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Key West, Florida
Flat, American, and walkable. The easiest port day on most itineraries, as long as you are not expecting Caribbean sand.
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| Getting ashore | Ships dock. Three facilities: Mallory Square, the privately owned Pier B, and the Navy's Outer Mole Pier, listed as currently closed. |
|---|---|
| Currency and language | US dollars, English, US phone service and US medical care |
| Free transport | The Duval Loop bus is free for tourists and residents alike |
At the Key West, Florida cruise port: what’s there
Port facts checked on 30 October 2026. Shops, prices and opening hours change, so check on the day.
Key West has no fenced-in cruise village: you step off the ship and you're in Old Town, with Mallory Square, Front Street and Duval Street all close by. When we called here we rented a GEM car and drove ourselves around, but a stay-close day works just as well on foot. These days nearly every big ship ties up at the privately run Pier B, beside the Opal Key Resort (the old Margaritaville resort), and the city's own two piers no longer take large cruise ships.
Port map: this port doesn’t publish a map of its own that we could find, so we drew the simple walk below from the port’s and cruise lines’ own descriptions.
From the ship: Pier B
Privately operated by Pier B Development Corporation under a lease from the State of Florida, in front of the Opal Key Resort & Marina (formerly Margaritaville Resort), 245 Front Street. Since 2022 it has been the pier used by large cruise ships; its city contract allowed seven ships a week (Keys Weekly, 2022). Cruise Hive lists check-in counters, luggage services and public restrooms in the terminal.
Our own simple drawing, not the port’s map.
From the ship: Mallory Square Dock
Owned and run by the City of Key West, right at Mallory Square in Old Town. Since 2022 the city has barred large cruise ships here; Wikipedia says that as of 2024 it is mainly used by the small-ship American Cruise Lines.
Our own simple drawing, not the port’s map.
From the ship: Navy Outer Mole Pier
Federally owned, operated by the city under a lease from the US Navy. Listed as closed to cruise ships since the city's 2022 decision. When it was used, ships ran a short shuttle into town to Whitehead Street.
Our own simple drawing, not the port’s map.
Free things to do inside the port
- Mallory Square Free — Waterfront plaza with bars, restaurants, souvenir and craft shops, galleries and street performers. Celebrity suggests mid-afternoon to watch performers gathering before sunset.Old Town waterfront, about one block from the Pier B resort
- Duval Loop bus Free — Free city bus looping Old Town on accessible buses.Stops around Old TownAccess: Key West Transit buses are accessible
- Front Street and Duval Street browsing Free — Boutiques, galleries and bars; Duval is about two blocks east of the Pier B resort.Straight off the pier
- Phone signal Free — Key West is in the US, so your home US cell plan works normally (Cruise Hive notes reasonable reception).Everywhere
Pools and beaches
- No beach at the piers — There's no swimming beach at any cruise pier. The nearest are Fort Zachary Taylor (paid state park) and the county's Higgs Beach, both a ride away.See our main Key West guideAccess: Higgs Beach lists beach wheelchairs and accessible restrooms (Florida FWC)
Food and drink
- Mallory Square food vendors and restaurants — Snack vendors and waterfront restaurants and bars.Mallory Square
- Opal Key Resort bar — On-site bar at the resort beside Pier B.245 Front Street
Shopping
- Mallory Square shops — Souvenir and craft shops; Celebrity points to sandals, surf gear and Key-lime treats.Mallory Square
- Duval Street — Most of the island's shops, independent boutiques and galleries.Old Town, a few blocks from the piers
Worth paying for (and what it costs)
- Key West Aquarium — Aquarium with guided tours and live feedings (rays and sharks, sea turtles, touch tank) included with admission. Open daily 9am–6pm, last entry 5:30pm. Prices are on its tickets page.1 Whitehead Street, Mallory SquareAccess: Publishes an ADA policy; ask in advance for accommodations
- Conch Tour Train About $42.85–$45.10 per adult (reseller listing, Oct 2026) — Narrated 60-minute sit-down loop of the island.Old TownAccess: Monroe County lists it as offering accessible options
- Old Town Trolley From US$50.30 per person, one day (checked Sept 2026) — Hop-on, hop-off trolley, 13 stops, first tour 9am, last departure from Mallory Square 4:30pm.Departure point at Mallory SquareAccess: Monroe County lists it as offering accessible options
Restrooms, Wi-Fi, money and help
- Pier B terminal restrooms Free — Public restrooms, check-in counters and luggage services, per Cruise Hive.Pier B terminal
- Wi-Fi — No free Wi-Fi at the cruise terminals (Cruise Hive); Old Town businesses offer public Wi-Fi.Old Town cafés
- Money — US dollars, US cards, US banks; no currency exchange needed.
