US Cruise Ports on the East Coast
The Atlantic seaboard’s homeports, north to south.
Quote a Cruise From Your PortUS cruise ports on the East Coast run from Boston in the north to Miami in the south. Here is what each stretch of the coast offers.
New England and New York
Flynn Cruiseport Boston sends ships to New England and Canada, especially in late summer and the autumn foliage season, as well as to Bermuda. New York has two cruise terminals — Manhattan on the West Side and Brooklyn in Red Hook (Manhattan and Brooklyn cruise terminals) — and Cape Liberty Cruise Port sits across the harbor in Bayonne, New Jersey. Between them, they offer Bermuda, the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Canada for millions of people within driving or train distance.
Sailing from the Northeast means sea days at the start and end of warm-weather cruises, which some travelers love and others find long. It also means no flight for a huge population, and a chance to add a city stay before or after. Coastal and seasonal itineraries closer to shore are covered at Cruising the USA.
Mid-Atlantic and Southeast
Baltimore’s terminal (Cruise Maryland) puts cruising within a drive for Maryland, Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania and Virginia, with Bermuda, Bahamas and Caribbean sailings. Norfolk hosts seasonal departures, and Charleston (South Carolina Ports) has had a smaller, more limited cruise program. These ports suit travelers who want to drive rather than fly south. Schedules here are thinner than in Florida, so check which months your local port is active before you plan around it.
Further down the coast, JAXPORT serves north Florida and south Georgia, mostly with shorter Bahamas sailings.
Florida’s Atlantic Coast
| Port | Best known for |
|---|---|
| Port Canaveral | Short and week-long sailings, theme park add-ons, some of the largest new ships |
| Port of Palm Beach | Short getaways from a small, easy terminal |
| Port Everglades | A broad mix of lines, airport next door, longer Caribbean voyages |
| PortMiami | The widest year-round choice, from two-night trips to two-week voyages |
Florida’s Atlantic ports are the starting point for most Bahamas and Eastern Caribbean cruises, and the short distance to the islands means even a three-night sailing can include a full day ashore. Port information for the islands you will visit is at Caribbean Cruise Ports.
East Coast Cruise Ports: FAQ
Which East Coast port is best for Bermuda?
New York, Cape Liberty, Baltimore and Boston have all offered Bermuda sailings, mainly from late spring to autumn. The closer to Bermuda you start, the more time you spend on the island.
Can I cruise from the East Coast in winter?
Yes. Florida ports run all year, and New York, Cape Liberty and Baltimore usually keep some Bahamas and Caribbean sailings through the winter, though sea days on the way south can be cool.
Cruise From the East Coast
Tell us your nearest East Coast port and your dates; we will compare every sailing from it.
Quote East Coast Sailings