Royal Caribbean Destination Ports

Royal Caribbean visits over 300 destinations across all seven continents. These are the ports of call where you'll spend hours exploring, from private island paradises to ancient cities. Looking for where to start your cruise? Check out the departure ports on our Planning page.

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Private & Exclusive Destinations

Royal Caribbean's crown jewels — private islands and beach clubs designed exclusively for their guests.

Perfect Day at CocoCay (Bahamas)

Royal Caribbean's $250 million private island destination, transformed in 2019.

• Thrill Waterpark — Daredevil's Peak (135 ft slide), wave pool, kids' areas
• Oasis Lagoon — Largest freshwater pool in the Caribbean, swim-up bar
• Coco Beach Club — Over-water cabanas, infinity pool, upscale experience
• Up, Up and Away — Helium balloon 450 ft above island
• Zip Line — 1,600 ft across the island
• South Beach — Free beach area, volleyball, floating mats
• Chill Island — Quieter beach, hammocks, cabana rentals
• Snorkel Beach — Calm waters, equipment rentals

Note: No tenders required — ships dock directly. Most Oasis and Quantum-class ships visit.

Labadee (Haiti)

Royal Caribbean's original private destination on Haiti's secluded north coast since 1986.

• Dragon's Breath — World's longest zip line over water (2,600 ft)
• Dragon's Tail Coaster — Alpine coaster down the mountain
• Arawak Aqua Park — Floating trampolines, slides in the bay
• Columbus Cove — Calmer beach, better for families
• Barefoot Beach — Main beach with chair rentals
• Nellie's Beach — Exclusive cabanas, butler service
• Artisan's Market — Local Haitian crafts and art

Tip: Book Dragon's Breath early — it sells out. Labadee is fenced and secure; you won't interact with Haiti beyond.

Royal Beach Club Collection (Coming 2025-2027)

New premium beach club destinations expanding the private experience.

• Royal Beach Club Paradise Island (Nassau, Bahamas) — Opening 2025, partnership with Bahamas government
• Royal Beach Club Cozumel (Mexico) — Announced for 2026
• Royal Beach Club Antigua — Announced for 2027

Beach clubs offer day-pass access with pools, beaches, food & beverage — a hybrid between port call and private island.

Caribbean & Bahamas

Royal Caribbean's bread and butter — year-round sailings from Florida, Texas, and beyond. Ships deployed: Wonder, Utopia, Harmony, Allure, Symphony, Freedom, Liberty, Independence, Mariner, Navigator, Voyager, Grandeur, Vision, Enchantment, Radiance, Brilliance, and more.

Bahamas & Turks/Caicos

• Nassau — Atlantis day passes, downtown shopping, Junkanoo Beach
• Freeport/Lucaya — Port Lucaya Marketplace, Garden of the Groves
• Bimini — Close to Miami, excellent fishing, Resorts World
• Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos — Pristine beaches, excellent diving, tender port

Florida Keys & Bermuda

• Key West, Florida — Duval Street, Hemingway House, sunset celebration
• Bermuda (Kings Wharf) — Pink sand beaches, British charm, multi-day stays common

Eastern Caribbean

• St. Thomas, USVI — Charlotte Amalie duty-free shopping, Magens Bay
• St. John, USVI — Trunk Bay, Virgin Islands National Park
• St. Croix, USVI — Christiansted, Buck Island snorkeling
• St. Maarten/St. Martin — Philipsburg (Dutch), Marigot (French), Maho Beach
• San Juan, Puerto Rico — Old San Juan forts, no passport needed, home port
• Samaná, Dominican Republic — Whale watching (Jan-Mar), waterfalls, remote beaches
• Tortola, BVI — The Baths at Virgin Gorda, Cane Garden Bay
• Virgin Gorda, BVI — The Baths granite boulders
• St. Kitts — Brimstone Hill Fortress, scenic railway
• Antigua — Nelson's Dockyard, 365 beaches, Shirley Heights
• St. Lucia — The Pitons, drive-in volcano, mud baths
• Barbados — Harrison's Cave, Mount Gay rum, Bridgetown
• Martinique — French culture, Mount Pelée, rum distilleries
• Guadeloupe — Butterfly-shaped island, La Soufrière volcano
• Dominica — Nature isle, waterfalls, Boiling Lake hike

Western Caribbean

• Cozumel, Mexico — Snorkeling capital, Mayan ruins, multiple piers
• Costa Maya, Mexico — Beach clubs, quieter than Cozumel, Mayan ruins
• Progreso, Mexico — Gateway to Mérida and Chichén Itzá
• Roatán, Honduras — Affordable excursions, sloth sanctuaries, West Bay Beach
• Belize City — Tender port, Mayan ruins at Altun Ha, cave tubing
• Harvest Caye, Belize — NCL private destination (not RCL)
• George Town, Grand Cayman — Stingray City, Seven Mile Beach, tender port
• Ocho Rios, Jamaica — Dunn's River Falls, Mystic Mountain
• Falmouth, Jamaica — RCL-built pier, Georgian architecture, Dunn's River accessible
• Montego Bay, Jamaica — Hip Strip shopping, Doctor's Cave Beach

Southern Caribbean

Deeper sailings from San Juan or Barbados — typically 7+ nights reaching the ABC islands and South America.

• Aruba — Eagle Beach, Natural Pool, consistent weather
• Curaçao — Colorful Willemstad (UNESCO), Hato Caves
• Bonaire — World-class diving/snorkeling, flamingo sanctuary
• Grenada — Spice island, Grand Anse Beach, nutmeg tours
• Trinidad — Pitch Lake, Port of Spain, Carnival culture
• Tobago — Pigeon Point, rainforest, quieter sibling
• Cartagena, Colombia — Walled city (UNESCO), vibrant culture
• Santa Marta, Colombia — Gateway to Tayrona Park
• Kralendijk, Bonaire — Shore diving capital

Panama Canal & Central America

• Panama Canal Transit — Engineering marvel, locks experience, full or partial transits

Deployment note: Utopia of the Seas (2024) joins Wonder in Port Canaveral. Freedom, Liberty, Independence rotate Galveston/Port Canaveral. Grandeur operates shorter Bahamas runs from Baltimore.

Alaska

May through September season. Ships deployed: Ovation of the Seas (Seattle), Quantum of the Seas, Radiance of the Seas (Vancouver), Serenade of the Seas (Vancouver/Seward), Brilliance of the Seas.

Primary Ports

• Juneau — State capital, Mendenhall Glacier, whale watching. No roads in/out.
• Ketchikan — "Salmon Capital," totem poles, Creek Street. Rainiest Alaska city.
• Skagway — Gold Rush history, White Pass & Yukon Railway, walkable town.
• Sitka — Russian heritage, Raptor Center, less crowded feel.
• Victoria, BC — Butchart Gardens, afternoon tea, British charm.
• Icy Strait Point — Hoonah village, world's largest zip line (ZipRider), whale watching.
• Haines — Eagles, bears, less crowded alternative to Skagway.

Turnaround Ports (Embark/Debark)

• Seattle, Washington — Year-round home port, Space Needle, Pike Place
• Vancouver, BC — Canada Place pier, Stanley Park, diverse food scene
• Seward, Alaska — For Anchorage cruisetours, Kenai Fjords access
• Whittier, Alaska — Cruisetour embarkation, gateway to Anchorage via tunnel

Scenic Cruising (No Dock)

• Glacier Bay — National Park, rangers board ship, Margerie Glacier calving
• Hubbard Glacier — Largest tidewater glacier in North America, spectacular calving
• Tracy Arm/Endicott Arm — Twin Sawyer glaciers, steep fjord walls, icebergs
• Inside Passage — Protected waterway, wildlife spotting, forest scenery

Cruisetour Extensions

Royal Caribbean offers land packages before/after Alaska sailings:

• Denali National Park — Mt. Denali (20,310 ft), wildlife tours
• Fairbanks — Gold panning, pipeline viewing, northern lights (shoulder season)
• Anchorage — Urban Alaska, museums, wildlife center, glacier day trips

Tip: Book excursions early — helicopter glacier landings and bear viewing sell out months ahead. Ovation offers the newest ship experience from Seattle.

Canada & New England

Fall foliage season (September–October) is prime time. Ships deployed: Serenade of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas, Adventure of the Seas from Cape Liberty/Boston/Quebec.