Getting out of the port
- Taxi line — A well-marked taxi line just outside the port. Uber and Lyft also operate (Celebrity).Just outside the port
- Pedicabs — Pedal-cab rides around Old Town.Old Town
- Golf cart, Jeep, scooter and bike rentals — Celebrity says rentals are available near each dock. Exact shops and prices aren't published by the port.Near the docks, outside the port
- City buses US$2 per ride; Duval Loop free — Key West Transit runs five routes 5:40am–10pm. The Duval Loop is free; other routes US$2 (US$1 reduced), day pass US$4.Old Town stopsAccess: Fleet of 20 accessible buses
A whole day without leaving the port
If I were spending the day close to the ship here, I'd walk off Pier B into Old Town, take the free Duval Loop or simply stroll to Mallory Square, and spend a cool hour in the Key West Aquarium catching a shark or turtle feeding. Lunch on the waterfront, a browse along Front and Duval streets, then a sit-down tour on the Conch Train or Trolley so my feet get a rest while I still see the island. Big ships usually leave before the famous Mallory Square sunset, so check your all-aboard time rather than planning around it.
At the port with a cane, walker or wheelchair
- Ships dock; tenders are rare. Cruise Hive calls all three piers wheelchair-friendly, and Old Town is flat.
- Key West Transit runs 20 accessible buses, including the free Duval Loop. Monroe County says the Conch Train and Old Town Trolley offer accessible options.
- Pier B's terminal has public restrooms; no source confirms an accessible restroom by name, wheelchair rental or a published pier length.
- Mobility-scooter and wheelchair rental shops exist in town but none is published by the port; book ahead through a provider your cruise line approves, and check with your own line.
More on cruising with mobility & health needs. Rules differ by cruise line, so check with yours.
Questions about the port
Where do cruise ships dock in Key West?
Almost all large ships now dock at Pier B, beside the Opal Key Resort on Front Street. Since 2022 the city has kept large ships away from its own Mallory Square and Outer Mole piers.
Can you walk from the Key West cruise port to Duval Street?
Yes. Duval Street is about two blocks from the Pier B resort, and Mallory Square is about a block away, all on flat streets.
Is there free Wi-Fi at the Key West cruise port?
Not at the terminals, but your US phone plan works normally and many Old Town businesses offer free Wi-Fi.
Where the port facts come from: Wikipedia: Port of Key West (30 October 2026); Keys Weekly: Mallory Square makeover? (2022) (30 October 2026); Keys Weekly: Cruise ship debate archive (30 October 2026); Key West Aquarium: Open daily (30 October 2026); Celebrity Cruises: Key West cruise port guide (30 October 2026); Cruise Hive: Key West cruise port, piers, things nearby and getting around (30 October 2026); Fun in Key West: Where do cruise ships dock in Key West? (June 2025) (30 October 2026); Living the Dream RTW: Opal Key Resort & Marina review (updated June 2026) (30 October 2026); City of Key West: Bus fares (24 September 2026); Conch Tour Train: Tickets (24 September 2026); Old Town Trolley Tours: Key West (24 September 2026)
Getting around without walking far
Key West Transit runs five routes from 5:40am to 10pm, seven days a week except Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day, on a fleet of 20 accessible buses. The Duval Loop is free. Other city routes are $2, or $1 reduced, with a one-day pass at $4.
The sit-down sightseeing options publish their prices: the Conch Tour Train from $40.80 for a 60-minute loop, and the Old Town Trolley from $50.30 for a one-day hop-on hop-off ticket with 13 stops, first tour 9am and last departure from Mallory Square at 4:30pm. Monroe County's tourism office publishes that Key West Transit, the Conch Tour Train and the Old Town Trolley all provide accessible options.
Independent tours usually cost less than the ship's, and are often run by the very same local operator. For the most peace of mind, book with Shore Excursions Group. It does nothing but cruise excursions and publishes a Return-to-Ship Guarantee: if a delay on one of its tours ever makes you miss the ship, it gets you to the next port and covers your hotel and meals. Want more choices? Viator lists far more tours. There, pick one tagged Worry-Free Shore Excursion, which carries its "Back to Ship Guarantee."
