Charleston Cruise Port Guide

No longer a homeport: Carnival's last sailing from Charleston left in January 2025, Union Pier closed to cruise ships in June 2026, and visiting ships now dock at the Columbus Street Terminal. South Carolina, US.

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Union Pier, the downtown cruise terminal a few blocks from Rainbow Row, was sold to developers in 2024 for a mix of shops, homes and public space. Norwegian Jewel made the last passenger call there on June 30, 2026.

Charleston International Airport is about 12 miles from downtown, a 20-25 minute drive.

Where cruise ships dock in Charleston now

Ships calling at Charleston now tie up at the Columbus Street Terminal, a cargo and roll-on/roll-off terminal in an industrial area just north of the old Union Pier. It is scheduled to host a series of port-of-call visits through 2026 and 2027. Oceania's Vista was the first ship to use the new berth, on July 4, 2026. Hapag-Lloyd's Europa 2, Viking Octantis and Scenic Eclipse are among the ships booked to follow.

These are day visits by smaller premium, luxury and expedition ships. None begins or ends a cruise in Charleston.

The end of cruises from Charleston

Carnival homeported ships at Union Pier for nearly 15 years, sailing to the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Its last Charleston departure was Carnival Sunshine's New Year's cruise to the Bahamas, which returned on January 4, 2025. Carnival now runs its Mid-Atlantic sailings from a homeport in Norfolk, Virginia.

Travellers from South Carolina who want to start a cruise nearby now drive to Jacksonville, Florida, where Carnival Elation sails year-round, or north to Norfolk or Baltimore.

Sources, checked September 2026: Cruise Industry News, July 2026; SC Daily Gazette, June 30, 2026; SC Ports Authority, Columbus Street Terminal.

Charleston map

A sourced sailing schedule for Charleston isn't published on this site yet. We add a port's schedule once we have one pulled from an official or reliable source, rather than estimate one. Check upcoming sailings for the ports we do cover, or see the full ports index.

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Frequently asked questions

Is there a published cruise schedule for Charleston?

Not yet on this site. We only publish a sailing schedule once we have an official one, from the port authority or the agency that books its berths. No longer a homeport: Carnival's last sailing from Charleston left in January 2025, Union Pier closed to cruise ships in June 2026, and visiting ships now dock at the Columbus Street Terminal.

Do cruises still leave from Charleston, SC?

No. Carnival ended its Charleston homeport in January 2025, and the Union Pier terminal closed to cruise ships on June 30, 2026. Charleston now gets only port-of-call visits.

Where do cruise ships dock in Charleston now?

At the Columbus Street Terminal, a cargo terminal just north of the old Union Pier, which is scheduled to host visiting ships through 2026 and 2027.

What was the last cruise ship at Union Pier?

Norwegian Jewel, on June 30, 2026. Oceania Vista then became the first ship at the Columbus Street Terminal, on July 4, 2026.

What is the closest cruise port to Charleston?

Jacksonville, Florida, where Carnival Elation sails year-round to the Bahamas. Norfolk and Baltimore are the nearest homeports to the north.

Sailing soon? Our cruise packing list covers what to bring, port by port.