Posts in category: USA

Setting sail on a cruise can be an exciting adventure, but your journey begins long before you step onto the ship. 

The cruise port you depart from plays a crucial role in shaping the start and end of your cruise. While many US ports offer smooth sailing, some have gained notoriety for their challenges. 

I looked at real stories from cruise guests on Reddit to see what were the worst ports in the US for cruising, so that you can travel prepared.

1. San Francisco: Beauty marred by logistics

San Francisco’s cruise terminal is a sight to behold, with its stunning backdrop of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge, one of the most impressive bridges you can sail under on a cruise.

However, the beauty of the Bay Area can’t mask the logistical hurdles that cruisers face when departing from this port.

The most significant issue plaguing San Francisco’s cruise port is its awkward traffic access. The city’s infamous congestion often leads to lengthy delays, turning what should be an exciting start to your holiday into a frustrating ordeal.

To avoid the worst of the traffic, consider arriving at the port early in the morning or later in the afternoon, outside of peak hours – as long as you make sure you arrive in time to board, of course!

Once you’ve navigated the traffic, you’ll face another challenge: limited elevator access. With only one elevator for embarkation and another for disembarkation, bottlenecks are common. This setup can lead to long queues and extended wait times, particularly for those with mobility issues or large amounts of luggage.

Recent years have seen an increase in wait times at the San Francisco cruise terminal. To mitigate this, arrive well before your scheduled boarding time and be prepared for a potentially lengthy check-in process. 

Consider packing a small carry-on with essentials, including entertainment and snacks, to make the wait more bearable.

Despite these challenges, the stunning views and vibrant atmosphere of San Francisco are pleasant and there are some excellent itineraries you can enjoy sailing from the port. 

By planning ahead and managing your expectations, you can still begin your voyage on a high note.

2. New York City: The Big Apple’s big cruise challenges

New York City, the city that never sleeps, offers a thrilling backdrop for the start of a cruise. However, the excitement of departing from this world-famous metropolis comes with its fair share of challenges.

The New York cruise experience is often described as chaotic, reflecting the bustling nature of the city itself. The sheer volume of passengers, combined with the port’s location in one of the busiest cities in the world, can lead to a frenetic embarkation process. 

To handle this chaos, arrive early and have all your documents readily accessible to streamline the check-in process. You definitely don’t want to show up to New York without being organised.

While boarding can be hectic, it’s the disembarkation process that truly tests passengers’ patience. Long queues, customs delays, and the challenge of finding transportation in the city can turn the end of your relaxing cruise into a stress-inducing experience. 

I’d recommend booking a private transfer in advance or allowing plenty of time if you’re catching a flight post-cruise.

Many cruisers compare New York unfavourably to ports like Port Canaveral in Florida, which is known for its efficiency and user-friendly layout. However, the unique experience of sailing out of New York harbour, past the Statue of Liberty, can make the hassle worthwhile for many.

To make the most of your New York cruise departure:

• Book a pre-cruise hotel stay to avoid day-of travel stress
• Allow porters to handle your luggage and navigate the terminal more easily (don’t forget to tip them!)
• Familiarise yourself with the port layout beforehand to reduce confusion

Remember, once you’re on board, the rewards of sailing from New York – including spectacular city views – can help you forget the embarkation challenges.

3. Charleston, South Carolina: A port in transition

Charleston, South Carolina, known for its southern charm and historic beauty, has been facing its own set of challenges when it comes to its cruise port. 

The port is currently undergoing significant construction and upgrades, which is great, but it has led to a disorganised and often slow boarding process.

The ongoing construction means that the port’s infrastructure is in flux, leading to confusion among both staff and passengers. 

Signage may be unclear, and temporary measures put in place to deal with the construction can result in longer walking distances and unexpected obstacles.

The slow boarding process is a particular pain point for many cruisers. With limited facilities to handle large numbers of passengers, queues can be long and move at a frustratingly slow pace. 

However, it’s not all bad news. The construction and upgrades are part of a larger plan to improve the cruise experience in Charleston. In the future, passengers can look forward to more modern facilities and a smoother embarkation process. Until then, patience and preparation are key.

It’s all due to be finished by March 2025 too, so not too long to go!

While the current state of Charleston’s cruise port may be challenging, you can start your cruise adventure on the right foot by being prepared in advance for a bit of confusion and stress. Go with the flow if you can!

4. Los Angeles: Distance dilemma at San Pedro

The ‘City of Angels’ might seem like a dream departure point for a cruise, but the reality can be less than heavenly. The main issue with LA’s cruise port, located in San Pedro, is its distance from the city’s main attractions and airports.

