Living somewhat close to Boston I’m often asked, “What’s the best way to get to the cruise port in Boston?” There are several options, depending on your budget and the amount of time you have to get to the port.
Listen to this articleIf your cruise embarks from Boston’s Flynn Cruise Port, there are multiple ways to get there. Whether you’re flying into Boston and going directly to the cruise port, driving into the city, or leaving from a hotel, we have you covered with all of your alternatives.
Getting to Flynn Cruise Port
The Raymond L. Flynn Black Falcon Cruise Port in Boston is home to cruise ships operated by Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, and Holland America. It also serves as a port of call for cruises operated by Carnival, Celebrity, Cunard, Disney, MSC, Oceania, P&O, Ponant, Princess, Regent Seven Seas, Scenic, Seabourn, Silversea, Viking Ocean, Windstar, and German lines AIDA, Phoenix Reisen, and TUI.
Flynn Cruise Port is located at 1 Black Falcon Avenue, Boston. Situated in South Boston’s Seaport district, it’s just a ten-minute drive from Logan International Airport.
Related post: 10 Scenic Ports You Can Visit on a Canada and New England Cruise
Parking at Flynn Cruise Port
If you live locally and are planning to drive in, parking at Boston’s cruise port is convenient, but expensive!
Parking at the terminal is $25 per day if paid in advance, and $30 per day if you pay on site.
If you decide to park at the cruise port, d
A complimentary shuttle is available from 406 Summer St. to the cruise terminal.
The Massport website has detailed information on directions to the lot, parking, and advance payment.
Should I take the cruise line’s transfer service to and from the cruise port?
If you’re flying into Logan Airport the morning of your cruise, it may be tempting to pre-pay for a transfer from the cruise line. A cruise line representative will meet you at baggage claim, and take you to a coach that will bring you to the cruise port. For some people, this makes sense. However, it’s usually cheaper (and sometimes more convenient) to arrange your own transportation.
Often, you will have to wait until the coach is ready to leave. Not everyone who is taking that coach is on the same flight as you, and it wouldn’t be cost-effective for the coach to make a trip to the cruise port every time a small group of passengers arrives.
If you’re flying out of Boston the afternoon or evening that your cruise disembarks, a cruise line transfer will allow you to store your luggage while you sightsee. However, you do have other options, including storing your suitcases at South Station, or taking advantage of a luggage storage option when you use a water taxi (keep reading to find out how to do this).
New to cruising? Check out my Tips for New Cruisers archive!
Taking public transportation to Flynn Cruise Port
From Logan Airport, take the free SL1 (Silver Line) bus and get off at Silver Line Way (behind the Manulife building). Then cross over on foot to the outbound track and take the SL2 bus to the Drydock Avenue stop. You’ll need to purchase a CharlieTicket on the SL2 bus. A cash ticket is $2.75.
From there it’s a two-minute walk to the cruise terminal. Head east on Drydock Ave to Design Center Pl. and turn right. Turn left onto Black Falcon Ave and the terminal will be on your right.
If you’re already in the city and planning on taking public transportation to the cruise port, you can take the SL2 bus from South Station to Drydock Avenue. As above, head east on Drydock Ave to Design Center Pl. and turn right. Turn left onto Black Falcon Ave and the terminal will be on your right.
If you’re staying in town before your cruise, or even in a local suburb, a taxi, Uber, or Lyft is a convenient way to get to the cruise port.
The same goes for if you’re flying into Logan Airport and going directly to the port.
A taxi from the airport will cost you around $25, depending on traffic. You’ll find taxi stands outside the Arrivals level.
Uber and Lyft both service Logan Airport. The pickup locations are currently as follows:
- Terminal A: Pick up is on the Arrivals level. Use the crosswalk to reach the lot.
- Terminal B: Pick up is in the Arrivals level garage next to the limo pick up area.
- Terminal C: Pick up is on the Arrivals level. Use door C110, walk right, then use the crosswalk to reach the lot.
- Terminal E: Pick up is on the Arrivals level. Exit through door E102.
There is also a shared van service that will take you from Logan Airport and Flynn Cruise Port. Go Boston Shuttle will cost about $16 per person for a one-way trip, and one child under age three is free of charge.
Note that on embarkation day, there will be a lot of traffic on Black Falcon Avenue, the one-way street where the cruise port is located. Make sure you allow enough time to get to the port!
Taking a water taxi to Flynn Cruise Port
There are two companies in Boston that offer water taxis to the cruise port. Both Rowes Wharf Water Transport and Boston Harbor Cruises offer similar routes and pricing. Their boats operate year-round and are covered and heated if the weather presents less than ideal conditions.
From Logan Airport, you can take the free #66 shuttle to the water taxi dock. This shuttle is available from all airport terminals. From the water taxi dock, a dispatcher will call a water taxi for you (they operate on-call).
A water taxi will cost you $15 for a one-way trip. If you’re traveling with children, Boston Harbor Cruises offers a reduced rate of $3 one-way for kids aged 3 to 11. Children under three are free.
