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Where do cruise ships dock in Key West?

Almost always at Pier B, in front of the Westin. Small ships may use the Mallory Square dock. The Navy's Outer Mole is not used under the city's one-ship policy.

Is Key West walkable from the cruise port?

Yes. Mallory Square and Duval Street are a short walk from Pier B; the Hemingway Home is about 20 minutes on foot.

How many cruise ships can visit Key West a day?

The city keeps a one-ship-per-day policy based on the 2020 referendum, with ships using the privately owned Pier B.

Is the Duval Loop bus still running?

No. It was suspended on 2 January 2026 and replaced by the Key West Rides on-demand service at $2 a ride, booked in the app.

How much is the Hemingway Home?

$19 for adults and $7 for children aged 6–12 in 2026, with a 3% fee on card payments. Open daily 09:00–17:00.

What can I do in Key West in one day from a cruise ship?

Hemingway Home, the Southernmost Point, Fort Zachary Taylor and Duval Street, all on foot or with a short ride.

Plan my Key West day

Port GuidesKey West Cruise Port

Cruise Port Guide

Key West Cruise Port

Quick answerKey West is a docking port: almost every ship ties up at Pier B, in front of the Westin, a short walk from Mallory Square and the top of Duval Street. You need no transport for Old Town; the Hemingway Home is about a 20-minute walk. Be back on board 60 minutes before all-aboard.

Checked October 2026 · Sources

Key West transport details

At a glance

Terminal to centre

On foot

Short walk to Mallory Square and Duval Street; about 20 min to the Hemingway Home · Free

Walkable to centre

Yes

About 20 min · null km

Tender

Dock port

Typical time ashore

~9h

Check your own itinerary

Buffer before all-aboard

90 min

PortTrip planning default

Currency

USD

English

Transport and cost figures are estimates — always confirm current fares at the terminal.

Plan your Key West day

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Leave-by calculator

When to head back to the ship in Key West

Your all-aboard time

Duval Street / Old Town
Walk back to Pier B; short flat walk
Leave by
16:10
Mallory Square
Walk back to Pier B, a few minutes
Leave by
16:20
Ernest Hemingway Home
Walk about 20 min, or taxi about 5 min
Leave by
16:10
Fort Zachary Taylor
Taxi or Key West Rides; allow for booking wait
Leave by
16:00
Smathers or Higgs Beach
Taxi or Key West Rides; allow for booking wait
Leave by
16:00

Where to leave from, and when

16:10

16:20

16:10

16:00

Leaflet © OpenStreetMap · Routes: Google

on foot bus, train, boat taxiPins show when to leave each place. Lines: route back to your ship.

Walk to townReturn risk: Low #32 of 172 in the Cruise Port Index

Where people get it wrong: Lingering on Duval Street or waiting for the suspended Duval Loop bus instead of walking back in good time.

Times count back from all-aboard using the travel times and buffers in this guide. Your ship's daily programme always wins.

Open my full Key West day, timed to 17:30 Get this for every port on your cruise, with alerts on the day Write about Key West? Put these leave-by times on your blog, free

Transport: Port of Key West (Pier B, Mallory Square) to Old Town and Duval Street

Key West is one of the easiest calls on a Caribbean itinerary. The ship docks beside Old Town, the island is flat, and the main sights are within walking distance. Since the 2020 referendum the city has kept a one-ship-a-day policy, so the town is rarely swamped by several ships at once. The real constraints are heat, afternoon storms in summer and early autumn, and the temptation to linger on Duval Street. The famous Mallory Square sunset may come after your ship has sailed.

Walkable? Yes · about 20 min

From Pier B or Mallory Square, Old Town and the north end of Duval Street are a short, flat walk. The Hemingway Home is about 20 minutes on foot. Shade is patchy; carry water in summer.

Where your ship docks

Pier B — Privately operated pier in the marina in front of the Westin. Used by nearly all cruise ships; under the city's one-ship policy it is the only berth for most calls. A short walk to Mallory Square and Duval Street.
Mallory Square Dock · 0.1 km to the centre — City-owned dock at Mallory Square, a few steps from Old Town. Used mainly by small ships, such as American Cruise Lines.
Outer Mole Pier (Navy) — Navy-owned pier reached through the base, with a short shuttle into town. Not used by cruise ships under the city's one-ship policy; the Navy told the city in 2026 that it would end the lease, and future use is undecided.

On foot

FreeShort walk to Mallory Square and Duval Street; about 20 min to the Hemingway Home

Old Town is compact and flat. Most visitors walk everywhere.

Key West Rides (on-demand bus)

$2 per ride, paid in the app (2026)Book in the app; runs about 06:00–20:00

Replaced the Duval Loop bus from 2 January 2026. Download the free Key West Rides app, book a pick-up within Key West or Stock Island, and track the vehicle. Former Duval Loop stops are still served. Wheelchair users select the wheelchair icon when booking.

Taxi, Uber or Lyft

Metered or app fare (2026)About 5 min to the Hemingway Home

A taxi line waits just outside the port. Useful for Fort Zachary Taylor, Smathers Beach or Higgs Beach in heat or rain.

Old Town Trolley or Conch Tour Train

Check current ticket prices (2026)Narrated loop of Old Town

Sightseeing tours rather than transport. The trolley is hop-on, hop-off.

Bike or scooter rental

Varies by shop (2026)A few minutes to anywhere on the island

Bikes suit the flat island. Scooters share narrow streets with cars, trolleys and golf carts; rent one only if you are confident riding.

Know your all-aboard time? Build the whole day around it.

Return timing: getting back to the ship on time

Be back on board 60 minutes before all-aboard (16:30 for a 17:30 all-aboard).

Pier B is a short walk from Duval Street, so leave Old Town about 80 minutes before all-aboard. Leave earlier from the Hemingway Home, Fort Zachary Taylor or the beaches. Allow extra time if a storm comes through.

If you're running late

Take a taxi from anywhere on the island; Key West is small and taxis, Uber and Lyft are widely available. If you will miss all-aboard, call the port agent number on your daily programme.

A one-day plan for Key West (all aboard 17:30)

Assumes the ship docks at Pier B at 08:00 and all-aboard is 17:30.

08:30 Walk off Pier B to Mallory Square and the north end of Duval Street before the heat builds.
09:00 Walk to the Hemingway Home (about 20 minutes) and take the 20–30-minute guided tour.
10:30 Walk or ride to the Southernmost Point for the photo.
11:15 Fort Zachary Taylor: $2.50 on foot. See the fort, then cool off by the water.
13:00 Lunch, for example at Blue Heaven.
14:30 Duval Street and Sloppy Joe's, or a narrated trolley loop.
16:00 Start back towards Pier B from Duval Street.
16:30 On board, 60 minutes before all-aboard.

What to see in Key West on a cruise day

Ernest Hemingway Home and Museum

The writer's house and garden, with guided tours and the famous six-toed cats.

⏱ 45–60 minutes$19 adult, $7 child 6–12, under-6s free (2026); 3% fee on card and mobile payments

Tip: Open daily 09:00–17:00. Tours every 15 minutes from 09:15; tickets at the main gate only, no reservations.

Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park

A historic fort inside a state park within easy reach of Old Town, with space to cool off by the water.

⏱ 1.5–2 hours with a swim$2.50 per pedestrian or cyclist, including the Monroe County surcharge (2026)

Tip: Park open 08:00 to sundown; the fort itself closes at 17:00.

Mallory Square

The waterfront square beside the cruise piers, famous for its sunset gathering with street performers.

⏱ 20–30 minutes by dayFree

Tip: Check whether sunset falls before your all-aboard; stay only if it does.

Duval Street

Old Town's main street of bars, live music and shops; Mallory Square is at its north end.

⏱ 1–2 hoursFree

Tip: Walk it early, then use side streets for shade and the conch cottages.

Southernmost Point

One of the island's best-known photo stops.

⏱ 15–30 minutesFree

Tip: Use a taxi or Key West Rides if the heat makes the walk hard.

Old Town Trolley or Conch Tour Train

Narrated loops of Old Town for anyone who prefers not to walk in the heat.

