Port guides

Santa Margherita

Italy · Mediterranean

Similar to ports of call like Portofino and Cinque Terre, La Spezia, and others, Santa Margherita is a coastal Italian dream just waiting for you to explore. Admire its sloping hillsides and olive trees in the near distance. Watch as fishermen pull their catches straight from the Ligurian sea onto your plate. Less flashy than Portofino but no less glamorous, Santa Margherita is a can’t-miss destination that embodies everything that coastal Italy is loved for. On Italy cruises, unique shore excursions make it easy to pick your perfect itinerary and maximize your time in port. You can also fly solo for the day if you want, drinking bellinis and eating pizza underneath an umbrella in the piazza. However you choose, Santa Margherita offers diving, swimming, and plenty of lounging available to make the dream of modern luxury ever so approachable.

66 cruises

Djupivogur, Iceland

Northern Europe & Baltic

Slow the pace, and discover the refreshing approach to life that Djupivogur has made its trademark. You can leave your phone behind as you step out into this Icelandic town, which has won awards celebrating its leisurely outlook and stubborn rebellion against the frenetic pace of modern life. After all, who needs emails and notifications when you have some of the most humbling monochrome scenery and gashed fjords, waiting on your doorstep? Sitting on a peninsula to the south-east of Iceland, the glacial approach to life here wins many hearts. A place where hammers knock on metal in workshops, artists ladle paint onto canvases, and wild ponies roam across mountains, Djupivogur is an uninhibited artistic hub - full of makers and creatives. The most expansive project is the 34 egg sculptures that dot the coastline, created by the Icelandic artist, Sigurður Guðmundsson. Each egg represents a different native bird species. Fishing remains the primary industry, and you can savour the soft fruits of the labour in restaurants serving up smoked trout and fish soup within their cosy confines. Wander the surrounding landscapes, where snow-freckled mountains rise, and lazy seals lie on dark rock beaches, to feel Djupivogur's natural inspiration seeping under your skin. Alive with greens and golds in summer, further ventures reveal bright blue glaciers and the sprawling waterfalls of Vatnajökull National Park. The cliff-hugging puffins of Papey Island are a short boat ride away, while Bulandstindur Mountain's pyramid shape is a stand out even among these fairy-tale landscapes.

65 cruises

Jakarta

Indonesia · Asia

From its Dutch Colonial old town to its vibrant Chinatown, Indonesia’s capital is a dynamic blend of cultures and influences. Mosques and cathedrals coexist with Chinese temples, modern shopping centres share pavements with traditional street markets, and Indonesian theatres draw the same crowds as Dutch concert halls. Your guide to Jakarta. Despite its sprawling size, Jakarta offers much to discover given just one day. National monuments that pay homage to Indonesia’s independence; museums and galleries depicting ethnology, art and history; and myriad religious buildings celebrating faiths from every corner of the world. Oh, and did we mention the coffee’s pretty great too?

65 cruises

Kos

Greece · Mediterranean

Just a stone’s throw from the coast of Turkey, Kos is a lush destination with plenty of history. Perhaps most famous as the birthplace of Hippocrates, since the early days of civilization this tiny island has welcomed intellectuals, scholars, and fellow world travelers seeking a little rest and relaxation. Head to the center of Kos town (founded in 366 BC) and visit the Hippocratic Museum to learn more about the father of western medicine. Then just keep on walking because this old town is a pedestrian’s dream: car-free streets filled with interesting shops that offer everything from jewelry and ceramics to paintings and intricately embroidered tablecloths. Wander through the central market to pick up bottles of authentic olive oil, thyme-honey, and local produce like figs, grapes, and almonds.

65 cruises

Leknes, Lofoten

Northern Europe & Baltic

The fishing life used to be harsh and brutal on Norway’s wind-whipped Lofoten archipelago. Boats would head out from the town of Leknes in search of cod and risk never returning, but today visitors follow a well-paved road that skirts small farms below craggy, snowcapped peaks and twists around bogs and lakes and over precipitous bridges that link one rocky islet after another. In summer, fish hang on wooden drying racks at every turn. With its airport and cruise terminal, Leknes, on Vestvågøya in the middle of the archipelago, is the gateway to a series of sheltered fishing hamlets with traditional houses perched on the rocky seafront. Just minutes down the road at the tip of the island, Skottinden is a 671-meter-high (2,200-foot) sort of mini-Matterhorn—an iconic landmark that sets the tone for countless peaks to come. With their art galleries and cafés, Henningsvær and larger Svolvær are two destinations from which Zodiacs launch to get visitors closer to orcas and sea eagles. Surprisingly for such a rugged realm, even beachcombers will find places to enjoy here: The coastal temperatures are remarkably mild despite the location north of the Arctic Circle.

