Key West, Florida, USA
America's southernmost city packs Hemingway bars, coral reef snorkeling, and a legendary nightly sunset celebration into a compact, walkable island — all steps from the ship.
America's southernmost city packs Hemingway bars, coral reef snorkeling, and a legendary nightly sunset celebration into a compact, walkable island — all steps from the ship.
Key West has three docking piers — ship assignment depends on size and schedule, but all are docked (no tender).
💡 Pro move: Check your ship's daily newsletter for pier assignment — it affects how you'll plan your morning.
Three docked piers serve Key West cruise ships — no tendering required at any of them.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| Most major lines (smaller ships) | Mallory Square Dock, Old Town waterfront📍 | Docked |
| Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity (mid-size ships) | Pier B, Truman Annex📍 | Docked |
| Larger ships / overflow | Navy Outer Mole (complimentary shuttle to town)📍 | Docked |
Key West offers something for every cruiser — from world-class coral reef snorkeling to leisurely bar crawls along Duval Street.
The Florida Reef — the only living coral barrier reef in the continental U.S. — sits just 6 miles offshore. Glass-bottom boats and snorkel catamarans depart from the Historic Seaport daily.
Find snorkel tours →Tour the Spanish Colonial house where Hemingway lived and wrote classics like 'To Have and Have Not.' The roughly 60 polydactyl cats descended from his originals still roam the grounds.
Find Hemingway tours →The fastest way to get an overview — narrated 90-minute loop through all of Key West's major sites. Trolley is hop-on/hop-off; Train is continuous.
Find trolley tours →Paddle through the mangrove islands of the Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge north of Key West — a flat-water escape from busy Old Town.
Find kayak tours →The best beach accessible from the cruise port — clear water, good shade, and a historic Civil War fort. About a 20-minute walk or short bike ride from the piers.
Find beach tours →Walk the length of Duval Street sampling key lime pie, fresh fish tacos, and a frozen rum runner. Sloppy Joe's — Hemingway's old haunt — is a must.
Find food tours →Key West's Old Town is made for walking — flat, compact, and full of 19th-century conch houses and hidden gardens.
The classic loop from the port through Key West's historic core — past Mallory Square, down Duval Street, to the Southernmost Point, and back along Whitehead Street.
Head east along the waterfront from the cruise piers through the Historic Seaport — charter boats, seafood shacks, and the lively boardwalk area before the quieter residential streets.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Climate normals for Key West, Florida, USA (2014–2023 averages). Pack for the month you sail — highs, lows, and how many rainy days to expect.
| Month | Avg High | Avg Low | Rainy Days | Sunrise | Sunset |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 73°F / 23°C | 69°F / 21°C | 8 | 7:13 AM | 6:00 PM |
| Feb | 74°F / 23°C | 71°F / 22°C | 6 | 7:00 AM | 6:21 PM |
| Mar | 76°F / 24°C | 73°F / 23°C | 4 | 7:36 AM | 7:36 PM |
| Apr | 78°F / 26°C | 75°F / 24°C | 6 | 7:05 AM | 7:49 PM |
| May | 81°F / 27°C | 78°F / 26°C | 11 | 6:43 AM | 8:03 PM |
| Jun | 83°F / 28°C | 80°F / 27°C | 16 | 6:38 AM | 8:17 PM |
| Jul | 85°F / 29°C | 82°F / 28°C | 15 | 6:48 AM | 8:18 PM |
| Aug | 85°F / 29°C | 82°F / 28°C | 17 | 7:02 AM | 8:00 PM |
| Sep | 84°F / 29°C | 81°F / 27°C | 19 | 7:13 AM | 7:30 PM |
| Oct | 82°F / 28°C | 79°F / 26°C | 16 | 7:25 AM | 6:59 PM |
| Nov | 78°F / 26°C | 75°F / 24°C | 9 | 6:43 AM | 5:39 PM |
| Dec | 76°F / 24°C | 72°F / 22°C | 7 | 7:03 AM | 5:41 PM |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
Transport options from the pier — taxis, shuttles, transit passes, and whether ride-share apps work here.
Narrated trolley with unlimited reboarding at 13 stops. ~90 min full loop. Includes access to Sails to Rails Museum and discount coupons.
The cruise piers sit at the top of Duval Street — Mallory Square, Duval Street bars, and the city center are steps away. Many passengers never need transport.
Free city bus that loops through the downtown historic district, stopping near major attractions along Duval Street. No pass required.
Key West Transit serves the broader island including Stock Island. Buy an all-day pass for $4 to ride freely all day.
City-regulated metered taxis start at $2.95; group rates by zone (from $3.50/person) apply for 4+ passengers. Very short ride from pier to most of Old Town.
Both services are active in Key West. Useful for reaching mid- or east-island destinations or avoiding walk in heat. Expect surge pricing when ships are in port.
Upcoming cruises that call at Key West, Florida, USA. Dates, prices, and ports of call change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking.
Itineraries and prices change — always confirm with the cruise line before booking. Some links are affiliate links that may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you.