⏱ Varies by tourCheck current prices

Tip: The trolley is hop-on, hop-off, so you can use it as transport between sights.

Beaches near Key West cruise port

Fort Zachary Taylor State Park

Walk, bike or taxi from Pier B · A short taxi ride · $2.50 on foot or by bike (2026)

Combine with a visit to the fort.

Higgs Beach

Taxi, bike or Key West Rides · A short ride across the island · Free

A public beach outside Old Town.

Smathers Beach

Taxi or Key West Rides · A short ride · Free

A public beach outside Old Town; take a ride rather than walking in the heat.

What to eat in Key West

Brunch in a garden courtyard
Blue Heaven, Old Town
Cold beer with live music
Sloppy Joe's Bar, Duval Street
Conch fritters, Cuban sandwiches and key lime pie
Food vendors and waterfront restaurants around Mallory Square

Ship excursion or do it yourself?

Varies by line

Ship excursion avg, per person

$21.5

DIY day avg, per person

Depends on line

Saving, per person

Ship tour prices differ by cruise line and change often, so we only show ones we could verify. Check your line's cruise planner.

Item	Ship tour	On your own	Saving
Hemingway Home	Varies by line; check your cruise planner	$19 adult at the gate (2026), about 20 min walk	Most of the tour price
Fort Zachary Taylor	Varies by line; check your cruise planner	$2.50 on foot or by bike (2026)	Most of the tour price

For Old Town, the Hemingway Home and Fort Zachary Taylor you do not need a ship's tour: everything is walkable and tickets are sold at the gate. A ship's trip earns its price for snorkelling or diving on the reef or the Vandenberg wreck, where the boat operator has to fit your return time, and for anyone who cannot walk far in heat. The narrated trolley or Conch Tour Train can be bought locally.

Common mistakes cruise passengers make in Key West

Planning to watch the Mallory Square sunset.

Instead: Check your all-aboard time first. Many ships sail before sunset.

Waiting for the Duval Loop bus.

Instead: It was suspended in January 2026. Walk, or book the Key West Rides on-demand bus in its app.

Walking to the beaches at midday in summer.

Instead: Take a taxi or ride for Smathers and Higgs, and carry water.

Renting a scooter with no riding experience.

Instead: Streets are narrow and busy with cars, trolleys and golf carts. Walk or rent a bike.

Staying on Duval Street until the last minute.

Instead: Leave Old Town 80 minutes before all-aboard; Pier B is close, but heat and storms slow you down.

Safety: is Key West safe for cruise passengers?

Key West is a low-risk port for visitors. The main hazards are heat and sun, summer thunderstorms, and traffic on narrow streets shared with scooters, bikes and golf carts. October and November still fall in hurricane season, so watch the forecast; ships may change itinerary. Duval Street is busy with bars, so keep an eye on belongings in crowds and drink sensibly in the heat.

Emergency number: 911

Practical information

Crowds

The city keeps a one-ship-a-day policy, so you rarely share the town with several ships' passengers at once. Go to the Hemingway Home and the Southernmost Point early, when queues are shortest, and leave Duval Street for the afternoon.

Accessibility

All three piers are described as wheelchair-friendly, and Old Town is flat. The Key West Rides on-demand buses are ADA accessible; choose the wheelchair option when booking. Ask at the Hemingway Home gate about access before buying a ticket.

If it rains

Shelter in the Hemingway Home, the bars and shops of Duval Street, or take the covered trolley tour. Use a taxi or Key West Rides rather than waiting in the rain.

Money, language, time

Currency: USD · Language: English · Time zone: EST (UTC−5), EDT (UTC−4) in summer

Your whole cruise, planned like this

This is one port. Pro plans every port on your cruise.

The day plan above assumes a 17:30 all-aboard. Your ship's times will differ, and so will every other stop. Pro builds the plan from your ship's real times: a timed day in Key West and every other port, a leave-by time for each stop, and a Plan B if you run late. Ultimate adds a live leave-by countdown from where you are on the day. Every plan uses the same checked facts as this guide. Nothing is made up.

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