Jekyll Island GA Georgia

568 Cruises availables At departure or passage at this port

American Cruise Lines (568 Cruises)

American Eagle

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American Glory

49 Passengers
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American Legend

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American Liberty

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Jekyll Island | Cruise Port Guide

Spanish moss stands in here for a stage curtain: it hangs from the live oaks in long grey beards, and the ship need only tie up on the Jekyll River for the scene to be set. The small coastal vessels following the Intracoastal Waterway dock right at the foot of the historic district, a rare privilege that lets passengers step straight into one of the most unusual chapters of American history.

The Millionaires' Club

In 1886, a very exclusive circle made this Georgia island their winter retreat: the Morgans, Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, and Pulitzers built a club with the air of a grand hotel, along with "cottages" that were modest in name only. The story goes that, around the turn of the twentieth century, a sizable share of the world's wealth would gather some evenings around these tables. The Jekyll Island Club still raises its turret above the lawns, and visitors can wander freely among the residences, beneath the oak-lined avenues.

Strolling the Historic District

The Mosaic museum traces this golden age, photographs, objects, stories from both servants and billionaires, and runs trolley tours that open up the interiors of some restored cottages. Also worth seeing: Faith Chapel, with its Tiffany stained-glass window, a tiny wooden church where the light works wonders in the late afternoon. Everything here can be reached on foot from the dock: the district covers barely a hundred peaceful hectares, between river and marsh. The sandy lanes invite a slower pace; you'll pass cyclists, bold squirrels, and, on the cottage porches, rocking chairs that seem to be waiting for occupants from a hundred years ago.

The Sea Turtle Center

Just steps from the cottages, the Georgia Sea Turtle Center cares for injured or sick turtles from the Atlantic coast. The rehabilitation rooms, including the tanks, are open to visitors, and the caretakers are happy to explain each case currently under treatment. For families, this is often the favourite part of the stop, you leave knowing each resident's name and the date they're expected to be released back to the sea.

Driftwood Beach

At the island's northern tip, erosion has laid dozens of oaks and cedars down onto the sand, bleached white by salt: skeletons of trees polished like sculptures, caught between sky and tide. The spot ranks among the most photographed shorelines in the American South, especially at daybreak, when mist still lingers between the trunks. It's reached in a few minutes by shuttle, or better yet, by bike, riding past golf courses and marshes where egrets fish.

The Island by Bike

Owned by the state of Georgia since 1947, the island escaped heavy development: about 40 kilometres of bike paths wind through salt marshes, dunes, and woodland. Rentals can be found near the dock and the old hotel. Pedalling from one beach to another, a heron taking flight above the cordgrass, remains the finest way to understand why the millionaires chose this exact spot. In summer, the beaches on the island's east side also serve as nesting grounds for loggerhead turtles, bringing things full circle with the care centre that watches over the nests.

The gangway lifts back up facing the lawns, and that's when the strangeness of this stop really sets in: a place built for a few dozen privileged families, now a public park where everyone bikes, walks, and picnics beneath the same oaks. The great fortunes are gone; the gentleness, though, has stayed, and it lingers long with those heading back out onto the Intracoastal.

Frequently Asked Questions

At the historic district landing, facing the club lawns and the live oaks draped in Spanish moss. The cottages and museum are within immediate walking distance.
A tightly closed circle that made the island its winter retreat from 1886: Morgan, Rockefeller, Vanderbilt and a few others. Their cottages and clubhouse now form the historic district, open to the public.
The historic district and Mosaic museum on foot, the sea turtle centre nearby, then Driftwood Beach at the north end, by bike or shuttle.
A rehabilitation centre for injured or sick sea turtles from the coast, steps from the historic cottages. You see the patients in recovery and learn the threats they face.
A beach at the north end where erosion has laid dozens of salt-bleached oaks and cedars across the sand. It is the island's most photographed landscape, spectacular at low tide.
Yes, and it is the best way to see it: the island is flat with dozens of kilometres of bike paths. Rentals are available in the historic district.
Because it has belonged to the State of Georgia since 1947, which capped construction. Much of the island has stayed wooded and wild, which sets it clearly apart from its neighbours.
The US dollar and English. Credit cards are accepted everywhere, including at the turtle centre and the bike rentals.
March to May and September to November: mild warmth, less humidity, fewer mosquitoes. Georgia summers are hot and heavy, and hurricane season runs June through November.
Very much so. The sea turtle centre fascinates children, cycling is easy and safe, and Driftwood Beach is a natural playground. One of the simplest calls in the American southeast.