- Shore Excursions Group: 4,500 excursions in 300+ ports; non-refundable from 14 days before the tour
- Viator: 400,000+ experiences; full refund on most if cancelled 24 hours ahead
- Viator's Back to Ship Guarantee covers Worry-Free tagged tours only
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. How excursion booking works.
Search Key West excursionsMore Key West tours on ViatorThe beaches, and the honest verdict
Key West is a town day. The beaches are pleasant rather than spectacular, and people who arrive expecting the Caribbean are routinely disappointed.
| Fort Zachary Taylor | $6 per vehicle up to eight people, $4.50 single occupant, $2.50 for pedestrians and cyclists, plus a county surcharge. Open 8am to sundown daily; the fort itself closes at 5pm. |
|---|---|
| Higgs Beach | County beach, open 7:30am to sunset, with restrooms, playground, volleyball, tennis and pickleball. Florida's wildlife commission lists it as offering beach wheelchairs and accessible restrooms. |
| Smathers Beach | City beach with restrooms and showers. Parking is $5 an hour. |
Where these facts come from
- Florida Ports Council, Port of Key West
- City of Key West, bus fares
- City of Key West, public transportation
- Florida State Parks, Fort Zachary Taylor hours and fees
- Monroe County, Higgs Beach
- Florida Fish and Wildlife, wheelchair-friendly beaches
- Visit Florida Keys, accessible travel
- Conch Tour Train, tickets
- Old Town Trolley, Key West
Ports change their rules and their prices. Check the official pages above before you sail.
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Mobility & access at this port
From Sails Anyway, the accessible-cruising section of this site. Nothing here is medical advice — it is what the port and the cruise lines publish, so you know what to ask.
The short answer
- Ashore
- Docked
- Free beach
- 20–25 min walk, and mediocre
- Hardest part
- Sun, crowds and a short port call
The single best low-exertion option in any port we cover
The Conch Train or Old Town Trolley. Seated, narrated, hop off where you like and back on when you're ready. It turns a whole town into something you can see without spending your legs — and unlike most tours, you're not committed to a route once you start.
Why this port is easier than most
- It's flat. No hills anywhere on the island, which is not true of St. Thomas or Curaçao.
- It's American. Kerb cuts, ADA norms, accessible restrooms, US dollars, no language barrier — and US medical care if something goes wrong.
- Everything in Old Town is close. Duval Street, the Hemingway House and the Southernmost Point are all reachable from the pier.
- The trolley covers the rest, so distance stops being the deciding factor.
The expectation to correct
The beaches here are mediocre. Higgs and Smathers are free but a 20 to 25 minute walk, and people who arrive expecting Caribbean sand are consistently disappointed. Key West is a town day. Plan it that way and it's one of the best days on the itinerary.
What the day asks of you
- Very little, if you use the trolley. Walking is optional here in a way it isn't in most ports.
- Sun. There's little shade on Duval, and the heat does the work the hills would elsewhere.
- Crowds when several ships are in, on sidewalks that aren't especially wide.
- Watching the clock. Port calls here are often short — check your all-aboard before you settle in anywhere.
Worth doing, sitting down
- The Hemingway House — flat grounds, plenty of seating, and the cats.
- Mallory Square waterfront bars, for watching the harbour without walking it.
- Sunset, if your ship stays late. Few ports offer it and this one does it properly.
“Key West is a town day. Plan it that way and it's one of the best days on the itinerary.”
Check with your cruise line
- Ask whether you're docking at Mallory Square or Pier B — it changes how far you are from Duval Street.
- Ask whether the trolley you book is wheelchair accessible, since not every vehicle in the fleet is.
- Ask your all-aboard time and treat it seriously; calls here are often shorter than elsewhere.
- Ask about pier assistance if the walk from the ship to the gate is a concern.
Accessibility details last checked 22 September 2026. How we check this →
If stairs, gangways and tenders are a problem, there is a whole section of this site for you. Sails Anyway covers accessible and limited-mobility cruising properly instead of squeezing it into a paragraph: what each pier actually asks of you, which tender ports are a problem and why, the special-needs forms and the deadlines that catch people out, and how to choose a cabin you can move around in.
About the "I" on this page. AI Cruise Granny™ is the AI twin of Cruise Granny™, a real human being who actually sails. Every experience written here in the first person is hers. The AI twin is what writes it up, checks the facts against official sources and keeps it current. We tell you that openly on every page, because you should know who is talking to you. More about how this works.