruise depart from Charleston. Moreover, Carnival Cruise Line‘s Carnival Sunshine cruises out of Charleston on round-trip four- to 10-night sailings to the Bahamas and Japanese Caribbean.
Charleston additionally serves as a port of name on repositioning cruises or longer East Coast and Bahamas/Bermuda itineraries with cruise traces akin to Viking, Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Royal Caribbean.
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Airport close to the Port of Charleston
The Port of Charleston is 12 miles (about 25 minutes) from Charleston Worldwide Airport (CHS). Numerous airways fly to CHS from different U.S. cities, together with American Airways, Delta Air Traces, JetBlue, Alaska Airways, United Airways, Southwest Airways, Spirit Airways and Frontier Airways.
Your disembarkation time may not align together with your outbound flight time. So, you probably have time to kill on the airport, you possibly can spend it at The Membership CHS lounge. The lounge is in the primary terminal on the second stage towards Concourse B. A daypass is $50 per particular person except you may have a Priority Pass membership via premium bank cards just 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 you can get to the Port of Charleston
You may have just a few choices for attending to the cruise port from the airport or a lodge in Charleston.
Resort shuttles
On-site parking is not accessible at each lodge in downtown Charleston, so leaving your automotive on the lodge when you cruise possible will not be one of the simplest ways to go. Nevertheless, some space resorts supply shuttle service to the port or present complimentary transportation inside a sure distance from the property. For instance, The Dewberry Charleston gives visitors complimentary transportation inside 5 sq. miles of the lodge by way of its Volvo home automobiles. 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.
Unbiased van/automotive companies
You possibly can prepare personal pickup and drop-off via automotive and van companies like GCT Chauffeured Services, which is able to value between $100 and $199 for as much as three individuals.
Taxis and ride-hailing companies
Hailing a taxi to get to the Port of Charleston is straightforward. On the airport, taxi service is on the heart median simply outdoors baggage declare. Taxis cost a $17 minimal payment from CHS. Taxi fares are based mostly on a visit meter charge of $3 per mile, which incorporates as much as two passengers. You will both pay the $17 minimal or the payment displayed on the meter on the finish of the journey (whichever is the higher quantity). Extra passengers are $7 per passenger, per journey. Primarily based on taxi charges in Charleston and the space from the airport to the cruise port, the estimated fare is $30 to $40.
Journey-hailing companies akin to Uber and Lyft are additionally an choice. Observe the indicators outdoors the bags declare space to the sheltered pickup space throughout each roadways. You will discover it to the precise of the final sidewalk.
Public transportation
Charleston’s public bus service, Charleston Space Regional Transportation Authority, doesn’t at the moment present a handy station or cease to the cruise port.
Port of Charleston parking
The vast majority of cruisers crusing out of the Port of Charleston shall be driving to the port, arriving the day of departure or the night time earlier than. Subsequently, the port gives plentiful on-site parking.
Lengthy-term parking for cruise passengers’ automobiles on the port doesn’t require reservations. Parking is situated inside a gated space accessible solely to cruise passengers and never most of the people, and port police safe and patrol the location throughout the cruise.
A complimentary shuttle bus runs between the automobile parking areas and the passenger terminal on each departure and return dates of the cruise.
The price for parking standard-size automobiles is $21 per day. The parking payment for oversize automobiles longer than 20 toes (campers, leisure automobiles, buses) is $50 per day. You possibly can pay for cruise parking with a bank card, debit card or cash order. Money is now not accepted as fee for parking.
The Port of Charleston gives free parking for automobiles displaying a legitimate accessible parking placard or license plate with ID. Wheelchair companies can be found contained in the terminal. Alert a cruise port workers member for help.
Off-site parking is offered with personal 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 choice. The utmost charge is $18 per day. The Cumberland Avenue parking storage (90 Cumberland St.) is the closest one to the port, lower than a mile away.
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Motels close to the Port of Charleston
The Charleston space gives an abundance of resorts, together with some properties at which you should use or earn factors. Whether or not you need handy entry to the cruise port and the town’s historic downtown or to get pleasure from a riverfront pre- or post-cruise keep, listed below are just a few to think about.
Hilton resorts close to the Port of Charleston
For a fast in a single day earlier than a cruise, the Hilton Backyard Inn Charleston Waterfront/Downtown is a perfect choice (41,000 to 60,000 Hilton Honors factors per night time).
