Cruise Port Guides
Practical guides to the ports you sail from and the ports you visit: where the ship docks, how to get into town, what to do with a few hours ashore, and the hotels and parking for embarkation day.
Caribbean & Bahamas
Where ships dock, what to do near the pier and which excursions are worth it.
18 Things to Do at Half Moon Cay (RelaxAway) in 2026: Beach, Excursions, Food and TipsThe best things to do in Half Moon Cay, now officially called RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay, are mostly simple ones: swim and…St Thomas Cruise Port Guide (2027): Havensight, Crown Bay and Magens BayWhere ships dock in St Thomas, Havensight vs Crown Bay, getting to Charlotte Amalie and Magens Bay, and the best shore excursions.Roatan Cruise Port Guide (2027): Mahogany Bay, Coxen Hole and West BayWhere ships dock in Roatan, Mahogany Bay vs Coxen Hole, how to reach West Bay Beach and the best shore excursions on…Nassau Cruise Port Guide (2027): Where Ships Dock and What to DoWhere ships dock in Nassau, what you can walk to from the pier, the closest beach, Atlantis tips and the best shore…15 Best Things To Do in Grand Cayman on a Cruise (Port Guide)The best things to do in Grand Cayman on a cruise are wading with the stingrays at Stingray City, spending a few…The 7 Best Beaches in St Kitts Near the Cruise Port (2026 Guide)The best beaches in St Kitts near the cruise port are South Frigate Bay (about 10 minutes from Port Zante, with calm…Best Caribbean Cruise Ports (and 5 That Often Underwhelm): 2026 GuideThe best Caribbean cruise ports are the ones where you can walk off the ship and straight into something worthwhile: San Juan,…Jamaica Cruise Ports Ranked: Falmouth, Ocho Rios, Montego Bay & More (2026)There are five Jamaica cruise ports: Falmouth, Ocho Rios and Montego Bay on the north coast, which get almost all of the…17 Best Things to Do in Ocho Rios, Jamaica (2026 Cruise Port Guide)The best things to do in Ocho Rios are climbing Dunn’s River Falls, riding the rainforest bobsled and zip line at Mystic…15 Best Things to Do in Amber Cove Cruise Port (2026 Guide)The best things to do in Amber Cove are a lazy day at the port’s big free pool and lazy river, a…17 Western Caribbean Cruise Ports You Must VisitThe Western Caribbean cruise ports you will meet most often are Cozumel, Costa Maya and Progreso in Mexico; Roatán in Honduras; Belize…
Mexico
Cozumel, Costa Maya and Mexico's Caribbean and Pacific ports.
Costa Maya Cruise Port Guide (2027): Mahahual, Beaches and ExcursionsWhere ships dock in Costa Maya, getting to Mahahual, the port pool, Chacchoben ruins and the best shore excursions.15 Restaurants in Cozumel Cruise Port Areas, Pier by PierThe best restaurants in Cozumel cruise port areas depend on which pier your ship uses. At Puerta Maya and the International Pier…Cruise Ports in Mexico: Every Caribbean and Pacific Port by CoastThe main cruise ports in Mexico are Cozumel, Costa Maya (Mahahual) and Progreso on the Caribbean side, plus Ensenada, Cabo San Lucas,…25 Best Things to Do in Cozumel Cruise Port (2026)The best things to do in Cozumel cruise port are snorkeling the reefs of the Cozumel marine park, spending the day at…
Alaska
Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway and the glacier stops, port by port.
Skagway Cruise Port Guide (2027): Docks, Railroad and Gold Rush TownWhere ships dock in Skagway, walking into the Gold Rush town, the White Pass railroad and the best shore excursions.Ketchikan Cruise Port Guide (2027): Berths, Ward Cove and Creek StreetWhere ships dock in Ketchikan, walking to Creek Street, Ward Cove shuttles and the best shore excursions, from Misty Fjords to Saxman.Alaska Cruise Ports: A Port-by-Port Guide (2027)The main Alaska cruise ports are Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway, Sitka and Icy Strait Point, with Haines on some sailings and Victoria, British…Alaska Cruise Ports Guide: Every Port and Glacier Stop, South to NorthMost Alaska cruise ports sit along two corridors: the sheltered Inside Passage of Southeast Alaska (Ketchikan, Juneau, Skagway, Icy Strait Point, Sitka…Juneau Cruise Port Guide: Docks, Glacier Access and 2026 ChangesThe Juneau cruise port sits right on the downtown waterfront, so most passengers step off the ship and are in the middle…
Florida & US homeports
Terminals, parking, transfers and hotels for Miami, Port Canaveral, Fort Lauderdale and more.
