Cruises from Charleston

For 14 years, Charleston was a homeport for Carnival, which sailed five- to seven-night Bahamas and Caribbean cruises from Union Pier on the edge of the historic district. That arrangement ended at the start of 2025, when Carnival moved its ship to Norfolk, Virginia. The State Ports Authority is selling Union Pier for redevelopment, and the last cruise ship tied up there at the end of June 2026.

Cruise ships haven’t disappeared entirely. Smaller premium, luxury and expedition ships still call in Charleston on longer East Coast and repositioning voyages, using a commercial berth at the Columbus Street Terminal. American Cruise Lines runs week-long coastal cruises on small American-flagged ships between Charleston and Amelia Island, Florida, through the Lowcountry and Georgia’s Golden Isles, with stops such as Beaufort, Hilton Head, Savannah, St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island.

If you live in the Charleston area and want a mainstream cruise to the Bahamas or Caribbean, your realistic options are a drive to Jacksonville, about four hours south on I-95, to Port Canaveral, about six hours, or to Norfolk, about seven hours. Many locals turn the drive into part of the trip with a stop in Savannah on the way or a few days in St. Augustine after the cruise.

There is currently no dedicated cruise terminal in Charleston. Union Pier, the former terminal at the foot of the historic district, has closed to cruise ships, and visiting ships use a commercial cargo berth at the Columbus Street Terminal on the Cooper River, a short distance north. The State Ports Authority has not announced a permanent replacement terminal. American Cruise Lines’ small ships dock separately and send boarding details with your documents; their embarkation is informal, with check-in often taking only minutes.

For a pre-cruise night before a coastal small-ship cruise, the historic district south of Calhoun Street puts you within walking distance of King Street’s shops, the Battery and most restaurants. Mount Pleasant, across the Ravenel Bridge, has more affordable chain hotels and easy access to Patriots Point. If you’re driving to Jacksonville to board, consider breaking the trip with a night in Savannah or near the Jacksonville airport.

American Cruise Lines’ coastal cruises between Charleston and Amelia Island operate mainly from fall through spring, when Lowcountry weather is mild. Occasional port calls by visiting ocean ships cluster in spring and fall on repositioning voyages along the East Coast. For year-round Bahamas cruises, Jacksonville is the nearest homeport, with Carnival sailing every week and Norwegian adding a ship from late fall to spring.