New England Ports

• Boston, Massachusetts — Freedom Trail, Faneuil Hall, home port
• Bar Harbor, Maine — Acadia National Park, lobster, tender port
• Portland, Maine — Foodie scene, lighthouses, Old Port district
• Newport, Rhode Island — Gilded Age mansions, sailing heritage
• Cape Cod (Provincetown) — Pilgrim Monument, whale watching
• Martha's Vineyard — Gingerbread cottages, tender port

Canadian Maritimes

• Halifax, Nova Scotia — Peggy's Cove, Titanic cemetery, maritime museums
• Saint John, New Brunswick — Reversing Falls, Bay of Fundy tides
• Sydney, Nova Scotia — Big Fiddle, Cabot Trail gateway
• Charlottetown, PEI — Anne of Green Gables, lobster suppers

St. Lawrence River

• Quebec City — Château Frontenac, Old Quebec (UNESCO), French Canada
• Montreal — Mount Royal, Notre-Dame Basilica, bagels vs. NYC
• Saguenay — Fjord scenery, whale watching

Tip: Fall foliage peaks mid-September in Quebec, early October in New England. Pack layers — temperatures can vary 30°F between ports.

Hawaii

Royal Caribbean visits Hawaii on longer Pacific voyages and repositioning cruises — typically 14–18 nights from the West Coast. Not to be confused with NCL's inter-island Hawaii cruises.

Major Ports

• Honolulu, Oahu — Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head
• Maui (Lahaina/Kahului) — Road to Hana, Haleakala sunrise, whale watching (seasonal)
• Kona, Big Island — Coffee farms, active volcanoes, manta ray night dives
• Hilo, Big Island — Rainbow Falls, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park access
• Kauai (Nawiliwili) — Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, Garden Isle

Note: Jones Act requires foreign-flagged ships to visit a non-US port (like Ensenada) on round-trip voyages from the mainland. Most Hawaii cruises are one-way repositioning sailings.

Mexican Riviera

Pacific coast cruises primarily from Los Angeles. Ships deployed seasonally: Navigator of the Seas operates year-round from LA with some Mexican Riviera sailings.

• Cabo San Lucas — El Arco rock formation, tender port, beach clubs, whale watching
• Puerto Vallarta — Malecón boardwalk, old town, zip lines, Marietas Islands
• Mazatlán — Historic centro, cliff divers, Golden Zone beaches
• Ensenada — Wine country (Valle de Guadalupe), La Bufadora blowhole

Deployment note: Mexican Riviera sailings are often 3–5 night "short getaways" from LA. Panama Canal repositioning cruises may also call at Huatulco and Puerto Chiapas.

Mediterranean

April through November season. Ships deployed: Allure of the Seas (Barcelona), Odyssey of the Seas (Rome), Brilliance of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas. History, culture, cuisine — and intense crowds at major sites.

Western Mediterranean

• Barcelona, Spain — Sagrada Familia, La Rambla, Gaudí architecture, major home port
• Civitavecchia (Rome) — 90-min transfer to Rome, Vatican, Colosseum — book early
• Naples, Italy — Pompeii, Amalfi Coast, original pizza, Sorrento
• Livorno (Florence/Pisa) — 90-min to Florence, 30-min to Pisa's tower
• La Spezia, Italy — Cinque Terre gateway, train to five villages
• Genoa, Italy — Columbus' birthplace, aquarium, Portofino nearby
• Marseille, France — Old port, Provence lavender fields
• Nice/Villefranche, France — French Riviera, Monaco day trip
• Cannes, France — Film festival site, tender port
• Palma de Mallorca, Spain — Gothic cathedral, old town, beach day
• Ibiza, Spain — Old town (Dalt Vila), beaches, nightlife
• Málaga, Spain — Picasso museum, Marbella day trips
• Cartagena, Spain — Roman theater, tapas, walkable
• Cádiz, Spain — Ancient city, cathedral, fried fish
• Gibraltar, UK — The Rock, Barbary macaques, duty-free

Eastern Mediterranean & Greek Isles

• Piraeus (Athens) — Acropolis, Parthenon, Plaka district, home port
• Santorini, Greece — Caldera views, Oia sunset, tender or cable car
• Mykonos, Greece — Windmills, Little Venice, party scene
• Rhodes, Greece — Medieval old town, Lindos acropolis
• Crete (Heraklion) — Knossos palace, Minoan civilization
• Corfu, Greece — Venetian architecture, lush and green
• Kusadasi, Turkey — Ephesus ruins, carpet shopping, haggling
• Istanbul, Turkey — Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar

Adriatic & Croatia

• Dubrovnik, Croatia — Game of Thrones filming, walk the walls
• Split, Croatia — Diocletian's Palace, Adriatic beauty
• Kotor, Montenegro — Dramatic fjord approach, medieval old town
• Koper, Slovenia — Istrian peninsula, wine region, Venice day trip
• Venice/Ravenna, Italy — St. Mark's, canals (ships now use Ravenna)
• Ravenna, Italy — Byzantine mosaics (UNESCO), Dante's tomb
• Trieste, Italy — Coffee culture, Miramare Castle
• Zadar, Croatia — Sea Organ, Roman ruins

Corsica & Monaco

• Ajaccio, Corsica — Napoleon's birthplace, French Mediterranean island
• Monte Carlo, Monaco — Casino, Formula 1 circuit, opulence
• Taormina, Sicily — Greek theater, Etna views, resort town (via Messina)
• Amalfi Coast — Positano, Ravello, coastal beauty (via Naples or Salerno)

Other Mediterranean

• Valletta, Malta — Knights of Malta, honey-colored stone, film location
• Messina, Sicily — Taormina, Mt. Etna, Greek theater
• Catania, Sicily — Mt. Etna access, baroque architecture
• Cagliari, Sardinia — Poetto Beach, flamingos
• Haifa, Israel — Holy Land tours, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv
• Limassol, Cyprus — Kourion ruins, wine villages
• Alexandria/Port Said, Egypt — Pyramids, Cairo day trips

Tip: Ship-sponsored excursions guarantee return to ship. Independent touring requires careful timing — traffic in Rome/Florence can be brutal.

Atlantic Europe

Portugal, Spain's Atlantic coast, France's Atlantic/Channel ports, and Low Countries. Often featured on transatlantic and repositioning cruises.

Portugal

• Lisbon — Belém Tower, Jerónimos Monastery, pastéis de nata, trams
• Porto — Port wine cellars, Ribeira district, Dom Luís Bridge

Spain Atlantic Coast

• Vigo — Galician seafood, Cíes Islands, Santiago de Compostela day trip
• La Coruña — Tower of Hercules, tapas, Atlantic beaches
• Bilbao — Guggenheim Museum, Basque cuisine, old town
• Valencia — City of Arts & Sciences, paella birthplace, beaches

France Atlantic & Channel

• Bordeaux — Wine capital, Port de la Lune (UNESCO), elegant architecture
• Le Havre — Gateway to Paris (3 hours), Normandy beaches, modern architecture
• Cherbourg — Normandy, D-Day beaches, Mont Saint-Michel access
• Honfleur — Picturesque harbor, Normandy charm, artists' town

North Africa Atlantic

• Casablanca, Morocco — Hassan II Mosque, medina, Rick's Café
• Tangier, Morocco — Gateway between Europe and Africa, kasbah, markets
• Tunis, Tunisia — Ancient Carthage, medina, Bardo Museum

Low Countries & English Channel

• Amsterdam, Netherlands — Canals, museums, Anne Frank House, cycling culture
• Zeebrugge (Bruges), Belgium — Medieval Bruges (UNESCO), chocolate, lace
• Dover, England — White Cliffs, Canterbury, London day trips

Transatlantic note: Many repositioning cruises between Med and Caribbean call at Azores, Madeira, or Canary Islands for fuel/provisions.

Northern Europe & Baltic

May through September season. Ships deployed: Anthem of the Seas (Southampton), Jewel of the Seas, Explorer of the Seas. Long summer days mean extended port hours.

