Port guides

Guimaraes

Western Europe & Atlantic

Guimarães is a city in northern Portugal. It’s known for well-preserved medieval buildings like the hilltop, 10th-century Guimarães Castle, with its sweeping city views. The restored Dukes of Bragança Palace, built in the style of a French chateau, has a museum showcasing furniture, tapestries and weapons. Between the palace and the castle is the Romanesque São Miguel do Castelo Church, built in the 13th century.

226 cruises

Mantes la Jolie

Northern Europe & Baltic

Mantes-la-Jolie is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region of north-central France. It is located to the west of Paris, 48.4 km from the centre of the capital. Mantes-la-Jolie is a subprefecture; in 2016, it had a population of 44,231.

226 cruises

Dresden

Northern Europe & Baltic

Dresden, capital of the eastern German state of Saxony, is distinguished by the celebrated art museums and classic architecture of its reconstructed old town. Completed in 1743 and rebuilt after WWII, the baroque church Frauenkirche is famed for its grand dome. The Versailles-inspired Zwinger palace houses museums including Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister, exhibiting masterpieces of art like Raphael’s “Sistine Madonna.”

225 cruises

Nijmegen

Netherlands · Northern Europe & Baltic

The fortress city of Nijmegen is located near the German border and is considered the oldest city in Holland. The historic buildings in the city center as well as the many small squares and parks, some of which go back to Roman times, are worth seeing. The "Lange Hezelstraat", the oldest shopping street in Holland, is also interesting. If you feel like visiting a museum, a visit to Het Valkhof or Afrika Museum is recommended.

225 cruises

Seydhisfjordur

Iceland · Northern Europe & Baltic

The lush valleys and dramatic waterfalls of Seyðisfjörður are some of the most picturesque sights on Iceland’s east coast. And at the head of the fjord sits the colorful, lively town of Seyðisfjörð with a thriving art and music scene thanks to the LungA Art Festival and concerts in the landmark Blue Church each summer. The Skaftfell Center for Visual Art, open year round, exhibits the work of young artists and also has a popular bistro and a bookstore. Seyðisfjörð was founded in the 19th century by Norwegian settlers, who built some of the brightly painted wooden buildings you see today. The town, population 700, has kept its connection to the European mainland: It's the only port in Iceland that regularly sees passenger ships from Europe, through a ferry service to and from Denmark and the Faroe Islands. The residents in the area surrounding Seyðisfjörð are more likely to be wild reindeer—originally imported from Norway, they're the only such animals in Iceland—and arctic foxes, while seals and porpoises swim along the coast. Many native bird species, including puffins and arctic terns, nest around town, with dozens of species at Skálanes, a nature reserve and research center. Farther afield is Iceland’s largest forest, one of its tallest waterfalls and many opportunities for hiking, cycling and kayaking.

225 cruises

Volos

Greece · Mediterranean

Volos is a commercial and industrial city; it is Greece's third-largest port. Much of it has been rebuilt after a severe earthquake in 1955. The location in the gulf of the same name and near scenic Mount Pelion ensures this town an attractive setting. Interesting sites in the surrounding areas include imposing monasteries perched atop craggy mountains and a fine Archaeological Museum. Volos was founded in the 14th century in an area which has been occupied by man since the Neolithic era. A short distance out of Volos, the second millennium saw the establishment of the Mycenaen city of Iolkos, seat of King Pelias and home of his nephew Jason, who sailed from here with the Argonauts. Remains of Mycenaen buildings have been discovered near the river, where a palace stood around 1400 B.C. The main reason visitors come to Volos is to depart on excursions to the monasteries of Meteora. Their lofty position atop gigantic pinnacles makes them the area's foremost attraction.

225 cruises

Brindisi

Italy · Mediterranean

The Adriatic is rich in cultural and natural treasures. Let yourself be inspired by this millennia-old Italian port city. The natural harbor is located between two bays and Caribbean-like beaches can be found throughout the region. Brindisi was a strategic base for the ancient Romans and is still an important port for ferry traffic today. Visit the well-preserved old town on your shore leave. Major attractions include the Aragonese Castle and Svevo Castle. If you're in town, check out the Colonne del Porto Roman column as well. Of course, a culinary tasting should not be missing on your trip to Puglia. A well-known specialty is the focaccia. If you are more interested in swimming, you can go to Ostuni, which is not far away. For families, this cruise offers great highlights not only on the AIDA ship. Not far from Brindisi is the largest zoo in Italy in Fasano.

224 cruises

Marmaris

Turkey · Mediterranean

Marmaris, on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, is a popular international sailing port and busy all-inclusive-holiday destination for northern Europeans. Once a sleepy fishing village, the town transformed into a tourism hotspot in the 1980s, catering to everyone from backpackers and resort lovers to families and hedonistic partygoers. Its influx of foreign guests means Turkish culture can get somewhat lost, though a stopover will introduce you to the history, people, landscape and unique ecosystem of the area. The first sight on arrival is the town’s natural harbor, lined by the mountainous Marmaris National Park. It’s this landscape and proximity to the Aegean and Mediterranean seas that sustained the town as an ancient trading port and safe haven for history’s greatest armies, including those of Alexander the Great and Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent. Once docked at the cruise terminal, walk to the old town where you’ll find the Grand Bazaar, Marmaris Museum and most restaurants lined up by the superyachts and Turkish gulets (wooden sailboats) of the encircling marina. Sunbeds by the beach are within walking distance, though the more attractive Içmeler Beach is just a quick trip by taxi or public bus.

224 cruises

Milos, Greece

Mediterranean

Milos is a volcanic island in the Aegean Sea. The island is famous for the statue of Venus de Milo (in the Louvre), and also for statues of Asclepius, now in the British Museum, and the Poseidon and an archaic Apollo in Athens. It is unique for its astonishing lunar landscape which creates unbelievable and imposing rocky formations colored in deep red, brown or glimmering white. Those fantastic hills and rocks are often emerging from a turquoise sea, boarded by fine golden, white or grey sand. Villages and small towns are charming and very attractive. The main town is Adamas.

224 cruises

Nafplion

Greece · Mediterranean

The former capital of Greece is a popular town on the eastern coast of the Peloponnese. Stately, medieval architecture recalls its Venetian occupation in the 15th century. The most dominant structure from this time is the crenellated Palamidi Fortress towering high above the town. The lively port and resort town spreads around a scenic harbor. Its center is crisscrossed by narrow streets, which are best negotiated on foot. Several monuments remain from the towns' Turkish past, including a mosque and the parliament building. Relics from ancient sites are on display in the Archaeological Museum. Those who are interested in handicrafts and traditional costumes may enjoy a visit to the Folk Art Museum. Enjoy exploring along the waterfront and around the main square of the Old Town. Open-air cafés and restaurants invite you for a break to enjoy a light snack or a seafood lunch while taking in the local atmosphere.

223 cruises

Harvest Caye

Belize

Featuring an enchanting range of environments such as tropical rainforests, marshes and coral reefs, Harvest Caye offers both relaxation and adventure amid lush landscapes. This 75-acre paradise invites you to explore its incredibly biodiverse surroundings, witnessing exotic wildlife or perhaps discovering the world’s second largest coral reef. Gain insight into the region’s Mayan and Garifuna roots, discover traditional arts and traditions at the local artisans’ village or simply soak up the abundant Belizean sunshine and relax.

222 cruises

Kahului

Maui · Hawaii

Maui has always occupied a special place in the hearts of Hawaiians. The great warrior King Kamehameha, who united the islands under his rule, chose to make Lahaina his capital and Ka'anapali was once the favorite playground of Hawaiian royalty. And no wonder - Maui boasts stunning landscapes and superb beaches. Mt. Haleakala, a dormant volcano, rises 10,000 feet above the Pacific Ocean. Once hailed as "The Valley of the Kings," Maui's Iao Valley is a tropical paradise dominated by the Needle, a volcanic monolith towering over the valley floor. Then there is Lahaina, once home to a royal court and a raucous port-of-call enjoyed by 19th-century Yankee whalers. Haleakala means "The House of the Sun." To the Hawaiians, it appeared that the sun both rose from and set in the depths of its massive crater. Today, the centerpiece of Haleakala National Park, it is one of Maui's major attractions.

221 cruises

Meissen

Northern Europe & Baltic

Meissen is a town of approximately 30,000 about 25 km northwest of Dresden on both banks of the Elbe river in the Free State of Saxony, in eastern Germany. Meissen is the home of Meissen porcelain, the Albrechtsburg castle, the Gothic Meissen Cathedral and the Meissen Frauenkirche.