Water taxis also run from many waterfront locations to the cruise port. You’ll need to call for pickup:
Rowes Wharf Water Transport (617) 406-8584
Boston Harbor Cruises (617) 227-4320
Boston Water Taxi Stops
- Logan Airport
- Boston Ship Yard & Marina
- East Pier
- Black Falcon Cruise Terminal
- Liberty Wharf
- Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center
- Pier 4
- Fan Pier
- Barking Crab Restaurant
- Moakley Courthouse
- Children’s Wharf
- Griffin’s Wharf
- Rowes Wharf
- Central Wharf
- Long Wharf
- Yacht Haven Marina
- Sargeants Wharf
- Commercial Wharf
- Lincoln Wharf
- Burroughs Wharf
- Battery Wharf
- Constitution Wharf
- Lovejoy Wharf
- Tudor Wharf
- Charlestown Navy Yard/Pier 4
- Pier 6 Restaurant
- Pier 8 (Charlestown Marina)
- Menino Park
- Boston Harbor Islands
- JFK Library
Tip: On disembarkation day, are you flying out of Logan Airport later in the day? Do you want to sightsee without your luggage? Rowes Wharf Water Taxi has a Cruise Ship Special. For $25 per person, they will pick you up at the cruise port, store your luggage, and then take you to the airport for your flight.
Taking a coach to Flynn Cruise Port
If you live within driving distance of Boston but don’t want to pay hefty parking fees at the port, a better option would be to take a coach to South Station and take the Silver Line to the cruise port (see directions above). Many coach lines offer free parking for customers traveling with them.
Regional Coach Lines Servicing South Station
MA:
ME:
NH:
RI:
Can I leave my car at an MBTA garage and take the T?
This thought has crossed my mind, since the daily parking rate at MBTA garages and parking lots is inexpensive.
There are a few MBTA stations that allow overnight parking, but note that if you leave your car longer than 24 hours, the daily parking rate jumps from $6-9 per day to about $15 per day (different stations have different fees). Also, vehicles left for 30 days are subject to towing.
Would I try this if I was cruising out of Boston? No. Although I’ve left my car in an MBTA lot overnight a few times, I wouldn’t chance parking there for a week or more. Not only is it not that cheap once the $15 per day rate applies, but these garages are meant to service commuters and day-trippers.
Parking at MBTA stations is limited, and I wouldn’t want to take up a space meant for a commuter when I have other options. (I used to commute into Boston from the suburbs, and it’s no fun when you’re late for work because the garage was full and you had to drive to another station).
Do any Boston hotels offer Park and Cruise?
Some hotels near cruise ports offer a “park and cruise” service, where customers who stay at the hotel the night before a cruise can leave their car in the hotel’s lot during the cruise for free or a small charge.
Unfortunately, due to the high price of parking in Boston, there are very few hotels in the city that offer this service.
If you’re willing to stay a little outside of Boston proper, there are several more hotels that have park and cruise.
Embassy Suites at Logan Airport offers a “Park and Go” package including parking and a complimentary shuttle to and from the cruise port.
Choice Hotels has “Stay and Cruise” packages at various price points at several properties within Boston, as well as in the surrounding suburbs.
One caveat: be sure that you book a package deal at these hotels – don’t just assume that the parking will be free if you book a room for the night before your cruise.
Spending some time in Boston before or after your cruise? Read Iconic Boston Food You Need to Try for my classic Boston food recommendations.
How do WE get to the cruise port?
You’re probably wondering how Mr. SBC and I choose to get to the cruise port when we cruise out of Boston. We live about 90 minutes outside of the city, so it’s too far for an Uber. We also don’t like paying hefty parking fees. There are no short cruises out of Boston, so the minimum parking fee at the cruise terminal would run about $200 for a week.
What do we do? We have our “private chauffeur” (my daughter) drive us in and pick us up. If she comes with us, or when she’s away at school, we drive to a friend’s house closer to the city and leave our car there.
I’ll admit we’re pretty lucky to have these options. But if we didn’t? I’d definitely park at our regional coach company’s lot for free, and take the bus into Boston.
More resources for your trip to the Boston area:
- Iconic Boston Food You Need to Try
- Your Guide to Walking the Freedom Trail in Boston
- 30+ Fun Facts About Boston (By a Boston Native)
- Omni Parker House Hotel Review Boston, MA
- Top Things to do in Salem for a Day Trip or Weekend
Have you cruised from Boston’s Flynn Cruise Port? Or are you planning a cruise from Boston? Let me know in the comments below!
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Brenda
Monday 8th of August 2022
How long does it take to go from South Station’s Concord bus line to the Flynn Cruise dock to pick up the Norwegian Pearl? Is it within walking distance or should we get a taxi or Uber? Thank you.
Carrie Ann
Monday 8th of August 2022
Hi Brenda, it's about a mile and a half from South Station to the cruise port, so I'd estimate it's about a 30-minute walk. If you have very light luggage you could do it, but I'd probably just order an Uber :)
Ann
Wednesday 5th of February 2020
Hey this seems fun! You have some really fun content on your site, I am so glad I found you :)
Carrie Ann
Friday 7th of February 2020
Aww, thanks Ann! I'm glad you're enjoying the site :D