Scandinavia & Baltic Capitals

• Copenhagen, Denmark — Tivoli Gardens, Little Mermaid, Nyhavn, home port
• Stockholm, Sweden — Vasa Museum, Gamla Stan, archipelago approach
• Gothenburg, Sweden — Liseberg amusement park, canal tours, Haga district
• Oslo, Norway — Viking ships, Vigeland Park, Opera House roof
• Helsinki, Finland — Design district, Rock Church, Suomenlinna
• Tallinn, Estonia — Best-preserved medieval old town, affordable
• Riga, Latvia — Art Nouveau architecture, Central Market
• Gdańsk, Poland — Amber capital, WWII history, Long Market
• Warnemünde (Berlin) — 3-hour transfer to Berlin, beach resort
• Kiel, Germany — Canal transit point, maritime museums
• St. Petersburg, Russia — Hermitage, Catherine Palace (sailings suspended since 2022)

Norwegian Fjords

• Norwegian Fjords Overview — Comprehensive guide to fjord cruising
• Bergen, Norway — Gateway to fjords, Bryggen wharf (UNESCO), fish market
• Geiranger, Norway — UNESCO fjord, Seven Sisters waterfall, tender port
• Flåm, Norway — Flåm Railway (world's steepest), Aurlandsfjord
• Ålesund, Norway — Art Nouveau architecture rebuilt after 1904 fire
• Stavanger, Norway — Old Stavanger, Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) hike
• Olden/Nordfjord — Briksdal Glacier access
• Tromsø, Norway — Arctic gateway, Northern Lights (shoulder season)
• Honningsvåg (North Cape) — Northernmost point in Europe accessible by ship

British Isles

• Southampton, England — Major home port, 90 min to London
• Scotland Overview — Comprehensive guide to Scottish ports & highlands
• Edinburgh (Queensferry/Leith) — Castle, Royal Mile, Arthur's Seat
• Glasgow (Greenock) — Loch Lomond, Scottish Highlands
• Dublin, Ireland — Guinness Storehouse, Temple Bar, Book of Kells
• Waterford, Ireland — Medieval city, crystal factory, Viking Triangle
• Cork (Cobh), Ireland — Blarney Castle, Titanic's last port
• Belfast, Northern Ireland — Titanic Belfast, Giant's Causeway day trip
• Holyhead, Wales — Gateway to Snowdonia, Anglesey coastal walks
• Liverpool, England — Beatles history, Albert Dock
• Newcastle, England — Geordie culture, Hadrian's Wall, Angel of the North
• Portland/Weymouth, England — Jurassic Coast, tender port
• Invergordon, Scotland — Loch Ness day trips, whisky
• Kirkwall, Orkney — Neolithic sites, Skara Brae
• Lerwick, Shetland — Norse heritage, puffins

Iceland & North Atlantic

• Reykjavik, Iceland — Golden Circle, Blue Lagoon, whale watching
• Akureyri, Iceland — Northern capital, Godafoss waterfall, Mývatn
• Ísafjörður, Iceland — Westfjords, Arctic fox center
• Tórshavn, Faroe Islands — Grass-roofed houses, dramatic cliffs

Note: St. Petersburg, Russia sailings suspended since 2022. Baltic itineraries now feature more time in Estonia, Latvia, Poland as alternatives.

Asia-Pacific

Growing market with Spectrum of the Seas (Shanghai) and Quantum of the Seas (Singapore). Year-round sailings in Southeast Asia; seasonal in Japan/China.

Southeast Asia

• Singapore — Gardens by the Bay, hawker centers, Marina Bay Sands, home port
• Penang, Malaysia — George Town (UNESCO), street food capital
• Langkawi, Malaysia — Duty-free island, cable car, beaches
• Kuala Lumpur (Port Klang) — Petronas Towers, Batu Caves
• Phuket, Thailand — Beaches, Phi Phi Islands, Big Buddha
• Ko Samui, Thailand — Beach resort island, temples
• Bangkok (Laem Chabang) — Grand Palace, temples, 2+ hour transfer
• Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels
• Nha Trang, Vietnam — Beach resort, Po Nagar Cham towers
• Halong Bay, Vietnam — Limestone karsts (UNESCO), scenic cruising
• Bali (Benoa), Indonesia — Temples, rice terraces, Ubud
• Jakarta, Indonesia — Historic old town, culture

East Asia

• Hong Kong — Victoria Peak, Star Ferry, dim sum
• Shanghai, China — Bund, Yu Garden, Pudong skyline, home port
• Beijing (Tianjin) — Great Wall, Forbidden City, 2.5-hour transfer, cruise port for Beijing
• Busan, South Korea — Jagalchi Market, Gamcheon Culture Village
• Incheon (Seoul) — Palaces, DMZ tours, K-culture
• Jeju Island, Korea — Volcanic island, waterfalls, women divers

Japan

• Tokyo (Yokohama) — Shibuya, temples, sushi, anime
• Kobe, Japan — Beef, sake, Arima Onsen
• Osaka, Japan — Street food, Osaka Castle, Dotonbori, gateway to Kyoto
• Kyoto (via Osaka/Kobe) — Ancient capital, 1000+ temples
• Nagasaki, Japan — Peace Park, Glover Garden
• Hakodate, Japan — Night view, morning fish market
• Okinawa, Japan — Beaches, aquarium, Shuri Castle
• Kagoshima, Japan — Active Sakurajima volcano
• Hiroshima (Kure) — Peace Memorial, Miyajima island

Deployment note: Spectrum of the Seas is purpose-built for Chinese market with mahjong rooms, Chinese specialty restaurants. Quantum alternates Singapore/Australia seasonally.

Australia & New Zealand

October through April season (Southern Hemisphere summer). Ships deployed: Ovation of the Seas (Sydney), Quantum of the Seas (seasonal), Radiance of the Seas.

Australia

• Sydney — Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, home port
• Melbourne — Laneways, coffee culture, Great Ocean Road
• Brisbane — Gateway to Gold Coast and Australia Zoo
• Cairns — Great Barrier Reef, Daintree Rainforest
• Hobart, Tasmania — MONA museum, wilderness, history
• Adelaide — Wine regions (Barossa, McLaren Vale)
• Fremantle (Perth) — Historic port, Rottnest Island quokkas
• Darwin — Kakadu gateway, crocodiles, Top End
• Airlie Beach — Whitsunday Islands, sailing
• Port Arthur, Tasmania — Convict settlement, dark history

New Zealand

• Auckland — City of Sails, Sky Tower, Hobbiton day trip
• Wellington — Te Papa museum, windy capital, craft beer
• Christchurch (Lyttelton) — Garden city, rebuild after earthquakes
• Dunedin — Scottish heritage, albatross colony, Larnach Castle
• Napier — Art Deco capital, Hawke's Bay wine
• Tauranga — Mount Maunganui, Hobbiton access
• Rotorua — Geothermal, Maori culture (via Tauranga)
• Bay of Islands — Dolphin cruises, Waitangi Treaty Grounds

Scenic Cruising New Zealand

• Milford Sound — Fiordland's crown jewel, waterfalls, peaks
• Doubtful Sound — Less visited, deeper, wilder
• Akaroa — French settlement, Hector's dolphins

Tip: Ovation of the Seas is the largest ship in Australian waters. Book popular excursions (Hobbiton, Great Barrier Reef) well in advance.

South Pacific & Transpacific

Exotic island destinations and bucket-list crossings. Repositioning cruises between Australia and US West Coast transit these islands.

South Pacific Islands

Read our detailed South Pacific Islands guide →

• Fiji (Suva/Lautoka) — Bula spirit, island-hopping, resorts
• Bora Bora, French Polynesia — Lagoon perfection, overwater bungalows
• Papeete, Tahiti — French Polynesia capital, black pearls, market
• Moorea, French Polynesia — Tahiti's sister island, jaw-dropping beauty
• Nouméa, New Caledonia — French culture, lagoons (UNESCO)
• Vanuatu (Port Vila) — Active volcano, culture villages, diving
• Samoa (Apia) — Polynesian culture, waterfalls
• Tonga — Whale swimming (seasonal), ancient kingdom

Transpacific Crossings

Repositioning cruises connecting Australia/New Zealand to Hawaii and US West Coast — typically 14–21 nights.

• Multiple sea days — Perfect for relaxation, enrichment programs
• Crossing the International Date Line — Skip a day (westbound) or repeat one (eastbound)
• Often visits: Fiji, French Polynesia, American Samoa, or Hawaii en route

Tip: Transpacific repositioning cruises offer excellent value per night. Pack for varying climates — you'll experience multiple seasons.

South America & Antarctica

November through March season (Southern Hemisphere summer). Ships deployed: Serenade of the Seas, Vision of the Seas for South America circuits.

