The best cruise ports are the ones where you can walk off the ship and into something memorable within minutes: Old San Juan in Puerto Rico, Juneau in Alaska, Bergen in Norway, Lisbon, Dubrovnik, Kotor and Sydney all fit that bill. Others, like Santorini and Hong Kong, earn their place for sheer scenery or atmosphere even though getting ashore takes more effort. Below is our pick of the 12 best cruise ports in the world for late 2026, region by region, with what to do, how walkable each one is, the best time to go and which lines call there.
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We chose these ports on merit rather than hype: what you can realistically see in an eight to ten hour call, how easy it is to get from the gangway to the good stuff, and whether current rules (passenger caps, landing fees, ship-size limits) change the picture. Several of Europe’s most famous ports now ration cruise visitors, so the practical details matter more than they did a few years ago.
Best cruise ports at a glance
| Port | Region | Best for | Walk from ship? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Old San Juan, Puerto Rico | Caribbean | History, food, no passport hassle for US citizens | Yes, piers sit beside the old town |
| Philipsburg, St. Maarten | Caribbean | Beaches, shopping, two countries on one island | Yes, about 15 to 20 minutes, or water taxi |
| Juneau, Alaska | Alaska | Glaciers, whale watching, tramway views | Yes, docks are downtown |
| Skagway, Alaska | Alaska | Gold Rush history, scenic railway | Yes, a few minutes to Broadway |
| Lisbon, Portugal | Mediterranean / Atlantic | Hills, trams, pastries, viewpoints | Yes, terminal is next to Alfama |
| Dubrovnik, Croatia | Mediterranean | City walls, Adriatic views | No, bus or taxi from Gruž port (or tender to the Old Town) |
| Kotor, Montenegro | Mediterranean | Dramatic bay sail-in, fortress climb | Yes, walled town is beside the pier |
| Santorini, Greece | Mediterranean | Caldera views, sunsets, villages | No, tender then cable car or path |
| Bergen, Norway | Northern Europe | Bryggen wharf, funicular, fjord gateway | Yes, most quays are 10 to 20 minutes from the centre |
| Copenhagen, Denmark | Northern Europe | Canals, Tivoli, design, cycling | Depends on the quay; shuttle from Oceankaj |
| Sydney, Australia | Pacific | Harbour, Opera House, ferries to beaches | Yes from Circular Quay; taxi or bus from White Bay |
| Hong Kong | Asia | Skyline, food, markets | Yes from Ocean Terminal; taxi or MTR from Kai Tak |
The best Caribbean cruise ports
1. Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Why it’s great: Few ports give you this much within a short stroll. The cruise piers sit right on the edge of Old San Juan, a walled city of blue cobblestones, pastel colonial houses and two big Spanish forts, El Morro and San Cristóbal, which are run by the US National Park Service. For American passengers it is a US territory, so you use dollars and your phone plan normally works.
What to do: Walk the walls to El Morro, eat mofongo in a local restaurant, browse Calle Fortaleza, or take a tour to El Yunque rainforest if you want greenery. Bacardi’s distillery across the bay is a short ferry ride away.
Best time: December to April for drier, slightly cooler weather. Lines that call: Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, Norwegian, Princess, MSC and most luxury lines, and San Juan is also a homeport.
2. Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Why it’s great: One island, two countries. The Dutch side (Sint Maarten) has a big modern cruise pier, and the French side (Saint-Martin) brings Gallic food and quieter beaches. It works for almost every kind of passenger, from beach lovers to shoppers.
What to do: Walk or take the water taxi to Great Bay beach and Front Street, head to Maho Beach to watch jets land low overhead, or taxi to Orient Bay and Grand Case on the French side for lunch.
Best time: December to April; hurricane season runs June to November. Lines that call: virtually all mainstream lines on Eastern Caribbean itineraries, plus Celebrity, Holland America and luxury brands.
A word on private islands
Many lists now rank cruise-line private destinations among the best cruise ports, and for families they can be the highlight of the trip. Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas has a huge waterpark, the Hideaway Beach adults-only area and a pier you walk straight off. Carnival opened Celebration Key on Grand Bahama in July 2025, with a pier for two ships at once and an expansion planned to take four. These are excellent beach days, but they are resorts, not places, so we have kept them out of the main ranking. If culture matters to you, check that your Caribbean itinerary has at least one or two “real” ports alongside them.
The best Alaska cruise ports
3. Juneau
Why it’s great: Alaska’s capital has no road connection to the rest of the state, yet ships dock right downtown. Within a short ride you can stand in front of Mendenhall Glacier, and the waters nearby are among the most reliable in the state for humpback whale sightings in summer.
What to do: Ride the Mount Roberts Tramway from beside the docks for views and trails, book a whale-watching trip, or take a shuttle or bus to Mendenhall Glacier. Helicopter glacier landings are popular but book up early.
