Port guides
Filter 2,752 cruise ports by region or search by name — each links to its guide and the cruises calling there.
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2,752 ports
Jan Mayen
Remote and isolated, Jan Mayen is dominated by 2,277 meter (7,470’) high Beerenberg Volcano and its large ice cap. The island has two parts: larger northeast Nord-Jan and smaller southwest Sør-Jan, linked by a 2.5 kilometer (1.6 mile) wide isthmus. The League of Nations gave jurisdiction of Jan Mayen to the Kingdom of Norway in 1921. Except for being used as a meteorological, radio and navigation aid for shipping in the Atlantic, the island has remained untouched, its only inhabitants are 18 military personnel. In 2010 Jan Mayen was declared a nature reserve for the protection of its wildlife and is recognized as one of the most important breeding sites for over 250,000 seabirds in the North Atlantic. It supports large colonies of northern fulmars, little auks and thick-billed guillemots. Polar bears found here are genetically distinguishable from those found elsewhere. Although ‘officially’ discovered by the Dutch whaling captain Fopp Gerritsz in 1614, it may have been sighted by exploring Irish monks as early as A.D. 400.
24 cruises
King George River, Western Australia
Australia · Australia, NZ & South Pacific
24 cruises
Kyoto, Japan
Asia
Visit the breathtaking temples and shrines of Japan's old imperial capital, Kyoto, or explore ancient Nara, the cradle of Japanese arts, literature and crafts, with its magnificent shrines and temples that predate Kyoto's. Stroll through Nara Park, famed for its deer and impressive Kasuga Grand Shrine. Then travel on to Osaka and its famed castle. In Kobe, visit historic Himeji Castle, a huge edifice built entirely of wood and tile.
24 cruises
Mombasa
Kenya · Africa
Vibrant Mombasa lies on the coast, home to white sand beaches and coral reefs teeming with tropical sea life. The remains of Fort Jesus stand out from the harbor and are home to a small historic museum. Get a taste of local Swahili village traditions in Mombasa's Old Town, where narrow streets and curio shops beckon. Buildings here are based on ancient designs and feature intricate carvings and detailed lattice work. In the modern center, stroll Moi Avenue for a souvenir, and discover the city's famous ceremonial arch. Nearby, the Shimba Hills National Reserve is home to the rare endangered sable antelope. Adventurers can head to Mamba Village in Nyali, East Africa's largest crocodile farm.
24 cruises
Port Arthur, Tasmania
Australia, NZ & South Pacific
Port Arthur is named for George Arthur, the Lieutenant Governor of Tasmania from 1823 to 1837. It was Arthur who converted a small convict lumber station on the Tasman Peninsula into the most feared penal colony in Australia. Preserved today as the Port Arthur Historical Site, the then state-of-the-art prison was designed to hold repeat offenders in isolation and hard labor. When it closed in 1877, it marked the end of a dark chapter in English and Australian history. Both Port Arthur is also your gateway to the wild and scenic Tasman Peninsula. Its wave-lashed coast is the site of spectacular rock formations such as Tasman Arch, the Tessellated Pavement and the Devil's Kitchen. The peninsula is also home to small farms, superb fruit orchards and acclaimed vineyards. The Tasman Peninsula is one of the last refuges for the endangered Tasmanian devil. The Tasmania Devil Conservation Park is in the forefront of protecting these unique - if surly and downright disagreeable - remnants of Tasmanian prehistory.
24 cruises
Puerto de la Estaca, El Hierro
The smallest and westernmost of the Canary Islands, Hierro is a rugged, windswept place believed in Columbus’s day to be the very western edge of the world. Its picturesque, whitewashed capital, Valverde, is unusually located high in the mountains some distance from the sea, and home to just 2,000 souls. The volcanic island was designated a UNESCO biosphere reserve in 2000, and photographers delight in dramatic sights like the Faro de Orchilla lighthouse, the great natural stone arch of the Roque de la Bonanza and the bizarre, wind-twisted juniper trees set against stony slopes. The Canarian artist Cesar Manrique created a spectacular viewpoint and restaurant overlooking the dramatic El Golfo valley atop kilometer-high cliffs.
