Key West Overnight?

[StarSong]

Question - Does Royal Caribbean (or any other major cruise line) have an itinerary that includes staying in Key West overnight?

 

Thanks in advance. :D

[Clarea]

Question - Does Royal Caribbean (or any other major cruise line) have an itinerary that includes staying in Key West overnight?

 

Thanks in advance. :D

Don't know about other cruise lines, but Royal currently does not.

[Aquahound]

The only ships that stay overnight in KW are ships that are chartered and even then, it's only once...maybe twice a year. Otherwise, no cruise ships spend the night here.

[StarSong]

The reason for my question is that by all reports Key West is a complete hoot at night, but cruise itineraries show the ships departing fairly early - before dusk.

 

Seems odd, no?

[rolloman]

I was on the Celebrity Constellation a year or so ago and we spent the night there.....only because when we went to leave the wind was so bad the ship could not thrust away from the dock....interesting enough they opened the Casino and shops so it really did not matter if we left or not. Still not sure how they pulled that off but hey...glad they did.

[John Reid]

I've never seen it on any itinerary I have checked, and I have checked many.

Can't have a big cruise ship blocking the sunset at the pier by Mallory Square. Also, the pier on the military base (Outer Mole???) is accessed by shuttle through a manned gate. The shuttle could not run around the clock on an overnight.

[cruzinlady1947]

The reason for my question is that by all reports Key West is a complete hoot at night, but cruise itineraries show the ships departing fairly early - before dusk.

 

Seems odd, no?

We were there until 10:30pm a couple years ago on the Explorer. We were late getting in port and had permission to spend the extra time there. It was great. Love that port.

 

 

Gwen :)

[BND]

We were there til after sunset on Enchantment a couple of years ago, but only because our itinerary was altered. EN was having propulsion issues (which were repaired in PC before we got to KW) so by the time we got in it was after 1 pm and we stayed until about 8 or 9. We were there for sunset, which we watched from the pier and yes, it is a hoot. KW doesn't like ships there during sunset as the ships can and do block the view for some. Most ships leave an hour or so before sunset.

 

Going back next Nov on Vision, but we leave before sunset.

Edited November 19, 2014 by BND

[Nan1052]

We've had an overight twice in Key West. Once on NCL, but that was due to being forced change of itinerary due to Hurricane Mitch. The other time was on Regent Seven Seas.

 

As I understand it, they now want ships that are docked off Mallory Square to be gone before sunset. Complaints that the ship block the sunset ceremony.

[FLACRUISER99]

We've had an overight twice in Key West. Once on NCL, but that was due to being forced change of itinerary due to Hurricane Mitch. The other time was on Regent Seven Seas.

 

As I understand it, they now want ships that are docked off Mallory Square to be gone before sunset. Complaints that the ship block the sunset ceremony.

Yes the locals frown on cruise ships blocking the view.

[SC_Floaters]

THE first regularly scheduled cruise ship to call at the Port of Key West arrived in 1969. But not until 1984, when the city upgraded its dilapidated dock at Mallory Square, did Key West have a dock suitable for the larger ships that were already transforming the cruise industry.

 

In the years since, the decision to open its docks to cruise ships has paid dividends for the approximately two-mile by five-mile island with a population of about 27,000. In the 2002 fiscal year, 927,740 passengers stopped for the day in Key West (cruise ships are not permitted to stay overnight), up from 662,910 in 2000. The combination of port fees levied on the ships, the $8 passengers pay to disembark and passenger purchases in town have all helped to provide jobs in Key West's vital tourist economy.

 

In 2014 there is/was a small cruise ship (88 Passengers) trying to get the OK to overnight. That may still be pending.

 

Dennis & Sue

[Ken Greco]

It may seem a log shot but how about renting a car when you get back from the cruise and drive back down to Key West. Rent a car and make the 130 mile trip driving along the keys then you can stay right in Key West. Rent bikes, take a sailboat ride, have dinner in one of the great restaurants avoiding all of them along Duval St and see the sunset at Mallory Square.

[nolimits]

We over nighted in Keywest ,We missed Coco Kay due to wind and sailed right to key west.It was one of our greatest stops on a cruise,We docked later in the day before sunset,We went ashore about 8 after dinner it was a week night and streets and bars not that crowded.We bar hopped and reboarded about 4am.DW and myself did get up and go ashore for our regularly scheduled stop about 10 am.A lot did not we where a group of 6 couples the others woke up and did pool on Ship or so they said LOL.During the day we strolled around town not our first visit so no tour necessary.

[Debde]

For me-Key West is so nice it's one of those destinations that you stay at for a while. Not the one stop cruise drive bye. It is so beautiful and so much fun, it is the perfect land based vacation option. IMHO.

[StarSong]

It may seem a log shot but how about renting a car when you get back from the cruise and drive back down to Key West. Rent a car and make the 130 mile trip driving along the keys then you can stay right in Key West. Rent bikes, take a sailboat ride, have dinner in one of the great restaurants avoiding all of them along Duval St and see the sunset at Mallory Square.

 

This is a very good recommendation, Ken. Thanks for sending it my way.

 

As it happens, DH & I decided to go very light on Christmas gifts for each other this year (we are blessed enough to not need much) and to spend the money on another cruise instead.

 

So booking a cruise from Fort Lauderdale would probably be best, I'm thinking. I'll be hunting down a good itinerary. :)

 

These boards are always a source of great ideas.

Edited November 30, 2014 by StarSong

[MADflyer]

RCI rarely overnight in ports, but sister line Azamara has an new focus on overnight stays and extended evening stays.

 

Unfortunately on their 2 scheduled calls at Key West they do not overnight in 2015 or 2016.

 

http://www.seatrade-insider.com/news/news-headlines/azamaras-2016-has-more-than-100-overnight-calls-175-late-stays.html

[ehfl]

If you want to overnight in Key West, just make it a part of your vacation and stay there either before or after your cruise. It's a beautiful drive across the Overseas Highway. There is much more to the Keys than just Key West, and you'll get to explore some great areas.