Lesson 3 of 5
Pick a home port to start from
Choose the port that is easy to reach, then see what connects there.
Video, 6 min: Best Port for Back-to-Back Cruises? I Checked All 30. Free, on our YouTube channel.
The port decides more than you think
A back-to-back needs ships that stay put, routes that change from week to week, and enough sailings to line up. A few home ports do this very well, and we keep a page for each of the 26 we track.
Where most people start
- Miami: the busiest. Many large ships, alternating routes, sailings every week.
- Fort Lauderdale: much the same, with more 6-night and 8-night weeks mixed in.
- Galveston: a drive-to port for much of Texas and the middle of the country.
- Port Canaveral: home of the longest run we found, 42 legs on one ship.
On the West Coast, Los Angeles has Mexican Riviera trips, and Seattle and Vancouver open up Alaska in summer.
Our tip: skip the flight if you can
On a three-week trip, airfare and a hotel the night before can cost more than the cruise fare itself. A port you can drive to, or reach on a short direct flight, often wins over a port with a slightly better ship.
How to choose, in two questions
- Can I get there easily, and home again?
- Does something connect there on the dates I can go?
The second question is the one a computer answers best. On our back-to-back page, pick your port and you see every trip that connects, with the nights and the fare added up.
Read more in the best home ports for back-to-back cruises. Next lesson: the day in the middle.
In short: Start with a port you can reach without a flight, and one with plenty of sailings.
Find a back-to-back for your port
Pick a home port and dates, and legtolegcruises.com lists the trips that connect, leg by leg. It is free.
Find legs for free ›The legtolegcruises.com lessons are independent and not affiliated with Royal Caribbean International or Club Royale. Fares, offers and rules change often, so confirm every detail with Royal Caribbean before you book.