Its location on Ashley Marina gives quick access to the Charleston Historic District and different downtown sights, and it is slightly below 2 miles from the cruise port. Facilities embody an outside pool, a health heart and free breakfast.
Should you’re searching for an upscale keep, Mills Home Charleston, Curio Assortment 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 model, and the rooftop pool bar space is a chief spot for spectacular views of Charleston’s steeple-filled skyline.
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Marriott resorts 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 year long, you may also use a Marriott 35,000-point free night certificate to cowl a keep right here.
Loosen up by the fireplace pit, or take a dip within the outside waterfront pool. The Bistro is the lodge’s solely restaurant, but it surely 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 Resort, accessible from 40,000 to 81,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time. An outside saltwater pool and upscale on-site eating venues like Vivian Howard’s Helpful & Sizzling and Lenoir are amongst many causes to in a single day right here earlier than or after your cruise.
Hyatt resorts close to the Port of Charleston
Hyatt Place Charleston/Historic District is a stunning lodge proper within 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 consists of free breakfast.
Non-points resorts close to the Port of Charleston
Charleston teems with resorts that do not take part in conventional loyalty packages. In terms of these, listed below are just a few of our favorites.
For a mid-mod vibe, take a look at The Dewberry Charleston. Overlooking Marion Sq., the lodge is handy to King Avenue purchasing, eating places and historic websites.
Households will love the resort-style trip environment of The Seashore Membership at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. Although not situated downtown, it is proper on the water, with taxi service from the marina to the town heart.
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Eating places close to the Port of Charleston
Charleston lands on many “finest foodie vacation spot” lists — and for good cause. Guests 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 strong native eateries inside strolling distance or a brief taxi trip away.
Fleet Touchdown Restaurant & Bar (186 Harmony St.), the place for contemporary 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 house (5 minutes from the port). Different choices inside a 10-minute drive of the port embody Chubby Fish (252 Coming St.) or native favorites like Rodney Scott’s BBQ (1011 King St.) and Cru Cafe (18 Pinckney St.).
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Issues to do in Charleston earlier than or after your cruise
Charleston tops many “finest locations” lists due to its array of historic websites, cultural sights and pure diversions. Should you determine to spend extra time within the Holy Metropolis earlier than or after your cruise, listed below are some issues to do in Charleston.
Hit the seaside
Town of Charleston is on a peninsula surrounded by a harbor, so there is no seaside entry inside its limits. Nevertheless, in the event you crave a little bit additional sand time, you may discover some standard seashores inside a reasonably quick drive.
A bit over 9 miles (about 20 minutes) from Charleston, Sullivan’s Island is a captivating seaside city that provides large seaside areas with water sports activities alternatives (kayaking, paddleboarding and crusing). Peruse native retailers, or discover historical past at Fort Sumter and Fort Moultrie Nationwide Historic Park.
Folly Seashore 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 Protect for a better have a look at the historic Morris Island Lighthouse.
Go to the Worldwide African American Museum
This 150,000-square-foot museum homes greater than 150 artifacts, art work and interactive digital reveals that chronicle the survival and resilience of slaves who possible made their method to Charleston via 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.).
Discover the aquarium
Cruising with the youngsters? Households will need to take a look at 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 house to greater than 5,000 animals, together with rehabilitating sea turtles within the Zucker Household Sea Turtle Restoration facility. Two contact tanks maintain sharks, horseshoe crabs, stingrays and sea stars. The aquarium additionally hosts every day dive exhibits and rotating reveals.
Absorb some artwork
Should you’re into artwork, two Charleston museums ought to undoubtedly be in your radar. The three-story Gibbes Museum of Artwork (135 Assembly St.) is the oldest museum facility within the South. Right here, you may discover a assortment of greater than 10,000 work, sculptures, pictures and furnishings.
Head to the Halsey Institute of Modern Artwork on the Faculty of Charleston (161 Calhoun St.) to peruse revolutionary works of rising artists, seasonal exhibits and rotating reveals. Admission is free.
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Purchasing close to the Port of Charleston
Decide up last-minute cruise gadgets at Tanger Retailers 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 in your checklist, spend a while alongside Charleston’s iconic King Avenue. Retailers like Free Individuals, City Outfitters and Kate Spade line the cobblestone avenue together with regionally owned retailers providing jewellery, house items and Charleston-branded gadgets.
One of many metropolis’s hottest sights is the historic Charleston Metropolis Market (188 Assembly St.). The open-air spot showcases native artisans promoting work, spices and crafts, together with hand-woven sweetgrass baskets.
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