Good to know: From 2026 Juneau limits cruise passengers to 16,000 a day (12,000 on Saturdays), alongside a voluntary agreement of no more than five ships a day. That should make peak days a little calmer, and it occasionally means a line swaps Juneau for another Alaskan port. Best time: June to August. Lines that call: Holland America, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Norwegian, Carnival, Disney and small-ship expedition lines.
4. Skagway
Why it’s great: A tiny Gold Rush town with wooden boardwalks and false-front saloons, set at the head of a deep fjord. The whole historic district is part of Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park, and you can be on Broadway within minutes of the gangway.
What to do: The White Pass and Yukon Route railway climbs from sea level to the summit of the pass on a narrow-gauge line with remarkable views. Hikers can tackle the trails above town for free.
Best time: June to August. Lines that call: most Inside Passage itineraries, especially Holland America and Princess, which also run cruise-tour land packages. Holland America’s newer Alaska programme is covered in our look at its Alaska Heritage Tours.
The best Mediterranean cruise ports
5. Lisbon, Portugal
Why it’s great: Lisbon’s cruise terminal at Santa Apolónia sits at the foot of Alfama, the city’s oldest neighbourhood. You can climb straight up into lanes of tiled houses, castle walls and viewpoints without a taxi, which makes it one of the easiest major European capitals to do on your own.
What to do: Walk up to São Jorge Castle, ride the historic Tram 28, take the train out to Belém for the monastery and the original custard tarts, or day-trip to Sintra’s palaces if you have a long call.
Best time: April to June and September to October. Lines that call: Celebrity, Princess, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and many transatlantic repositioning sailings.
6. Dubrovnik, Croatia
Why it’s great: Walking the complete circuit of the medieval walls, with the orange roofs of the Old Town on one side and the Adriatic on the other, is one of the classic days of any Mediterranean cruise.
What to do: Do the walls early, before the heat and crowds, then ride the cable car up Mount Srđ or take a boat to Lokrum island.
Good to know: Big ships dock at Gruž, a few kilometres from the Old Town, so you need a bus, taxi or line shuttle. Dubrovnik has limited cruise calls since 2019 under its “Respect the City” programme, generally to two large ships at a time, with a target of around 4,000 cruise visitors in the city at once. Best time: May, June, September and early October. Lines that call: most Eastern Mediterranean and Adriatic itineraries, from Royal Caribbean and MSC to Oceania and Viking.
7. Kotor, Montenegro
Why it’s great: The sail-in through the Bay of Kotor, between steep limestone mountains and stone villages, is reason enough to book. Once there, the walled town is right beside the pier and much smaller and calmer than Dubrovnik.
What to do: Climb the steps to the San Giovanni fortress (bring water and good shoes), explore the squares and cats of the Old Town, or take a boat to Our Lady of the Rocks near Perast.
Best time: May to June and September to October. Lines that call: Celebrity, Norwegian, MSC, Princess, Royal Caribbean and many smaller luxury ships. Larger ships sometimes tender.
8. Santorini, Greece
Why it’s great: Ships anchor inside a flooded volcanic caldera, with whitewashed Fira and Oia clinging to the cliffs above. It is one of the most photographed views in the world, and it lives up to the pictures.
What to do: Ride the cable car (or the long stepped path) to Fira, walk or bus to Oia, visit a winery, or see the Bronze Age site at Akrotiri.
Good to know: Santorini is a tender port, and queues for the cable car can be long. Greece now charges cruise passengers a landing fee, added to your onboard account: for Santorini and Mykonos it is €20 per person from June to September, €12 in April, May and October and €4 from November to March. Santorini also caps cruise arrivals at around 8,000 passengers a day for 2026. Best time: May, June, September and October. Lines that call: most Greek Isles itineraries, including Celebrity, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean, Princess, MSC and the luxury lines.
For which Mediterranean routes suit you, see our guide to the best Mediterranean cruises for 2027.
The best Northern Europe and Norway cruise ports
9. Bergen, Norway
Why it’s great: The gateway to the western fjords is also a lovely small city. The UNESCO-listed Bryggen wharf, with its leaning Hanseatic warehouses, is a short walk from most cruise quays.
What to do: Wander Bryggen and the fish market, ride the Fløibanen funicular up Mount Fløyen, or join a fjord trip. Pack a waterproof: Bergen is famously rainy.
Good to know: Norway’s zero-emission rules for its World Heritage fjords (Geirangerfjord, Nærøyfjord and neighbouring arms) apply to passenger ships under 10,000 gross tons from 1 January 2026. Larger cruise ships have until 2032, so big-ship fjord itineraries continue for now, but expect more shore power and more small-ship options. Best time: May to August. Lines that call: P&O, Princess, Holland America, MSC, Celebrity, Viking, Hurtigruten and Havila. If you’re sailing from Britain, read our guide to Norwegian fjords cruises from the UK.
