Is It Worth Driving Farther for a Better Cruise Port?

This is something I think more cruisers should compare before booking.

The closest cruise port is not always the best option.

Sometimes driving an extra hour or two can give you:

• A better ship
• A stronger itinerary
• Lower cruise pricing
• Better cabin availability
• More departure dates
• A cruise line that fits you better
• Less overall travel stress than flying

For East Coast cruisers, ports like Baltimore, Norfolk, Philadelphia, New York and Cape Liberty can all make sense depending on where you live and what kind of cruise you want.

The same applies in other parts of the country with places like Galveston, New Orleans, Mobile, Seattle and Los Angeles.

I’m a Baltimore area Travel Advisor, and when I compare cruises, I look at the whole trip instead of automatically choosing the closest port.

Sometimes convenience wins.

Other times, driving a little farther can completely change the vacation options.

How far would you realistically drive to a cruise port if the ship or itinerary was better?