221 cruises

Pacaya Samiria National Reserve

South America

221 cruises

Puerto Limon

Costa Rica · Caribbean & Bahamas

From mountainous cloud forests and volcanoes to tropical rainforests, Costa Rica in Central America is renowned for its biodiversity and environmental conservation. When you arrive on an MSC Caribbean and Antilles cruisein Puerto Limón, you’ll discover the biggest city on Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast as well as the most important port in the country. From the port, Limón is a perfect starting point for adventurous explorers on one of many MSC excursions that will let you be one with nature in what is called Costa Rica’s Amazon. Enjoy a boat adventure down the jungle-fringed Tortuguero Canal, spotting orchids, water lilies, crocodiles, spider monkeys, manatees and otters along the way. Wave to the locals busy on the banks or in dugout canoes on the water as you pass. On another MSC excursion, spend half a day meeting some of Costa Rica’s cutest creatures: sloths. The Sloth Sanctuary of Costa Rica, founded as a not-for-profit rescue centre in 1997, lets you mingle with some of the coolest dudes in the jungle with their languid movements and permanently smiling faces. Your time at the sanctuary also includes a canoe ride along the freshwater of the Estrella River, a habitat for 180 bird species, monkeys, turtles and scores of butterflies. Soar through the tree canopy on an aerial tramway at Veragua Rainforest Research & Adventure Park, walk to a beautiful waterfall and rub shoulders with myriad butterflies, including the incredible blue morpho. Then, on this thrilling MSC excursion, zip line across 11 observation plat-forms and 9 traverses on an amazing course which has you gliding over the rainforest canopy, spotting monkeys, sloths and toucans in the trees. Or explore Afro-Caribbean culture, passing through Limón’s oldest neighbourhoods with houses on stilts and banana and cassava plantations, before watching local dancers perform to Caribbean rhythms and share Costa Rican traditions.

221 cruises

Wittenburg

Northern Europe & Baltic

The city of Wittenberge on the Elbe is located in the northwest of Brandenburg and has a population of just under 17,000. The history of the city goes back to the 13th century and so the Steintorturm as the oldest building is already over 720 years old. Other sights of Wittenberge are the rocking ship of the journey through time, the Catholic Church, the water tower, a culture and festival hall, the town hall and the clock tower of the sewing machine factory. This is the largest free-standing tower clock in Germany and on mainland Europe. In addition, the city has several parks and natural monuments such as the hanging beech, which is located on the eastern part of Elmshorner Platz.

221 cruises

Ilok, Croatia

Ilok

220 cruises

Darwin, Australia

Australia, NZ & South Pacific

"Australia's capital of the north is a uniquely tropical city, and a historically isolated outpost of this vast, diverse country. Reaching up towards the equator, a full 2,000 miles from Sydney and Melbourne, the city was named in honour of Charles Darwin by the British settlers who established a frontier outpost here. With a unique history, beautiful islands nearby, and a palette of sizzling Pacific flavours, colourful Darwin is an enchanting and exotic Australian destination. Crocodiles patrol the jungled waterways and tropical rainforests around Australia's gateway to the Top End. Explore via airboat to look down on the veiny waterways of the mist-laced Kakadu National Park. The sounds of chattering birdlife and the gentle splash of fountains and waterfalls will fill your ears in George Brown Darwin Botanic Gardens. Soak it all in, before kicking back and relaxing with a picnic and a crackling barbecue. The sunshine and famous tropical pink sunsets mean many visitors naturally gravitate to the city's soft sands to relax at spots like pretty Mindil Beach, as evening approaches. The adjoining market is filled with souvenirs and crafts stands and is the perfect great place to enjoy some fiery Asian flavours. Stroll the stalls, grab some food, and crack open an ice-frosted beer as the sunset show begins. It may be remote, but Darwin found itself on the front line during the Pacific War, as the Japanese air force unloaded their bombs onto the city in 1942. This relaxed unassuming city has a deeply resilient backbone, however, and you can explore the museums to learn more of the war's impact on Darwin, as well as the devastating effects of one of Australia's worst natural disasters, Cyclone Tracy in 1973."

219 cruises

Antigua, Leeward Islands

Caribbean & Bahamas

Antigua, as sweet as the sugar cane form the plantations, welcomes us in a warm embrace and giving us the opportunity to swim in its beautiful sea. We stop in the port of Antigua, an old colony where we can see the vestiges of the agricultural past of the island. Sugar is no longer the livelihood of this small nation, but you can still visit the old windmills of Fuerteventura. Take a dance class at the Shiva school of dance or catch a show of traditional dances from the Caribbean. Before the cruise resumes its course, enjoy a spectacular sunset on the beach, swim with the stingrays and admire the underwater fauna.

218 cruises

Melbourne

Australia · Australia, NZ & South Pacific

In many ways, Melbourne is the most European of all the Australian cities, its highlights making it one of the most unique stops on an MSC Grand Voyages cruise:magnificent landscaped gardens and parks provide green spaces near the centre, while beneath the skyscrapers of the Central Business District (CBD), an understorey of solid, Victorian-era facades ranged along tree-lined boulevards presents the city on a more human scale. The CBD lies at the heart of the city, a grid bounded by La Trobe, Spring, Flinders and Spencer streets, dotted with fine public buildings and plenty of shops. To the north of the CBD, a wander through lively, century-old Queen Victoria Market will repay both serious shoppers and people-watchers. In the east, the CBD rubs up against Eastern Hill, home to Parliament House as well as the landscaped Fitzroy Gardens, from where it’s a short walk to the venerable Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), a must for sports fans. A shore excursion on your MSC Grand Voyages cruise can be the opportunity to visit the riverside’s most innovative development: the new 92-storey Eureka Tower located on the Southgate site and named after a landmark rebellion in Victoria’s gold-rush era (the top levels are clad in gold). Finished in 2006 and towering 300m, it is the tallest building in Melbourne. Visitors can enjoy amazing views of the city and beyond from the 88th-floor Skydeck, which features the stomach-churning “skywalk”, The Edge, a 3m glass cube that juts out over the city below. Another MSC excursion is the Serendip Sanctuary: a square kilometre of bush, marsh and wetlands where you can observe kangaroos, wallabies and emus, as well as numerous other water birds, in their natural habitat.

