Flynn Cruiseport Boston Terminal: What You Need to Know

Flynn Cruiseport Boston is the dedicated cruise terminal located in Boston Harbor. It’s part of the busy East Coast Port of Boston, which is operated by the Massachusetts Port Authority (MASSPORT). Formerly known as the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal, the cruise terminal was renamed Flynn Cruiseport Boston in 2017.

Boston Cruiseport is used mainly by US passengers departing on cruises to the ports along the eastern seaboard of New England, including exclusive Martha’s Vineyard and historic Plymouth.

The port only operates for cruises between April and November due to the harsh winter conditions. The busiest months are during the Fall when cruisers enjoy the vibrant autumnal color of the trees. Prior to closing down during the Covid pandemic, the cruise port was growing steadily.

One of the main attractions for booking cruises out of Flynn Cruiseport Boston is the proximity of the port to the historic Downtown district in one of America’s oldest cities. It is also very convenient to the Boston Logan International Airport (10 minutes away) and offers a wide choice of itineraries, including Canada, New England, Bermuda, Greenland, Iceland and the British Isles. 

Terminal Specification and Statistics

There are three berths (#7,8 and 9) on the north side of the Reserved Channel at Flynn Cruiseport Boston. They are all 35 feet deep and 3,500 feet in length. They can accommodate up to three cruise ships at the same time. The terminal is housed in a huge converted building.

In 2022, Flynn Cruiseport Boston served 310,000 passengers on 128 cruise ships. These include 72 ports of call vessels and 56 home-port vessels across four different cruise lines. In 2019, prior to the pandemic, the cruise port served over 400,000 passengers on 138 ships.

In 2022, 12 cruise ships included Boston on their maiden voyage itinerary. These included Norwegian Pearl, Holland America’s Nieuw Statendam, Carnival Legend, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess.

This cruise business generates $135 million and supports 2,200 jobs with support from hundreds of local businesses providing transport, accommodation, shopping and dining to cruise passengers visiting Boston.

Flynn Cruiseport Boston Location

The address of Flynn Cruiseport Boston is: 1 Black Falcon Avenue, Boston, MA 02210

Flynn Cruiseport Boston is on the northeast coast of the USA. Located in the regenerated Seaport District of the city, it is just 10 minutes from Boston Logan International Airport.

It is easy to access from both the I-90 and I-93. Boston is a popular cruise port with Canadian cruisers as it is just over 200 miles from the US border with Canada.

The cruise terminal at Flynn Cruiseport Boston is surprisingly close to Downtown Boston. It is just 2 miles from Faneuil Hall and the Freedom Trail that takes you around the main sights of this historic city. 

History of Flynn Cruiseport Boston

Flynn Cruiseport Boston is one of the oldest continuously running cruise ports in the Western Hemisphere.

It was formerly known as the Black Falcon Cruise Terminal but was renamed Flynn Cruiseport Boston in 2017. The new name honors the former Boston mayor, Raymond Flynn, who opened the original cruise terminal in 1986.

The cruise terminal is located at 1 Black Falcon Avenue, hence its more colorful former name. This street, in turn, was named after a Norwegian merchant ship that unfortunately caught fire when its cargo of sodium peroxide exploded in 1953.

Which Cruise Lines Use Flynn Cruiseport Boston?

As a historic port city, Boston Cruiseport is a popular destination and home port for many cruise ships operated by Royal Caribbean (RCI), Holland America, NCL, Princess, Celebrity and Oceania cruise ships.

Many other cruise lines call into Boston Flynn Cruiseport as a Port of Call, including Carnival, Cunard, P&O, Seabourn, Silversea, SevenSeas, Viking, Vantage and Windstar cruises.

One special visiting cruise ship in 2022 was the MS Roald Amundsen, a battery-supported hybrid cruise ship that carries 530 passengers and 160 crew.

Boston Flynn Cruiseport is also the home port to American Cruise Lines (ACL) which offer round-trip cruises to ports around Cape Cod, including Rockland and Bar Harbor in Maine; Camden, New Jersey; Newport, Rhode Island, Oak’s Bluff, Provincetown, Martha’s Vineyard, Plymouth and other ports in Massachusetts.

Itineraries on a cruise out of Boston also include the Caribbean, Bahamas, North Europe and an Arctic Crossing between Copenhagen, Denmark and Boston, MA.

Cruise Destinations from Flynn Cruiseport Boston

Boston’s Flynn Cruiseport only operates during the summer months due to the harsh winter at this northern US city. Cruise ships then offer one-time repositioning cruises as they relocate to Fort Lauderdale, Miami or New Orleans for winter cruises in the Caribbean.

The most popular cruises from Boston are round-trip 7 or 10-day cruises around the northeast coast of the USA. These include many smaller ports along the East Coast USA, New England, Cape Cod, Rhode Island, and occasionally, New Jersey.

Other cruises from Flynn Cruiseport Boston head north to Canada, with ports of call along the coast of Maine (USA), before reaching Halifax in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec City and Montreal in Canada.

Cruises to Bermuda are also available from Flynn Cruiseport Boston. There are several days at sea before spending two nights in the port of King’s Wharf for cruisers to explore the beautiful island archipelago in this British Overseas Territory.

Is Parking Available at Flynn Cruiseport Boston?

