Favourite place ever visited whilst cruising?

[DarrenM]

I know its probably been done before many times, but i am lazy and cant be bothered to go further back than the first page.

 

Been to quite a lot of places now, and some were spectacular, others were a bit meh. "cough"  "cough" Monaco "cough" "cough"

 

But the one place I truly fell in love with was Dubrovnik, in Croatia.

 

Just adored the place and cant wait to go back, hopefully for longer.

[HardToPort]

Funchal, Madeira.

 

My SO is Portuguese so no language issues. We hired a local to escort us around the island and we got more of a “locals” tour than run of the mill tourist fare. Cost €140 plus tip for 5 hours. (This was in 2010).

 

The island itself is stunning in its beauty. Just a glorious. Churchill used to go there to decompress and paint. I can understand why. And Ronaldo is from there.

 

Our driver knew everyone and the folks at the local bars, restaurants, shops we stopped in were so gracious. My SO’s fluency in the language, despite her being born in Canada, garnered her a lot of respect. I would love to go back for a week.

Edited March 28, 2023 by HardToPort

[jocap]

Sailing out to and  back from the Caribbean, which is not my scene at all ,we visit and love both Madeira and The Azores, and would be happy to visit either on holiday. 

Also Iceland, although I can understand that it's not everyone's dream island.

[George C]

My last Mediterranean cruise had Dubrovnik and Kotor loved both walled cities but loved the Italian ports of Florence, Napes and Venice.

[dolittle]

Anywhere in Europe , but there is just something about sailing into downtown Naples you can feel the energy of this most time crazy city. With mount Vesuvius in the back round (you can see it from the ship) and so many amazing side trips it is hard to beat sailing into Naples. B.T.W. also loved Dubrovnik. .

[DarrenM]

agree entirely about Naples. Incredible view when in Port

[George C]

We saw Sophia Loren speak a few years ago , fascinating life story, we were able to write down questions and they picked our question, which was wants your favorite meal, her response was I am from nap so it is pizza of course, pizza alone is a great reason to visit.

[puppycanducruise]

Gotta say I loved Venice.  Wandering around, getting lost and finding great little spots to eat and drink.  Dubrovnik was nice too, I'd love to go back there too.

And I agree about Monaco.  One visit is enough.

[tropicalkerry2002]

I could visit Provencal towns from Marseille every year...have been 5-6 times, and can't get enough!

[ilikeanswers]

Fatu Hiva French Polynesia. One it is fascinating to see a society that lives in extremely isolated conditions and two it is one of the most gorgeous places I have visited. Certainly most spectacular place visited by cruise ship. 

[K32682]

Nuku Hiva

[HardToPort]

6 hours ago, jocap said:

Sailing out to and  back from the Caribbean, which is not my scene at all ,we visit and love both Madeira and The Azores, and would be happy to visit either on holiday. 

Also Iceland, although I can understand that it's not everyone's dream island.

Jocap 

My in-laws are Azorean and they own a house on one of the islands. We haven’t been back since Covid as in-laws are dealing with serious health issues. I’m longing to get back. I love the island, the people, the pace … everything.

[mom says]

I can only pick one? I've got several- each for their own special reason. But if I have to pick one it would be New Zealand. ALL of New Zealand. One of the most breathtakingly beautiful and varied countries in the world, filled with the friendliest, most generous people.

[DarrenM]

The picking of one wasnt a strict rule. lol

 

So to prove the point. I chose Dubrovnik.

 

But I have others I love too.

 

1. Dubrovnik - Fell in love with the place.

2. Naples

3. Cozumel

4. Key west

5. Kotor - went on a fabulous Tuck tuck ride.

6. Pisa/Florence though I didnt like Florence anywhere near as much as others seem to. 

 

Been to Rome airport and Civitavecchia port 4 times yet never been to Rome.

 

Will make it 6 this year, as yet a aagin we dont have time to do Rome pre or post cruise.

 

[Honolulu Blue]

I've mostly done the Caribbean and two ports there stand out for me as having some sights to see and always promising a fun time - Sint Maarten in the east and Key West in the west (yeah, I know KW isn't in the Caribbean - sue me).

 

I don't have any recent pictures of SXM, but I was in KW last month and they had a random concert for us!*

[ontheweb]

Since we are not limited to one, I will try to do them in the order they were visited:

 

Nice---a tender port for which we could do Nice (which we did), Cannes, or Monaco was our very first port ever. We went to the Chagall and Matisse Museums which is still probably the best DIY we ever did. (Note DW is, or was as she is now retired, an art teacher.) Afterwards, DW went for a swim in the Mediterranean while having me watch our stuff while sitting near several topless French women.