215 cruises

Sullivan Bay, Santiago

The lava fields of Sullivan Bay on Santiago Island will inevitably remind visitors of the surface of the moon. As brilliant red Sally Lightfoot crabs scuttle along the black volcanic shores, learn about the formation of the islands through geological forces from your guides. The lava flows here are just over one hundred years old and date back to 1897. The lava took on a rope-like appearance and geologists have adopted a Hawaiian word, pahoehoe, as the technical name for this kind of volcanic rock. View less After walking the exposed rocky terrain, it is a welcoming sensation to return to the sandy beach and get ready for a swim or a snorkel.

215 cruises

Syros

Greece · Mediterranean

Explore off-the-beaten-path Syros, built in an amphitheater style with its narrow alleyways and neoclassical architecture cascading brightly down to the deep blue bay. Visit the prehistoric village of Ano Syros, admiring the view overlooking Ermoupolis. Explore the St. George Catholic Cathedral as well as the 17th and 18th Century monasteries of the Jesuits and Capuchins. Back in Ermoupolis visit the archaeological museum and three fascinating churches – Agios Demetrius, Treis Hierarches and Ag Nikolas. Shop for distinctive souvenirs – a bottle of the famous anise flavored ouzo, silver and gold jewelry and embroidered memorabilia. Admire the Apollo Theatre, a mini reproduction of Milan’s La Scala. Enjoy the local St. Michali cheese, and a glass of Greek wine at one of the many tavernas, or the famous loukoumia, the Syros version of a famous Turkish sweet in this gorgeous setting.

215 cruises

Maceio

Brazil · South America

On your South America cruise to Brazil, you’ll come across the big and burgeoning beach resort of Maceió, its striking beaches and clear, turquoise waters attracting cruisers from all over the world. It’s also smack in the middle of a far longer strip of some of the best beaches in the country, all easily accessible on day trips. When you arrive with your MSC cruise in Maceió, you’ll start off in the affluent and lively resort area that starts at Pajuçara, a few kilometres to the east of downtown, built along a spectacular beach. While the city centre itself, the commercial and administrative heart of the city just inland from a more polluted (and generally deserted) stretch of sand and the grubby port district, is somewhat down-at-heel it does have a smattering of belle époque buildings and enticing museums. However, what you’ll want to discover on your MSC South America cruise excursion is the amazing beaches. Sixteen kilometres south of Maceió, the coast road loops around Praia do Francês, which even by Alagoan standards is something special. An enormous expanse of white sand, surf and thick palm forest, it even boasts several pousadas or inns, and a burgeoning restaurant scene. Most folks end up at the northern end, a protected lagoon formed by a large reef offshore; surfers take in the pounding waves at the less busy and unsheltered end. Beach bars line the northern section, while Avenida Dos Corais and Rua da Algas run parallel to the sand and are lined with shops and restaurants. Given its proximity to Maceió, it’s no surprise Francês has effectively become a city beach – so expect a lively atmosphere.

214 cruises

Alta, Norway

Northern Europe & Baltic

Think glorious white nights, expansive Scandinavian landscape and an extraordinary sense of adventure and you have Alta. This pretty town 375 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle is everything you expect from Norway. Despite Alta being located in Finnmark, Norway’s most northern region, the summer climate is very mild. This is largely thanks to its location on the inner part of the Alta fjord and the Gulf Stream. The fjord itself stretches for 38 kilometres in total and splits into two before pouring into the Norwegian Sea. Alta is truly the epitome of Norway – forests, mountains and traditional red wooden huts to one side, fjords, coastal landscapes and abundant marine life to the other. However, there is more to Alta than just meets the eye. The village is home to some 6,000 plus year old rock carvings. These exceptional examples of rock art prove the existence of humans in the far north in the prehistoric era. The carvings are so important that they were granted in 1985, and remain the only prehistoric monument in the whole of Norway. Other sights in the village are the striking Northern Lights Cathedral, and the Alta Museum (and why not enjoy a deliciously fresh crab salad in the café while you are there, as the view is one of the most spectacular you are ever likely to see). The indigenous Sami people still thrive in the region, and a chance to spend the day trying traditional food and activities such as dog sledging will be a blessing those who like to immerse themselves in local cultures.

213 cruises