Boston's Flynn (Black Falcon) Cruise Terminal (also known as "CruisePort") welcomes almost half a million passengers a year between April and November, even though Boston may not be the first place you think about as a departure point when you start planning your cruise vacation.
But the combination of an appealing variety of cruise ships and destinations, a super-convenient port in one of the city's trendiest neighborhoods, and easy access via public transportation to the rest of the city has led to impressive year-over-year increases in number of cruise ship departures and arrivals.
Whether you're stopping in Boston for a one-day Port of Call visit during your vacation cruise, or departing or arriving on a cruise from Boston to Bermuda, the Caribbean, New England/Canada, or Europe, you'll appreciate Cruiseport Boston's convenient location.
Unlike many other cruise terminals located far from the closest town or city where you have to be bused in to even reach tourist shops, our Cruiseport's location puts you in Boston's South Boston Waterfront neighborhood (also called Seaport) where you'll find a rich assortment of shopping, dining, and entertainment destinations plus even a couple of our much-loved local breweries.
If you want to explore even farther, several popular shore excursion tours take you to the most famous places in and near Boston, including Revolutionary War sites in Lexington and Concord.
So whether you're here for just a few hours or a couple of days at the beginning or end of your cruise, you'll have a great opportunity to experience authentic Boston life, if only for a short time.
Top photo: Departure gates at Boston's Cruise Terminal, (c) Boston Discovery Guide
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Did you know . . .
Boston has the oldest continuously operated port in the Western Hemisphere.
Transportation between Boston Logan Airport & CruisePort
The fastest way to get from Logan Airport to Cruiseport is by water taxi - about an 8-minute trip. This is also the most scenic way of getting here.
If you need to store your luggage for the day, choose the Rowes Wharf Water Taxi, will store it for free in their locked baggage room (check the details here) so that you can enjoy your time in Boston before your cruise.
More about this and other luggage storage options
When you're ready to return to your cruise ship, all you need to do is head back to Rowes Wharf, retrieve your bags, and hop on another water taxi to Boston's Cruise Terminal.
You can also take an Uber or land taxi, although this will take longer - perhaps 10-15 minutes, if you don't hit any traffic snarls. Fares from Logan to Cruiseport depend on the amount of traffic congestion (never predictable here in Boston) and run about $20-$30, plus tip.
Another option is to take MBTA's Silver Line SL1 bus for free from the airport to South Station (more about that here), store your luggage at South Station for the day, and then take the subway to the Cruise Terminal from South Station on the SL2 bus. Definitely a cheaper option - but the "cost" is that you'll need to be able to manage your own luggage.
Getting Around from Cruiseport
To get to the heart of the South Boston Waterfront neighborhood by public transportation, you can hop onto the Silver Line bus (considered part of the Boston subway system, since it uses underground tunnels at times) right outside Cruiseport. You can pay the bus fare as you board - you'll need exact change. Check the MBTA website to get the current fare: www.mbta.com/fares_and_passes/bus
When you return to the cruise terminal, be sure to take the SL2 bus, as it is the one that comes back to the port.
The Silver Line makes several stops in the South Boston Waterfront neighborhood, where restaurants, hotels, a brewery (yes, you can tour and taste), museums, a concert pavilion, shops, and spectacular water views will provide you with plenty of sightseeing opportunities.
More about what to see and do near CruisePort in the South Boston Waterfront.
If you want to explore this area, get off at the centrally-located World Trade Center stop. You can even walk over to Fish Pier and watch fresh catch being unloaded right at the dock.
Rather than take the bus to this area, you can also walk. The distance is short - perhaps half a mile, depending on which way you go. If you decide to do this, print out the map at the bottom of this page, as the streets are not very well marked and wind around a bit. The area seems rather industrial until suddenly, all of the boutiques, restaurants, museums, and hotels appear in front of you.
Alternately, you can take a water taxi to other points along Boston Harbor if you want to visit Faneuil Marketplace on the Freedom Trail, Charlestown (Bunker Hill, USS Constitution), or the picturesque North End.
More information about water taxis.
Shore Excursions and Other Tours
If you book your cruise through a travel agent or directly through the cruise line, you may have been offered the opportunity to add on shore excursions and tours - sometimes for a hefty price.
Did you know that you can also book Boston shore excursions directly yourself, possibly saving money and having better choices?
For example, you can find Boston shore excursions that let you:
- Explore Boston's top attractions at your leisure on a hop-on, hop-off trolley that you board just outside the cruise terminal?
