Port guides

Aguas Calientes

South America

Aguas Calientes is a town in the Urubamba River Valley, in southeast Peru. It’s known for its thermal baths and as a gateway to the nearby Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. The town center is full of eateries and shops, anchored by the central Mercado Artesanal, a craft market. Northwest, along the river, are Los Jardines de Mandor gardens with orchids and birds. The nearby Butterfly House is a local conservation project.

27 cruises

Arica

Chile · South America

Arica, Chile’s northernmost city, 316km north of Iquique, benefits greatly from tourism, with foreign visitors flocking to its pleasant sandy beaches in the summer, and with a smattering of good museums. Aside from its own attractions, Arica makes a good base for the beautiful Parque Nacional Lauca. The compact city centre is easy to explore on foot, though a visit to Arica isn’t complete without climbing El Morro, the dramatic cliff that looms high over the city. From the clifftop, home to a number of turkey vultures and a giant Jesus statue that lights up at night, you can enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the entire city. Also up here, with cannons stationed outside, is the Museo Histórico y de Armas, with displays of weaponry, uniforms and other artefacts from the War of the Pacific. Below El Morro is the large, palm-tree-lined Plaza Vicuña Mackenna, and alongside that lies Avenida Máximo Lira, the main coastal road. On the east side is the attractive Plaza Colón, decorated with pink flowers and ornate fountains. The plaza is home to one of Arica’s most celebrated buildings, the Gothic Iglesia de San Marcos, designed by Gustave Eiffel (of Eiffel Tower fame), made entirely out of iron and shipped over from France in 1876. The excellent Museo Arqueológico lies instead 12km from Arica in the green Azapa Valley. The museum traces the history of the valley’s inhabitants, from the earliest hunter-gatherers, via a remarkably thorough collection of regional pre-Hispanic artefacts. A twenty-minute walk south of the centre will bring you to the sandy Playa El Laucho and Playa La Lisera, both popular with sun worshippers and good for swimming, followed by the pretty Playa Brava and the dark-sand Playa Arenillas Negra, which has rougher waves.

27 cruises

Bar Harbor, Maine, USA

US East Coast & Canada

Located on Mount Desert Island in Maine, Bar Harbor is the quintessential New England coastal town. Our Bar Harbor cruise takes our guests to this picturesque and charming town with its scenic and walkable streets lined with restaurants and boutiques. Dining on lobster is a must, as is a scoop or two at one of the town’s homemade ice cream shops. Boat tours explore the waters and islands that surround Bar Harbor, with seasonal opportunities to see wildlife—including whales—and lighthouses along the way. A favorite attraction many of our guests enjoy on our cruises to Bar Harbor is the magnificent Acadia National Park, an adventurer’s playground. The park, which is celebrating its centennial in 2016, is home to sites such as Cadillac Mountain, the tallest mountain along the eastern coast of the United States and the first place in the country to see the sun rise. Bar Harbor cruise guests can hike, bike or take a horse-and-carriage ride to explore Acadia’s lakes and striking coastline. While on your cruise to Bar Harbor, take advantage of the best bargain in town during your visit: The free Island Explorer buses take guests to Acadia’s major sites and to other nearby destinations.

27 cruises

Chilean Fjords

South America

From Puerto Chacabuco, in the Aysén District in Northeast Chilean Patagonia, to Punta Arenas, in the Strait of Magellan, prepare to feel small as scene after scene of stunning natural beauty unfolds before your eyes Steep, rugged shores abound as you cruise through the Chilean Fjords’ vast network of free, open channels that wind their way to the end of the Earth. Watch in awe as glaciers reach down from the Darwin and Andes Mountains to break gracefully into the sea.

27 cruises

Disko Bay

To the east of Baffin Bay, discover Disko Bay, scattered with countless icebergs produced by the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From your ship, admire the majestic ballet of these ice giants as they slowly drift across the dark waters. This site is a natural marvel of Greenland, and is also renowned as an observation point for the region’s many humpback whales. The encounters with wild fauna and stunning landscapes in the heart of this spectacular and fragile nature will be pure moments of wonder for you.