 

St. Petersburg--so much to see. I set up a group tour (10 including us) from our roll call. We had a wonderful tour with Alla. And not only, was the city incredible, but also our group bonded together very well. (Earlier on the same cruise, we were in Tallinn, Estonia, another fabulous place, like being in a medieval town.

 

Athens---What can I say? Standing in front of the Parthenon is incredibly inspiring.

 

Florence---This should have been listed second as it was also on our first cruise, but I royally screwed up and got us on a train going the wrong way, and we did not get there! Ten years later (35th anniversary instead of 25th like our first cruise), we did a similar cruise to our first. This time I booked a Florence on Your Own tour and DW booked online in advance tickets to the 2 most major museums. Just a wonderful, wonderful day and made up for that terrible screwup on our first cruise.

 

Edinburgh---We got to see the Scottish Military Tattoo

 

Montreal---this was actually the last port we have been to and is included more for what we did on the few days we stayed there after our cruise. The 2 highlights I remember the most are an exhibit of African art that inspired Picasso and art by Picasso at a museum and a display of literally thousands of Barbie dolls at a department store.

 

Honorable mentions---Barcelona, Mayan ruins in Belize, Bermuda, and Stockholm (the one port I wish we really had more time, even an extra day, though I guess an extra day in Athens would have also been nice.)

 

[wcook]

Lucca. Wonderful old Italian city, much closer to port than Florence.   And for what it’s worth, I had a great time in Monaco. 

[Wayfairers]

Rangoon, Myanmar.   Love the far east…so different from other parts of the world.
 

 We had 2 overnights there on Passage to Far East on Holland America.  Only off the ship 2 days as the third day was short due to sailing when the tide turned in the Yangon river - quite a sight to see several large ships simultaneously turning with the tide.   We had the same private guide both days.  We ate local food in restaurants where we were the only non locals, rode a ferry where we were the only non locals and watched the locals buying/selling everything (even animals) onboard, saw a UNESCO site that hadn’t been excavated yet but we could see the rocks sticking out of the ground, pagodas, local religious event (again, only non locals), hiked through the jungle in a national forest with our guide creating the path with his machete, explored a town where there were no cars by rickshaw (once again, only non locals)…..many more wonderful memories.   I told the guide we wanted a non touristy experience while still seeing the main sights….he definitely delivered. 

[lenquixote66]

1) Costa Rica

 

2)Bermuda

 

3) Quebec City

[KC Gorilla]

Anywhere in the Baltic.

[shipgeeks]

The ship, any ship, preferably far out at sea, though departing from a port can be wonderful.

Looking at the vastness of the sea and the sky in the daytime, and zillions of stars at night, is more magical than anyplace on land, IMO.

We've been to ports we loved (yes, agree about Naples), but after 50 cruises, we are still more thrilled with our time on the ship than in any city or island.

[Zach1213]

On 3/28/2023 at 2:05 PM, DarrenM said:

Been to quite a lot of places now, and some were spectacular, others were a bit meh. "cough"  "cough" Monaco "cough" "cough"

 

 

Monaco is amazing if you have money. I mean, I don't, but I know someone who lives there and does, and I can assure you it's phenomenal in that way. As just a "regular" tourist, I agree it's a bit...meh. I remember going as a kid and being excited that it was the first Formula One track that I walked the entirety of. 

 

On 3/28/2023 at 2:58 PM, HardToPort said:

Funchal, Madeira.

 

And Ronaldo is from there.

 

Funchal's finest

 

 

23 hours ago, dolittle said:

Anywhere in Europe , but there is just something about sailing into downtown Naples you can feel the energy of this most time crazy city. With mount Vesuvius in the back round (you can see it from the ship) and so many amazing side trips it is hard to beat sailing into Naples. B.T.W. also loved Dubrovnik. .

 

I've never cruised in to Naples, but have stayed in Sorrento right on the water a few times and the view across to Vesuvius and Naples never ceases to amaze. 

 

3 hours ago, KC Gorilla said:

Anywhere in the Baltic.

 

Ridiculously underrated part of Europe. Tallinn is my favorite mid-sized European city. 

Edited March 29, 2023 by Zach1213

[Theosprey247]

I might get flamed for this but my favorite cruise ports are Nassau and Ensenada.  
 

Before you ask I’ve been all over (not by ship tho).  I just really have a blast in those two ports. 

[wcook]

3 hours ago, Theosprey247 said:

 

I might get flamed for this but my favorite cruise ports are Nassau and Ensenada.  
 

 

I can see loving Nassau. It’s obviously not a crowd favorite, but many great choices if you know what to look for. But Ensenada???? You gotta explain this one 🙂

[DarrenM]

I just found Monaco pretentious beyond belief, and I also find folk with that much wealth just a bit sick.