Amelia Island Florida Fernandina Beach

628 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

American Cruise Lines (628 Cruises)

American Eagle

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American Glory

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American Legend

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American Liberty

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Amelia Island, Florida | Cruise Port Guide

Shrimp boats tied two by two, Victorian roofs behind palms, a main street descending toward the water: Fernandina Beach does not seek to impress, and that is what makes it appealing. Set at the north-eastern tip of Florida, just across from Georgia from which a strait separates it, Amelia Island welcomes ships of modest size at the marina, at the very foot of the old quarter. You disembark and, two streets on, you are already at the heart of local life.

Eight Flags for One Island

Few places in the United States can say as much: eight flags have flown over Amelia Island, French colours from 1562 to the star-spangled banner, passing through Spain, Great Britain and a few passing adventurers. This eventful history is explained by the island's position, the last deep-water anchorage before the old Spanish frontier. The local history museum, installed in a former prison, tells a vivid account of it.

Centre Street and Its Victorian Houses

The historic quarter lines about fifty city blocks of the nineteenth century, where art galleries, bookshops and cafés occupy former maritime trading posts. On Centre Street, the old railway station now serves as a visitor welcome office, and the Palace Saloon has poured drinks since 1903, making it Florida's oldest continuously operating bar. You stroll from one veranda to another, push open the door of a sweet shop, lift your eyes to turrets and ornate wood pediments. Horse-drawn carriages and guided walking tours complement the walk for those wanting anecdotes. The town's name itself comes from Spanish King Ferdinand VII, a memory of when the Spanish crown still held Florida.

Fort Clinch: A Brick Sentinel

At the island's end, a state park of over 500 hectares surrounds Fort Clinch, a nineteenth-century fortress whose ramparts command the Cumberland Strait. Staff in period dress bring to life the garrison's daily routine, and the view from the artillery platform reaches into neighbouring Georgia. The park's trails cross dunes and oak forests draped in Spanish moss, and the beach attracts seekers of fossil shark teeth, a small local tradition. The island also boasts some twenty kilometres of sand where anglers cast their lines directly into the waves.

Shrimp: An Inheritance

Fernandina Beach claims the birth of the modern shrimp: it was here, in the early twentieth century, that fishers perfected trawling that launched the industry. Shrimp boats still work, and waterfront restaurants serve their daily catch, as fritters, grilled or in po'boy. A shrimp festival indeed animates the island each spring.

The Port-Call in Brief

ElementDetail
DockingFernandina Marina, at the immediate edge of the historic quarter
On FootCentre Street, history museum, waterfront: everything is accessible walking
Fort ClinchAbout ten minutes by car, in a coastal state park
FlavoursLocal shrimp in all its forms
ClimateMild in winter, warm and humid in summer; hat recommended

On return, from the deck, the masts of the shrimp boats stand out against the old roofs, and you think that Florida decidedly does not boil down to its theme parks. Amelia Island is its quiet proof, and it knows it.

Frequently Asked Questions

At the Fernandina Beach marina, right at the foot of the historic quarter. Only smaller ships call here: you step ashore and two streets later you are in the middle of local life.
Yes for Fernandina Beach: Centre Street runs down to the water and the historic district is entirely walkable. For the Atlantic beach or the fort, expect a short taxi or bike ride.
Centre Street with its Victorian rooflines, the history museum housed in a former jail, then the shrimp boat dock. There is still time for Fort Clinch State Park or an hour on the beach.
Because eight flags really have flown over the island, from the French colours of 1562 to the Stars and Stripes, by way of Spain, Britain and a few passing adventurers. The island was the last deep-water anchorage before the old Spanish border.
At the north-east tip of Florida, directly facing Georgia across a sound. It is the first of Florida's coastal islands as you come down from the north.
Yes, on the Atlantic side, a few minutes' drive from the historic centre. The sand is wide and packed, firm enough in places to ride a bike on.
The US dollar, cards accepted everywhere. Sales tax is added at the register and restaurant tipping is expected American-style.
English. French is not spoken locally, despite the French flag of 1562 in the island's history.
Very much so. The centre is flat and compact, the shrimp boats interest children, and the state park fort is staffed by interpreters in period dress.
October through April, when heat and humidity stay mild. From June to November, hurricane season can disrupt calls in north Florida.