Cruisers can park at the South Boston Waterfront Transportation Center and make use of the complimentary shuttle service. It is just a 5-minute ride to the cruise terminal. Pre-booking is essential. There are several other options for Boston cruise parking.

Cruise Terminal Facilities

The cruise terminal is in a large building that was converted for use as a cruise terminal in 1986. In 2010, it was refurbished and redesigned to double passenger capacity by handling embarking and disembarking passengers at the same time. In 2021, a passenger boarding bridge was added, allowing passengers easy access to the ship directly from the terminal check-in.

Currently, the Flynn Cruiseport Boston cruise terminal has very few facilities for cruise passengers although it does have all the essential amenities you need while waiting to board your cruise ship.

These include plenty of seats, elevators and toilets on each level. Wireless internet is available free throughout the terminal. There are curbside porters to assist with luggage. The nearest ATMs are in the city.

Luggage Storage

No luggage storage is available at Flynn Cruiseport Boston, so you need to contact a private company such as Luggage Hero. They will hold your luggage safely and securely while you explore the city before or after your cruise. Rates are by the hour from $0.95, or by the day from $7.95. There is also Luggage Storage at the office of Boston Water Taxi next to the Rowes Wharf Ticket office.

Lost and Found

There is no lost luggage office. Passengers should contact the manager by phoning 617-594-5930 regarding any lost item.

Food and Drink

Although there are no food and drink outlets actually in the cruise terminal, you will find several retail outlets and food venues in the renowned Innovation and Design Building nearby. A short walk away, there are also several museums, waterfront restaurants and even a microbrewery.

Parking and Pick-up

There is a Passenger Drop-off Area on Black Falcon Avenue. It is strictly managed by police to prevent anyone from lingering. You can drop cruise passengers and their luggage off at this point.

There is no availability for parking or waiting at the terminal when picking up passengers after a cruise. To pick-up cruise passengers post-cruise, there is a Cell Phone Lot nearby on Fid Kennedy Ave where vehicles can wait for your phone call. The route is well sign-posted. The lot is just 1/4 mile from the terminal.

Handicapped Passenger Services

There is no handicapped parking at Flynn Cruiseport Boston, but there is a drop-off point outside the terminal for disabled passengers and their luggage.

There are special rates for handicapped passengers parking at the C-1 parking lot. Please contact the BRA/EDIC Garage directly on 617-482-2487. Wheelchairs are available for use within the cruise terminal. You can request one ahead of time by contacting the cruise terminal.

How to Get to Flynn Cruiseport Boston By car

From I-93 south-bound

• Take Exit 23 inside the tunnel onto Purchase St
• Turn left at the top of the ramp (traffic lights) onto Seaport Blvd, which becomes Northern Ave
• At the end of Northern Ave, turn right into Tide St and immediately make a left into Drydock Ave.
• Turn right into Black Falcon Ave and follow signs to the ship/parking.

From I-93 north-bound

• Take Exit 20 to I-90 East/Logan airport
• Keep right and take Exit 25 inside the tunnel (South Boston)
• Continue through the traffic lights onto East Service Drive
• At the next lights, turn right onto Seaport Blvd, which becomes Northern Ave
• At the end of Northern Ave, turn right into Tide St and immediately make a left into Drydock Ave.
• Turn right into Black Falcon Ave and follow signs to the ship/parking.

From I-90 east-bound (Massachusetts Turnpike)

• Follow the Turnpike east toward Logan Airport
• Take Exit 25 inside the tunnel (South Boston)
• Continue through the traffic lights onto East Service Drive
• At the next lights, turn right onto Seaport Blvd which becomes Northern Ave
• At the end of Northern Ave, turn right into Tide St and immediately make a left into Drydock Ave.
• Turn right into Black Falcon Ave and follow signs to the ship/parking.

From Boston Logan Airport /I-90 west-bound

• Follow signs to enter the tunnel (toll)
• Take Exit 25 inside the tunnel (South Boston) and stay in the right-hand lane
• Turn right onto Congress St and then left onto B Street
• At the next lights, turn right onto Seaport Blvd, which becomes Northern Ave
• At the end of Northern Ave, turn right into Tide St and immediately make a left into Drydock Ave.
• Turn right into Black Falcon Ave and follow signs to the ship/parking.

How to Get to Flynn Cruiseport Boston from the Airport

By Taxi: Taxis are available to transport you and your luggage to the cruise terminal. The journey is 3.8 miles and takes about 10 minutes, depending on traffic. The cost is around $25 regardless of the number of passengers in your party.

By Bus: From the airport you need to get on the SL1 bus that stops at all four passenger terminals in Boston Logan Airport. Get off at Silver Line Way and cross the track to get on the SL2 bus. Get off at the stop on Drydock Avenue and walk 2 minutes to the cruise terminal on Black Falcon Ave.

Read Also: Things to Know About the Baltimore Cruise Terminal

By Water Taxi: Water taxis serve Logan Airport via the free #66 shuttle. Once you are on board, water taxis are the fastest and most scenic way to get to Flynn Cruiseport Boston and all the main attractions on the waterfront, including Fanueil Hall Marketplace, the New England Aquarium and the USS Constitution moored at Charlestown Naval Yard. Why not consider cruising out of Flynn Cruiseport Boston for your next exciting cruise vacation?

Boston Cruise Terminal FAQ