San Pedro port is situated approximately 20 miles south of downtown Los Angeles and even further from popular tourist areas like Hollywood or Beverly Hills. 

This distance can pose significant challenges for travellers, especially those flying in on the day of their cruise. Traffic in Los Angeles notoriously awful, and the journey from the airport to the port can easily take over an hour, even without heavy congestion.

For embarkation, the port works reasonably well. The terminal facilities are modern and can handle large numbers of passengers efficiently. 

However, as a port of call, San Pedro falls short. The immediate area around the port lacks major attractions, and the distance to LA’s famous sights makes short excursions challenging.

While the distance issue is a significant drawback, the allure of Los Angeles still attracts many passengers – and it’s one of the better options for a cruise from the West Coast.

The key is to plan ahead and manage your expectations regarding travel times and accessibility.

5. Miami: Chaos in the cruise capital

Miami, often dubbed the “Cruise Capital of the World,” is a major hub for cruise ships. However, its popularity comes at a price, with passengers often facing a chaotic and stressful embarkation experience.

One of the biggest challenges at Miami’s cruise port is the constant construction. The port is frequently undergoing upgrades and expansions to accommodate the ever-growing cruise industry. 

While these improvements are necessary, they can lead to confusion, detours, and delays for passengers trying to navigate the port. It’d be nice if it was ever just ‘done’, even if only for a few months!

The sheer volume of cruise traffic in Miami also contributes to the chaos. On busy days, multiple ships may be embarking and disembarking simultaneously, leading to congested roads, crowded terminals, and long queues. 

This can be overwhelming, especially for first-time cruisers or those unfamiliar with the port layout.

Many cruisers prefer nearby Port Canaveral for its more relaxed atmosphere and easier navigation, even though it’s often actually busier in terms of cruise ships. However, Miami’s position as a major cruise hub means it often offers a wider variety of itineraries.

To navigate Miami’s bustling cruise port efficiently:

• Arrive early to beat the worst of the crowds
• Use official port shuttles or taxis to avoid parking hassles
• Consider staying at a nearby hotel that offers cruise parking packages

Miami will always be one of the world’s most popular ports for cruise departures but that doesn’t mean you should take it lightly. Do your research on where you need to go before you travel, and don’t leave your arrival to the last minute.

Instead, I recommend arriving a day or two before, and taking advantage of the many things to do in Miami.

6. Galveston, Texas: Time-consuming Texan terminal

Galveston, Texas, may not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of cruise departures, but it’s a significant port for many Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean itineraries. 

Unfortunately, it’s also gained a reputation as one of the worst cruise ports in the US, primarily due to its notoriously long boarding times.

Many cruisers report that the embarkation process in Galveston can take upwards of three hours, significantly longer than at other major ports. This extended wait time can be attributed to several factors, including limited terminal space, inefficient processing systems, and occasional staff shortages.

The port’s location on an island connected to the mainland by a causeway can also lead to traffic congestion, particularly on busy cruise days. This can further extend travel times and add to the stress of embarkation.

While the long wait times can be frustrating, Galveston does offer some unique charms. The historic downtown area is worth exploring if you have time before or after your cruise, and the laid-back Texas atmosphere can be a pleasant start or end to your vacation.

7. New Orleans: The Big Easy’s not-so-easy port

New Orleans, famous for its vibrant culture and lively atmosphere, unfortunately doesn’t always live up to its “Big Easy” nickname when it comes to its cruise port.

Many cruisers describe the experience as more akin to a crowded bus terminal than a gateway to a luxurious vacation.

The main issues at the New Orleans cruise port revolve around congestion and organisation. The terminal can feel cramped and overcrowded, especially during peak times when multiple ships are in port. 

This congestion can lead to long queues for check-in, security, and boarding, testing the patience of even the most easy-going travellers.

Organisation is another pain point, with some passengers reporting confusion about where to go and what to do. This can be particularly challenging for first-time cruisers or those unfamiliar with the port layout.

Having said that, the opportunity to spend time in this culturally rich city before or after your cruise can add significant value to your overall vacation experience.

Final word

While these seven ports may present challenges, it’s important to remember that with proper preparation and a positive attitude, you can still have a fantastic cruise experience. 

The key takeaways for dealing with these challenging US cruise ports are:

1. Plan ahead: Research your departure port and arrive prepared for potential issues.
2. Allow extra time: Whether it’s for traffic, long queues, or confusing layouts, extra time can reduce stress significantly.
3. Pack smart: Keep essential documents easily accessible and consider a small carry-on with entertainment and snacks for long waits.
4. Stay positive: Remember, once you’re on board, the cruise experience itself often makes up for any embarkation hassles.
5. Consider pre-cruise stays: Arriving a day early can eliminate much of the day-of travel stress.

