--- title: "Charleston Cruise Port" url: https://cruisello.com/destinations/us-canada-east-coast/charleston description: "Antebellum elegance and Lowcountry charm" --- # Charleston πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ Β· United States Β· US & Canada East Coast > "Antebellum elegance and Lowcountry charm" ## At a Glance ## About Charleston Charleston's cruise terminal sits in the middle of the historic district, so you can be walking cobblestone streets within minutes of stepping off the ship. Pastel antebellum houses line The Battery waterfront, horse-drawn carriages share the road with bicycles, and gas lamps still burn on many blocks. The Charleston City Market stretches four blocks and is where Gullah artisans weave sweetgrass baskets using techniques passed down through generations. Fort Sumter, where the Civil War's first shots were fired, is a short ferry ride across the harbour. Middleton Place offers formal gardens and a working plantation dating to the 1740s. The food alone is worth the stop: shrimp and grits, she-crab soup, and fried green tomatoes are on menus across the historic quarter. King Street is the shopping corridor for boutiques, while Market Street leans toward local crafts and souvenirs. The city is compact and flat, so most things are walkable. Sweet tea and local peach wine are the drinks to try. ## Quick Facts - **Currency:** USD (US Dollar) - **Language:** English - **Timezone:** America/New_York (UTC-4) - **Tipping:** 15-20% expected at restaurants, bars, taxis ## Location Coordinates: 32.7814, -79.9233 - [Open in Google Maps](https://www.google.com/maps/search/cruise+terminal+Charleston/@32.78138,-79.92329,13z) - [Open in Apple Maps](https://maps.apple.com/?q=cruise%20terminal%20Charleston&ll=32.78138,-79.92329&z=13) ## Things to Do in Charleston | Tour | Rating | Duration | Fits Port Day | From | Provider | |------|------|------|------|------|------| | [Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/a2fe88e7-c1d8-4d4b-88ae-a4594655c9ca.md?via=markdown) | 4.9β˜… (7,024) | 2h | – | €27 | Viator | | [Hidden Alleyways and Historic Sites Small-Group Walking Tour](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/26493795-657f-4402-bc7a-37a53016efe7.md?via=markdown) | 4.9β˜… (2,695) | 2h | – | €31 | Viator | | [Charleston Eco Boat Cruise with stop at Morris Island Lighthouse](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/c246f1ec-b2c3-4712-afa7-6f84ed3b4f22.md?via=markdown) | 4.9β˜… (2,390) | 2h 30m | – | €51 | Viator | | [Highlights of Charleston Guided Walking Tour](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/5eae06d4-10b5-49fe-9bb1-cac5c014372b.md?via=markdown) | 4.9β˜… (2,306) | 2h | – | €24 | Viator | | [Charleston French Quarter or Brunch Food Tour with 7+ Tastings](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/deaa881a-45a5-4e25-84df-7ccc55634200.md?via=markdown) | 4.9β˜… (2,417) | 3h | – | €80 | Viator | | [Charleston historical walking tour with a Professor of History at The Citadel](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/6f7e9428-ec5d-4824-bd9a-995ea1985578.md?via=markdown) | 5β˜… (1,518) | 3h | – | €36 | Viator | | [Charleston Haunted Booze and Boos Ghost Walking Tour](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/2b4181ed-9842-4327-9617-4652bb43e362.md?via=markdown) | 4.9β˜… (1,635) | 2h 30m | – | €36 | Viator | | [Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/f49d9638-6256-4fb3-b81f-7766f55b5cca.md?via=markdown) | 5β˜… (1,003) | 4h | – | €227 | Viator | | [2-Hour Guided Kayak Eco Tour in Charleston](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/1b05695a-4a7c-4bf1-93a8-1636704d58bf.md?via=markdown) | 4.9β˜… (1,031) | 2h | – | €49 | Viator | | [Real Hauntings of Charleston! (Small Group Ghost Tour)](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/4cfa1826-dd7f-4534-9c7e-b521b406f120.md?via=markdown) | 4.9β˜… (1,009) | 1h 30m | – | €29 | Viator | | [Historic Charleston Walking Tour: Rainbow Row, Churches, and More](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/f8a79aa4-ae92-4165-b841-567d541e0d9e.md?via=markdown) | 4.9β˜… (731) | 2h | – | €37 | Viator | | [City of the Dead The Dark Hauntings of Charleston](https://cruisello.com/gogogo/excursion/542d3614-2129-47f7-b113-244db8e3f76c.md?via=markdown) | 4.9β˜… (625) | 1h 30m | – | €29 | Viator | Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews. ## Nearby Ports - [Jacksonville](https://cruisello.com/destinations/us-canada-east-coast/jacksonville.md): 166 nm - [Port Canaveral](https://cruisello.com/destinations/us-canada-east-coast/port-canaveral.md): 265 nm - [Norfolk](https://cruisello.com/destinations/us-canada-east-coast/norfolk.md): 303 nm ## Browse Cruises ## Browse - [US & Canada East Coast cruises](https://cruisello.com/destinations/us-canada-east-coast.md) - [All Destinations](https://cruisello.com/destinations.md) - [All Cruises](https://cruisello.com/cruises.md)