Stay & Cruise in Charleston

Charleston-area hotels offering packages exclusively for cruise-bound visitors

CHARLESTON, S.C., March 17, 2010 – Home to a convenient drive-to port, offering year-round cruises to the Caribbean and beyond, Charleston, SC is enticing cruise-bound visitors to stay and explore the destination’s rich cuisine, history and culture with pre- or post-cruise lodging packages. Visitors can enhance and extend their stay with value-packed hotel rates, door-to-dock transportation, complimentary breakfast and free parking while cruising. More than 30 area lodging partners, suited for every budget, are offering exclusive packages, making it easy for cruise passengers to enjoy additional time in the Charleston.
The Stay Here, Cruise There! package at Marriott’s Courtyard Mt. Pleasant is easy on the wallet and practical for those on a cruise. Starting at $109 per night, the package offers visitors:
Ø      Deluxe accommodations
Ø      Complimentary breakfast buffet for two in Palmetto Café
Ø      One-way shuttle service to the port
Ø      Complimentary parking
Ø      Welcome cocktails upon arriving
The Explore and Cruise package from Homewood Suites by Hilton Mt. Pleasant provides spacious accommodations and takes care of guests’ transportation needs. The package starts at $149 per night and includes:
Ø      One-bedroom suite with separate living area and sleeper sofa
Ø      Complimentary shuttle to/from cruise passage terminal
Ø      Complimentary parking for the duration of voyage
Ø      Complimentary roundtrip airport shuttle
Ø      “Suite Start” Breakfast Buffet Daily
Ø      Welcome Home Reception (Mon – Thurs)
For those who want to sample Charleston’s delectable Lowcountry cuisine before or after their cruise, the Dine N’Cruise package at Embassy Suites Historic Charleston or Taste of the Lowcountry at the King Charles Inn offer free dining options. Dine N’Cruise starts at $219 per night, and includes one $50 gift certificate to either Rue de Jean, Coast Bar and Grill or Virginia’s on King, as well as a parking voucher good for one night of stay. Starting at $164 a night, the Taste of the Lowcountry at King Charles Inn package features:
Ø      Accommodations for one evening
Ø      $25 gift certificate to Jestine’s Kitchen
Ø      Evening manager's reception
Ø      Breakfast buffet for two guests and complimentary parking for one evening
For history or nature buffs, Cruising History at The Inn at Middleton Place offers visitors relaxing accommodations on the bluffs of the Ashley River, just outside the city. A recipient of the American Institute of Architects highest award, the Inn's design is a contemporary counterpoint to the adjacent 18th-century Middleton Place, America's oldest landscaped gardens, and a National Historic Landmark. Cruising History starts at $350 per night and includes:
Ø      A night’s stay in a Woodsview or Riverview room
Ø      An assortment of fresh fruit, muffins and cereals
Ø      Admission to Middleton Place, an 18th century plantation ($70 value)
Ø      An evening reception offering house wines, beers and daily appetizers
Ø      Secured parking for one car for the duration of the cruise.
All packages listed above are good through December 31, 2010. To see a complete listing of Stay & Cruise packages, travelers can visit www.explorecharleston.com for starting rates and booking information.
The mission of the Charleston Area Convention & Visitors Bureau is to unify and lead the local travel industry in marketing the Charleston area as an individual, meeting, incentive and group destination to both the domestic and international markets.
 
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