By understanding what to expect at these ports and preparing accordingly, you can set yourself up for a smoother start to your cruise holiday. 

After all, a little preparation can go a long way in ensuring your vacation begins the moment you step out of your front door, not just when you board the ship. Happy cruising!

Related Posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Alaskan cruises are really spectacular – the dramatic scenery, the wildlife, the quaint towns – it’s a breathtaking part of the world. And not just because the cold air takes your breath away!

But which side of the ship should you be looking to book for your Alaska cruise? Is the port side or the starboard side better?

In this guide, I’ll tell you everything you need to know.

It all depends on your sailing…

The side of the ship that’s best for an Alaska cruise depends on your itinerary and sailing direction. If travelling northbound, a starboard-side cabin will give you more views of the glaciers and ports. For southbound cruises, a portside cabin would be preferred.

Suggested read: Port & Starboard – Which is which?

Alaska is a gorgeous part of the world for the three things I mentioned in the intro – the towns, the glaciers and the wildlife. The view of the towns doesn’t matter too much, because you’ll get a much better look at them when you visit the port. It’s nice to have a view across the town as you approach, but it’s not essential.

With the wildlife, you never know from which side of the ship you might see a pod of dolphins or a whale, so again it doesn’t really matter too much either way.

But the glaciers and the natural scenery are a major reason people love to cruise to Alaska, and for that you’ll only get a good view from your cabin if you’re on the correct side of the ship as you sail past.

This means you want land to be outside your cabin, with the Gulf of Alaska – the ocean – on the opposite side.

And for northbound cruises that’ll mean a cruise on the starboard side of the ship, whereas for southbound cruises you should aim for a portside cabin.

Having trouble remembering which side of the ship is starboard or port side? You’re not the only one, don’t worry.

Here’s my guide to 9 easy ways to remember port and starboard so that you don’t get confused when booking your Alaskan cruise holiday.

Check your departure port

There are four main departure ports for cruises to Alaska – Seattle in mainland US, Vancouver in Canada, and then Seward and Whittier in Alaska itself.

Cruises from Seattle and Vancouver are northbound, or may be a round-trip. Cruises from Seward and Whittier are almost always southbound.

You can see these ports on the map below…

A lot of the cruises from Seattle are shorter trips – 7-night cruises that are round-trips that don’t make it as far as Anchorage and Seward. Instead, they focus on the Alaska cruise ports nearer the Canadian border, such as Juneau, but will typically include seeing at least once glacier.

On these cruises, it doesn’t particularly matter which side of the ship you’re on because you’ll usually get a good view on both legs of the journey.

Cruises from Vancouver are more likely to be a one-way trip to Seward or to Whittier, although there are some longer itineraries that are round-trips. And then the cruises from Seward and Whittier are almost always exclusively one-way, southbound cruises to Seattle or Vancouver.

It’s important to know all this so that you can understand your itinerary easier and plan whether you want to book a specific side of the ship or not.

For northbound cruises…

A northbound Alaska cruise would be best experienced from the starboard side of the ship. This keeps the land and glaciers of Alaska on the same side as your cabin, meaning you can enjoy the stunning scenery from the comfort of your room or balcony.

Obviously it depends on which cabin type you book as to whether it matters – I’ll cover that more below. But remember that if you end up with a port side room then it’s not the end of the world. It’s never a far walk from a lounge or an open deck that offers the same stunning views.

Inside Passage? Doesn’t matter

It doesn’t matter which side of the ship you’re on for a cruise through the Inside Passage. As the name suggests it’s a passage where you’re surrounded by land on the starboard side and islands on the port side – the scenery on both sides is equally stunning.

There are some key ports in the Inside Passage, including Wrangell, Petersburg and Juneau, so if you’re travelling northbound you’ll get a better view of those from the starboard side. But the towns can be enjoyed as you wander through them on the port day – so the port side will be just as good in terms of the actual scenery.

The only difference is when cruising past Glacier Bay at the northern end of the Inside Passage. Here you might want to be on the starboard side as you’ll get more of a view, though the ship will often circle the area to give everyone a great photo opportunity.

Cruising from Seattle? Starboard’s probably best

Alaska cruises from Seattle will either be northbound one-way, or round-trip cruises. For one-way northbound cruises, you should book a starboard cabin, to make sure you get the best views of the land. For roundtrip cruises, it won’t matter as the port side gets great views on the return leg.

It’s always important to review your itinerary and trace the route that your ship will be sailing so that you know for sure which side of the ship you want to book on.

In most cases it’s pretty straightforward – the ship will travel northbound in a fairly straight line from Seattle, so you know you should be on the starboard side for the best views.

