End of a Cruising Era in Charleston, S.C.

Residents of Charleston, S.C. will finally get what they’ve been asking for in the new year: no more big cruise ships embarking in their city.

First announced in 2022, Carnival Cruise Line’s contract for the city officially expires at the start of 2025. The line’s last roundtrip cruise from the city will depart Dec. 30, 2024, arriving back on Jan. 4, 2025.

Though big-ship cruises will no longer begin or end in Charleston, cruise lines will continue to use the city as a port of call on select itineraries. Vision of the Seas, for instance, is scheduled to stop in Charleston on Jan. 18, 2025. Other cruise lines with Charleston included in their itineraries are Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Virgin Voyages. (Only ships under 3,500 passengers are permitted to dock in Charleston.)

American Cruise Line, which operates much smaller coastal ships, will be the only cruise line left starting and ending sailings in Charleston.

To continue to be able to offer a drive-to embarkation port to cruisers in nearby states, Carnival will reposition Carnival Sunshine to Norfolk, Va.