As more people avoid airline travel in favor of saving money and enjoying a ?staycation? near their hometown, cruise line operators are finding new ways to entice travelers to continue on with their cruise travel plans. Drive-up ports make it easier to hop on board a cruise ship without having to pay for a flight; these ports are located in key points along the coast, allowing travelers to check into their cruise ship directly from the shore. No flights from the departure city necessary.
Drive up ports also provide parking options to leave the car at the terminal for the course of the trip, and are a convenient, cost-effective alternative for travelers who want to go on a cruise without the extra costs of getting to the departure destination. Some of the key ports and terminal cruise facilities include:
Seattle, Washington: With cruise lines including Princess, Celebrity, Norwegian and Royal Caribbean cruise lines, this port city offers plenty of parking space and several hotels within walking distance of the port. Visitors can also enjoy a number of area tourist attractions and events hosted in the downtown area.
Galveston, Texas: Both the Royal Caribbean and Carnival cruise lines depart from this port city, and the area offers plenty to see and do during ?downtime? of the trip. This port also offers low-cost parking facilities, and some local hotels offer free long-term parking for cruise travelers.
Bayonne, New Jersey: Hosting both Celebrity and Royal Caribbean cruise lines, this port city is open for year-round departures and is a convenient location for New York travelers. Parking at this port costs $15 per day, which is a savings for many travelers who typically park in New York's airports. Area hotels also offer free parking for guests, and there are several attractions ? including the Manhattan skyline ? within a short drive from the city.
According to recent reports about Carnival Cruise lines, Baltimore will become another port city by 2009. Baltimore is currently a port city destination for Norweigan Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean.