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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 73°F / 23°C | 69°F / 21°C | 8 |
| Feb | 74°F / 23°C | 71°F / 22°C | 6 |
| Mar | 76°F / 24°C | 73°F / 23°C | 4 |
| Apr | 78°F / 26°C | 75°F / 24°C | 6 |
| May | 81°F / 27°C | 78°F / 26°C | 11 |
| Jun | 83°F / 28°C | 80°F / 27°C | 16 |
| Jul | 85°F / 29°C | 82°F / 28°C | 15 |
| Aug | 85°F / 29°C | 82°F / 28°C | 17 |
| Sep | 84°F / 29°C | 81°F / 27°C | 19 |
| Oct | 82°F / 28°C | 79°F / 26°C | 16 |
| Nov | 78°F / 26°C | 75°F / 24°C | 9 |
| Dec | 76°F / 24°C | 72°F / 22°C | 7 |
Source: Open-Meteo ERA5 (10-yr daily averages)
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.