27 cruises

Dutch Harbor, Alaska

The volcanic Aleutian Islands stretch between the United States and Russia in the Bering Sea. The archipelago’s largest community goes by two names—Unalaska and Dutch Harbor—though you may hear really old-time Aleut speakers say “Ounalashka” too. Want to sound like one of the fishing port’s 4,300-odd residents? Just stick with “Dutch.” In the easternmost arc—the Fox Island subgroup—this flourishing town depends more on the fish-processing industry than on tourism. In fact, Dutch Harbor netted 762 million pounds in 2014, maintaining its “most seafood landed” status for the 18th consecutive year. But visitors may be more familiar with its fame from Deadliest Catch, a TV series about the brutal struggle to harvest Alaskan king crabs—a task often called the world’s most dangerous job. While its stark natural beauty is the main draw, Dutch woos tourists with the oldest Russian-Orthodox cruciform church in North America (note the darkened icons, damaged while locals were exiled to WWII internment camps). Learn more about the Aleutians’ war—Japanese forces invaded the area, making it the only occupied American soil during the conflict—at the National Historic Area.

27 cruises

Honiara

Guadalcanal · Australia, NZ & South Pacific

The Solomon Islands is a sovereign nation consisting of multiple island groups, scattered in the South Pacific east of Papua New Guinea. Its capital is Honiara, on the island of Guadalcanal. Many of the outlying islands in the nation are relatively untouched, but Honiara is a busier hub of international commerce. The islands’ recent history is scarred by the desperate battles fought between the Japanese and American forces during World War II. In 1942, the Japanese launched their last great land offensive in the islands, which culminated in the Battle of Henderson Field fought at Honiara. Of the estimated 36,000 Japanese troops on Guadalcanal at the beginning, only 1,000 survived, the rest having either been killed directly, or succumbed to disease and starvation. Ghostly evidence of this horrific warfare dots the island, and it is memorialized at the American Memorial overlooking the town and at a smaller Solomons Peace Memorial erected by the Japanese outside the city. On a lighter note, traditional arts and crafts are on display at the National Museum, which also boasts a display of eight traditional Melanesian houses from various parts of the country. Behind the museum is a cultural center. Above town there is a pleasant botanical garden, and the bustling Central Market is a great place to get a feel for everyday life in Honiara. Although English is the official language, only a small percentage of Solomonese speak it. The common language is Pijin.

27 cruises

Hoonah

Alaska

Discover the frontier town of Icy Strait surrounded by nature in its unspoiled glory. Pine trees as tall as skyscrapers, humpback whales, eagles, wild salmon, black bears and more, form the harmonious tapestry of life in this Alaskan hinterland. Visit the Native Theater and Heritage Center to see Tlinglit tribal members enacting their history through song and dance. Also worthy of attention are the elaborately carved totem poles. Stroll over to the Cannery Museum and find out how this staple of the Alaskan diet is processed. Shop for locally made preserves, jewelry, wooden carvings, clothing, and bath products. Take a walk along the well-marked nature trail to Hoonah. Enjoy delicious and abundant seafood, Dungeness crab, salmon, shrimp and cod in this remarkable natural environment.

27 cruises

Innvikfjorden, Norway

Northern Europe & Baltic

27 cruises

Isles of Scilly

UK · Northern Europe & Baltic

Nestling in the clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean, at the south west tip of Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly form a small British island chain whose climate, landscapes and lifestyle are unlike any other and seem to have come straight from an Enid Blyton story. Here, everything resembles a tropical paradise. The long sandy beaches run alongside lush green meadows teeming with semi-exotic flowers, whilst the ruins of ancient castles loom from the tops of the hills. Veritable havens of peace that inspired the legendary Avalon of King Arthur, they are today listed as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the rugged coastline plays host to wildlife that is as varied as it is exceptional, including the very rare Atlantic grey seal.

