Key West - Anytime soon (like 2022)?

[colliercruiser]

I note a number of cruises for 2022, including this winter/spring, with itineraries that stop in Key West.  But I've also read posts which indicate some (all?) itineraries will be changed from Key West to another port (Nassau, Cozumel, etc)... even though the Celebrity website hasn't changed.  Various Key West websites mention a continuing debate locally regarding whether larger cruise ships will be allowed back to Key West.

 

Does anyone expect Celebrity to return to Key West in 2022?

[Homosassa]

I personally do not expect to see the return of large cruise ships to Key West at any point in the future.

[Phxazzcruisers]

i dont expect a return of the larger cruise ships either

[stones902]

It’s an ongoing debate within KW. I don’t see the big ships coming back. 

[as3369]

As a property owner and frequent visitor in Key West, I can just say that this is a very hot topic in the local political environment.  Most residents do not want large cruise ships in port.

[lv2cruisgrl]

3 minutes ago, as3369 said:

As a property owner and frequent visitor in Key West, I can just say that this is a very hot topic in the local political environment.  Most residents do not want large cruise ships in port.

Are any ships coming to Key West now?

[as3369]

The 1st post Covid ship arrived in Nov 2021, this is after 62% of Key West voters decided in a local referendum to drastically reduce the number of ships that can dock.  Six months later, a new state law voided those voter initiatives.

Voters are still waiting for the City government to turn those referendums into city ordinances.  Right now only smaller ships are allowed.  

This is still a political hot mess

[D C]

3 hours ago, Homosassa said:

I personally do not expect to see the return of large cruise ships to Key West at any point in the future.

 

2 hours ago, Phxazzcruisers said:

i dont expect a return of the larger cruise ships either

 

2 hours ago, stones902 said:

It’s an ongoing debate within KW. I don’t see the big ships coming back. 

They have already returned...at least Norwegian ships to some extent. 

 

There is nothing legally preventing their return right now. 

 

 

[davekathy]

My Magic 8 ball say's, "cannot predict now, ask again later". 🎱

[stones902]

My understanding is that the city of KW passed a resolution restricting the number of passengers and size of the ships. Subsequently, Tallahassee passed as law that effectively gutted that policy. So right now I would say it’s a political hot potato. 

[nocl]

37 minutes ago, D C said:

 

 

They have already returned...at least Norwegian ships to some extent. 

 

There is nothing legally preventing their return right now. 

 

 

Only for dock B.  Larger ones not allowed in city owned or managed docks.

 

For the most part the major cruise lines do not want to get involved in the protests and getting pictures of the mud slicks from the large ships going through the shallow waters getting splashed on the internet.

 

They mostly seem inclined to wait it out.

 

So yes they can go to Dock B if they decide to do so.