East Coast South America

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf, Copacabana
• Buenos Aires, Argentina — Tango, steak, La Boca, Recoleta Cemetery
• Montevideo, Uruguay — Old city, rambla waterfront, relaxed pace
• São Paulo (Santos), Brazil — Coffee history, metropolis gateway
• Ilhabela, Brazil — Island beaches, waterfalls
• Búzios, Brazil — Former fishing village, Bardot's playground
• Punta del Este, Uruguay — Upscale beach resort, La Mano sculpture

West Coast South America & Patagonia

• Santiago (Valparaíso), Chile — Hillside funiculars, street art, wine
• Lima (Callao), Peru — Ceviche capital, Larco Museum, Miraflores
• Puerto Montt, Chile — Lake District gateway, salmon, German heritage
• Punta Arenas, Chile — Penguin colonies, Strait of Magellan
• Ushuaia, Argentina — "End of the World," Tierra del Fuego, Antarctica gateway
• Cape Horn — Scenic cruising (weather permitting), maritime legend

Chilean Fjords (Scenic Cruising)

• Chilean Fjords — Dramatic scenery comparable to Alaska/Norway
• Strait of Magellan — Historic passage between Atlantic and Pacific
• Glacier Alley — Multiple glaciers along Beagle Channel

Antarctica

Royal Caribbean offers expedition-style Antarctic cruises from November through February.

• Antarctic Peninsula — Icebergs, penguins, seals, whales
• Drake Passage — Notoriously rough crossing from South America
• South Shetland Islands — Research stations, wildlife colonies

Note: Antarctica is bucket-list cruising. Ships must navigate pack ice, landings depend on weather. Zodiac excursions common. Bring warm, waterproof layers.

Ultimate World Cruise

Royal Caribbean's 274-night Ultimate World Cruise (2023–2024 on Serenade of the Seas) visited 65 countries, 150 destinations across all seven continents.

Notable Ports of Call

• Antarctica — Peninsula cruise from Ushuaia
• Easter Island, Chile — Moai statues, remote Polynesian culture
• Pitcairn Island — Mutiny on the Bounty descendants
• Aitutaki, Cook Islands — One of the world's most beautiful lagoons
• Papua New Guinea — Tribal culture, WWII history
• Sri Lanka (Colombo) — Ancient temples, wildlife, tea plantations
• Maldives (Malé) — Overwater paradise, snorkeling
• Madagascar (Nosy Be) — Lemurs, unique ecosystems
• Mauritius — Beaches, colonial history, rum
• Seychelles — Granite islands, giant tortoises
• Zanzibar, Tanzania — Spice island, Stone Town
• Cape Town, South Africa — Table Mountain, penguins, wine
• Namibia (Walvis Bay) — Dunes, desert, wildlife
• St. Helena — Napoleon's exile, remote Atlantic
• Canary Islands — Spanish archipelago, volcanic landscapes

Voyage Highlights

• Duration: 9 months circumnavigating Earth
• Continents: All seven, including Antarctica
• Countries: 65 nations
• Destinations: 150+ ports of call
• Ship: Serenade of the Seas (Radiance class)

The Ultimate World Cruise sold out in one day. Future world cruises expected — watch for announcements. Segments bookable separately for those who can't do the full voyage.

Embarkation Ports

These are the turnaround ports where cruises begin and end — where you'll board and disembark your ship. For detailed airport info, drive times, and lodging tips, visit our Planning page departure selector.

U.S. East Coast & Gulf

• PortMiami, Florida — Cruise capital of the world, widest itinerary selection
• Port Everglades, Florida — Fort Lauderdale, quick FLL airport hop
• Port Canaveral, Florida — Space Coast, Orlando access via SR-528
• Port Tampa Bay, Florida — Compact terminals, waterfront hotels nearby
• Galveston, Texas — Major Texas home port, short Western Caribbean runs
• New Orleans, Louisiana — Walkable French Quarter, Caribbean sailings
• Mobile, Alabama — Compact and friendly drive-market port
• Cape Liberty, New Jersey — Bayonne, NYC skyline sail-aways
• Baltimore, Maryland — Mid-Atlantic hub, Bermuda/Bahamas runs
• Norfolk, Virginia — Naval heritage, Virginia Beach access, seasonal sailings
• Boston, Massachusetts — Canada/New England gateway, fall foliage season

U.S. West Coast

• Los Angeles (San Pedro), California — Mexican Riviera and Pacific sailings
• San Diego, California — Downtown-adjacent, walkable waterfront
• Seattle, Washington — Alaska gateway, year-round home port

Caribbean Home Ports

• San Juan, Puerto Rico — Deep Caribbean itineraries, no passport needed for U.S. citizens

Alaska Turnaround Ports

• Seward, Alaska — Cruisetour connection, Kenai Fjords access
• Whittier, Alaska — Anchorage gateway via tunnel

Canada

• Vancouver, British Columbia — Premier Alaska gateway, spectacular Lions Gate sail-away

Europe

• Barcelona, Spain — Major Mediterranean home port
• Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy — Rome cruises embarkation
• Piraeus (Athens), Greece — Greek Isles and Eastern Med hub
• Southampton, England — British Isles and transatlantic cruises
• Copenhagen, Denmark — Northern Europe and Baltic gateway

Asia

• Singapore — Southeast Asia home port, Gardens by the Bay
• Shanghai, China — Quantum-class hub, Bund skyline

Australia

• Sydney, Australia — Opera House sail-away, world's best departure
• Brisbane, Australia — Queensland gateway, purpose-built terminal
• Melbourne, Australia — Station Pier, historic waterfront

Tip: Always arrive the day before embarkation when possible. Weather, flight delays, and traffic can turn a same-day arrival into a missed ship.

Complete Port Directory — All 380 Destinations

Every cruise port with destination highlights. All ports link to detailed guides with local tips, accessibility information, and insider recommendations.

Caribbean & Bahamas (42 ports)

• Amber Cove — Amber Cove is Carnival's purpose-built Dominican Republic port with a massive...
• Antigua — Antigua cruise port guide featuring Nelson's Dockyard UNESCO site, 365 beache...
• Aruba — Aruba cruise port guide featuring Eagle Beach, Oranjestad Dutch colonial down...
• Barbados — Barbados — UNESCO World Heritage Bridgetown, Mount Gay distillery (1703), St ...
• Belize City — Belize is the port where you skip the city and go full adventure – cave tubin...
• Bermuda — Bermuda delivers pink sand shores at Horseshoe Bay, British-Caribbean charm, ...
• Bonaire — Bonaire is the Caribbean's diver's paradise – 85+ dive sites with 100+ feet v...
• Cartagena — Cartagena's walled city is a UNESCO jewel box of colonial architecture, color...
• Costa Maya — Costa Maya is the perfect "Mayan Riviera meets chill beach town" day—crystal-...
• Cozumel — Mexico's Premier — Cozumel — snorkeling, beach clubs, Mayan culture, and why it's the Caribbean'...
• Curaçao — Curaçao has the prettiest port entrance in the Caribbean with Handelskade's r...
• Dominica (Waitukubuli) — Waitukubuli – "tall is her body" – Dominica is the Nature Island with 9 activ...
• Freeport (Grand Bahama) — Freeport on Grand Bahama offers pristine Gold Rock Beach, excellent snorkelin...
• Grand Cayman — Grand Cayman delivers Stingray City sandbar (bucket list!
• Grand Turk — Grand Turk delivers the postcard Caribbean fantasy: turquoise water so clear ...
• Grenada — Grenada produces 1/3 of the world's nutmeg and is the true Spice Isle.
• Guadeloupe — Guadeloupe is a butterfly-shaped island paradise where an active volcano meet...
• Harvest Caye — Harvest Caye port guide — Norwegian Cruise Line's 75-acre private island in B...
• Jamaica (Falmouth) — Jamaica is all about Dunn's River Falls climbing, Blue Hole cliff jumping, an...
• Key West — Key West is quirky, colorful, and 100% unfiltered America with roosters roami...
• Labadee — Royal Caribbean's Private Haiti Destination — Labadee is Royal Caribbean's original private destination on Haiti's secluded...
• Martinique — Martinique is France in the Caribbean – use euros, speak French, and explore ...
• Montego Bay — Montego Bay — legendary Doctor's Cave Beach healing waters, Hip Strip tourist...
• Nassau — Nassau delivers Atlantis Aquaventure thrills, gorgeous Cabbage Beach, duty-fr...
• Ocho Rios — Ocho Rios, Jamaica — climbing the iconic 180-foot Dunn's River Falls, Mystic ...
• Perfect Day at CocoCay — Royal Caribbean's Private Island — Perfect Day at CocoCay is Royal Caribbean's $250 million private island parad...
• Philipsburg / St. Maarten — Complete cruise guide to Philipsburg, St.
• Port Canaveral — Port Canaveral is where America's space program meets the sea — 15 miles from...
• Port Everglades — Fort Lauderdale's world-class cruise hub with one of cruising's best airport-...
• PortMiami — The Cruise Capital of the World with stunning new terminals — South Beach, Li...
• Progreso — Progreso is your gateway to Chichen Itza—one of the New Seven Wonders of the ...
• Roatán — Roatán is the port everyone underestimates and falls in love with — West Bay ...
• Royal Beach Club Paradise Island Guide — Royal Caribbean's Nassau Beach Club — Royal Beach Club Paradise Island is Royal Caribbean's premium private beach d...
• Samaná — Samaná Bay in whale season (mid-January to late March) offers the most reliab...
• San Juan — San Juan is my favorite walkable port — step off the ship into a 500-year-old...
• St. Barts — St.
• St. Kitts — The first West Indian island colonized by Europeans (1623), St. Kitts offers ...
• St. Lucia — St.
• St. Maarten — St. Maarten is a dual-nation island with Maho Beach jet-blast plane spotting ...
• St. Thomas — St. Thomas is my absolute favorite Caribbean day — Magens Bay (top-10 beach i...
• Tortola — Tortola – "Land of the Turtle Dove" and the Sailing Capital of the Caribbean ...
• Virgin Gorda — The Baths at Virgin Gorda is the single most spectacular beach formation in t...