- Follow Paul Revere's path through Cambridge, Concord, and Lexington, and see famous American Revolution sites
More Fun Ways to Experience Boston
More Attractions near the Cruise Terminal
From the World Trade Center area, you can continue on the bus for another mile or so (another 5-7 minutes, depending on traffic), and you'll reach South Station in Downtown Boston. From here, you can either walk or take the T (subway) to many of our famous historical and popular sites.
Alternately, on Port of Call days, the Beantown Hop On Hop Off Trolley provides frequent shuttle service to several of the city's most popular destinations, including Faneuil Hall Marketplace, the New England Aquarium, and Copley Square in Back Bay.
If you plan to visit several museums or other destinations, getting a Boston Discount Card will save you money and even more important, time. The cards let you go straight to the front of most lines, and enter free of charge.
Essentials: Boston's Cruise Port
Location: One Black Falcon Avenue, South Boston Waterfront - need directions? See the following section
Park & Cruise: 5-level indoor paid parking garage as 12 Drydock Ave - you'll spot it easily. Ticketed passengers get a special reduced daily rate.
Stay near CruisePort: South Boston Waterfront Hotels
Go into Boston:
- By "T" (subway) - Take the Silver Line 2 (actually a bus) from the pick-up point by the terminal to South Station; returning, be sure you take the SL 2 bus
- Hop On Hop Off Beantown Trolley - Departs from nearby Seaport. Get your tickets online before you leave home.
Getting to Flynn Cruiseport
The easiest and fastest way to get the Cruise Terminal (you may also see it called "CruisePort") from Boston Logan Airport is by water taxi.
You'll see signs for the water taxis at the airport. Follow the signs, and let the water taxi dispatcher know that you want to go to the Cruise Terminal. It's a very short ride - less that 10 minutes - but have your camera or phone handy as you can get some terrific shots of downtown Boston.
As for hotels, the Westin Boston Waterfront hotel is the closest to the CruisePort (about half a mile, or a 10 minute walk, assuming you can manage your luggage yourself). Just a little farther (500-600 feet) are the Seaport Hotel, Renaissance Boston Waterfront, Aloft Boston Seaport, and Element Boston Seaport.
However, if you are coming directly from Logan Airport to your hotel, the Seaport Hotel is the most convenient because there is a water taxi stop across the street (tell the dispatcher you're going to the Seaport). The Seaport Hotel also has a Silver Line "T" stop right across the street. You can take the Silver Line to the Cruiseport terminal, and also to/from the airport instead of a water taxi, if you feel so inclined.
Map Showing Cruiseport Boston and Nearby Attractions in the South Boston Waterfront
This map shows the cruise port and nearby attractions:
Want to Stay near Cruiseport?
Here is a hotel map from Booking.com showing all the hotels in the vicinity of the Cruise terminal. Just enter your dates, and you can see availability and rates:
Although all of the hotels in this area offer good dining options, the waterfront along Boston Harbor is lined with some of the city's top restaurants.
You can easily reach the Freedom Trail on foot from the hotels near the CruisePort, or hop on the Silver Line to South Station, change to the Red Line, and exit at the Park Street on Boston Common where the Freedom Trail begins. The popular Freedom Trail tours with costumed guides also begins at the Common.
Questions and Answers about Boston's Cruiseport
Transportation from Cruiseport to Boston Logan Airport
Find out about the best transportation options, especially if you have lots of bags
Getting from Logan Airport to Cruiseport, storing luggage, and seeing Boston
I was wondering if you could offer some suggestions for us because we're traveling as a group of 16 (extended family). We are arriving at Logan on Saturday morning . . .
Getting from the cruise Terminal to Faneuil Hall Marketplace
We're coming to Boston for the day for a Port of Call visit. What's the best way to get to Faneuil Hall? Is there a shuttle? What else should we consider doing?
Find out more about Seabourn Sojourn cruises to Canada from Boston
More Fun Ways to Experience Boston
Related Boston Cruise & Sightseeing Articles
- Where to store your luggage - This is our most frequently-received question about Boston's Cruise Port
- Top Boston attractions Don't miss Boston's famous sights!
- Use this map to get an overview of the city - See the South Boston Waterfront location
Need a Boston Hotel or Apartment?
Use this handy map from Booking.com to find the perfect place to stay. Just enter your dates to find what's available, see the best rates, and make your reservations.
Booking.com