65 cruises

Mobile, AL

Mexico & Central America

Mobile has been charming visitors since 1702, and today is a colorful, fun-loving city. It’s one of the oldest port cities in America, and just blocks from the Mobile Cruise Terminal is a vibrant, walkable downtown district undergoing a serious renaissance. Check out the restaurants, bars, breweries, cafés, galleries and shops — most locally owned — and meet the folks who run these businesses for a warm, Southern-hospitality welcome.

65 cruises

Aitutaki

Cook Islands · Australia, NZ & South Pacific

As soon as you arrive at Arutanga on an MSC cruise, you can’t help but notice that the Aiutaki atoll has the shape of a triangle that seems to have been drawn by a child. The small settlement area — the entire island is home to only a couple of thousand people — is located on the west coast, south of the landing strips made for American airplanes during World War II. An MSC World Cruise is a great way to leisurely discover the riches found on the second largest of the Cook Islands: Aiutaki Lagoon. Right after you go ashore at Arutanga, you run into the rugby field and two white churches (the Cook Islands Christian Church is more than a hundred years old and is one of the oldest masonry structures on the island) on the main road, where the post office can also be found. This road circles the entire island whose eastern side also boasts a crystal-clear, calm lagoon, justifiably considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Out of the selection of interesting MSC excursions available, you can choose to go on guided tours of two of the smaller islands: Honeymoon Island and One Foot Island. They are located at opposite ends of the lagoon; Honeymoon Island is 2 miles west of the coast, and One Foot Island (Tapueta) 2.5 miles to the east. Honeymoon Island is actually a sandbank located in front of the island of Maina where the red-tailed tropicbird with plumage as white as the sand of this atoll nests. One Foot Island takes its name from its shape that is reminiscent of the footprint of a bare right foot. Also hidden amongst the vegetation of Aiutaki can be found the marae (courtyards), sacred ceremonial places used by the ancient populations that colonized the Cook Islands before the arrival of European explorers.

64 cruises

Cape Horn, Chile

South America

It may be the most notorious ocean passage in the world, and for centuries it evoked dread in the hearts of sailors. But those who survived a trip around Cape Horn, where the Atlantic and Pacific slosh violently into each other, had bragging rights for life. Along this passage, the Tierra del Fuego, or "land of fire," where Chile and Argentina converge at the bottom of the world, got its name from early sailors who saw the fires of the people who lived here burning on shore. For some 8,000 years, until as recently as the end of the 19th century, this was the home of the Yaghan and other indigenous groups. Magellan and Drake left their mark and names here, as did Darwin, who sailed through here on the HMS Beagle. The great clipper ships of '49er lore later fought their way through fierce waves carrying gold between California and the East Coast in that era before the Panama Canal. Just as Richard Henry Dana, Jr., described in his masterful Two Years Before the Mast, published in 1840, a journey today around the Cape at the very bottom of the Tierra is shaped by capricious weather, as powerful winds and shallow waters can produce waves that reach as high as 30 meters (100 feet).

64 cruises

Gaspe

Canada · US East Coast & Canada

Gaspé is a city with an intoxicating mix of regional cultures, sitting at the tip of the GaspéPeninsula in the immense region of eastern Quebec. It's surrounded by dramatic rock faces, pounding surf and jagged coasts dotted with lighthouses. It's also home to an abundance of flora and fauna. The Gaspé Peninsula, situated along the coast of the majestic St Lawrence River, is the birthplace of Canada, where Jacques Cartier first claimed the land for France. It contains four national parks, including Bonaventure Island, and the massive Perc Rock (one of the world's largest natural arches sitting in water), as well as over 200,000 northern gannets. In town you can explore Gaspé maritime heritage and legendary hospitality. The modern Gaspé cathedral is built almost entirely of wood, with beautiful stained glass. The Muse de la Gaspsie tells of Jacques Cartier's voyages, and the Anglo-French struggle for power over this region.

64 cruises

Las Bachas, Santa Cruz

A beautiful white sand beach on the northern coast of Santa Cruz Island. The name “Las Bachas” comes from the mispronunciation of the word “barges” by the local population during the 1950s when WWII barges broke their moorings and ran aground on the beach. This is also one of the largest nesting areas of the Pacific Green Sea Turtle in the Galapagos. A short beach walk brings you to a pond to look for flamingos and other shorebirds. Afterwards, this is a fantastic beach to relax, go for a walk, swim, and maybe practice snorkeling.

