Drive to the Cruise Port and Save
For many cruisers the cheapest flight is no flight at all.
Get Free Cruise QuotesDrive to the Cruise Port and Keep the Airfare
For many travellers the cruise fare is only part of the cost. Flights, airport transfers and a hotel the night before can add up to a large share of the trip. If you can drive to the cruise port, most of that disappears.
No flights
The biggest single saving for a family, and no worry about a delayed flight making you miss the ship.
Fewer hotel nights
With a short drive you can often arrive on embarkation morning.
No baggage fees
Pack the car instead: formal wear, snorkel gear and extra bags without airline limits.
Easier dates
You can choose from every sailing at your port without waiting for good flight prices.
Major US Homeports You Might Reach by Car
The United States has cruise ports on every coast, which is why so many cruisers never need to fly. Major homeports include Miami, Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral and Tampa in Florida; Galveston and New Orleans on the Gulf Coast; Baltimore and the New York and New Jersey ports in the Northeast; and Seattle and Los Angeles on the West Coast.
Smaller ports matter too. Palm Beach and Tampa Bay, for example, each have a sister site in our network: Cruise From Palm Beach and Cruise From Tampa Bay cover the sailings from each. Ports and their schedules change, so check which lines sail from your nearest port for the season you want.
Adding Up the Drive
Driving is not free, so compare it properly. Add fuel, any tolls, parking at or near the port for the length of the cruise and, if needed, one hotel night. Then compare that to flights for everyone, transfers or a taxi to the ship, and the hotel night most fly-in cruisers book to be safe. For a family, the drive usually wins; for one person flying from far away, it may not.
- Parking: official port parking is simple; nearby private lots with shuttles may cost less. See Free Cruise Parking.
- Timing: allow extra time for traffic and the queue into the terminal car park.
- Itinerary: a drive-to port limits you to its sailings, so check that they go where you want.
- If you must fly, Airfares for Less can help compare airfares into the port city.
Drive to Cruise Port: FAQ
Do I need a hotel the night before if I drive?
Not always. If the port is a few hours away and you leave early, many travellers drive in on the morning of the cruise. Leave a comfortable margin for traffic, because ships sail on schedule.
Where do I park at the cruise port?
Most major cruise ports offer official parking, and private lots nearby often run shuttles. Free Cruise Parking explains the options.
Which Sailings Leave From Near You?
Tell our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise where you live, and we will suggest sailings from ports you can drive to.
Find Drive-to Cruises