Charleston cruise port information: Plan your journey to the Holy Metropolis
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Frequent cruisers are seemingly conversant in well-liked East Coast cruise ports, equivalent to Boston, Baltimore, New York Metropolis and Cape Liberty in Bayonne, New Jersey. However do you know you may as well 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 house port like PortMiami, however the metropolis is a vacation spot in its personal proper. And if you happen to’re crusing with American Cruise Strains or Carnival Cruise Line, you may discover a lot to do within the Holy Metropolis earlier than or after your cruise.
Plus, the Port of Charleston is simple to get to from Charleston Worldwide Airport (CHS), and the town provides a wide selection of factors accommodations for a pre- or post-cruise keep.
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This is every little thing it’s good to learn about cruising from the Port of Charleston.
Port of Charleston quick info
Port of Charleston cruise terminal info
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 the moment, two cruise traces depart from the Port of Charleston.
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American Cruise Strains‘ 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 equivalent 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 Strains, JetBlue, Alaska Airways, United Airways, Southwest Airways, Spirit Airways and Frontier Airways.
Your disembarkation time won’t align together with your outbound flight time. So, in case you have time to kill on the airport, you may 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’ve got a Precedence Move membership by means of premium bank cards just like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® or The Platinum Card® from American Specific (enrollment required). AAA members get in at a reduced charge of $42.50.
How one can get to the Port of Charleston
You’ve a couple of choices for attending to the cruise port from the airport or a resort in Charleston.
Resort shuttles
On-site parking is not obtainable at each resort in downtown Charleston, so leaving your automobile on the resort when you cruise seemingly will not be one of the simplest ways to go. Nevertheless, some space accommodations supply shuttle service to the port or present complimentary transportation inside a sure distance from the property. For instance, The Dewberry Charleston provides visitors complimentary transportation inside 5 sq. miles of the resort through its Volvo home vehicles. The cruise port is simply over a mile from the resort.
When you find yourself selecting a pre-cruise resort, inquire about transportation to the cruise port earlier than you make your reservations.
Impartial van/automobile providers
You’ll be able to prepare non-public pickup and drop-off by means of automobile and van providers like GCT Chauffeured Companies, which can price between $100 and $199 for as much as three folks.
Taxis and ride-hailing providers
Hailing a taxi to get to the Port of Charleston is straightforward. On the airport, taxi service is on the heart median simply exterior baggage declare. Taxis cost a $17 minimal price from CHS. Taxi fares are primarily based on a visit meter charge of $3 per mile, which incorporates as much as two passengers. You may both pay the $17 minimal or the price displayed on the meter on the finish of the journey (whichever is the larger 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 providers equivalent to Uber and Lyft are additionally an possibility. Observe the indicators exterior the bags declare space to the sheltered pickup space throughout each roadways. You may discover it to the appropriate of the final sidewalk.
Public transportation
Charleston’s public bus service, Charleston Space Regional Transportation Authority, doesn’t at present 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 evening earlier than. Due to this fact, the port provides plentiful on-site parking.
Lengthy-term parking for cruise passengers’ automobiles on the port doesn’t require reservations. Parking is positioned inside a gated space obtainable 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 price for oversize automobiles longer than 20 ft (campers, leisure automobiles, buses) is $50 per day. You’ll be able to pay for cruise parking with a bank card, debit card or cash order. Money is now not accepted as cost for parking.
The Port of Charleston supplies free parking for automobiles displaying a legitimate accessible parking placard or license plate with ID. Wheelchair providers can be found contained in the terminal. Alert a cruise port workers member for help.
Off-site parking is out there with non-public firms like Park & Go, which provides cruise parking for $10 per day. It doesn’t present shuttle transportation from the lot to the cruise terminal, so that you would want to take a taxi or Uber to the port.
A public parking storage can be an possibility. The utmost charge is $18 per day. The Cumberland Road 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 provides an abundance of accommodations, together with some properties at which you should utilize 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 a couple of to think about.
Hilton accommodations 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 possibility (41,000 to 60,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening).
Its location on Ashley Marina supplies quick access to the Charleston Historic District and different downtown points of interest, and it is slightly below 2 miles from the cruise port. Facilities embody an out of doors pool, a health heart and free breakfast.
In the event you’re on the lookout for an upscale keep, Mills Home Charleston, Curio Assortment by Hilton is a superb selection (80,000 to 459,000 Hilton Honors factors per evening). It exudes laid-back luxurious with a distinctly Southern model, and the rooftop pool bar space is a major spot for spectacular views of Charleston’s steeple-filled skyline.
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Marriott accommodations 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 evening), which sits about 3 miles from the cruise port. On sure dates all year long, you may as well use a Marriott 35,000-point free evening certificates to cowl a keep right here.
Calm down by the fireplace pit, or take a dip within the outside waterfront pool. The Bistro is the resort’s solely restaurant, however it additionally serves specialty Starbucks drinks if you cannot perform with out your morning caramel macchiato latte.
For a boutique resort expertise, ebook a keep at The Lindy Renaissance Charleston Resort, obtainable from 40,000 to 81,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening. An out of doors saltwater pool and upscale on-site eating venues like Vivian Howard’s Useful & Scorching and Lenoir are amongst many causes to in a single day right here earlier than or after your cruise.
Hyatt accommodations close to the Port of Charleston
Hyatt Place Charleston/Historic District is a beautiful resort proper within the coronary heart of Charleston’s historic space and inside strolling distance of space eating places, bars and buying. 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 accommodations close to the Port of Charleston
Charleston teems with accommodations that do not take part in conventional loyalty packages. In terms of these, listed below are a couple of of our favorites.
For a mid-mod vibe, take a look at The Dewberry Charleston. Overlooking Marion Sq., the resort is handy to King Road buying, eating places and historic websites.
Households will love the resort-style trip ambiance of The Seashore Membership at Charleston Harbor Resort & Marina. Although not positioned 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 purpose. 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 stable native eateries inside strolling distance or a brief taxi journey away.
Fleet Touchdown Restaurant & Bar (186 Harmony St.), the place for recent seafood and waterfront views, is correct 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 points of interest and pure diversions. In the event 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
The town of Charleston is on a peninsula surrounded by a harbor, so there is no seaside entry inside its limits. Nevertheless, if you happen to crave somewhat further sand time, you may discover some well-liked seashores inside a reasonably brief drive.
A little bit over 9 miles (about 20 minutes) from Charleston, Sullivan’s Island is an enthralling seaside city that gives broad 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 looking. Or, take a guided kayak tour to Lighthouse Inlet Heritage Protect for a better take 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 seemingly made their technique to Charleston by means of 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 each day dive reveals and rotating reveals.
Absorb some artwork
In the event you’re into artwork, two Charleston museums ought to positively 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, images and furnishings.
Head to the Halsey Institute of Modern Artwork on the Faculty of Charleston (161 Calhoun St.) to peruse progressive works of rising artists, seasonal reveals and rotating reveals. Admission is free.
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Procuring close to the Port of Charleston
Choose up last-minute cruise objects 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, do you have to want to seize snacks, drinks and different groceries.
If souvenirs or upscale objects are in your listing, spend a while alongside Charleston’s iconic King Road. Retailers like Free Individuals, City Outfitters and Kate Spade line the cobblestone road together with domestically owned retailers providing jewellery, house items and Charleston-branded objects.
One of many metropolis’s hottest points of interest 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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