Charleston Cruise Port: Terminal, Overview and What to Do

Table Of Content

• Top 10 Cruises to Charleston, South Carolina
• How many days are cruises from Charleston?
• Best Deals to Charleston, South Carolina
• Beaches Near Charleston Cruise Port
• Charleston SC cruise terminal
• Fort Sumter National Monument
• Visit the South Carolina Aquarium

The Holy City, Charleston, is so named for the skyline of steeples seen by ships' passengers as they enter Charleston harbor. The view was there before the American Revolution, during the Civil War, and you'll see the same today as your ship arrives or departs. Charleston has endured much over the centuries, but the city also has thrived and prospered. Guests have several dining options, including Guy Fieri’s Burger Joint, as well as miscellaneous cuisines such as Italian and Japanese. Once arrived at the destinations, guests can enjoy a myriad of shore excursions led by a team of professionals.

Top 10 Cruises to Charleston, South Carolina

The first battle of the American Civil War took place in Charleston in 1861 at the Battle of Fort Sumter. In the 20th century, the city made major efforts to preserve historic landmarks and grow the city’s intellectual and cultural contributions. Today, Charleston is well loved by history buffs and has a growing tourism industry. On Charleston cruises, discover the “Holy City,” a moniker given because of its many churches. From cobblestoned main streets to wrap-around porches where locals lounge unhurried, the mood in Charleston is relaxed, making it a perfect spot to vacation.

WATCH: Cruise Ship Passengers Share Terrifying Videos from 'Nightmare' 15-Hour Storm at Sea - PEOPLE

WATCH: Cruise Ship Passengers Share Terrifying Videos from 'Nightmare' 15-Hour Storm at Sea.

Posted: Wed, 31 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

How many days are cruises from Charleston?

You’ll discover the history of South Carolina’s plantations from the 19th century to today. Starting at just $409, choose the perfect cruise from Charleston that fits your traveling desires. King Street’s retail mecca is filled to the brim with unique boutiques, antique shops and book stores. Trace centuries of American history among Charleston’s old rice plantations. Boone Hall Plantation is one of America’s oldest working farms, while Middleton Place is home to the country’s oldest landscaped gardens.

Best Deals to Charleston, South Carolina

You won’t find much in the way of shopping in the cruise port itself, but you’ll be very close to the historic center of town where shopping options, boutiques, and souvenir stands are aplenty. The cruise line offers a Historic Mansions tour through Wilmington, and guests can choose their own adventures and explore whatever they’re interested in. The line suggests visiting Norfolk’s Naval Station, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum, and the site of the Wright Brothers’ first flight. The Charleston Museum showcases and celebrates the city’s history and the American South as a whole.

Plus, our experienced travel consultants have access to exclusive vacation deals to make sure you get the best value for your time and money. Getting around in the center of Charleston is pretty easy, particularly if you walk to major sights in town. A free trolley called the DASH trolley operates along multiple routes through town. Find the perfect souvenir or handmade craft to bring back home at the Charleston Historic City Market, which is one of the oldest public markets in the United States. Take a stroll along the French Quarter in Charleston to see some of the city’s original architecture dating back to the 1700s. Walk along its cobblestoned streets and snap photos of the pastel Victorian buildings.

The cruise was the last big vacation the couple planned to take. Located about a 30-minute drive from downtown Charleston, this beach is popular with surfers and those looking to take in stunning sunsets. The beach is also surrounded by independently owned-restaurants and snack bars. You’ll need more time to visit the fort, but it can be accessed via dedicated ferries from the Fort Sumter Visitor Center.

This cruise is significantly cheaper than the Freeport and Nassau route, costing a total of $229 per person. In January 2017, the city agreed to limit the per-year number of cruise vessels scheduled to dock in Port Charleston. In addition to the deepening project, Port Charleston started a major program for upgrading its terminal infrastructure and equipment.

