St Marys GA (Georgia, Cumberland Island)

St Marys is a port town in Georgia (USA) with a population of around 18,000. St Marys GA is the gateway to Cumberland Island (nature park reserve). The Park's visitor center and marina (serving tour boats and cruise vessels) are on the town's waterfront.

The port is on the north bank of St Marys River. Across the river (to the south) is Florida, with closest large city Jacksonville (approx 60 km / 40 mi).

The town is also popular for the annual St Marys Rock Shrimp Festival, Submarine Museum, Crooked River State Park (camping travel destination), Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base (where are homeported several Ohio-class US submarines. The area (part of Spanish Florida) was first explored in mid-16th-century and became part of the USA in 1763 (after the Treaty of Paris). More recent history includes the Battle of Fort Peter (during the UK-USA war 1812-1815) and the US Navy bombing of the town (during the Civil War 1861-1865).

As call port, St Marys GA is included mainly in itineraries operated by American Cruise Lines ships. The next table shows a typical 7-day cruise tour itinerary from Charleston SC to Jacksonville FL.