10. Copenhagen, Denmark
Why it’s great: Clean, flat and easy, Copenhagen is a fine city for a day on your own, whether by foot, bike, boat or metro, and it is both a port of call and a popular embarkation point for Baltic cruises.
What to do: Walk the harbourfront to the Little Mermaid and Nyhavn, take a canal boat tour, visit Tivoli Gardens or Rosenborg Castle.
Good to know: Ships at Langelinie can walk into the centre; most large ships use Oceankaj further out, where you’ll need a shuttle or bus. Best time: May to September. Lines that call: Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, Celebrity, Princess, MSC, Viking and Oceania.
The best Pacific and Asia cruise ports
11. Sydney, Australia
Why it’s great: Sailing past the Opera House and under the Harbour Bridge into Circular Quay is about as grand an arrival as cruising offers. From the Overseas Passenger Terminal you can walk to the Opera House, the Rocks and the Botanic Garden in minutes.
What to do: Catch the ferry to Manly, walk the Bondi to Coogee coastal path, or climb the Harbour Bridge. Ships too tall to pass under the bridge use White Bay, which needs a taxi or bus.
Best time: October to April, the southern summer cruise season. Lines that call: Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, Cunard and world cruises from most lines.
12. Hong Kong
Why it’s great: Few cities pack in so much energy, food and skyline. Ships that dock at Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui are right on the harbour, with the Star Ferry, the Avenue of Stars and the night markets on the doorstep.
What to do: Ride the Star Ferry across to Central, take the Peak Tram to Victoria Peak, eat dim sum, and stay out for the harbour lights.
Good to know: The largest ships use Kai Tak Cruise Terminal on the old airport runway, which is not walkable, so plan a taxi or MTR connection. Best time: October to April, when it is drier and cooler. Lines that call: Royal Caribbean, Princess, Celebrity, Holland America, Cunard, Silversea, Seabourn and world cruises.
What about Venice and Havana?
Older lists of the best cruise ports in the world often feature both. Since August 2021 Italy has banned ships over 25,000 gross tons from the Giudecca Canal and the historic centre, so large ships now use alternative docks such as Marghera and the classic sail-past of St Mark’s Square is only for small vessels. Havana is off the table for Americans: US rules introduced in June 2019 ended cruise calls to Cuba from the United States, and they have not been reversed.
How to judge a port before you book
The ranking of a port on any list matters less than how it works on your particular sailing. Before you book, check:
- Dock or tender? Tendering can eat an hour or more at each end of the day. The itinerary or the line’s port page usually says.
- Which pier? Big ports like Copenhagen, Sydney and Hong Kong have several terminals, and one may be walkable while another is a 20-minute drive away.
- Arrival and departure times. Six hours in Lisbon is very different from eleven. “Late night” or overnight calls are gold for cities.
- Ship count on the day. Port schedule sites list every ship due in. Four or five big ships in a small port means crowds and queues.
- Fees and caps. Look out for landing fees like Greece’s and daily caps in places like Santorini and Juneau, which can occasionally lead to a schedule change.
- Season. Caribbean hurricane season, Mediterranean midsummer heat and Alaska’s shoulder months all change the experience.
Balancing great ports with the right cabin matters too: a balcony is far more valuable on a fjord or Alaska sailing than in the Caribbean, as we explain in our guide to balcony vs inside cabins.
Heading to Mexico? Our guide to the best restaurants near the Cozumel cruise port groups places to eat by pier.
For the top tours in Naples, Civitavecchia, Piraeus and Barcelona, see our guide to the best Mediterranean shore excursions.
FAQs
What are the major ports in the Caribbean?
The busiest Caribbean ports of call include Cozumel, Nassau, St. Thomas, St. Maarten, Grand Cayman, Roatán and San Juan, while Miami, Port Everglades and Port Canaveral are the main US departure ports. For a mix of history and walkability, San Juan and St. Maarten are among the best.
What is the best cruise port in the world?
There is no official answer, but ports that combine a walkable town with outstanding scenery, such as Old San Juan, Juneau, Bergen, Lisbon, Kotor and Sydney, regularly top passenger favourites. The best one for you depends on whether you want beaches, history, wildlife or city life.
Which cruise ports can you explore without an excursion?
Old San Juan, Juneau, Skagway, Lisbon, Kotor, Bergen and Sydney (from Circular Quay) are all easy to explore independently because the town starts right by the ship. Dubrovnik, Santorini and Kai Tak in Hong Kong need transport or a tender first.
Are cruise ship private islands worth it?
For a relaxed beach day, yes. Perfect Day at CocoCay and Carnival’s Celebration Key offer easy pier access, pools and family facilities, but they are purpose-built resorts, so pair them with at least one real Caribbean port if you want local culture.
Can US cruise passengers visit Havana?
No. US government rules introduced in June 2019 ended cruise calls to Cuba from the United States, and they remain in place at the time of writing.