Key West Cruises

Written by Jeff Heath

Key West is a popular cruise stop on Bahamas and Western Caribbean Cruises. Over 600,000 cruise ship passengers visit Key West each year. Since the island is only about 2 miles wide and 5 miles long, cruise ship passengers have an easy time exploring this quaint, charming getaway located 4 hours south of Miami by car. Some of the major cruise lines offering stops in Key West include Carnival Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Lines, and Celebrity Cruises.

Key West Tours

Most cruise ships dock at Mallory Square in downtown Key West, also known Curry Mansion in Key West, Florida

as Old Town. The largest cruise ships dock further away but passengers are transported to Mallory Square. Once passengers arrive at Mallory Square, most popular attractions are within walking distance. The Conch Tour Train is located in Mallory Square and offers 90- minute narrated tours of the island for about $20. Old Town Trolley offers rides to many attractions as well for $18. Key West attractions include the Ernest Hemingway House, The Southernmost Point, the Key West Lighthouse Museum, Harry Truman's Little White House and the Audubon House and Tropical Gardens.

Carnival Cruise Lines

Carnival offers cruises to Key West from Miami, Tampa and Port Canaveral throughout the year. From Miami, Carnival Fascination sails Mondays and Carnival Imagination sails every other Thursday for Key West and Cozumel on their 4-Day Western Caribbean Cruises. Cruise to Key West aboard Royal Caribbean's Mercury of the Seas

Cruise to Key West aboard Royal Caribbean's Mercury of the Seas

>From Tampa, Carnival Jubilee offers 4-Day Western Caribbean Cruises to Key West and Cozumel every other Thursday. From Port Canaveral Carnival Pride sails every other Saturday on 7-Day Western Caribbean Cruises with calls in Key West, Belize, Cozumel and Progreso.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines offers cruises to Key West throughout the year from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa. From Miami, Royal Caribbean's Majesty of the Seas sails every Monday on 4-Day Bahamas Cruises with calls in Key West, Nassau, and Cococay - their own private island. From Fort Lauderdale, Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas offers 4-Day and 5-Day Western Caribbean Cruises on alternating Thursdays and Mondays. Thursday's 4-Day Western Caribbean Cruise calls in Key West and Cozumel. Monday's 5-Day Western Cruise calls in Key West, Cozumel and Costa Maya. Royal Caribbean's Enchantment Hemingway House in Key West, Florida

of the Seas also sails from Fort Lauderdale alternating Sundays on its 7-Day Western Caribbean Cruise with stops in Key West, Cozumel, Costa Maya and Grand Cayman. From Tampa, Royal Caribbean's Rhapsody of the Seas offers seasonal 7-Day Western Caribbean Cruises in January and February.

Celebrity Cruise Line

Celebrity Cruises offers cruises to Key West throughout the year from Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Tampa. From Miami, Celebrity Mercury and Celebrity Horizon offer seasonal 7-Day Western Caribbean Cruises with stops in Key West, Progreso, Cozumel and Grand Cayman. Celebrity Horizon sails from Miami January through April 5, 2002. Celebrity Mercury sails from Miami November 2002 though March 2003. From Fort Lauderdale, Celebrity Century offers 7-Day Western Caribbean Cruises on alternating Saturdays with stops in Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Jamaica. >From Tampa, Celebrity Zenith and Celebrity Horizon offer seasonal weekly Western Caribbean Cruises. Celebrity Zenith sails from Tampa January 2002 through April 14, 2002. Celebrity Horizon sails from Tampa November 2002 through April 6, 2003.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Magic will offer 7-Day Western Caribbean Cruises from Port Canaveral, Florida starting May 2002. Disney Magic's Western Caribbean Cruises depart every other Saturday and stop in Key West, Grand Cayman, Cozumel and Castaway Cay - Disney's private island.

Norwegian Cruise Line

The Norwegian Sea and the Norwegian Majesty offers seasonal 4-Day Western Caribbean Cruises from Miami with stops Key West and Cozumel. The Norwegian Sea Western Caribbean Cruise sails January through April and the Norwegian Majesty's cruise sails in November and December.