27 cruises

Myrina, Lemnos

Mediterranean

Myrina is a former municipality on the island of Lemnos, North Aegean, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Lemnos, of which it is a municipal unit. It covers the west coast of the island, and has a land area of 82.049 square kilometres, about 17.2% of the island's area.

27 cruises

New York (Manhattan)

US East Coast & Canada

Start your Carnival cruise from the city that defined 'cosmopolitan': New York City. This urban island overflows with art and architecture, lively ethnic neighborhoods, designer shops... and the best restaurants in the world, from the ultra-high-end to the comfy neighborhood hole-in-the-wall. The top sights are clustered in Midtown Manhattan — you can easily check out Grand Central Terminal, shop on Fifth Avenue, and see the twinkling lights of Broadway® in Times Square on the same day. As your cruise leaving from New York glides down the Hudson River towards sunny islands or historic New England harbors, you'll pass metropolitan must-sees, world-renowned icons like the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty.

27 cruises

North Cape

Northern Europe & Baltic

While the Midnight Sun will soon dip below the horizon, Honningsvåg should be illuminated throughout the evening spent here. It's an awe-inspiring setting in northernmost Norway, surrounded by dense forests and fjords, inhabited by reindeer and held sacred by the indigenous Sami people. One of the world's most memorable, otherworldly experiences is standing atop the precipitous North Cape, the late-night sun eerily hanging over the Arctic Ocean. There is even a museum in town devoted to the North Cape. The area is also famous for the Gjesværstappan Nature Reserve, where literally millions of arctic birds flourish during the summer nesting period.

27 cruises

Port Elizabeth (Grenadines)

Caribbean & Bahamas

In the heart of the Caribbean, Bequia is the second-largest of 32 islands that make up the country of St Vincent and the Grenadines. You will love the lively and picturesque atmosphere of Port Elizabeth, the island’s main town. From the port, a promenade lined with beautiful traditional houses, landscaped gardens and small restaurants runs along the shoreline. It leads to Princess Margaret Beach, a wild beach where Princess Margaret herself has stayed and which seems to emerge directly from the tropical forest. From rainforest to lush meadows and long stretches of sand, Bequia will offer you a natural setting that is conducive to lovely walks and to spending time on the beach.

27 cruises

Praia, Cape Verde

Praia is the capital city of Cape Verde, which is off the coast of West Africa. The city is on the southern coast of Santiago Island. The old town center, called the “Plateau” by locals, is on a raised area overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Around the bay, beaches include Quebra Canela and Praínha, both near the Praínha neighborhood. Shops and restaurants cluster in the Achada de Santo António quarter.

27 cruises

St Louis, Missouri

St. Louis is a major city in Missouri along the Mississippi River. Its iconic, 630-ft. Gateway Arch, built in the 1960s, honors the early 19th-century explorations of Lewis and Clark and America's westward expansion in general. Replica paddlewheelers ply the river, offering views of the arch. The Soulard district is home to barbecue restaurants and clubs playing blues music.

27 cruises

Urubamba

South America

Urubamba is a town in the Sacred Valley region of southeastern Peru. A busy transportation hub, it sits on the Urubamba River, surrounded by rugged mountains. The town is a jumping-off point for the Maras Salt Mines, hundreds of hillside salt pools dating back to Inca times. Nearby, Moray is an Inca archaeological site defined by concentric terraces. Hang-gliding, paragliding and rafting are popular area activities.

27 cruises

Valence

Mediterranean

Valence is a city in southeast France. It’s home to St-Apollinaire Cathedral, dating from the 11th century. The Valence Museum offers art and archaeology displays, plus views over the Rhône Valley. Jouvet Park features canals and a rose garden. Carved heads adorn the 16th-century Maison des Têtes. Across the Rhône River are the medieval Château de Crussol and the Soyons Archaeological Site, with its caves and museum.