24 cruises
Richard's Bay, South Africa
Africa
Richards Bay was named after Frederick William Richards of the British Royal Navy. When he learned of the conflict the English experienced in Zululand, Richards arrived with 250 men in support of his fellow countrymen. He also made a survey of the coast in 1879. In 1906, development of the area got underway with the founding of the Zululand Fisheries and the first ox wagon trek to the town of Empangeni. In 1928, Richards Bay got a hotel and a store, from which it gradually developed into the economic center of Northern Kwazulu-Natal. A new deep-water port inaugurated in 1976 is the second largest port in the country after Durban. In its wake, a number of large and small industries, hotels, shops and restaurants have sprung up, causing the town to develop at a record-breaking pace. The most important attractions however are found outside Richards Bay in the game reserves and cultural villages. For many visitors Zululand represents some of the "real" Africa, an area that covers much of central Kwazulu-Natal, including the port of Richard's Bay and the adjacent Hluhluwe Game Park. The region is dominated by the Zulu tribe; their customs, historical traditions and culture are evident throughout the region. The name Zulu derives from an early chief, whose descendants were called aba-kwa Zulu, or people of Zulu. Their capital is Ulundi, located north of the Tugela River. Much of Zululand comprises a scenic, hilly interior plus some coastal areas, where it is usually hot and humid.
24 cruises
Spanish Town, Virgin Gorda, BVI
Caribbean & Bahamas
Compact, but utterly gorgeous, the third biggest of the British Virgin Isles is one of the region’s most spectacular - and a truly indulgent Caribbean escape to rejuvenate the senses. Sprinkled amid the mansions and private islands of the rich and famous, Virgin Gorda has somehow retained its secluded, castaway paradise atmosphere. Translating as Fat Virgin, the island was given its unusual name by Colombus, who noted the protruding stomach of the island's shape. View less Visit to dive deep into the island's relaxed essence, and to gorge on endless expanses of idyllic beaches and dreamy coastline. Visit a trademark white sand beach - like the slice of paradise at Savannah Bay - or rise up to the perspective offered from the elevated heights of Gorda Peak. At its southern end, Devil’s Bay National Park provides a haven of relaxation, amid geothermal pools and mounds of scattered boulders. Secluded caves and rock pockets fill with seawater at the Baths, forming the perfect spot to sink into the welcoming water and unwind. Whether you choose one of the beaches here, or head to the island’s plethora of other options, chances are you'll only be able to resist the call of the waves for so long. With tempting temperatures and electric blue overtones, the seas here are the quintessential Caribbean experience. Snorkellers also have rich pickings among crystal clear diving sites - blossoming with colourful fish and sea life.
24 cruises
Spitsbergen
Norway · Northern Europe & Baltic
Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole. One of the world’s northernmost inhabited areas, it's known for its rugged, remote terrain of glaciers and frozen tundra sheltering polar bears, Svalbard reindeer and Arctic foxes. The Northern Lights are visible during winter, and summer brings the “midnight sun”—sunlight 24 hours a day.
24 cruises
Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles
The Seychelles, a group of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean about 1,000 miles off the east coast of Africa, impresses visitors with its pristine natural beauty and indigenous plants and animals, such as the hawksbill turtle and the magpie robin. On the island of Mahé, Victoria—the nation’s main city and one of the smallest capitals in the world—bustles with activity and is home to nearly a third of the Seychelles’ population. Set against steep, velvet-green mountains that include 905-meter (3,000-foot) Morne Seychellois, the island's highest peak, the city is a colorful patchwork of tin-roofed buildings. It displays a vibrant Creole heritage that’s evident in the conversations of locals (English is the official language, but Seychellois Creole is the lingua franca) and the aroma of fragrant spices wafting from its open-air market. Beyond the market area, Victoria’s main sights are the circa 1903 Victorian clock tower Little Ben, modeled after its larger counterpart in London, and the Arul Mihu Navasakthi Vinayagar temple, the only Hindu temple on the islands. Just outside of town is the tranquil Seychelles National Botanical Gardens, but to truly appreciate Mahé Island, one must head to the beach—and luckily there are more than 60 from which to choose.
24 cruises
Waitangi (Bay of Islands), New Zealand
Australia, NZ & South Pacific
Historic sites—including the place where the most important treaty in New Zealand's history was signed—winemaking, golfing, sailing and scenic beauty all combine to make the Bay of Islands one of this South Pacific nation's most compelling regions. Located at the top of the North Island, the area has a subtropical microclimate that gives it an abundance of flora and fauna and a lengthy beach season. Comprising 144 islands between Cape Brett and the Purerua Peninsula, the Bay of Islands requires a few days to fully explore. Visitors with just a day here will have to make a tough choice: cultural immersion, nature appreciation or wining-dining-shopping. Waitangi, home to both the cruise port and the region's historic treaty grounds, is one of three main towns with celebrated sights. The others are Kerikeri, with its historic buildings and vineyards, and Russell, where a notorious seafaring past has mellowed into tidy, day-trip-worthy charm. Those who'd rather experience the Bay of Islands' breathtaking nature can walk amid majestic kauri trees, descend into glowworm caves or spy on whales and dolphins (or even swim with the latter) in one of New Zealand's sunniest and most picturesque playgrounds.
