Cruise Ports in the US
Every U.S. cruise departure port, where it sails and how to get there.
Quote a Cruise From Your PortCruise Ports in the US, Port by Port
The cruise ports in the US stretch from Boston to Miami, along the Gulf of Mexico, up the Pacific coast to Seattle and out to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Where you board decides where you can sail, how you get to the ship and what you pay to get there. US Cruise Club is a plain-English directory of those ports, with a link to each port authority’s own website for terminals, parking and schedules.
We organize the ports the way travelers actually choose them: by coast, by how busy they are, by what they are best for, and by the published ship schedules that show which ships sail from where in 2027. Whether you live near a port and want to drive to the ship, or you are choosing which city to fly into, this is the place to compare.
Florida dominates the numbers, with three of the world’s busiest cruise ports, but it is far from the only choice. Galveston and New Orleans serve the Gulf; Baltimore, New York and Boston the Northeast; Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego the West Coast. Each has a different mix of ships, seasons and destinations.
Explore the Directory
US Cruise Ports List
Every regular U.S. departure port by state, with its terminal and official website.
Busiest Cruise Ports in the US
Which ports handle the most passengers, and what “busiest” means for your trip.
Best Cruise Ports in the US
Our picks by traveler: first-timers, drivers, Alaska, short getaways and pre-cruise stays.
East Coast Cruise Ports
Boston to Miami: the Atlantic seaboard’s homeports and where they sail.
Gulf & West Coast Ports
Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, California, Seattle, Alaska and Hawaii.
Cruise Port Schedule 2027
How to read a port’s official ship schedule and use it to plan.
Ports at a Glance
| Region | Main departure ports | Typical destinations |
|---|---|---|
| South Florida | Miami, Port Everglades, Palm Beach | Bahamas, all of the Caribbean, Mexico |
| Central & North Florida | Port Canaveral, Tampa, Jacksonville | Bahamas, Western Caribbean, Mexico |
| Gulf Coast | Galveston, New Orleans, Mobile | Western Caribbean and Mexico |
| Mid-Atlantic & Southeast | Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston | Bahamas, Bermuda, Caribbean |
| Northeast | Manhattan, Brooklyn, Cape Liberty (NJ), Boston | Bermuda, Caribbean, New England & Canada |
| West Coast | Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Long Beach, San Diego | Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, Pacific coast |
| Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico | Seward, Whittier, Honolulu, San Juan | Gulf of Alaska, Hawaiian Islands, Southern Caribbean |
Why some itineraries from U.S. ports must include a foreign stop, and when you can sail without a passport, is explained by our sister site Cruising America. Cruises that never leave the country are covered at Cruise the USA.
Getting to Your Port
For most people the cheapest cruise port is the one they can drive to. Our sister site iCruise for Less compares drive-to departures metro by metro, and Free Cruise Parking looks at cruise port parking. If you need to fly, Cruise Airfare explains how to time flights so you do not miss the ship.
Looking for a sailing soon from a port near you? Last Minute Cruise Sale focuses on short-notice cruises port by port, and live promotions are collected at Wave Season.
About US Cruise Club
US Cruise Club is an independent guide, not a membership program. We do not charge fees or sell memberships, and we do not publish fares. Port details come from the port authorities’ own sites, which we link so you can check the latest. For prices from your nearest port, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise compare every major line for you, and the Mister Cruise cruise newsletter sends notable offers.
Our directories, the Official Cruise Directory and the Official Travel Directory, list cruise and travel specialists. Best of the USA highlights the best places to visit around the country, and Be a Travel Agent explains how to become a travel agent.
US Cruise Club is part of the Smart Traveler network, led by Mister Cruise. He has sold travel since 1972 and worked full-time in the industry since 1977. He has sold or originated more than $500 million in cruises and has trained more than 500 travel agents.
When you ask for a quote, our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise handle it personally — not a call center — and book everything for you. Meet Mister Cruise →
US Cruise Ports: Common Questions
How many cruise ports are there in the US?
Counting only places where ocean cruises regularly begin and end, roughly two dozen U.S. ports host departures, from Florida and Texas to New York, Seattle, California, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Many more U.S. towns are ports of call, where ships visit for the day.
Which US cruise port is the busiest?
For fiscal 2025 (October 2024 to September 2025), Port Canaveral reported the most cruise passenger movements of any port in the world, just ahead of PortMiami, with Port Everglades third. See our busiest ports page for what those counts mean.
What is the difference between a homeport and a port of call?
A homeport is where a cruise starts and ends, with check-in, luggage and parking. A port of call is a stop along the way, where guests go ashore for the day and return to the ship.
Cruise From a Port Near You
Tell us your nearest cruise port, your dates and where you would like to go. Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will compare every sailing from that port, free.
Quote From My Port