64 cruises

Portoferraio,Elba

Mediterranean

Despite its small size, the island of Elba has been known since the beginning of recorded history. Called Ilva by the Ligurians and Aethalia by the Greeks, Elba passed to the Etruscans and later the Romans. It was ruled by Pisa in the Middle Ages, was a haven for Barbary pirates in the 16th century and then privately owned by the powerful Medici family. The island's most famous resident was Napoleon Bonaparte, whose first exile from France and short reign over Elba lasted from May 1814 to February 1815. During that time, Napoleon was able to improve the island by altering street plans, building new roads, modernizing agriculture and developing the iron mines. Iron ore is still mined above the Rio Marina and then shipped from Portoferraio (Port of Iron). With a population of just over 11,000, the town is the largest of the eight on the island and is considered its capital. Geologists and gem stone collectors find Elba a treasure trove with over 150 minerals and semiprecious stones found here due to the seismic turmoil that created the island. The rich soil also produces an astonishing range of foliage and flowers aided by sun that shines almost every day of the year. Despite summer tourism, the island is largely agricultural and the ambience is quiet and relaxed, allowing the visitor to enjoy Elba's natural charm, peaceful abundance and timeless beauty.

64 cruises

Puerto Baquerizo, San Cristobal

Here we have the opportunity to visit the small waterfront town of Puerto Baquerizo, the administrative capital of the islands. Excursion options include a tour of a local interpretation center and time for shopping or a fast-paced long walk to view scenic vistas, followed by a visit to the interpretation center.

64 cruises

Puerto Egas, Isla San Salvador

With its black sand beach, coastal tide pools, andblue-water grottoes, this stop offers a wonderful tasteof the Galapagos and the opportunity to see shore birds,Galapagos Hawks, sea lions, marine iguanas, andGalapagos fur seals. Sea lions, colorful tropical fish,and sea turtles are often seen while snorkeling.

64 cruises

Punta Pitt (San Cristobal)

Pitt Point is located on the northeastern tip of San Cristobal Island. After disembarking onto the small greensand beach, you'll hike up to a plateau, where the view and landscape are so spectacular it is well worth the effort. A steep gully leads up the cliff to a breeding ground for all three varieties of boobies: red-footed, blue-footed, and Nazca. It’s one of the few places in the Galapagos where you can see all three species nesting together.

64 cruises

Rarotonga

Cook Islands · Australia, NZ & South Pacific

Even today, just as centuries ago, when you get to Avatiu Harbor, you are welcomed by the people of Rarotonga, the largest of the Cook Islands, giving you flower necklaces. As you disembark from your MSC cruise ship, Rarotonga looks like a mountainous island surrounded by a single road, the Ara Tapu, which runs along the coastline, crossing the many streams that come down from the mountains. This road runs upstream, while the other, the Ara Metua is much older and dates back to a thousand years ago. On your MSC World Cruise, you will discover what it is like to live in Avarua, the peaceful capital of the Cook Islands, strolling through its open market, the Punanga Nui, and exploring this nation’s ministerial buildings or visiting the CICC Church (Cook Islands Christian Church) that dates back to 1842. If you go on one of the MSC Cruises, you will also be able to explore the heart of the island accompanied by a local traditional healer or visit the Takitumu Conservation Area on the opposite side of the island. This reserve preserves a section of tropical rainforest that protects a rare indigenous bird, the kakerori or Rarotonga Monarch, threatened by the introduction of such predators as the cat. If you continue a further 8 km away from the reserve, you will find the dock at Ngatangiia Harbor where the Polynesian boats that colonized New Zealand in the middle of the 14th century launched from. Behind this harbor is found Muri Lagoon, a rare treasure protected by four islands covered in forests and filled with colorful tropical fish and intricate coral reefs. And if, after spending so much time at sea, you want to do some flying, the most daring visitors can take the opportunity to fly over Rarotonga island for about twenty minutes aboard a single-engine Cessna. An unforgettable guided aerial tour.

64 cruises

Runavik (Faroe Isles)

Northern Europe & Baltic

Originally a fishing port, Kongshavn harbor on the southern end of Eysturoy, the Faroes’ second-largest isle, is now a major staging port for the North Sea oil platforms as well. Runavik’s buildings are scattered across an alluvial fan below looming, green-clad peaks beside the Skalafjordur fjord. The mountainous island is criss-crossed with hiking trails, some of which date from Viking times. The main attraction for visitors is the grandeur of nature, along with the birds and animals that inhabit the island. Lake Toftavatn is one place to see them, on a Ventures by Seabourn hike. A drive around the island will include views of 2,890-foot Mt. Slaettaratindur with stops at the picturesque village of Gjogr on the north end, and a visit to Glyvrar to see the Forni Museum that preserves a typical 17th century island home. Your Ventures by Seabourn team will offer kayaking excursions on Skalafjord, or an excursion the the major Viking site of Toftanes with your expert archaeologist.