24 cruises
Alter Do Chao, Brazil
South America
Not for nothing is Alter do Chão known as the Caribbean of the Amazon. Taken as a whole, the village's white powdery beaches, transparent blue-green waters and hang-loose vibe would make a perfectly convincing addition to the Lesser Antilles. Of course, there are tip-offs that you're still in the midst of South America's River Sea, not least the neighboring rain forest and the pink dolphins—those local mascots—that periodically surface in the water. This uncommon tropical charm lies at the heart of Alter do Chão's appeal—but the place becomes outright irresistible when you factor in the curiously cosmopolitan inhabitants (expat hippies, herbalists and nature lovers in addition to Brazilians) and the cute little shops, cafés and businesses they've created. You'd be hard-pressed to find a more relaxing or beautiful stop in which to enjoy a drink by the water (or even sometimes in the water, seated in a slightly submerged chair—a local tradition) before doing a little exploring by boat or on foot.
23 cruises
Amami Oshima (Naze), Japan
Asia
Amami Oshima is something of an enigma for historians. No one can accurately place its age: stone tools suggest habitation as early as the Japanese Paleolithic period (pre-10,000 BC), while other artefacts, including pottery, indicate human presence much later, from the bronze age onwards. Great clumps of the sub-tropical cycad plant — one of the oldest surviving species in the world, said to be over 250 million years old — cover the island in profusion, immediately conjuring up images of dinosaurs chomping on the enormous leaves.
23 cruises
Aschaffenberg
Northern Europe & Baltic
Aschaffenburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany. By the River Main, Schloss Johannisburg is a grand 17th-century Renaissance palace with a large painting collection. Nearby is the Pompejanum, a replica Roman villa with elaborate mosaics and ancient artworks. Classical modern art is displayed in rotating exhibits at the Jesuit Church Art Gallery. The Schönbusch is an English-style park with lakes and landscaped gardens.
23 cruises
Burlington, Iowa
Burlington is a city in, and the county seat of, Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. The population was 25,663 in the 2010 census, a decline from the 26,839 population in 2000. Burlington is the center of a micropolitan area, which includes West Burlington and Middletown, Iowa, and Gulfport, Illinois
23 cruises
Busselton
Australia · Australia, NZ & South Pacific
Known as Western Australia’s premier resort town, Busselton is the perfect getaway to experience the combination of a slow-paced seaside town and a bustling cosmopolitan city. This beautiful city is an interesting locale on its own, but it is also a gateway port to the well-known Margaret River wine region. Busselton is known for its impeccable coastline and the longest wooden jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. Visit the Underwater Observatory, a fantastic aquarium with more than 300 marine species waiting to be enjoyed. If you love natural beauty, enjoy the beautiful beaches and astonishing limestone caves. Culture and history lovers should visit the Busselton Museum or the Old Courthouse Art Complex, both providing an inside look into the ins and outs of the region both now and hundreds of years ago.
23 cruises
Dalian
Asia
For one of China’s youngest cities, Dalian is full of history, culture, and more than a few things to see and do. A low-key change of pace from more bustling Chinese cities, it offers the ideal blend of modern history and traditional Chinese culture, all in beautiful natural surroundings. The history of Dalian is one of colonialism and conquest, having changed hands from British, Russian, and Japanese occupation over the last 100 years. You’ll find influences from all three world powers all over the city, particularly in Zhongshan Square and the nearby town of Lushun.
23 cruises
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is an Iowa city on the Mississippi River. The National Mississippi River Museum and Aquarium explores life in and around the river. Northwest, the Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens include rose, herb and Japanese gardens. Mathias Ham House is a 19th-century mansion with opulent furnishings, with an 1833 log cabin on its grounds. South, the Mines of Spain State Recreation Area has trails and wildlife.
23 cruises
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Regions are derived from each port’s coordinates. Sailing counts reflect active upcoming departures, refreshed through our scheduled feed.
