Charleston, South Carolina - Historic District and Harbor

Charleston, South Carolina was first settled in 1670 and named for King Charles of England. Charleston has played a key role in much of the history of the United States, from Revolutionary times to the War Between the States to present day.

Charleston's population is less than 125 thousand, but over 4 million tourists visit the city each year. Although numerous cruise ships stopover in Charleston for the day or sail from there occasionally, Carnival Cruise Lines has based the Carnival Fantasy there year-round to sail 5-7 day cruises to the Bahamas. One of the best things about taking a cruise from Charleston is the opportunity to spend a few days in this wonderful city either before or after your cruise.

Cruise ships dock in the Historic District, and this old part of Charleston is perfect for exploring on foot, a bus, or in a horse-drawn carriage. Unlike many key cities of the Old South, Charleston was not burned during the war. Many of the buildings have been beautifully restored.

Charleston has many excellent hotels in the historic area. Before our cruise on the Carnival Fantasy, we stayed at the centrally-located Charleston Place Hotel. Its elegant look made us feel special.

Let's take a tour of Charleston.