8 best ports of call in the USA & what to do there

There’s a wide range of cruise ports of call in the USA, whether you’re after ultra-modern east coast cities, Deep South cuisine or Floridian beaches.

Of course one of the huge perks of cruising is that you never need to stick to just one destination.

Want to explore the exciting culture of a metropolis and lie on a sandy beach? No problemo. Here are some if the best ports to explore.

Charleston

Charleston, in South Carolina, can feel like a trip back in time thanks to its historic centre which dates to 1670. The architecture here is both diverse and impressive – think Art Deco cinemas, Renaissance-style houses and Gothic churches.

You can’t miss the amazing culinary scene in Charleston – the city is home to southern-comfort diners serving up local favourites such as sausage gravy and biscuits, chicken and dumplings or meatloaf. Alternatively, why not visit a Michelin-starred steakhouse if you fancy more upmarket fare?

This destination is the right place to delve into the history of the American Civil War which started in 1861; tourists can visit 19th-century cotton plantations such as Boone Hall Plantation (which now grows tasty fruit), erstwhile slave-trading markets and the 200-year-old island stronghold of Fort Sumter.

Fort Lauderdale

Fort Lauderdale in Florida, just north of Miami, is dubbed “the Venice of America” thanks to its myriad canals and lagoons. This spot is ideal for admiring the incredible properties of the ultra-wealthy who live here as well as indulging in retail therapy at the numerous fashionable shops.

Head to Secret Woods Nature Center to spot alligators, turtles and raccoons or keep an eye out for manatees in Fort Lauderdale’s river. Head to the Everglades for a real flora and fauna paradise – it’s the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist in the wild.

Key West

Key West, also in Florida, gives visitors on Marella USA cruises a taste of the neighboring Caribbean thanks to its colorful houses, top-notch snorkelling, rum cocktails and excellent fishing. Visit famous author Ernest Hemingway’s home (below), check out the bars, restaurants and street performers at vibey Mallory Square and jump on a traditional trolley bus to explore the old town.

Take a kayaking excursion around the mangroves to explore the natural side of Key West. Keep your eye peeled for dolphins, turtles, rays and countless birds as you’re led by an expert guide.

Miami

Miami has long been a major cruise port as a gateway to the Caribbean. The Floridian city is home to the famous South Beach (check out the signature Art Deco architecture and palm-lined boardwalk) where, fun fact, the 2017 film remake of Baywatch was filmed. Join a walking tour of the area so you can discover everything the buzzy hotspot has to offer, from celebrity chef-run restaurants to white-sand beaches.

Meanwhile, over in Little Havana, you can learn about Miami’s Cuban heritage and sample a CubaLibre cocktail. Be sure to also join a boat trip across Biscayne Bay to ogle the multi-million-dollar homes of well-known celebrities and watch the skyline change.

New Orleans

New Orleans in Louisiana is famous for Creole cuisine, jazz music, world-renowned cocktails and oodles more. Don’t leave without seeing Bourbon Street (a neon-lit street pulsing with music and whisky), St Louis Cemetery No.1 (which attracts more than 100,000 visitors each year) and the National World War II Museum on Magazine Street.

The Sazerac Museum is dedicated to the USA’s original cocktail, original Creole neighborhood Faubourg Marigny is a paradise for live music, and signature New Orleans eats such as gumbo, jambalaya, po’boy sandwiches, boiled crawfish and charbroiled oysters can be found throughout the city.

New York

It’s hard to pack into a few sentences how much New York has to offer, the city is bursting with iconic sights, from Grand Central Terminal and Central Park to Times Square and the Empire State Building. Luckily Marella offers a wide range of shore excursions here to help you pack in the best bits during your stop.

Head to to the Lincoln Center, Harlem’s enormous Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Rockefeller Center, Times Square, Macy’s department store, Soho and Greenwich Village, Grand Central Terminal and the 9/11 Memorial and Battery Park.

Visit the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island or visit Washington Square, Greenwich Village and Bleecker Street to admire the famous brownstone townhouses and unearth hidden gardens.

Port Canaveral

Port Canaveral in Florida is one of the biggest and busiest cruise harbours on the planet – perfect for ship buffs on USA cruises! Head to the beaches for golden sands plus surfing, sunbathing and fresh seafood.

Another must-see is the NASA Kennedy Space Center where vacationmakers can tour the astronaut training facilities and rocket launch pad. For wildlife, hop on a two-hour boat tour around Merritt Island where manatees, alligators, turtles and bald eagles reside.

Tampa

Tampa is located on Florida’s west coast and offers plenty to see and do to keep the whole gang happy on cruises to the USA. There are glistening skyscrapers and fascinating art museums in the city plus rollercoasters aplenty at Busch Gardens. If you’re after even more thrills, pack in Walt Disney World Resort for all the adrenaline-fuelled rides you could ever crave.

For beaches, visit Clearwater which boasts uber-soft sands, a charming pier, street entertainers and souvenir shops. To see Tampa from above, go on a helicopter tour of Tampa which flies over the city at sunset so you can soak up such highlights as Tampa’s sports arena (the Pete Times Forum), the Florida Aquarium, the University of Tampa and the Alafia River.