Alaska (14 ports)

• Anchorage — Anchorage is Alaska's gateway city — ships dock at Seward (2.
• Endicott Arm & Dawes Glacier Guide — Alaska — Endicott Arm is a spectacular 30-mile Alaskan fjord ending at Dawes Glacier—o...
• Glacier Bay — Alaska's Crown Jewel Scenic Cruising — Glacier Bay is the crown jewel of Alaska cruising — 65 miles of fjord, 15 tid...
• Haines — Alaska's Hidden Gem for Eagles & Wilderness — Haines is Alaska's hidden gem — home to the world's largest bald eagle gather...
• Hubbard Glacier — North America's Largest Tidewater Glacier — Hubbard Glacier is North America's largest tidewater glacier — a 6-mile wall ...
• Icy Strait Point — Alaska's Authentic Tlingit Port — Icy Strait Point is Alaska's most authentic cruise experience — 100% Huna Tli...
• Juneau — Alaska's Adventure Capital — Juneau is Alaska's capital and adventure heart — Mendenhall Glacier, legendar...
• Ketchikan — Alaska's First City — Ketchikan is Alaska's First City and most walkable cruise port — Creek Street...
• Seward — Gateway to Kenai Fjords & Alaska's Best Wildlife — Seward is the gateway to Kenai Fjords National Park — offering what many call...
• Sitka — Russian America & Wildlife — Sitka blends Russian onion domes with Tlingit totems, sea otters floating in ...
• Skagway — Gold Rush Gateway — Skagway is pure 1898 Gold Rush fever frozen in time — the legendary White Pas...
• Tracy Arm Fjord Guide — Alaska's Narrow Glacier Wonder — Tracy Arm is a stunning alternative to Glacier Bay—a narrow 30-mile fjord wit...
• Victoria BC — Victoria is the perfect civilized bookend — Butchart Gardens in full bloom, h...
• Whittier — Whittier is bizarre (everyone lives in one Soviet-looking building) but Princ...

Mexican Riviera (8 ports)

• Acapulco — Acapulco is Mexico's legendary Pacific resort — don't miss the iconic La Queb...
• Cabo San Lucas — Cabo San Lucas is where desert cliffs plunge into two seas at the iconic Land...
• Ensenada — Ensenada cruise port guide featuring Valle de Guadalupe wine country, La Bufa...
• Huatulco — Huatulco is Mexico's eco-planned coastal paradise—nine protected bays with pr...
• Manzanillo — Manzanillo is Mexico's authentic Pacific coast experience—world-class sailfis...
• Mazatlan — Mazatlan—the "Pearl of the Pacific"—offers both Golden Zone beach resort vibe...
• Puerto Vallarta — Puerto Vallarta is Pacific Mexico's most walkable and culturally rich cruise ...
• Zihuatanejo — Zihuatanejo is the authentic Mexican fishing village Andy Dufresne dreamed ab...

Mediterranean (59 ports)

• Ajaccio (Corsica) — Ajaccio is Napoleon's birthplace, rich with history, art, and Corsican charm.
• Amalfi (Salerno) — Salerno is the smart gateway to the Amalfi Coast – Positano, Amalfi, and Rave...
• Athens (Piraeus) — Athens cruise port guide featuring the Acropolis, Parthenon, Ancient Agora, P...
• Barcelona — Barcelona is a major embarkation port and Mediterranean highlight.
• Bodrum, Turkey — Bodrum, Turkey — ancient Halicarnassus, the Mausoleum (Seven Wonders of the A...
• Bordeaux — Bordeaux is golden stone, grand boulevards, and the wine capital of the world...
• Cadiz — Cádiz is the oldest continuously inhabited city in Western Europe, founded by...
• Cagliari (Sardinia) — Cagliari is Sardinia's ancient capital (154,000 souls) built on Neolithic fou...
• Cannes — Cannes is red carpets, rosé on the beach, and the Croisette promenade that ma...
• Capri, Italy — Capri — Blue Grotto sea cave with glowing azure water, Monte Solaro panoramas...
• Cartagena, Spain — Cartagena is a perfectly preserved Roman theater, Art Nouveau buildings, and ...
• Catania — Catania is the "Black Baroque" city — born Greek in 729 BC, destroyed by Etna...
• Cephalonia (Kefalonia), Greece - Largest Ionian Island — First-person logbook entry from Cephalonia: Greece's largest Ionian island wi...
• Civitavecchia (Rome) — Civitavecchia is Rome's cruise port, 80km and 90 minutes from the city.
• Corfu — Corfu Old Town is Venetian charm with British and French twists, surrounded b...
• Dubrovnik — Dubrovnik is Lord Byron's "Pearl of the Adriatic"—a UNESCO-listed city with 2...
• Funchal, Madeira — Funchal, Madeira — capital of this volcanic Atlantic island for five centuries.
• Genoa — Genoa is the underrated grand old lady of the Italian Riviera – massive palaz...
• Gibraltar — Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory since 1704, home to the legendary R...
• Gijón — Gijón is Asturias' soul on the Bay of Biscay — Celtic Green Coast, Eduardo Ch...
• Haifa, Israel — Haifa, Israel — UNESCO Bahá'í Gardens, day tours to Jerusalem and Bethlehem, ...
• Heraklion (Crete) — Heraklion is the gateway to Knossos — Europe's oldest palace, birthplace of t...
• Hvar, Croatia — Hvar, Croatia — lavender fields, Stari Grad Plain UNESCO site, Fortica fortre...
• Ibiza — Ibiza reveals 2,600+ years of history: Phoenician Ibossim (654 BCE), Puig des...
• Istanbul — Istanbul — Hagia Sophia, Blue Mosque, Grand Bazaar, Bosphorus cruise, and the...
• Koper — Koper is a miniature Venice with Slovenian prices – Venetian palaces, Tito Sq...
• Kotor — Kotor is a medieval town tucked into Europe's southernmost fjord with mountai...
• Kusadasi & Ephesus — Turkey's Ancient Wonder — Kusadasi is Turkey's gateway to Ephesus — one of the best-preserved ancient c...
• La Coruña — La Coruña is the City of Glass – Roman lighthouse still working after 1,900 y...
• La Spezia — La Spezia in Italy's Gulf of Poets — gateway to UNESCO Cinque Terre's five pa...
• Limassol, Cyprus — Limassol, Cyprus — ancient Greek amphitheaters at Kourion, Crusader castles w...
• Lisbon — Lisbon is seven hills of colorful tiles, melancholy fado music, and pastel de...
• Livorno (Florence & Pisa) — Livorno is one of Italy's busiest cruise ports and your gateway to Tuscany's ...
• Málaga — Málaga was founded by Phoenicians around 1000 BC and is Picasso's birthplace ...
• Marseille — Marseille is France's oldest city (founded 600 BCE) and a gritty, authentic M...
• Messina — Messina is the gateway to Taormina – Greek theater with an active volcano bac...
• Monte Carlo (Monaco) — Monaco is pure glamour on steroids – supercars, yachts the size of cruise shi...
• Mykonos — Mykonos is the quintessential Greek island—a maze of white-washed buildings, ...
• Naples — Naples serves as gateway to Pompeii (35 min by train), Herculaneum, Mount Ves...
• Palma de Mallorca — Palma de Mallorca is a top-rated Mediterranean port with a stunning Gothic ca...
• Patmos — Patmos, Greece — the Cave of the Apocalypse, Monastery of St.
• Portimão — Portimão is golden Algarve cliffs tumbling into turquoise water, Benagil Cave...
• Porto — Porto is terracotta roofs cascading down to the Douro, port wine lodges, and ...
• Portofino, Italy — Portofino — ancient Roman harbor transformed into luxury destination.
• Ravenna — Ravenna is the world capital of Byzantine mosaics – eight UNESCO sites glowin...
• Rhodes — Rhodes is the best-preserved medieval city in Europe — a living fortress with...
• Santorini — Santorini means sailing into the collapsed heart of a volcano that exploded a...
• Sorrento, Italy — Sorrento, Italy — perched at the northern gateway to the Amalfi Coast, where ...
• Split — Split is Diocletian's retirement palace turned living city — Romans, Venetian...
• Taormina — Taormina is the jewel of Sicily — perched on a cliff above the Ionian Sea wit...
• Trieste — Trieste is elegant Habsburg cafés, the largest sea-facing piazza in Italy, an...
• Tunis (La Goulette) — La Goulette is your gateway to Carthage, Sidi Bou Said's blue-and-white perfe...
• Valencia — Valencia was founded 138 BC as Roman Valentia, meaning "strength.
• Valletta (Malta) — Valletta is Europe's smallest capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since...
• Venice — Large ships now dock at Marghera on the mainland (20-30 min transfer to Venice).
• Vigo — Vigo is the gateway to the Cíes Islands – Atlantic paradise with beaches that...
• Villefranche-sur-Mer (Nice & Monaco) — Villefranche-sur-Mer is a tender port with one of the Mediterranean's deepest...
• Zadar — Zadar is Roman ruins, a Sea Organ that plays music with the waves, and a Gree...
• Zakynthos (Zante), Greece — Zakynthos (Zante), Greece — Navagio Shipwreck Beach, Blue Caves, loggerhead s...

