FLG8RGRL

The fee is to rent a lounge. At all other bars the lounges are free.

imluvncruzn, Ok that's cleared up. I enjoyed sitting at the bar talking with Jack and his wife and talking with other cruisers..

Since we live in Florida, we drive to Key West a couple times a year. We will be on the Imagination on 5/20 which stops there, first time i'll be there by boat.

 

So for everyone stopping there, here are a few *FREE* things to do, that will pretty much take up the whole time you are there, its all walkable, i've done them many times myself and with my family.

 

First a few things about Key West.

 

There are 2 main streets, Duval and Whitehead. you don't want to venture further east than Whitehead. Not that it isn't safe, but you want to avoid it, thats the border of the "slum" area, but Whitehead is ok, a lot of tourist stuff is there. Duval is the main tourist street. (they run parallel to each other).

 

If you get tired of walking, you will see these "Pedi-cabs" all over, they will try to charge you by the minute.. rip off… but you can negotiate.. offer $10-$20 or so to take you to a fixed place (depending where you are on duval), they can negotiate and many will, otherwise walk it. I suggest walking, its only about a 20-30 min walk from one end of duval to the other.

 

The boat will dock just outside of Mallory Square. Unfortunately, we won't be there at night which is too bad, mallory square at night is the main reason to go to Key West, the street performers are awesome.

 

But here is some free stuff i suggest doing, and how to get there, I'm going in order of whats closest to the ship area, so you want to go in this order. Google search the places, and do a maps on them to see where they are.

 

Stuff to Do

========

 

1) Key West Sculpture Garden at Mallory Square - Free

This is a little area with all statues of famous key west people, easy to blow an hour here, very interesting and historical. Same area as the ship.

 

2) Florida Keys Eco Center - Free

This is an indoor museum near the ship of all the sea life and stuff.. Air Conditioned and they show a movie every 1/2 hour or so that is really interesting. Definately worth a stop.

 

3) The Start of US 1 - Free.

This is another famous landmark for those of us that are from the east coast.. the start of Route 1. To get here, go down Duval St, and turn right on Fleming St to Whitehead. That Intersection is it.. one side is "The End" (south), and the other is "The Start", there is a pole there, take pics… This is hard to find if you don't know where it is.

 

4) Walk all the way to the end of Whitehead. you are at the "Southernmost Point of the US". Take Pictures.

 

5) Go west back to Duval, you are at "South Beach"

Great restaurant on the beach, the beach faces south, so there are usually very few waves, and the water temperature is pretty high, and its really shallow.. great for kids.. you walk 200 yards out and you might be up to your waist. Water temp probably close to 90 degrees. Lots of seaweed.. (you don't go to key west for the beaches).

 

6) Walk all the way back to ship on Duval. There is a Circle K (a convenience store like 7-11) on the right, you can get soda for $1-2, hotdogs etc.. just like 7-11, cheap junk food, but load up there, every other place is overpriced. While coming back, you will find stores that sell shirts and stuff for like $5.. buy them there.

 

7) If you still have time, investigate around Mallory Square, lots of neat stuff there too.

 

Follow these steps, and by the time you're done, the ship will be ready to leave.

Thanks for this information it was and will be very helpful for our cruise in Dec. I was wondering if you could actually walk all of Key West sounds like you can!!!

Again Thanks

I've been there 3x in the past 2 years and IMHO I think Margaritaville is far and away the most crowded. Jack's and Local Village have been about the same...neither were too crowded. Actually the last time I would say Local Village Bar was more crowded maybe because it's a longer walk to Jack's. The Crew Bar is definitely the least crowded...probably since a lot of people aren't aware that it's there and that you can use their pool too. However, the Crew Bar is closest to the Carnival section of the beach so the "beach area" might be more crowded than if you kept walking further down the beach towards Local Village and Jack's. Lounges are free at M'ville, Crew Bar, and Local Village. There is a fee at Jack's.

A fee at Jack's that must be new I was there in Oct 2012 and sat out at the bar and had a couple of drinks and nothing was ever said or paid as far as a fee goes.. Still love Jack's and would go back!!

I love just walking through town and enjoying the people and the architecture. We usually walk to the southernmost point and take the obligatory pic. This next trip I plan on running early in the morning and taking in the sights.

Hey Dawnie, I am going to the Keys for the first time and you mentioned walking through town. If someone really wanted and talking *normal pace* is it possible to walk all of KW and doing your sight seeing/window shopping along the way???

Thanks

Dear Arubalisa,

I did email Bully and :( he was booked is booked for Thurs. Oct. 9th but did recommend his colleague Ivan and sent me his email. So I will see how that pans out..

Thank you,

Dear Kat,

Thank you so much for your help I really do appreciate it. i do want to do the past sailings as well may need your help again but do the link you sent me..

Thanks

Thank you I do appreciate it I am gonna email Mr. Bully now.

Again thank you and have a great day!!

Dear Arubalisa,

How do we go about contacting Mr. Bully before leaving. We are going to be in Aruba the 7th of Oct.

Thanks,

FLG8RGRL