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Disney Cruise Line’s newest ship, Disney Treasure, arrived in the U.S. for the first time today when the vessel visited Port Canaveral. 

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Disney Treasure will enter service on December 21, 2024, a seven-night cruise to the Eastern Caribbean.

But first, the ship will head to New York City where it will be officially named and christened on November 19, 2024. The event will be livestreamed on the Disney Parks Blog.

Disney Treasure is the second Wish class ship from Disney Cruise Line. The theme of the ship is adventure and the vessel tells stories from Disney, Marvel, Pixar and Star Wars.

Spaces on board Disney Treasure will invite guests to:

• Venture to the imaginary town square of Santa Cecilia in the world’s first theatrical dining experience themed to the Disney and Pixar film, “Coco”
• Indulge in themed cocktails at venues inspired by the iconic Disney Parks attractions, the Haunted Mansion, Jungle Cruise and “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”
• Hop into a sweet shop reminiscent of Disney’s “Zootopia”
• Embark on a tale across land and sea during the Broadway-style production, “Disney The Tale of Moana”

Disney Treasure will homeport at Port Canaveral, Florida sailing week-long cruises to the Eastern and Western Caribbean.

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Carnival Cruise Line has opened new cruises in 2026-2027 for bookings that depart from the East and West Coast.

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Carnival continues to roll out new cruises for 2026-2027 and this latest batch will set sail on Carnival Firenze, Carnival Venezia, Carnival Panorama and Carnival Radiance.

Cruises from New York

Carnival Venezia will sail four- to eight-day cruises from New York City during the cruise ship’s 2026 seasonal deployment.

The ship will offer a variety of cruises to Bermuda that range from one to three day visits to the island. There will also be one five-day sailing that visits Canada.

Longer cruises to the Caribbean will visit Nassau, Half Moon Cay, Grand Turk and Celebration Key. Celebration Key is Carnival Cruise Line’s new private cruise port in The Bahamas that is currently under construction.

Cruises from Long Beach, California

Carnival will offer an extensive schedule of short cruises from Long Beach to Mexico on Carnival Firenze. The cruises will depart in 2026-2027 on three- and four-day voyages.

The three-day weekend cruises will depart every Friday and visit Ensenada, Mexico. The four-day cruises will depart on Mondays and add a second stop at Catalina Island.

Carnival Radiance will also offer cruises from Long Beach. The cruises will range from three-days to longer Carnival Journeys voyages to Hawaii.

Five- and six-day cruises will visit Cabo San Lucas and Ensenada; and a special eight-day voyage will stop at Cabo San Lucas, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and La Paz.

Seven 14-day Carnival Journeys Hawaii cruises are offered with visits to the four islands of Maui, Oahu, Kauai, and Hawaii.

Carnival Panorama will continue to homeport in Long Beach in 2026-2027 with cruises visiting Cabo San Lucas, Ensenada, Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlán and La Paz.

Fred Stein, vice president of itinerary planning for Carnival Cruise Line, gave the following statement:

“Our two Carnival Fun Italian Style ships offer great options from the east and west coasts, conveniently connecting New York and Long Beach to popular destinations, while delivering unique experiences on board.

“Additionally, Carnival Radiance’s itineraries for 2026/27 offer something for every type of traveler – from quick weekend escapes to two-week adventures exploring Hawaii.”

All of these newly announced cruises from Carnival Cruise Line are now open for bookings.

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The Key West cruise port puts you almost on top of the island’s best sights: most ships now dock at Pier B, a short walk from Mallory Square and the start of Duval Street. On a typical day in port you can comfortably fit in the Hemingway Home, the Southernmost Point, a slice of key lime pie and either a beach or a snorkel trip, all on foot or by trolley. Only the Dry Tortugas need serious planning, because the ferry schedule does not fit a normal port day.

Below are the 12 best things to do in Key West on a cruise, how far each one is from the pier, how long to allow, and a few timing tips that catch cruise passengers out, especially the famous sunset.

Key West cruise port: where do ships dock in 2026?