Northern Europe & British Isles (45 ports)

• Akureyri, Iceland — Akureyri offers world-class whale watching from the pier (€85-150), Goðafoss ...
• Ålesund — Ålesund is pure Art Nouveau fairy tale rebuilt after a 1904 fire – pastel bui...
• Amsterdam — Amsterdam's cruise terminal is right behind Centraal Station — you step off a...
• Belfast — Belfast has completely transformed and now scores 4.
• Bergen — Bergen is seven mountains, colorful Hanseatic wharf houses, and rain that som...
• Bilbao — Bilbao is living proof that architecture can save a city.
• Cherbourg — Cherbourg is umbrellas on the promenade, the largest artificial harbor in the...
• Copenhagen — Copenhagen is consistently voted the #1 Northern Europe port — colorful Nyhav...
• Cork/Cobh — Cobh is the heartbreakingly beautiful last port of call for the Titanic and a...
• Dover — Dover is white cliffs, a massive medieval castle, and the gateway to London o...
• Dublin & Cobh — Ireland is where cruisers report the friendliest people on the planet (4.
• Edinburgh & Glasgow — South Queensferry (Edinburgh) and Greenock (Glasgow) are both 4.
• Edinburgh/Leith — Edinburgh via Leith, South Queensferry, Newhaven, or Rosyth — Edinburgh Castl...
• Flåm — Flåm — the legendary Flåmsbana Railway (20 years in the making), Stegastein v...
• Gdansk — Gdansk is amber, solidarity, and perfectly rebuilt Hanseatic façades along th...
• Geiranger Fjord — Logbook reflections from Geirangerfjord — UNESCO World Heritage site sculpted...
• Gothenburg — Gothenburg is trams, seafood, and Scandinavian cool – the friendliest big cit...
• Greenock — Greenock — Scotland's gateway port for Glasgow Cathedral, Kelvingrove Museum,...
• Hamburg — Explore Hamburg's UNESCO Speicherstadt warehouses, architectural marvel Elbph...
• Helsinki — Helsinki is the underrated Nordic gem — clean, friendly, and packed with design.
• Holyhead — Holyhead is the gateway to Snowdonia and Anglesey – mountains, castles, and t...
• Honfleur — Honfleur is the prettiest harbor in Normandy – colorful tall houses reflected...
• Invergordon — Invergordon is the gateway to Loch Ness, Inverness, and the Highlands – drama...
• Kiel — Kiel is the sailing capital of Germany – Olympic harbor, massive locks, and t...
• Kirkwall — Kirkwall is 5,000 years of continuous history – Neolithic villages older than...
• Klaipeda — Klaipeda, Lithuania — UNESCO Curonian Spit sand dunes, Hill of Witches sculpt...
• Le Havre — Le Havre is the realistic gateway to Paris – six hours round-trip on excellen...
• Lerwick — Lerwick is Britain's northernmost town – ponies the size of dogs, Viking fire...
• Liverpool — Liverpool is The Beatles, two cathedrals, the best maritime museum in Britain...
• Newcastle — Newcastle is seven bridges, proper Geordie warmth, the Angel of the North wat...
• Norwegian Fjords — Norwegian fjord ports (Geiranger, Flam, Olden, Ålesund) offer the most specta...
• Olden — Norway's Briksdal Glacier Village — Olden is a tiny Norwegian fjord village beneath Briksdal Glacier — troll cars...
• Oslo — Oslo's Oslofjord sail-in past islands and red cabins is stunning.
• Reykjavik — Reykjavik is gateway to Iceland's otherworldly landscapes.
• Riga — Riga is the Art Nouveau capital of the world wrapped in a Hanseatic old town ...
• Rostock (Warnemünde) — Rostock/Warnemünde, Germany — Hanseatic League history, gateway to Berlin, St.
• Southampton — Southampton is the UK's busiest cruise port (3M+ passengers, £1B economy impa...
• St. Petersburg — St. Petersburg is imperial excess on steroids – golden spires, canals, and pa...
• Stavanger — Stavanger is white wooden houses, street art, and the gateway to Pulpit Rock ...
• Stockholm — Stockholm spans 14 islands connected by bridges and ferries.
• Tallinn — Tallinn is a perfectly preserved Hanseatic fairy tale – orange roofs, church ...
• Tromsø — Tromsø is the Arctic capital – midnight sun or northern lights, reindeer sled...
• Warnemünde — Warnemünde is a perfect German beach town, but everyone uses it as the gatewa...
• Waterford — Waterford is Viking triangles, the finest crystal in the world, and the oldes...
• Zeebrugge/Bruges — Zeebrugge is the gateway to Bruges – a perfectly preserved medieval fairy-tal...

Canary Islands & Atlantic (3 ports)

• Gran Canaria (Las Palmas) — Las Palmas, Gran Canaria — stunning Maspalomas Dunes, colonial Vegueta quarte...
• Lanzarote (Arrecife) — Arrecife, Lanzarote — stunning Timanfaya National Park volcanic landscape, Ja...
• Tenerife — Tenerife — ascending Spain's highest peak Mount Teide, UNESCO colonial La Lag...

Canada & New England (10 ports)

• Bar Harbor — Bar Harbor is your gateway to Acadia National Park — rugged coastline, Cadill...
• Boston — Boston is history you can touch — Freedom Trail, Fenway (if in season), North...
• Charlottetown — Birthplace of Canada, Anne of Green Gables, red sand beaches, and Cows ice cr...
• Halifax — Halifax is friendly, walkable, and has the best waterfront boardwalk in Atlan...
• Newport — Gilded Age mansions, Cliff Walk, and sailboats everywhere — America's sailing...
• Portland, Maine — Portland, Maine is six lighthouses including George Washington's Portland Hea...
• Quebec City — Quebec City is the only walled city in North America north of Mexico and a UN...
• Saguenay — Saguenay Fjord is jaw-dropping — steep cliffs, beluga whales, and fall colors...
• Saint John — Saint John (Bay of Fundy) has the world's highest tides, Reversing Falls, and...
• Sydney — Sydney is the gateway to Cape Breton — biggest fiddle, friendliest people, an...

