Did you know you can avoid expensive airfare and long waits at airports by driving to a port near you to cruise? At last count, there are 20 U.S. ports on the continent that cruise ships depart from. All three coasts boast at least four ports which may be near your home, or at least within reasonable driving distances that would save your considerably over airfare, or result in a cheaper airfare from one of the airlines that offer special rates to certain cities.

On the West coast, you can sail from Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, or San Diego and cruise to Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska or a Pacific Coastal cruise visiting wine countries along the coast. From Seattle, you can visit Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, or the Panama Canal by cruising on Celebrity, Cruise West, Holland America, NCL, Princess, or Royal Caribbean. From San Francisco, cruise to Alaska, Mexican Riviera, Hawaii, South America, Panama Canal or a short cruise to Vancouver. Celebrity, Cruise West, Holland America, NCL, Princess, Royal Caribbean, and Silversea all sail from San Francisco. From Los Angeles, you can sail to the Mexican Baja, Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal, Hawaii, Alaska, South Pacific, Vancouver, or take a number of World cruises and cruise segments on such cruise lines as Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Crystal Cruises, Holland America Line, NCL, Oceania Cruises, Princess Cruises, Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Royal Caribbean, and Seabourn. And from San Diego, you have the opportunity to visit the Mexican Baja or the Mexican Riviera, Panama Canal, South America, Hawaii, the Sea of Cortez, or Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands.

On the Gulf Coast, you can cruise from Galveston, Mobile, New Orleans or Tampa. Cruising out of Galveston, you can choose between Carnival and Royal Caribbean, and visit the Western Caribbean for 4, 5, 7 or 14 nights. From Mobile, Carnival sails to the Western Caribbean for 4 & 5 days to a variety of ports. From New Orleans, Carnival and NCL do a variety of 4, 5, and 7 night Western Caribbean cruises, and NCL sails to Boston from there through the Caribbean. Tampa has 3 cruise lines to choose from, Carnival, Holland America and Royal Caribbean. All sailings are 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 night Western Caribbean sailings, and cover many of the Western Caribbean ports of call.

From the Southeast coast, you have the standard cruise ports of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Port Canaveral, but did you also know you can cruise from Jacksonville and Charleston? Jacksonville offers 4 & 5 night cruises from Carnival to the Bahamas. Charleston has a little more variety, cruising to Bermuda and the Bahamas on Carnival and NCL.

From the Northeast, you can choose from one of six ports. Boston is home to Holland America, NCL and Royal Caribbean, with cruises to Canada/New England, East Caribbean, Bermuda, and a few transatlantic cruises to Europe. From Baltimore, you can a cruise on Carnival, NCL or Royal Caribbean to Bermuda, Canada/New England, and the Eastern Caribbean on cruises from 5 to 14 nights. The new cruise port in Bayonne, NJ, is home to Celebrity and Royal Caribbean, and will whisk you away to Bermuda, Eastern and Southern Caribbean, and Canada/New England. Right next door in New York City, you can do a one day dance cruise, a 2 day weekend getaway, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada/New England, Eastern and Southern Caribbean, Florida, and transatlantic cruises. Norfolk is home to Carnival and Royal Caribbean, and cruising from here will take you to the Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada/New England or just nowhere! Finally, Philadelphia offers cruises to Bermuda, Canada/New England and the Caribbean on NCL.

If I have missed any of the ports or cruise lines, feel free to add them in the comment section!

As you can clearly see, the high cost of gas or airplane tickets is no longer a reason not to vacation for a lot of you. Throw the family in the car, and head off to a port near you. If I can be of any help with any of these cruises, or if you just need more information on home port cruising, feel free to contact me on the blog, or by calling 888-579-8706.

Photo courtesy of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality