Local Attractions
Join the Florida Keys’ sun-drenched circus on your cruise to Key West. Stroll Old Town, home to gingerbread houses wrapped in picket fences. Take to the sparkling seas on a fishing, diving, or snorkeling cruise, or park yourself on a beat-up barstool in an old-time saloon. In no time you’ll see why artists and writers have flocked here for generations.
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Take a tour of President Truman’s vacation home, the Little White House.
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See the descendants of Hemingway’s six-toed cats in his lush backyard.
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Sample fresh seafood and local conch in a dockside raw bar.
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Take a ride on a trolley through the colorful streets of Key West.
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Watch the sun melt into the Gulf of Mexico at Mallory Square.
Fun Facts
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Some 42 bridges connect Key West to the mainland.
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In 1985, treasure hunters plucked more than $450 million in gold and artifacts from the Nuestra Señora de Atocha that sailed in 1622. You can see the haul at the Mel Fisher Maritime Heritage Museum near the docks.
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Playwright Tennessee Williams lived in Key West in the 1940s and owned a house at 1431 Duncan Street.
Within Walking Distance
Most attractions in Key West, Florida, are in good proximity to the cruise docks. Take the Conch Tour Train from Mallory Square for a 90-minute tour of the island. For hop-on, hop-off flexibility, the Old Town Trolley lets you explore on your own. The Harry S. Truman Little White House served as Truman’s vacation home during his presidency and remains just as he left it—decorated in late-1940s style. From 1931 to 1939, “Papa” Hemingway lived at the Hemingway Home and completed For Whom the Bell Tolls and A Farewell to Arms in the sun-filled studio annex. Hemingway had some 60 polydactyl (many-toed) cats, whose descendants still live on the grounds.
The Audubon House and Tropical Garden is dedicated to the 1832 Key West sojourn of naturalist John James Audubon. Although the famous bird watcher never lived in this building, it’s filled with his engravings. Visit to see how wealthy sailors lived in Key West in the 19th century, and to admire the lush tropical gardens. Nancy Forrester’s Secret Garden is the most lavish and verdant garden in Key West, dense with orchids, climbing vines, and palms.
Beaches and Water Activities In Key West
The best and closest beach to the Key West cruise docks is Fort Zachary Taylor State Beach, a 12-minute walk away. To get here, go through the gates leading into the Truman Annex, site of the Little White House. The waters off the Florida Keys are some of the world’s finest fishing grounds. Follow in Hemingway’s wake—Papa was an avid fisherman—aboard a deep-sea fishing charter and live out your own fish tale.
Or, join the fish in their underwater world on a snorkel or scuba dive trip from the docks on a Carnival cruise to Key West. The waters off the Florida Keys are some of the world’s finest fishing grounds. Follow in Hemingway’s wake—Papa was an avid fisherman—aboard a deep-sea fishing charter and live out your own fish tale. Or, join the fish in their underwater world on a snorkel or scuba dive trip from the docks on a Carnival cruise to Key West.
Dining in Key West
When your Carnival cruise to Key West is in port, pull up a seat at one of the lively open-air raw bars near the dock area. Conch is king here—grilled, made into chowder, fried in batter as fritters, or served raw in a salad. Another local specialty is key lime pie. Grab a fresh-baked slice at the Key Lime Pie Company on Duval Street. Key West is reputedly home to more bars per capita than anywhere else in the USA. Captain Tony’s Saloon is the oldest active bar in Florida. The 1851 building was the original Sloppy Joe’s, a rough-and-tumble fishermen’s saloon and a favorite of Hemingway. Jimmy Buffett hung out here before he opened his eponymous bar and went on to fame and fortune.
Head to Mallory Square at sunset, when jugglers, street performers, and bands create a festive scene for celebrating the end of the day. Key West is reputedly home to more bars per capita than anywhere else in the USA. Captain Tony’s Saloon is the oldest active bar in Florida. The 1851 building was the original Sloppy Joe’s, a rough-and-tumble fishermen’s saloon and a favorite of Hemingway. Jimmy Buffett hung out here before he opened his eponymous bar and went on to fame and fortune. Head to Mallory Square at sunset, when jugglers, street performers, and bands create a festive scene for celebrating the end of the day.
Shopping in Key West
Shops in the buzzing 12-block radius of Mallory Square specialize in Key West kitsch like flamingo snow globes, lobster-shaped wine-bottle holders, and seashells from the seashore. As you move farther along Duval Street from Mallory, you’ll notice the shops get more and more stylish.
Travel Tips
- English is the official language.
- U.S. dollars are the national currency.
- Key West, Florida enjoys a warm, tropical climate, with plenty of sunshine and humidity.
- Key West cruises dock at Mallory Square, at the nearby Hilton Resort’s Pier B, and at the U.S. Navy base’s “Outer Mole” pier. Passengers arriving at the Navy pier must take an official shuttle bus to and from Mallory Square, as individuals are not permitted in the naval base.
- Key West is only 4 miles long and 2 miles wide. Most attractions are within an easy stroll of Mallory Square.
