Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, N.J. is located right in the shadow of Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty. Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas cruises out of this port year-round to Bermuda and the Caribbean, while Celebrity Cruises' Celebrity Summit does seasonal trips up to New England and Canada. The best part of sailing from Bayonne is the evening departure along the river, past the illuminated Lady Liberty and Manhattan skyline. Extend your trip to spend time over the river in Manhattan and visit Central Park, see "Hamilton" on Broadway (if you can magically score tickets), or explore the Museum of Modern Art.

The Port of Charleston is less than a five-hour drive from Atlanta, Charlotte, North Carolina, and Jacksonville, Florida, and sits in the heart of this charming, historic city. Indulge in Southern low-country cooking or take a horse-and-carriage ride on cobblestoned streets to explore the pastel-colored pre-Civil-War-era homes before boarding Carnival Ecstasy, which sails Bahamas itineraries from this port.

Baltimore Cruise Terminal is designed with the "drive-to" cruiser in mind. This facility offers plenty of parking and is within an hour of Annapolis, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. Voyages on Carnival, Royal Caribbean, and American Cruise Lines travel along Chesapeake Bay, past lighthouses, forts, and impressive bridges, in a truly unique sailing experience.

The Port of Boston serves more than 300,000 passengers a year and offers cruises from April to November, with the round-trip sailings to Bermuda and leaf-peeping cruises to Canada among its most popular itineraries. Holland America, Norwegian, and Royal Caribbean all start journeys from Boston.

Just an hour from Houston and fewer than four hours from San Antonio, the Port of Galveston is the point of embarkation for a number of cruises. Carnival Magic, Carnival Freedom, Disney Wonder, and Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas all venture south through the Gulf of Mexico on Caribbean itineraries carrying plenty of Texans adorned in cowboy hats, shiny boots, and belt buckles.

Carnival Paradise cruises year-round from Port Tampa Bay with four- and five-day sailings to Mexico and Grand Cayman. Holland America, Royal Caribbean, and Norwegian ships also offer seasonal Caribbean itineraries. Before or after your cruise, you may want to visit Busch Gardens or enjoy a meal in Ybor City's historic quarter.

Located in the heart of downtown on scenic Mobile Bay, this cruise terminal here is close to both eateries and attractions like the USS Alabama Battleship Memorial Park, History Museum of Mobile, and historic Dauphin Street. While you cruise, your vehicle is secure in a convenient, 500-space parking deck that's attached to the terminal. This is the home port of Carnival Fantasy, which will offer four- and five-day cruises to the Western Caribbean, starting in November 2016.