Key West has three cruise berths, but in 2026 they are not used equally, and the reasons are political as much as practical.

• Pier B is privately operated under a state lease and sits in front of the Opal Key Resort (the former Margaritaville resort) at the western end of Front Street. It is where almost all large ships call today. From the gangway, Mallory Square and the bottom of Duval Street are roughly a 5 to 10 minute walk.
• Mallory Square Dock is owned by the City of Key West and sits right beside the square. Since 2022 the city has kept big ships away from the two piers it controls, so you are now far more likely to see small coastal ships here than mainstream cruise ships.
• The Outer Mole belongs to the US Navy inside Naval Air Station Key West. The city leased it for years but stopped sending cruise ships there under its “one ship” approach. The Navy announced it would end the city’s lease in August 2026 and has been exploring future uses; at the time of writing it had not announced whether large cruise ships will return. If your ship does use the Mole, you will be shuttled through the base, as walking is not allowed.

Some background helps explain this. In November 2020 Key West voters approved limits on large ships and daily passenger numbers, but the Florida Legislature overturned those charter amendments in 2021. The city then used its control of Mallory Square and the Outer Mole to steer large ships to Pier B, and in July 2026 the City Commission voted 5-2 to reaffirm its one-ship policy and ask the Navy to respect it. In practice that means fewer big-ship days than a decade ago, and usually one large ship in town at a time. Because the Navy’s plans for the Mole could change things, check your cruise line’s port information close to sailing for your exact pier.

Timing tip: sunset at Mallory Square vs all-aboard time

The Sunset Celebration at Mallory Square, with buskers, food carts and craft stalls, is Key West’s most famous ritual. The catch for cruise passengers is that ships rarely stay for it. When the city opened its Mallory Square pier in 1984 it brought in a rule requiring ships to leave port two hours before sunset, partly to protect the view, and typical port calls still run from early morning to mid or late afternoon.

Key West sunsets fall around 5:40pm in late autumn and early winter and after 8pm in early summer, so on most itineraries you will be back on board well before the show starts. If sunset matters to you, watch from your ship’s open deck as you sail out, or book a ship with a rare late or overnight call. Either way, treat your all-aboard time (usually 30 to 60 minutes before departure) as the real deadline, not the sail-away time.

12 best things to do in Key West on a cruise

1. Walk Duval Street

Duval Street runs about a mile and a quarter from the Gulf side to the Atlantic, lined with bars, galleries, T-shirt shops and historic conch houses. The lower end near the pier is the busiest; walk towards the 500 to 700 blocks for St. Paul’s Church, the San Carlos Institute and quieter side streets. It costs nothing and doubles as your route to several other stops on this list.

2. Visit the Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

At 907 Whitehead Street, about a mile from Pier B, the Spanish Colonial house where Hemingway lived in the 1930s is open daily from 9am to 5pm. Admission includes a guided tour of roughly 20 to 30 minutes, and you are free to wander the gardens afterwards and meet the resident polydactyl (six-toed) cats. Adult tickets have been around $19 to $20, but check the museum’s site before you go; allow about 90 minutes in total. Arrive early, because it gets crowded once ship passengers spread out.

3. Climb the Key West Lighthouse

Almost directly across Whitehead Street from the Hemingway Home, the lighthouse has 88 steps and a breezy view over Old Town’s rooftops. It pairs perfectly with Hemingway, so plan them as one stop.

4. Photograph the Southernmost Point buoy

The striped concrete buoy at Whitehead and South Streets marks the southernmost point of the continental United States, with Cuba around 90 miles away. It is roughly 1.3 miles from Pier B. The photo queue can stretch to 20 minutes or more on busy days, so go early, or late in your port day once tour groups have moved on.

5. Soak up Mallory Square in daylight

Even without the sunset, Mallory Square is worth a stroll. The Key West Aquarium, the Shipwreck Treasure Museum and the waterfront are all around the square, and it is the main boarding point for trolley tours. Allow 30 to 60 minutes.