But check whether it is only going through the Inside Passage on the return leg – if that’s the case then the port side may be marginally better, although you’ll be surrounded by scenery on both sides of the ship.

Best cabin choice

The best cabin types for an Alaska cruise are those with a balcony since you’ll get a completely unspoiled view of the amazing scenery around you. Ocean-view cabins are good but aim for a cabin with a large window so you can properly soak in the view.

The whole discussion of which side of the ship is better for an Alaska cruise is moot if you are on a budget and plan on booking an inside cabin. Those cabins don’t have any kind of view at all so the side of the ship doesn’t make a difference.

Depending on the ship, there may be ocean view cabins you can book but check what kind of view they offer. Some of the cheapest cabins might only have a porthole which offers a terrible view. Some will have a picture window and some may have a full floor-to-ceiling window – those would be the best cabins to really soak up the scenery if you’re set on an ocean view.

But a balcony will always be the best choice – either a balcony cabin or a suite with a balcony. Your view is unspoiled, and you can look down over the railing if there are any swimming creatures along the sides of the ship, something you might struggle with from a window.

Just brace yourself for the weather though – you won’t be sitting on your balcony in a bikini like you would be in the Caribbean or Mediterranean. You’ll want to keep warmer clothes near the sliding balcony door if you want to slip out and enjoy the view, especially early in the morning or late at night.

Suites will have larger balconies, but on an Alaska cruise, this might not be important to you. A smaller balcony where you can stand and take in the glaciers and mountains may be all that you need, so weigh that up when deciding how much you want to spend.

But what about ship location? It’s not just about port and starboard side. A forward cabin – one near the front of the ship – might limit you to only accessing your balcony when the ship is in port and not moving, due to the winds. Whereas an aft cabin with a view to the rear of the ship is often the most treasured.

If you book an aft-facing balcony, you don’t need to worry about port or starboard side. You’ll get an amazing view regardless. And the same can be said of some forward-facing cabins. There are some ships which have ocean view cabins right at the front of the ship with huge windows – they’d be a good choice too.

In terms of deck, you’ll want a higher deck, provided you aren’t prone to seasickness. This will offer the longest-reaching views, and in Alaska that’s well worth it. Lower decks are still good choices, but you won’t get the same kind of view.

The must-see ports

The key ports of call for an Alaska cruise – in terms of the natural scenery – tend to be Juneau, Glacier Bay, the Hubbard Glacier, Seward and Anchorage

This is important if you’re on a round-trip cruise that travels both north and south. You might think that it doesn’t matter which side of the ship you book in that case, but it may do.

You’ll want to check which ports you’ll visit when travelling north, and which you’ll visit on the return leg. If most of the best ports are on one leg of the journey then you’ll want to book a cabin on the side of the ship that’ll give you the best view of those.

With some of these ports, it doesn’t actually matter. Ships that visit the Hubbard Glacier tend to do a 360-degree sail around, so you’ll get a view of the glacier from all angles. And with Anchorage, the port is surrounded by amazing scenery on all sides.

But for Juneau – which includes the Mendenhall Glacier – Glacier Bay and Seward, plus the sailings in between them, you’ll want to make sure you are on the right side of the ship as you cruise to them, ideally.

Suggested read: Guide to Alaska Cruise Ports

Should you pay extra for the ‘right’ side?

Whether it’s worth paying the extra to choose your cabin on the ‘right’ side of the ship for an Alaska cruise depends entirely on you and what’s important to you.

If you’re on a tight budget, it might be better to book on the ‘wrong’ side of the ship, since you can save money and still have a lovely sea view, and the chance of seeing swimming dolphins or a whale.

And remember it’s not like you’re missing the view on the ‘right’ side of the ship – you just need to leave your cabin to enjoy it, and find a lounge or deck space on the opposite side.

But if you have the budget for a ‘right’ side room then it is pretty special – having the curtains open and waking to views of white glaciers is a magical experience.

There’s no single right answer, because it also depends on whether you’re someone who likes to spend time relaxing in their cabin, or if you’re only in there to sleep, shower and change. If most of your time is spent relaxing elsewhere on the ship then there’s no reason to pay more for a better view.

Final word

Ultimately, you just need to remember that if you want a cabin facing the Alaskan scenery, then get a starboard side one for northbound itineraries, and a port side one for southbound itineraries.

Cabins on the ‘right’ side may be more expensive though, so if you’re happy walking a short distance to a deck or lounge, then you can save by choosing one on the ‘wrong’ side.

But if you’re dead set on getting the full Alaska experience from your balcony, just make sure you check the itinerary to know which side of the ship is right for you.

Related posts:

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me