Charleston
South Carolina, US
Port Report Card
Port Stats
The Tea
Charleston's Union Pier Terminal is tiny but charming, much like the city itself. With just one berth, it handles far fewer passengers than the Florida mega-ports — and that's exactly the point. Embarkation here feels civilized, almost quaint.
The port is walking distance from the historic district, which is one of the most beautiful areas in America. King Street shopping, Rainbow Row, incredible restaurants — all within a 15-minute walk. Parking at $15/day is reasonable, and CHS airport is a quick ride away.
The tea: Charleston is the luxury cruise port hiding in plain sight. The demographics here skew older and wealthier, and the pre-cruise hotel options are gorgeous. The downside? Very limited sailings — mainly Carnival, with seasonal Celebrity and others. But if you can make the schedule work, the overall experience is top-tier.
Weather by Month
| Month | Avg Temp | Rain Days | Good Weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 51°F | 4 | 87% |
| Feb | 53°F | 4 | 86% |
| Mar | 61°F | 9 | 71% |
| Apr | 66°F | 4 | 87% |
| May | 74°F | 11 | 65% |
| Jun | 80°F | 7 | 77% |
| Jul | 82°F | 17 | 45% |
| Aug | 79°F | 13 | 58% |
| Sep | 76°F | 9 | 70% |
| Oct | 68°F | 1 | 97% |
| Nov | 63°F | 7 | 77% |
| Dec | 52°F | 4 | 87% |
Day-in-Port Budget
| Item | Budget | Mid-Range | Splurge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lunch | $— | $— | $— |
| Drinks (2) | $— | $— | $— |
| Taxi to King Street | $— | $— | $— |
| Excursion | $— | $— | $— |
| Souvenirs | $— | $— | $— |
Charleston on the Cruise Schedule
None of the sailings in our schedule data list Charleston as a departure port or a port of call yet. Our schedules come from the ships we track, and most itineraries are published without their full list of stops, so this reflects a gap in the data rather than a port no ship visits. We will list ships here as soon as a scheduled sailing names it.
More US Atlantic Cruise Ports
Explore CDC inspection scores and outbreak data for every cruise ship that sails from Charleston.