6. Take the Old Town Trolley or Conch Tour Train

If walking in heat is not appealing, the narrated loops are an easy way to see the island. The Old Town Trolley is hop-on, hop-off, with about 13 stops on a roughly 90-minute loop, and has a stop in Mallory Square a few minutes from the pier. The open-air Conch Tour Train runs a shorter continuous circuit from Front Street with limited stops. Adult fares typically run from around $40 to $60 depending on the tour and whether you book online, where prices are usually lower.

7. Swim at Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

Key West is not famous for beaches, but Fort Zach is the best option within walking distance, around a mile from Pier B through the Truman Annex. Entry is just $2.50 per person on foot or bike. You get a Civil War-era fort (open until 5pm), shaded picnic areas and a rocky-bottomed beach where you can snorkel off the shore. Bring water shoes, and allow two to three hours.

8. Go snorkelling on the reef

The Florida Keys reef lies several miles offshore, and half-day snorkel trips leaving from the historic seaport and nearby marinas are among the most popular Key West cruise excursions. Most last about three hours including boat time, and many operators run morning and early afternoon departures timed around cruise schedules. Booking through your ship costs more but guarantees the boat will wait if the trip runs late; booking independently is usually cheaper, so choose an early departure and leave a generous buffer before all-aboard.

9. Wander the Key West Cemetery

Set in the middle of Old Town, about 1.3 miles from the pier, the cemetery is free to enter and full of quirky, above-ground tombs. Look out for the famous “I told you I was sick” headstone. It is a quiet, shaded contrast to Duval Street and takes 30 to 60 minutes.

10. Eat key lime pie (and some conch fritters)

You cannot leave without trying key lime pie, ideally the traditional version with a graham cracker crust. Several bakeries and pie shops around Old Town sell slices and frozen chocolate-dipped pie on a stick, which travels well in the heat. Conch fritters, Cuban sandwiches and fresh-caught fish round out a good port-day lunch.

11. Tour the Truman Little White House

President Harry Truman spent more than 170 days of his presidency at this house in the Truman Annex, a short walk from Pier B. Guided tours run throughout the day and take around 45 minutes, making it a good pick if you want history without a long walk.

12. Consider the Dry Tortugas (by seaplane only)

Fort Jefferson in Dry Tortugas National Park is about 70 miles west of Key West and is spectacular, but the timing rarely works on a cruise. The Yankee Freedom ferry checks in at 7am, departs at 8am and does not get back to Key West until about 5:30pm, with each crossing taking around two and a quarter hours. That is later than most ships sail. The seaplane is the realistic option: half-day trips last just under four hours with about two and a half hours on the island and a flight of around 40 minutes each way, but at the time of writing they cost about $527 per adult plus the $15 park fee, and seats are limited, so book well ahead and only if your ship arrives early and leaves late.

Key West cruise port distances and time needed

Distances below are approximate walking distances from Pier B, the berth most ships use. Add a shuttle ride if you dock at the Outer Mole.

Prices change often, so treat these as a guide and check with each attraction before your cruise.

A sample one-day itinerary

1. First off the ship: walk straight to the Southernmost Point while the queue is short, then loop back up Whitehead Street.
2. Mid-morning: Hemingway Home and the Lighthouse.
3. Lunch: conch fritters and key lime pie in Old Town.
4. Afternoon: either the beach at Fort Zach or a stroll down Duval Street and through Mallory Square.
5. Back on board: at least 30 minutes before all-aboard, then watch Key West slip away from the top deck.

Practical tips for your Key West port day

• It is a US port. Phones work as they do at home, prices are in US dollars, and there is no local currency to worry about. Non-US passengers should carry the documents their cruise line requires for a US call.
• Beat the heat. Old Town is flat and walkable, but summer temperatures and humidity are high. Carry water, wear reef-safe sunscreen and plan shaded stops.
• Rent wheels if you want to range further. Bike and electric cart rentals are common near the waterfront and make the cemetery and beaches easier to reach.
• Mind what you bring back. Fresh produce and some food items are restricted when you re-board; our guide to items commonly confiscated at cruise ports covers what to avoid.
• Compare with your other ports. Many Western Caribbean itineraries pair Key West with Mexico or the Bahamas; see our Nassau cruise port guide and Costa Maya cruise port guide to plan the rest of your trip.

FAQs

Where do cruise ships dock in Key West?

Most large ships now dock at Pier B, beside the Opal Key Resort near Mallory Square. The city keeps big ships away from Mallory Square Dock, and the Navy-owned Outer Mole has not been used for large ships under the city’s lease; its future use was still undecided at the time of writing.

Can you walk from the Key West cruise port to Duval Street?

Yes. From Pier B, Mallory Square and the north end of Duval Street are roughly a 5 to 10 minute walk, and the Hemingway Home is about a mile away.

Can you see the sunset at Mallory Square on a cruise?

Usually not. Ships typically leave by mid or late afternoon, and a long-standing city rule asks them to depart two hours before sunset. Watch from your ship’s deck as you sail away instead.

Can you visit the Dry Tortugas on a Key West cruise stop?

Not by ferry on a normal port day, since the Yankee Freedom leaves at 8am and returns around 5:30pm. A half-day seaplane trip of just under four hours can work if your ship is in port long enough, but it costs about $527 per adult plus the park fee.

Is Key West worth getting off the ship for?

Yes. The port is right next to Old Town, so even a few hours is enough to see the Hemingway Home, the Southernmost Point and Duval Street without booking an excursion.

The Luxury Cruise Collection

Elegant Resorts offers a curated Cruise Collection that specialises in luxury cruises, selecting itineraries and cruise lines that deliver sophisticated, personalised, and high-end experiences at sea. They partner with a range of luxury cruise lines, offering both ocean and river cruises, along with unique expedition voyages.

Intimate, sleek and truly luxurious, expect less a ship and more a five-star, boutique hotel atop the waves on your luxury cruise with Elegant Resorts. Wake up each day in an exciting new destination, with the luxury of only having to unpack your suitcase once. This is luxury travel at its finest.

From Greece to the Galapagos, most cruise companies provide a range of complimentary and enriching activities, designed to give you a fuller flavour of the destinations you are travelling to.

Curated Luxury Cruises

Luxury Ocean Cruises: Elegant Resorts features premium ocean cruise lines like Silversea, Seabourn, Regent Seven Seas, and Oceania, known for their elegant ships, spacious suites, gourmet dining, and attentive service.

River Cruises: They offer river cruises with lines such as Uniworld and AmaWaterways, which provide opulent river journeys through iconic waterways like the Danube, Rhine, Seine, and Douro.

Expedition Cruises: For those seeking adventure, their expedition cruise offerings include voyages to remote locations like Antarctica, the Arctic, and the Galápagos Islands with lines like Ponant, Silversea Expeditions, and Quark Expeditions.

Tailored Itineraries

Destination Variety: The collection covers destinations worldwide, including the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Asia, Northern Europe, Alaska, and Australia. Each itinerary is tailored for a balanced mix of must-see locations and lesser-known gems.

Cultural and Culinary Experiences: The itineraries often feature excursions that offer immersive experiences, such as local culinary tours, wine tastings, historical site visits, and private tours of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Exclusive Amenities and Services

Personalized Service: Elegant Resorts provides a personal travel consultant to help plan every detail, from stateroom selection to special requests. Their luxury cruises also offer exclusive onboard services, such as butler service, private dining options, and VIP experiences.

Inclusive Offerings: Many cruises in the collection are all-inclusive, covering fine dining, premium wines and spirits, gratuities, and sometimes even shore excursions and flights.

 Exclusive Events and Excursions

Special Access: Certain voyages provide access to exclusive events, such as private concerts, art exhibitions, and chef-led gourmet experiences.

Unique Shore Excursions: These might include activities like private yacht charters, helicopter tours, glacier trekking, or personalized diving excursions, offering a truly unique way to explore each destination.

The Elegant Resorts Cruise Collection is ideal for those looking for a more refined, immersive, and luxury-oriented travel experience by sea, with personalised support and attention to detail from start to finish.

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