St Simons Island, Georgia, USA
One of Georgia's storied Golden Isles, St Simons pairs colonial history with maritime live-oak beauty — a beloved small-ship stop where Spanish moss, wild shrimp, and a Victorian lighthouse share the same village.
One of Georgia's storied Golden Isles, St Simons pairs colonial history with maritime live-oak beauty — a beloved small-ship stop where Spanish moss, wild shrimp, and a Victorian lighthouse share the same village.
St Simons has no large cruise terminal — access depends on ship size and docking assignment.
💡 Pro move: Confirm your ship's docking assignment before planning your day — walking distance to attractions varies dramatically.
St Simons has no dedicated cruise terminal; small ships use Brunswick Landing or Morningstar Marina, with occasional tenders to the village pier.
| Cruise Line | Typical Berth / Arrival | Dock or Tender |
|---|---|---|
| American Cruise Lines & most small ships | Brunswick Landing Marina, Brunswick (mainland)📍 | Docked |
| Very small vessels | Morningstar Marina, St Simons Island📍 | Docked |
| Some expedition / small ships | St Simons Island Pier, Pier Village📍 | Tendered |
From a narrated trolley tour to a pristine private island nature day, St Simons rewards every pace of traveler.
Climb 129 steps to the top of this active 1872 lighthouse for sweeping 360-degree views of the Golden Isles. The keeper's cottage below is a well-curated maritime museum.
Book lighthouse tours →Visit the 1736 British fort that helped secure Georgia from Spanish Florida, then walk next door to Christ Church Frederica — one of Georgia's oldest, surrounded by ancient live oaks and a historic cemetery. Both are free.
Find history tours →Take a small boat to this privately managed, pristine barrier island — 11,000 acres of maritime forest, salt marsh, and empty beach. Naturalist-led tours cover wildlife, birding, and ecology.
Book island nature tours →The most efficient way to cover the island's highlights in limited time — Pier Village, the lighthouse, Fort Frederica, and the Avenue of Oaks — with local storytelling along the way.
Find trolley tours →Cruise St Simons Sound and the Marshes of Glynn with a naturalist guide. Bottlenose dolphins are a near-daily sighting; the guide covers Timucuan Indian and colonial history along the way.
Book dolphin boat tours →Rent a beach cruiser or street-legal golf cart from Pier Village and explore at your own pace — East Beach, the lighthouse, the Tree Spirits trail, and the Avenue of Oaks all connect on low-traffic roads.
Find bike & cart rentals →If tendered to Pier Village, almost everything worth seeing on foot is within a short stroll or easy bike ride.
From the St Simons Pier, walk the waterfront promenade, browse shops and galleries, and check out the lighthouse from outside before heading to Barbara Jean's for she-crab soup.
🗺️ See full route in Maps →Pick up a free map at the Pier Village Welcome Center and follow the trail hunting for eleven faces carved into surviving live oak trees by local artist Keith Jennings. Free and deeply atmospheric.
📍 Open in MapsUpcoming cruises that call at St Simons Island, Georgia, 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.