Hawaii & Pacific (18 ports)

• Adelaide — Adelaide is Australia's wine capital — gateway to 200+ cellar doors including...
• Auckland — Auckland cruise port guide featuring Sky Tower views, Waiheke Island wine tou...
• Brisbane — First-person logbook: Brisbane's Portside Wharf, South Bank riverside, scenic...
• Cairns — Cairns — 1876 gold port, gateway to the 2,300km Great Barrier Reef and 180-mi...
• Darwin — Darwin, Australia — gateway to the Top End, saltwater crocodile territory, Ka...
• Dunedin — Dunedin's Scottish soul — 1848 founding, gold rush prosperity, ornate Railway...
• Fremantle — Fremantle — UNESCO World Heritage convict prison with haunting tunnel tours, ...
• Hilo — Hilo is waterfalls every five minutes, active volcanoes, and the greenest, ra...
• Hobart — Hobart — founded 1804 as penal colony, transformed by MONA (Australia's large...
• Honolulu — Honolulu gives you Waikiki's iconic golden sand, Pearl Harbor's solemn memori...
• Kailua-Kona — Kailua-Kona is historic villages, world-famous coffee, and one of the planet'...
• Lyttelton — Lyttelton — port of Canterbury pilgrims, Antarctic expedition history, earthq...
• Maui — Ships dock at Kahului on the Valley Isle.
• Melbourne — Australia's cultural capital and cruise gateway to New Zealand and the South ...
• Nawiliwili — Nawiliwili is Kauai's only cruise port – Waimea Canyon, the Na Pali coast, an...
• Sydney — Sydney features Opera House, Harbour Bridge, Bondi Beach, and spectacular har...
• Tauranga — Reflective logbook guide to Tauranga — where Captain Cook's 'Bay of Plenty' m...
• Wellington — Wellington — Te Papa's colossal squid and Māori treasures, Cuba Street's crea...

Australia & New Zealand (4 ports)

• Bay of Islands, New Zealand — Bay of Islands, New Zealand — Waitangi Treaty Grounds, Hole in the Rock boat ...
• Christchurch (Lyttelton) — Discover Christchurch and Lyttelton Port: New Zealand's oldest established ci...
• Doubtful Sound Guide — New Zealand's Deepest Fjord Scenic Cruising — Doubtful Sound is New Zealand's largest and deepest fjord — 40 kilometers of ...
• Milford Sound Guide — Eighth Wonder of the World — Milford Sound is a dramatic 15km fjord in Fiordland National Park — scenic cr...

South Pacific Islands (13 ports)

• Apia, Samoa — Apia cruise port guide featuring Robert Louis Stevenson Museum, To Sua Ocean ...
• Bora Bora — Bora Bora — the Pearl of the Pacific.
• Dravuni Island — Dravuni Island, Fiji — authentic village life, traditional kava ceremony welc...
• Fiji (Lautoka) — Lautoka, Fiji — 333 islands with 3,500 years of Melanesian heritage, kava cer...
• Guam — Guam delivers profound WWII history at War in the Pacific National Historical...
• Lautoka, Fiji: Sugar City and Gateway to Paradise — Discover Lautoka, Fiji's Sugar City on western Viti Levu.
• Lifou, Loyalty Islands — Lifou, Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia — Jinek Bay snorkeling, Jokin Cliffs li...
• Moorea (French Polynesia) — Moorea, French Polynesia — Belvedere Lookout over Cook's Bay and Ōpūnohu Bay,...
• Noumea, New Caledonia — Noumea, New Caledonia — UNESCO lagoons, Amedee Island lighthouse, swimming wi...
• Papeete — Papeete, Tahiti — birthplace of overwater bungalows, home to Gauguin's finest...
• Suva — Suva, Fiji — Kings Wharf downtown access, Fiji Museum cannibal forks and Paci...
• Tonga (Nuku'alofa) — Nuku'alofa, Tonga — the Royal Palace, Mapu'a'a Vaea Blowholes shooting ocean ...
• Vanuatu (Port Vila) — Port Vila, Vanuatu — Melanesian cultural villages, world's only underwater po...

Asia (37 ports)

• Bali (Benoa) — Bali cruise port guide featuring Uluwatu temple kecak fire dance, Ubud rice t...
• Bangkok / Laem Chabang — First-person Bangkok cruise guide: Grand Palace's royal history, Temple of th...
• Brunei — Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei — golden mosques, stilted water villages, royal s...
• Busan — First-person logbook: Busan, South Korea's largest port — cliff-perched templ...
• Cochin (Kochi), India — Cochin (Kochi), India — Chinese fishing nets, Fort Kochi colonial heritage, M...
• Colombo, Sri Lanka — Colombo, Sri Lanka — Gangaramaya Temple, elephant orphanages, Ceylon tea coun...
• Da Nang — Da Nang — where a 666-meter dragon breathes fire over the Han River, three UN...
• Fukuoka — Fukuoka — Hakata Port's rich trading history with China and Korea, authentic ...
• Goa (Mormugao) — Mormugao Port, Goa — UNESCO World Heritage churches in Old Goa, Portuguese co...
• Ha Long Bay, Vietnam — Ha Long Bay, Vietnam — UNESCO World Heritage limestone karsts, Sung Sot Cave ...
• Hakodate — Hakodate is where Japan opened to the world — climb Mount Hakodate for millio...
• Hiroshima — Hiroshima — where August 6, 1945 transformed a city into a messenger of peace.
• Ho Chi Minh City — Ho Chi Minh City via Phu My port — Cu Chi Tunnels' underground war history, F...
• Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) — Ho Chi Minh City cruise port: War Remnants Museum, Cu Chi Tunnels, Notre-Dame...
• Hong Kong — Hong Kong cruise port: Victoria Harbour's colonial history, historic Star Fer...
• Incheon, South Korea - Gateway Port & Historic Landing Site — First-hand account of Incheon, South Korea - gateway to Seoul, historic treat...
• Jeju Island, South Korea — Jeju Island, South Korea — UNESCO triple crown volcanic landscapes, Manjanggu...
• Kobe, Japan — Kobe, Japan — rebuilt after the 1995 earthquake, gateway opened to foreign tr...
• Koh Samui, Thailand — Koh Samui tender port — Big Buddha Temple, Wat Plai Laem, Chaweng Beach, Na M...
• Komodo (Indonesia) — Komodo, Indonesia — tender port to Komodo National Park, face-to-face encount...
• Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia: Borneo Gateway & Mount Kinabalu Views — A reflective cruise port guide to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah - where Borneo's highe...
• Langkawi — Langkawi, Malaysia — UNESCO Global Geopark archipelago with ancient limestone...
• Lombok — Lombok, Indonesia — Mount Rinjani volcano, Gili Islands without cars, traditi...
• Manila — Manila cruise port: Intramuros walled city, Fort Santiago, colonial churches,...
• Mumbai — Mumbai cruise port: Gateway of India, Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, Elephanta Caves...
• Nagasaki — Nagasaki — the Peace Memorial, Dejima's fan-shaped island of isolation, Thoma...
• Nha Trang, Vietnam — Nha Trang, Vietnam — ancient Po Nagar Cham Towers, pristine beaches, Vinpearl...
• Osaka — Osaka — exploring Dotonbori's historic 1612 canal, tasting takoyaki where it ...
• Penang — Penang — exploring Georgetown's UNESCO heritage architecture, Ernest Zacharev...
• Phuket — Phuket — the gleaming Big Buddha, colorful Sino-Portuguese shophouses of Old ...
• Shanghai — Shanghai cruise port: The Bund's colonial architecture, futuristic Pudong, Mi...
• Sihanoukville, Cambodia - Beach Resort & Island Gateway — A cruise guide to Sihanoukville, Cambodia's premier beach destination and gat...
• Singapore — Singapore cruise port: Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands, hawker centers, ...
• Taipei (Keelung) — Taipei via historic Keelung Port — from Spanish traders to night market treas...
• Tianjin — Tianjin cruise port: Beijing gateway with Great Wall, Forbidden City, Temple ...
• Tokyo / Yokohama — Tokyo and Yokohama cruise ports: Historic Osanbashi Pier since 1894, Mount Fu...
• Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar: Golden Spires and Colonial Echoes - In the Wake — A cruise port guide to Yangon, Myanmar - from the shimmering Shwedagon Pagoda...

Middle East & Red Sea (8 ports)

• Abu Dhabi — Abu Dhabi is the UAE's elegant capital — visit the awe-inspiring Sheikh Zayed...
• Aqaba — Aqaba cruise port guide featuring Petra day trips, Wadi Rum desert, Red Sea d...
• Doha, Qatar — Doha, Qatar — Museum of Islamic Art, Souq Waqif traditional market, Corniche ...
• Dubai — Dubai—Mina Rashid terminal, Burj Khalifa's soaring heights, Palm Jumeirah, hi...
• Hurghada, Egypt: Red Sea Resort and Marine Life Haven - — Discover Hurghada's vibrant coral reefs, Giftun Islands marine park, desert a...
• Muscat — Muscat — Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, the legendary Mutrah Souq, frankincense ...
• Safaga — Safaga — gateway to Luxor's Valley of the Kings, world-class Red Sea diving, ...
• Salalah — Salalah — the perfume capital of Arabia, UNESCO frankincense sites, Al Baleed...

