cruising

Located on the Northeast Coast of Florida Jacksonville has quickly become a hotspot for visitors seeking an affordable and easily accessible cruise to the Caribbean.

The Carnival Fascination sets sail from Jacksonville for four- and five-day itineraries to Key West and the Bahamas. Located at the crossroads of Interstate 95 and Interstate 10, Jacksonville is within easy driving distance for cruisers in the Southeast. The Jacksonville International Airport also provides convenient access for cruisers, with more than 100 direct flights daily.

Jacksonville offers numerous options for pre- and post-cruise excursions, many of which are located close to the cruise terminal. A few that are within minutes of the JAXPORT Cruise Terminal include:

The Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens has more than 1,500 animals and 1,000 species of plants and is a top-rated area attraction. Be sure to see The Range of the Jaguar, a two-time national award-winning South American exhibit, which also pays homage to Jacksonville’s NFL team. Two new exhibits include Tuxedo Coast, displaying warm-weather penguins and Asia Bamboo Gardens and Komodo Dragon exhibit.

Jacksonville’s Budweiser Brewery Tours offers complementary tours Monday through Saturday with tastings following the tour for guest 21 years of age or older. The brewery also offers The Beermaster Tour, a recently introduced, small, private tour that takes guests into never-before-seen areas of the brew house, lager cellar, packaging facility and finishing cellar.

Jacksonville boasts the largest urban park system in the country with more than 111,000 acres of city, state and national parks. The 46,000-acre Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve was established to protect one of the last unspoiled coastal wetlands on the Atlantic Coast and to preserve historic and prehistoric sites. The estuarine ecosystem includes salt marsh, coastal dunes and hardwood hammocks, all rich in native vegetation and animal life. There are many state and city parks close to the cruise terminal for a little adventure pre- or post-cruise.

Located within the Preserve on Fort George Island is Kingsley Plantation. Built in 1798, this irreplaceable historic structure is the oldest plantation house remaining in Florida. Visitors to the plantation can find remarkably preserved slave quarters, barn, plantation house, kitchen house and interpretive garden all located on the waterfront. The plantation house recently re-opened for tours after being closed for several years due to refurbishing.

Take advantage of these nearby attractions and other great offerings in Northeast Florida by extending your stay in Jacksonville. Learn about special cruise packages offered in Jacksonville today.