Port Canaveral Cruise Port Guide (2027): Terminals, Parking and HotelsPort Canaveral cruise terminals explained: which lines use each terminal, parking, airport transfers, hotels and things to do nearby.16 Things To Do Near Port Canaveral Cruise TerminalThe best things to do near Port Canaveral are the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex (about 25 minutes away), a few hours…Port Canaveral Cruise Terminal 10: $95M Expansion, Parking and Which Cruise Lines Use ItPort Canaveral Cruise Terminal 10 (CT-10) is at 9005 Charles M. Rowland Drive, Cape Canaveral, on the north side of the port.…Port Canaveral Transfers: Options and Costs From MCO, Sanford, Melbourne and DaytonaPort Canaveral transfers cost roughly $20 to $50 per person on a shared shuttle, $60 to $120 or more by rideshare or…Cruise Ports in Florida: Map, Busiest Ports and Which to Choose (2026)There are six cruise ports in Florida where you can board a big-ship cruise: PortMiami, Port Canaveral, Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale), Port…13 Hotels Near Fort Lauderdale Cruise Port and Airport (2026 Guide)The hotels nearest Fort Lauderdale cruise port cluster along SE 17th Street, within about a mile of the Port Everglades terminals, and…Port of Miami Parking: 2026 Garage Rates, Terminals and Cheaper LotsPort of Miami parking costs $28 a day at the county-run garages and $35 a day at Garages AA and B, so…Orlando Airport to Port Canaveral: Shuttles, Transfers, Uber and Costs (2026 Guide)The trip from Orlando International Airport (MCO) to Port Canaveral is about 45 miles and usually takes 45 to 60 minutes by…Closest Airport to Port Canaveral: MCO, MLB, SFB and DAB ComparedThe closest airport to Port Canaveral is Melbourne Orlando International (MLB), roughly 27 miles and 35-45 minutes south of the cruise terminals.…
UK homeports
Southampton, Tilbury, Dover and the other UK ports: hotels, parking and getting there.
Christmas Cruises from Southampton 2026 and 2027: Dates, Prices and DealsChristmas and New Year cruises from Southampton in December 2026 and 2027, with prices from £377pp, Christmas market sailings, winter-sun voyages and…Southampton Cruise Parking: Complete Guide for 2026-27Southampton cruise parking comes down to four main choices: the official car parks inside the port (run by CPS or ABParking, depending…Driving to Southampton Cruise Terminal: Postcodes, Routes and Parking (2027)Sat nav postcodes for all five Southampton cruise terminals, the best driving routes from London, the Midlands and the South West, when…Hotels Near Southampton Cruise Terminal: Where to Stay Before Your Cruise (2027)The best hotels near each of Southampton's five cruise terminals, from five-star Harbour Hotel to voco, Leonardo Royal and budget picks, with…Hotels Near UK Cruise Ports (2027): Where to Stay Before You SailOur pick of the best hotels near every major UK cruise port, from Southampton and Tilbury to Dover, Portsmouth, Liverpool, Harwich, Newcastle…Hotels Near Newcastle Cruise Terminal With Parking (2026 Guide)The closest of the hotels near Newcastle cruise terminal is Premier Inn North Shields (Ferry Terminal), about 0.6 miles from the Port…Hotels Near Tilbury Cruise Terminal: Where to Stay Before a London Cruise (2027)The best hotels near London Tilbury cruise terminal, from Orsett Hall's spa to value Thurrock stays and London hotels near Fenchurch Street,…Rosyth Cruise Terminal Parking: Prices, Booking and AlternativesRosyth cruise terminal parking is on site, a short walk from the terminal building, and it must be booked in advance through…Dover Cruise Parking: On-Port Valet, Shuttle Car Parks and AlternativesThe most convenient option for Dover cruise parking is the official on-port valet service run by Cruise and Passenger Services (CPS) for…Newcastle Cruise Terminal Parking Guide: Port of Tyne Prices and OptionsNewcastle cruise terminal parking is provided by the Port of Tyne in a secure car park a few minutes’ walk from the…Liverpool Cruise Terminal Parking Guide (2026-27)The official option for Liverpool cruise terminal parking is Cruise and Passenger Services (CPS), which checks your car in at Q-Park Liverpool…Portsmouth International Port Parking: Cruise Parking Guide 2026-27For most cruise passengers, the easiest choice for Portsmouth International Port parking is the on-site APCOA multi-storey car park, a few minutes’…
Mediterranean
Barcelona, Rome and the Med: getting to the ship, hotels and the best excursions.