Indian Ocean (3 ports)

• Maldives (Malé) — Malé, Maldives — whale shark diving, coral stone mosques, fish markets, prist...
• Mauritius (Port Louis) — Port Louis, Mauritius — Aapravasi Ghat indentured labor history, vibrant Cent...
• Seychelles (Victoria, Mahé) — Victoria, Mahé — pristine beaches, giant tortoises at Botanical Gardens, Sain...

Africa (15 ports)

• Agadir — Agadir is Morocco's modern beach resort — 10 km of Atlantic sand, Paradise Va...
• Ascension Island — Ascension Island cruise port guide featuring Green Mountain cloud forest, sea...
• Cape Town — Cape Town — Table Mountain cable car since 1929, Robben Island tours with for...
• Casablanca — Casablanca is the massive Hassan II Mosque rising from the Atlantic – one of ...
• Dakar, Senegal — Dakar, Senegal — Gorée Island UNESCO World Heritage site, African Renaissance...
• Durban, South Africa - Sunny Beaches and Zulu Heritage — Discover Durban's Golden Mile beaches, rich Indian heritage, and Zulu culture.
• Luanda, Angola: A Maritime Guide to Africa's Oil Capital — A sailor's guide to Luanda, Angola - exploring the Portuguese colonial fortre...
• Maputo — Maputo — Eiffel-designed railway station, Portuguese colonial architecture, I...
• Mindelo, Cape Verde: Cultural Heart of the Atlantic — Experience Mindelo, São Vicente - birthplace of Cesária Évora, cultural capit...
• Mombasa — Your complete guide to Mombasa, Kenya - explore Fort Jesus, Old Town's Swahil...
• Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) — Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) — malaria-free elephant encounters at Addo, stunnin...
• Praia, Cape Verde: — First-hand guide to visiting Praia, Cape Verde by cruise ship.
• St. Helena — St.
• Tangier — Tangier is the gateway where Europe and Africa kiss – a swirling medina, Atla...
• Walvis Bay (Namibia) — Walvis Bay, Namibia — thousands of pink flamingos, gateway to Sossusvlei's re...

South America (17 ports)

• Buenos Aires — Buenos Aires — La Boca's colorful shipyard houses painted with leftover ship ...
• Callao — Callao is the port for Lima, Peru's capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Easter Island (Rapa Nui) — Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Chile — 887 moai statues at Rano Raraku quarry, Ahu...
• Falkland Islands (Port Stanley) — Falkland Islands cruise port guide featuring King penguin colonies at Volunte...
• Fortaleza — Fortaleza, Brazil — exploring Beach Park's legendary waterslides, Praia do Fu...
• Guayaquil — Guayaquil is Ecuador's largest city and main Galápagos gateway, featuring Mal...
• Manaus, Brazil — Manaus, Brazil — Teatro Amazonas opera house, Meeting of the Waters, swimming...
• Manta — Manta is Ecuador's largest seaport and the world's tuna capital.
• Montevideo — Montevideo — historic Ciudad Vieja walkable from the cruise terminal, legenda...
• Puerto Madryn, Argentina — Puerto Madryn, Argentina — Southern Right Whale watching from shore and boat,...
• Punta Arenas — Punta Arenas — Strait of Magellan crossing, Magdalena Island penguin colonies...
• Recife — Recife, Brazil — exploring the Venice of Brazil's bridges and canals, Olinda'...
• Rio de Janeiro — Rio de Janeiro cruise port — Christ the Redeemer atop Corcovado, Sugarloaf's ...
• Salvador, Brazil — Salvador, Brazil — Pelourinho UNESCO World Heritage site, baroque São Francis...
• Santos — Santos — Brazil's largest port, Coffee Museum, beachfront gardens, and gatewa...
• Ushuaia — Ushuaia — world's southernmost city, Tierra del Fuego National Park, Beagle C...
• Valparaíso — Valparaíso — UNESCO World Heritage hillside neighborhoods, historic ascensore...

Central America & Panama (4 ports)

• Colón — Colón, Panama — witnessing the Panama Canal's Agua Clara Locks, Fort San Lore...
• Corinto — Corinto, Nicaragua — exploring colonial León's UNESCO heritage churches and c...
• Puerto Limón — Puerto Limón is your gateway to Costa Rica's Caribbean rainforest — sloths, m...
• Puntarenas — Puntarenas, Costa Rica — exploring Carara National Park's scarlet macaw sanct...

Panama Canal (1 ports)

• Gatun Lake Guide — Panama Canal Transit Experience — Gatun Lake is the massive man-made freshwater lake at the heart of the Panama...

US Embarkation Ports (14 ports)

• Baltimore — Baltimore is more than a cruise gateway — it's where the Star-Spangled Banner...
• Cape Liberty — New York's smart cruiser alternative — stunning Statue of Liberty sailaway vi...
• Charleston — Charleston is America's most charming cruise homeport — where Fort Sumter gua...
• Fort Lauderdale — Florida's second-busiest cruise port with 4M+ passengers annually — easier lo...
• Galveston — America's fourth busiest cruise port and Texas's gateway to the Western Carib...
• Jacksonville — Jacksonville offers a low-key Florida cruise experience with beautiful Atlant...
• Los Angeles — Southern California's cruise gateway serves Mexican Riviera and Hawaii itiner...
• Miami — Miami is the Cruise Capital of the World — PortMiami handles 8M+ passengers a...
• Mobile — Alabama's charming cruise port where Southern hospitality meets the birthplac...
• Norfolk — America's naval capital with USS Wisconsin, Nauticus museum, and Virginia Beach...
• New Orleans — America's most captivating cruise homeport — powdered sugar beignets, authent...
• San Diego — America's Finest City with perfect weather year-round — the USS Midway, San D...
• San Francisco, USA — San Francisco — walking the Golden Gate Bridge, touring Alcatraz, riding cabl...
• Tampa — Florida's underrated Gulf Coast gem — Ybor City Cuban sandwiches, free TECO s...

Expedition & Remote Ports (1 ports)

• Tristan da Cunha — Tristan da Cunha — the world's most remote inhabited island, 1,750 miles from...

Other Destinations (18 ports)

• Mystery Island (Vanuatu) — Mystery Island, Vanuatu — pristine white sand beaches, crystal-clear snorkeli...
• Napier — Napier—Art Deco capital rebuilt after 1931 earthquake, Hawke's Bay wineries, ...
• Nosy Be, Madagascar — Nosy Be, Madagascar — ylang-ylang plantations on Perfume Island, Lokobe Reser...
• Palau / Koror — Palau cruise port in Koror: Jellyfish Lake with stingless golden jellies, Roc...
• Panama Canal Transit Guide — Locks & Engineering Marvel — Transiting the Panama Canal is the single most fascinating "port" day you wil...
• Picton — Picton — gateway to the Marlborough Sounds' ancient flooded valleys, Queen Ch...
• Pitcairn Island — Pitcairn Island — HMS Bounty mutineer descendants, world's most remote inhabi...
• Ponta Delgada — Ponta Delgada, Azores — stunning Sete Cidades twin lakes, year-round whale wa...
• Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea - Gateway to Tribal Cultures & WWII History — Explore Port Moresby, PNG's vibrant capital on the Coral Sea.
• Portland — Portland is the Jurassic Coast – Chesil Beach's 18-mile pebble ridge, Portlan...
• Puerto Caldera — Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica — exploring the modern cruise terminal closer to S...
• Saipan — Saipan — exploring WWII memorials, diving The Grotto, Managaha Island beaches...
• Seattle — America's premier gateway to Alaska — Pike Place Market fish throwers, the Sp...
• Sharm el-Sheikh — Sharm el-Sheikh — world-class diving at Ras Mohammed and Tiran Island, St.
• South Georgia Island — South Georgia Island — 200,000+ King penguins at Salisbury Plain, Ernest Shac...
• South Pacific Islands — South Pacific cruise ports: Bora Bora, Tahiti, Moorea, Fiji, Vanuatu, and Nou...
• Vancouver — Vancouver is the premier Alaska cruise gateway — Canada Place terminal sits b...
• Zanzibar, Tanzania — Zanzibar, Tanzania — Stone Town UNESCO World Heritage Site, historic carved d...

What Our Port Guides Include

• Honest assessments — What to actually expect pier-side
• Accessibility notes — Mobility considerations, tender situations
• DIY options — Easy self-guided plans for short stays
• When to book excursions — Ship vs. independent, and why it matters

Individual port pages with detailed guides are coming. For now, this overview helps you know what to expect.