27 cruises

Burgundy

Northern Europe & Baltic

Burgundy is a historical region in east-central France. It's famous for its Burgundy wines as well as pinot noirs and Chardonnay, Chablis and Beaujolais. The area is crisscrossed by a network of canals and studded with grand châteaux, some now luxury hotels. The capital, Dijon, of mustard fame, is home to the imposing Palace of the Dukes, where the distinguished Musée des Beaux-Arts was established in 1787.

26 cruises

Dynjandi, Iceland

26 cruises

Elephant Island

Antarctica · Antarctica

Promising thrilling adventure, legendary tales and immaculate Antarctic beauty, Elephant Island is perhaps Antarctica’s best-known location. The exploits of its early explorers have immortalised this harsh, monochrome island in the tomes of human history. Believed to take its name from the elephant seals that early explorers spotted lolling on its rocks, the volcanic island was not properly explored until 1916 - when Ernest Shackleton and his men were stricken by the weather and sought salvation on its shores. Their story of survival, stranded in this barren land, is one of humanity’s most evocative and inspiring accounts. Elephant Island is written deep into the legend of Antarctic exploration, and you’ll discover Shackleton’s tale for yourself as you arrive in the island’s icy realm. The remarkable, slowly flowing Endurance Glacier - which you’ll see on arrival here - takes its name from their ship, The Endurance. Visit the monument that stands to Shackleton, often surrounded by a migrating crowd of tiny gentoo penguins, at Point Wild - the spot where he and his 28 crew members camped for four and a half months of Antarctic winter. Eventually, Shackleton and a handful of courageous others sailed for South Georgia Island, before returning to secure the rescue of the remaining crew members. Aside from sailing amid breathtaking winter vistas, witnessing incredible fauna and feeling the sheer rush of an adventure to the unknown - one of the true joys of any Antarctic cruise is to follow in the footsteps of the brave explorers who first sought out the alluring nectar of these dangerous, evocative landscapes. If this will be your first-time visiting Antarctica, read our blog explaining how you can prepare for the exploits ahead.

26 cruises

Ivittuut

Greenland

Ivittuut, formerly Ivigtût is an abandoned mining town near Cape Desolation in southwestern Greenland, in the modern Sermersooq municipality on the ruins of the former Norse Middle Settlement.

26 cruises

Krabi

Thailand · Asia

26 cruises

London

England · Northern Europe & Baltic

London is undoubtedly one of the world's greatest cities. With a population of nearly eight million, it is by far the largest city in Europe, spreading over an area of more than 620 square miles. In addition to numerous monuments from its past as a world empire, London is equally known for its pageantry and tradition. Though the city was heavily damaged during the Blitz of World War II, a surprising number of monuments were miraculously spared from destruction. Soon after the end of the war, England's capital began to prosper as never before. London has something for everyone - wide boulevards buzzing with excitement far into the night, quiet squares and explorable alleyways. Large expanses of greenery, such as Hyde Park, Green Park and St. James Park, are all within a few minutes' walk of the West End shops.The museums and galleries are as varied and rich as you will find anywhere. Monuments run the gamut from Roman ruins to sumptuous castles and opulent public buildings, representing the architecture of the triumphal British Empire. Many of these buildings were constructed in the 18th century and during the reign of Queen Victoria to reflect the city's status as the financial and administrative hub of a great empire. Today, London wears its 2,000 years of history with dignity. Alongside modern skyscrapers are remnants of the city's Roman wall. Norman London is evident in one of London's best-known landmarks, the Tower of London, whose origins date back to William the Conqueror.The city's oldest pub, a few medieval churches and the timbered Elizabethan façade of Staple Inn recall London before the Great Fire of 1666. Stately Georgian squares from the 18th century are preserved in the fashionable West End.

26 cruises