Carnival passenger documents 24-hour nightmare as storm pounded cruise ship off Southeast coast - Fox Weather

Carnival passenger documents 24-hour nightmare as storm pounded cruise ship off Southeast coast.

Posted: Tue, 30 May 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

Fort Sumter National Monument

Named “Best Cruise Line” in Travel & Leisure Magazine, this company certainly isn’t messing around. Michelin-inspired dining and an onboard dress code are sure to wow passengers at every step. 2022 became the Port's record year by annual TEU container volumes - nearly 2,8 million , or 1,5% increase over 2021.

View gun emplacements and a Civil War Museum on the exact location where the war’s first shots were fired. Here are just a few exciting sights and activities you can explore. Located just a five-minute walk from the aquarium is the International African American Museum. Built on the site where Gadsden’s Wharf once sat, this is where at least 40% of all enslaved Africans arrived in the United States. The newly constructed museum now stands as a testament to the history and contributions of black Americans.

Most taxis will charge a $35 flat rate from the airport to the cruise port, but it is a good idea to ask before departing, as the meter rate can be higher. With an overwhelming world of choices, we understand you may need some personal assistance to plan your perfect vacation. From finding the right destination to choosing the best departure date, we're here to help.

Located half a mile from the Cruise Port, this departure point is the closest to the Charleston Cruise Port. There are some cruise lines that do make calls at the port, including Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line. Overnight parking costs $17 per day, but we recommend pre-booking your spot, as you can save money and guarantee you will have a parking space. The parking lot is patrolled overnight by port police, so it is a safe location to leave your vehicle. When you find yourself between the Carnival Sunshine and some actual sunshine, fun at sea is guaranteed.

Do cruise ships have morgues? What do they do with dead bodies?

Table Of Content

• Do Cruise Ships Have Morgues? Yes.. (Photos & Videos)
• Weddings? Burials at sea? Unexpected things you can do on a cruise ship besides cruising
• What happens when someone dies on a cruise ship?
• How Do Cruise Lines Help Family and Friends?
• Where Is the Morgue Located?

When someone dies on a cruise ship, crew members follow meticulous procedures to handle the process respectfully and carefully. The ship’s medical team confirms the death and immediately informs the captain and necessary port authorities. On standard Caribbean sailings, remains are often kept in the cruise ship morgue until the vessel returns to the United States, where a death certificate can be issued by the local medical examiner's office. However, as stated above, port authorities in any of the ports visited by the cruise have the right to require an examination of anyone who's died, as well as the off-loading of the body. Cruise ship morgues focus on preserving the body in a dignified manner until it can be off-loaded at the next port, where local medical examiner’s offices and funeral homes take over.

Do Cruise Ships Have Morgues? Yes.. (Photos & Videos)

It varies by cruise line, but some offer dedicated ceremonies for this type of service. Cruise ship morgues are located on a lower deck in an area inaccessible to passengers. Operation Bright Star mobilizes the ship’s medical response team to provide urgent care to stabilize patients until they can receive comprehensive medical treatment at a shore-based facility.

Weddings? Burials at sea? Unexpected things you can do on a cruise ship besides cruising

In such cases, alternative arrangements had to be made to store the bodies, as reported by Ross A. Klein, a sociologist and author specializing in the cruise ship industry. Cruise lines understand the emotional toll that a death onboard can have on family members and friends of the deceased. They provide support and assistance to those affected, offering guidance and helping them navigate the necessary procedures and arrangements. Once a person passes away on a cruise ship, the crew will take appropriate measures to handle the body respectfully. This includes documentation, proper bagging, and securing the body to ensure its integrity during transportation off the ship. Cruise ship morgues are not publicized, and this may come as a surprise to many passengers.

What happens when someone dies on a cruise ship?