64 cruises

Aqaba

Jordan · Middle East & Red Sea

Improbably carved into the rusty-red rock of the Jordanian desert, the ancient city of Petra has been mesmerising visitors since being rediscovered by Westerners in 1812. Siq Canyon provides a suitably grandiose welcome, cutting a deep track through layers of fiery sandstone, and building up the suspense, before you first set eyes on the Lost City’s majesty. An early start is best to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site, giving you chance to beat the crowds and avoid the brunt of the heat. The Treasury is perhaps Petra’s best-known structure, having featured in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade as the mystical hiding place of the Holy Grail. Imprinted deep into the sheer sandstone, it’s a dramatic, spectacular achievement of human endeavour. Look closely, and you’ll see the indentations of bullet holes scarring the urn that sits atop it – fired by Bedouins fuelled by rumours of ancient treasure within. Petra developed as the capital of the Nabataean Kingdom, and the sophistication of the Rose Kingdom’s rock-hewn buildings is matched only by the elaborate and advanced water collection and transportation system that quenched its thirst and provided the means to thrive, despite its remote location and the intense burn of the sun. Look out for the delicate water channels that lace the city as you explore. High above the city - up a daunting 800-step climb - stands the Monastery. It’s lesser known, but larger and - whisper it quietly - perhaps even more impressive than the Treasury. The High Place of Sacrifice is an even tougher hike - with only occasional electric-blue lizards scattering from your footsteps as you rise - but the views of the remarkable city, embossed into the mighty sandstone cliffs below, will last a lifetime.

63 cruises

Bali

Indonesia · Asia

Bali is a vision of ethereal beauty, where ribbons of pale sand unravel along an azure sea, emerald rice terraces and stone-carved temples pierce the landscape and Hindu gods inspire human creativity. Your guide to Bali. The Indonesian island of Bali delights visitors with its white sandy beaches, vibrant rice paddies and sacred Hindu temples. From Tanjung Benoa, where your Bali cruise calls, it’s just a short drive to the fishing port of Jimbaran Bay or the sublime beaches of upmarket Nusa Dua. Enjoying a warm year-round climate, Bali is a popular retreat for surfers, stand-up paddle boarders and reef divers. While those who prefer to relax find themselves quickly unwinding in this spiritual land where serenity seems to infuse the air. Savour freshly barbequed seafood while looking out to sea and delight in the opportunity to slow down and just be.

63 cruises

Cormorant Point

63 cruises

Dragon Hill (Santa Cruz)

Dragon Hill, or "Cerro Dragon," is named after its population of land iguanas. The site offers a beautiful view of the landscape and two small brackish lagoons where flamingos and other shore birds occasionally feed. Along the trail, we'll cross a beautiful "white forest" of Palo Santo (incense) trees and Galapagos cotton plants. Excursion options include a high-intensity hike with swimming/snorkeling at the beach, high intensity snorkeling from a zodiac followed by a short walk and a low-intensity Zodiac ride along the coastline with optional dry landing for animal observation.

63 cruises

Fowey, England

With a rich seafaring history dating back to the 14th Century, Fowey (pronounced Foy) in Cornwall is still one of England's busiest ports. The circular Hall Walk is quite popular and follows the banks of the estuary. In town stroll the Esplanade, visit St. Fimbarrus Church, and admire the view from St. Catherine's Castle, which was built during the reign of Henry VIII to protect the harbor. Blockhouses from the late 1300s stand on either side of the harbor, from which a chain was once hung to prevent undesirable ships from entering.

63 cruises

Maastricht

Netherlands · Northern Europe & Baltic

Maastricht, a university city on the southern tip of the Netherlands, is distinguished by its medieval-era architecture and vibrant cultural scene. In its cobbled old town, is the Gothic-style church Sint Janskerk, and the Romanesque Basilica of St. Servatius houses a significant collection of religious art. On the banks of the Maas River, bisecting the city, lies futuristic-looking Bonnefanten art museum.

63 cruises

South Plaza Island

63 cruises

Urvina Bay (Isabela)

Due to currents and upwelling, the water here is noticeably colder than in other parts of the Galapagos and in 1954, part of this area along Isabela’s coast was uplifted 12–15 feet just prior to an eruption. The remains of a coral reef raised during the uplift can still be found at Urvina Bay. On a long hike, you can ramble through the now high-and-dry corals of this once thriving reef or stick to a shorter version of the same hike and look for land iguanas, finches, and if luck holds, giant tortoises. Afterwards, if conditions allow, the black sand beach of Urvina Bay offers a chance for swimming and snorkeling. While in the water, you may see sea turtles and diving cormorants.

63 cruises