⚓ Polka Dots N' Wishes Travel ← All guides

Before you ever step aboard

Departure Port Guides

The three questions I hear most before a cruise: How much is parking? How do I actually park? And where should I stay the night before? Each guide below answers all three — clearly, for that specific port — so getting to your ship is the easiest part of the trip.

🚗 Parking rates & how-to 🏨 Where to stay the night before 🚦 Terminals & drop-off

Pick your port

Where does your cruise leave from?

Tap your departure port for a plain-English rundown on parking, drop-off, and the smartest place to spend the night before you sail. Don't see yours yet? Just message me — I'll walk you through it personally.

Port of Miami Miami Florida

Port of Miami

The world's busiest cruise port. Garage parking at every terminal, plus the best pre-cruise hotel picks.

View guide ➔
Port Canaveral Port Canaveral Florida

Port Canaveral

Terminals CT1–CT10, the A-side/B-side split, launch-day traffic tips, and where to park.

View guide ➔
Port of Seattle Seattle Washington

Port of Seattle

Pier 91 vs Pier 66, Port Valet luggage service, parking rates, and embarkation timing.

View guide ➔
Port Everglades Fort Lauderdale Florida

Port Everglades

Fort Lauderdale's port — two garages, 5,500+ spaces, and the airport just minutes away.

View guide ➔
Port Tampa Bay Tampa Florida

Port Tampa Bay

Compact, easy-to-navigate terminals with garage parking right beside the ships.

Coming soon ➔
Port of Galveston Galveston Texas

Port of Galveston

Texas's busiest cruise port — cashless lots, on-site and off-site options, and shuttle tips.

Coming soon ➔
Port of New Orleans New Orleans Louisiana

Port of New Orleans

Covered garage parking downtown, walkable to the French Quarter for a pre-cruise night out.

Coming soon ➔
Cape Liberty Cape Liberty New Jersey

Cape Liberty (Bayonne)

The NYC-area port with skyline views — secure garage parking and easy interstate access.

Coming soon ➔
Manhattan Cruise Terminal New York City New York

Manhattan & Brooklyn

Two terminals, city parking rates, and how to decide between the West Side and Red Hook.

Coming soon ➔
Port of Baltimore Baltimore Maryland

Port of Baltimore

Flat-rate covered parking right at the terminal, minutes from I-95 — one of the easiest drives.

Coming soon ➔
Norfolk cruise terminal Norfolk Virginia

Port of Norfolk

The Half Moone terminal downtown — simple parking right beside the ship and easy interstate access.

Coming soon ➔
Port of Los Angeles LA & Long Beach California

LA & Long Beach

San Pedro and the Long Beach dome — parking, drop-off, and picking the right terminal.

Coming soon ➔
Port of San Diego San Diego California

Port of San Diego

Downtown embarkation with walkable hotels — a favorite for a relaxed pre-cruise night.

Coming soon ➔

The smartest pre-cruise move

Stay the Night Before — Let Me Book It

Flying in the same day your ship sails is the single most common way people add stress (and risk missing the boat) to a cruise. Arriving the night before takes all that pressure off. When you're ready, I'll book your pre-cruise hotel for you — often at rates you won't find on your own, and always at no extra cost to you.

📧 Have Me Book Your Pre-Cruise Hotel

See you at the port,

Kelsey