There are no autopsies performed or complex examinations conducted on board; the cruise ship’s focus remains on respecting the deceased and supporting the accompanying passengers during such times. Typically, the morgues on cruise ships have space for three to six bodies, each stored in individual compartments. These spaces are crucial as they allow the crew members to maintain respect and dignity for the deceased person’s body until the ship reaches the next port. While smaller ships may have small refrigerators that can accommodate one or two bodies, larger ships may have more spacious facilities. In case of space constraints, crew members may utilize alternative options, such as walk-in freezers, to store the deceased until they can be transferred to shore. With this age data, and given that an average cruise ship carries between 3,000 and 5,000 passengers, the chances of someone dying on board are not remote.

The cruise ship morgue is usually a stainless steel refrigerated room where bodies can be stored. They are usually found on the ship’s lowest deck, along the ship-wide corridor known as the I-95. While smaller cruise lines can accommodate 2-3 bodies, larger ships can sometimes store up to 10 bodies. Cruise ship morgues are typically located on lower decks, near medical facilities, to ensure easy access by medical staff while remaining out of sight and inaccessible to passengers. Each vessel is required to carry body bags in addition to maintaining a morgue.

I may sound morbid, but yesterday just went to the funeral of a friend who died far too young. When someone falls ill on a cruise ship, they are immediately attended to by the onboard medical staff. Cruise lines are fitted with medical facilities to address a variety of health problems. If the illness is severe, the ship may divert to the nearest port, where the passenger can receive more extensive medical care. Meanwhile, fellow cruisers continue their voyage, often unaware of the medical drama unfolding.

When not traveling, she enjoys relaxing in Priority Pass lounges with tea and battling slow Wi-Fi. Join her as she shares cruise insights and explores the world, one voyage at a time. Cruises may be synonymous with luxury and leisure, but it’s important to remember that tragedies can occur anywhere, even in the middle of the ocean. So while not a pleasant topic, the morgue is an essential space for handling these situations with dignity if the tragedy of a passenger death occurs. Proper coded communication ensures the ship’s well-trained staff is ready to manage any situation professionally. Certain higher-risk demographics, like elderly travelers, do have elevated mortality rates on par with their natural risks.

Dara explained what she'd heard from an on-board medical professional in a video that has since surpassed three million views and garnered more than 225,000 interactions. “If the crew suddenly makes a bunch of ice cream available to the passengers… it is often because more people have died on the ship than they have room for in the morgue”, she says in the viral clip. While nobody wants to think about dying on vacation, it is the unfortunate truth that sometimes it happens.

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I'm an ex-cruise ship worker — here's the shocking reason we throw free ice cream parties.

Posted: Wed, 28 Feb 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

Around 200 people die on cruise ships annually, with most deaths caused by cardiac incidents. Ship morgues keep the deceased until an appropriate port, where they fly them home to their families. While it may not be something you think about when planning your vacation, it’s essential to know what to do in the event of a death while on a cruise ship. By law, cruise ships must have body bags and a morgue on board in case of death during the journey. This ensures that there is a proper place to handle the deceased and maintain their dignity.

The meetings are usually held in a quiet place like the library, where guests can feel comfortable and maintain their anonymity. They are also open to other support group members, like Women for Sobriety and Narcotics Anonymous. I have been cruising since 2004 and have sailed on dozens of cruises all over the world.

We provide expert advice, insightful reviews, and comprehensive guides to help seasoned and novice cruisers create their ideal sea journeys. Whether you desire adventure, luxury, or exploration, High Seas Cruising is your compass to unforgettable cruise vacations. While most passenger deaths are not the cruise line’s fault, it is a reality for hundreds of passengers every year. The design and operation of these morgues are strictly regulated to meet maritime and international health standards. For example, the morgue is separated from food storage areas, a mandatory health regulation to prevent cross-contamination. If the body is far from a homeport or has no homeport, it must be repatriated from some location.

You would then pass the urn to the Guest Services team on board who would carry out the service for you – you don’t just get to pick and choose a location on the ship to do it. You would likely be able to attend, but expect the service to happen at a discreet time and place, away from other guests. They offer cruise-specific plans to protect you and your loved ones while you sail. Some cruise lines have volunteer clergy onboard who may assist in supporting the family of and friends of the deceased.