The 8 Best Cruise Itineraries That Sail Out Of Southern Ports

Set sail from the South.

For those living in the Southern United States, some of the best cruise adventures start right in your own backyard. From the vibrant ports of Florida to the historic harbors of Louisiana and Texas, Southern ports offer easy access to popular destinations like the Caribbean, Mexico, Canada, and Central America.

Whether you're looking for a quick getaway or a longer, more luxurious voyage, setting sail from these local ports means less travel hassle and more time to enjoy the journey. Plus, with a variety of cruises to choose from, there’s something for everyone, from family-friendly trips to couples escapes.

Related: 11 Etiquette Mistakes You Might Be Making On A Cruise, According To Experts

7-Day Eastern Caribbean with St. Thomas

Cruise Line: Princess Cruises

Port: Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale)

The newest ship to call Ft. Lauderdale home is Sun Princess (the ship splits time between the Caribbean and Mediterranean Seas), and its 7-day Eastern Caribbean itinerary is the perfect blend of beach paradise (with port calls in Puerto Rico, the Bahamas, and St. Thomas) and onboard relaxation. You’ll have three full days at sea to explore the ship’s many amenities, including a shapeshifting theater that adapts to each production, reimagined Sanctuary Suites with an exclusive club, the brand’s largest-ever casino, an award-winning spa, and plenty of restaurants to choose from. Bring the kids, as there’s entertainment and dedicated spaces for tweens and little ones, too.

8-Day Mississippi Delta Explorer

Cruise Line: Viking

Port: Port of New Orleans

Fancy a river cruise with old-world charm, similar to the ones Europe is famous for? The mighty Mississippi is calling your name on this 8-day journey from New Orleans to Memphis. Along the way, you’ll take a walking tour of the French Quarter, get a taste of Cajun Country in Baton Rouge, see the grand homes of the Lower Mississippi, learn about Natchesz’s French and Acadian heritage, and visit the Vicksburg Civil War Battlefield. Dine on Southern cuisine, including Memphis’s famous barbecue, as you immerse yourself in the music found in the birthplace of rock ’n’ roll.

3-Night Bahamas & Perfect Day

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean

Port: Port Canaveral (Orlando)

Sometimes you only have a few days to get away and just want to let loose—this is precisely when to book a cruise on Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Utopia of the Seas, known as “the world’s biggest weekend.” Over the course of three action-packed nights, you’ll sail roundtrip from Orlando (Port Canaveral), visiting two stops in the Bahamas: Nassau and the line’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay. But with 21 dining venues, 23 bars, 2 casinos, 8 hot tubs, 5 swimming pools, 3 waterslides, loads of impressive musical and theatrical entertainment, and a nonstop party atmosphere onboard, we wouldn’t blame you if you never even got off the ship.

6-Day Bahamas

Cruise line: Carnival

Port: Port of Mobile

What better way to receive some Southern hospitality, than with a cruise out of Mobile, Alabama? It’s one of the country’s oldest port cities, and the cruise terminal is just blocks from the vibrant and walkable downtown district. Carnival’s six-day Bahamas itinerary includes three sea days aboard the Carnival Spirit, plus stops in Nassau and Carnival’s brand-new Celebration Key—this 65-acre Bahamian location features pools, a freshwater lagoon, white sand beach, adults-only beach club and more, and is set to open in the summer of 2025. This ship is a bit older, but still has plenty of fun features, including the trio of RedFrog® Pub, Guy’s Burger Joint, and BlueIguana Cantina™, as well as a mini golf course, waterslides, and a youth program.

7-Night Caribbean and Bahamas

Cruise line: MSC

Port: Port of Galveston

The Port of Galveston was originally established in 1825 (when the land now known as Texas still belonged to Mexico), so it’s a historic cruise option along the Gulf of Mexico. MSC—a Swiss-Italian company that’s the world’s third-largest cruise brand—sails from here, offering a few Caribbean options. The roundtrip Caribbean and Bahamas itinerary provides three glorious sea days aboard the MSC Seascape, and port calls in Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico and Roatan, Honduras. Elevate your experience by upgrading to the MSC Yacht Club, an exclusive private sanctuary onboard only accessible by keycard that includes 24/7 butler service, curated menus in a private restaurant, and a secluded pool deck.

14-Day Greenland & Canada

Cruise Line: Carnival

Port: Port of Baltimore

The Port of Baltimore offers the deepest harbor in Maryland's Chesapeake Bay and is closer to the Midwest than any other East Coast port, making it a convenient port from which to set sail. Instead of heading south to tropical islands, this roundtrip cruise heads north and east via a Carnival Journeys limited series special sailing to Greenland and Canada. Aside from plenty of sea days aboard the Carnival Pride (play pickleball, visit the spa, or buzz in for Family Feud), you’ll visit Nanortalik and Qaqortoq in Greenland, before making your way to Newfoundland and Nova Scotia.

Chefs Making Waves Culinary Cruise

Cruise Line: Norwegian Cruise Line

Port: PortMiami

Looking for a food, wine, and spirits festival at sea? Following its inaugural year success, Norwegian is bringing back Chefs Making Waves, a culinary cruise set for May 2025 from Miami to Cozumel, Mexico on the Norwegian Gem. This gastronomic experience at sea is comprised of walk-around tastings, cooking demonstrations, curated dinners, late-night parties, brunches, lunches, mixology experiences and more. It’s all led by award-winning Food Network chefs, TV personalities, cookbook authors, food activists, and restaurateurs—expect to see Richard Blais, Maneet Chauhan, Tom Colicchio, Scott Conant, Robert Irvine, Geoffrey Zakarian, and more.

21-Day Southern Caribbean Seafarer/Panama Canal Sunfarer

Port: Port Everglades (Ft. Lauderdale)

Cruise Line: Holland America

Retirees or remote workers with extra time on their hands who are yearning to explore the world beyond the Caribbean without having to book flights will find Holland America’s three-week-long Panama Canal cruises roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale enticing. Aboard the brand’s newest ship, Rotterdam, passengers will visit such islands as Curacao, Bonaire, and Aruba before moving on to Columbia, Panama, Costa Rica. and Jamaica. Cruising the Panama Canal—one of the world’s greatest engineering projects, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans—is a bucket-list experience for many cruisers. Even though this trip begins and ends in the U.S., you will need a passport to book.

Related: 20 Essential Things To Bring On A Cruise Ship

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