Mediterranean Cruises from Southampton (2027): No-Fly vs Fly-CruiseShould you sail to the Mediterranean from Southampton or fly to Barcelona or Rome? We compare length, sea days, cost and the…Cruise Ports Far From the City: Civitavecchia to Rome, Le Havre to Paris and MoreSeveral famous cruise stops are sold under the name of a city that is actually an hour or more away. Getting from…Best Hotels Near Barcelona Cruise Port: Closest and Budget PicksThe best hotels near Barcelona cruise port are in Port Vell and around the foot of La Rambla, with Eurostars Grand Marina…Barcelona Airport to Cruise Port: Every Option, Time and 2026 PriceGetting from Barcelona airport to the cruise port is a short trip. El Prat (BCN) is roughly 15 to 20 km from…16 Best Mediterranean Cruise Excursions: Port-by-Port Guide for 2026-27The best Mediterranean cruise excursions are the ones that fit the hours your ship is actually in port: Pompeii from Naples, the…Car Hire Greece: Best Local Rental Companies and Cruise Port TipsCar hire in Greece is easy to arrange and good value outside July and August. Independent Greek firms often include full insurance…
Norway & Northern Europe
Fjord ports, Northern Lights stops and Baltic cities.
Copenhagen Cruise Port Guide (2027): Oceankaj, Langelinie and Getting Into TownWhich of Copenhagen's three cruise terminals you will use, how to reach Nyhavn from Oceankaj, what to see on foot and the…Reykjavik Cruise Port Guide (2027): Skarfabakki, the Golden Circle and Getting Into TownWhere cruise ships dock in Reykjavik, how to get from Skarfabakki into the city, and the best shore excursions from the Golden…Stavanger Cruise Port Guide (2027): Old Stavanger, Lysefjord and Where Ships DockWhere cruise ships dock in Stavanger, what to see on foot in Old Stavanger, and how to see Pulpit Rock and the…Flåm Cruise Port Guide (2027): The Flåm Railway, Nærøyfjord and Where Ships DockWhere cruise ships dock in Flåm, how to fit in the Flåm Railway or a Nærøyfjord cruise, and the best shore excursions…Bergen Cruise Port Guide (2027): Bryggen, Fløyen and Where Ships DockWhere cruise ships dock in Bergen, what to see on foot from Bryggen to Mount Fløyen, and the best shore excursions for…Geiranger Cruise Port Guide (2027): Tenders, Viewpoints and the Seven SistersHow tendering works in Geiranger, the best viewpoints from Flydalsjuvet to Dalsnibba, and which shore excursions are worth booking.Northern Lights Cruises from the UK (2027): No-Fly Sailings ComparedCompare no-fly Northern Lights cruises from the UK for 2027: Ambassador sailings from London Tilbury and Bristol, when to go, prices and…Norwegian Fjords Cruises from the UK (2027): Lines, Ports, Prices and When to GoA Norwegian fjords cruise is one of the easiest bucket-list trips you can take from the UK. You board in a British…
Planning your port days
Rankings, walkable ports and how long ships stay in port.
How Long Do Cruise Ships Stay in Port? Typical Times, All-Aboard Rules and OvernightsCruise ships usually stay in port for about 7 to 10 hours, with a typical stop running from around 8am to 5pm.…The 12 Best Cruise Ports in the World: Where to Go Ashore in 2027The best cruise ports are the ones where you can walk off the ship and into something memorable within minutes: Old San…The Worst Cruise Ports in Europe and How to Make the Most of ThemThe worst cruise ports in Europe are rarely bad places. They are usually stops where the famous sight is hours from the…The 7 Worst Cruise Ports in the United States (and How to Make Them Easier)The worst cruise ports in the United States are rarely bad places. They are just hard to sail from. For most passengers…The 11 Worst Cruise Ports in the World (And How to Make the Most of Them)The worst cruise ports are rarely bad places. They disappoint because of logistics: a container terminal an hour or more from the…14 Best Walkable Cruise Ports You Don’t Need an Excursion For (2026-27)The best walkable cruise ports are the ones where the ship ties up in the city, not at an industrial terminal miles…The Busiest Cruise Ports in the World (2026 Rankings) and the Best Ones to Start Your Cruise FromThe busiest cruise ports in the world are PortMiami and Port Canaveral in Florida. PortMiami reported more than 10 million passenger movements…