Must be deckside when entering this port......

[almare]

What are two of your all-time favorite HAL ports to be deckside when entering the harbor?

Mine so far would be sailing out of Hong Kong at about 7:30pm as the light show starts and another is the sail in to Venice.

Looking for my next adventure.....hopefully I can steal some of your memorable experiences!

[sapper1]

NYC and Stockholm. Close third is San Diego.

[IRL_Joanie]

What are two of your all-time favorite HAL ports to be deckside when entering the harbor?

Mine so far would be sailing out of Hong Kong at about 7:30pm as the light show starts and another is the sail in to Venice.

Looking for my next adventure.....hopefully I can steal some of your memorable experiences!


I like this thread!!!

My all time favorite port to be on desk for is Sitka, Alaska.

Our first HAL cruise on Oosterdam in May 2008, when we started entering into Sitka there was an almost ethereal feel to the scenic entrance with mid tree level fog.... By the time I thought to get my camera, the fog was starting to lift these photos cannot do justice to the beauty, but here are a couple:

http://inlinethumb63.webshots.com/13502/2523340100105498569S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2523340100105498569kaaHCn)

and another

http://inlinethumb07.webshots.com/40070/2078410410105498569S600x600Q85.jpg (http://travel.webshots.com/photo/2078410410105498569HYChpD)

Joanie

[surfsidemary]

Honolulu sail-in as the sun rises behind Diamond Head.

Shanghai (river) at night.

Yokohama either coming or going.

[ricki]

Rio!

Anywhere in Antarctica!

Stockholm---for at least an hour out of port!


Ricki

[almare]

Honolulu sail-in as the sun rises behind Diamond Head.

Shanghai (river) at night.

Yokohama either coming or going.

I'm on the Amsterdam in September and will be visiting Shanghai and Yokohama via ship for the first time. Thanks for the heads up. I'm glad I'll be hitting two of your top three!

[azrose]

Venice is #1 --- no doubt about that! :D :D :D

Bora Bora is my new #2 (was San Francisco)

[operafan]

Another vote for Venice........

[2tsquared]

Sailing out of Venice was amazing!

[janmcn]

Venice and NYC are the ones for us...probably third would be Istanbul.

[catl331]

We missed the best part of sailing out of Venice in daylight because we moved to Riva Siette Martieri during the night, and we returned before sunrise, so I have to say our best sail-in so far has been Valletta Malta.

[Koshlong]

Closer to home, I liked the run up to Tortola.

[sail7seas]

Venice. :)

[cruiseing marly]

loved Malta it's really special. going to Venice and Istanbul this fall may have a different choice after that.

[Renmar]

Actually, any port is good for me because that means I'm on a cruise.
Seriously, Venice .

Theo

[arzz]

Oh, so many wonderful ports, so many choices :D -- but I have not been everywhere yet -- I will have to wait to choose until after I have had the time to have been everywhere.

[DeepWaterMariner]

Venice and NYC...but there are a lot of close ones tied for third place. I also like arriving in Norfolk, sailing past the Atlantic fleet.

[E-500]

Sailing into San Juan P.R. at first light in the morning, Departing San Juan P.R. late at night.

[surfsidemary]

I'm on the Amsterdam in September and will be visiting Shanghai and Yokohama via ship for the first time. Thanks for the heads up. I'm glad I'll be hitting two of your top three!

I found most of the Japan/China ports to be beautiful at night. Many have ferris wheels all lit up as the centerpiece. I hope the Amsterdam goes up the river to dock right in Shanghai as she did on the 2010 Grand Voyage. There were also many brightly lit small tour boats in the river there. Enjoy!

[debsea]

Valetta, Malta
Venice, Italy
Stockholm, Sweden

[aussiedisneyfan]

Sydney Harbour is awesome. Trouble is in January the Volendam sailed in at 5am and it was still quite dark when sailing past the Harbour Bridge and Opera House.

[tbrein]

Venice for sure, but also Istanbul
Terri

[maxmia]

Sydney harbor;)

[Blamar]

Venice is a wonderful choice but for that sense of feeling like a pirate I really like San Juan PR. I also really liked sailing into Vancouver in the wee hours of the morning.

[RuthC]

Unless it's an afternoon arrival, I'm not up early enough to watch the sail in to the harbor. But there have been some beautiful sails on the way out.

First in my heart has to be the sail out of NYC. "Thrilling" is the only word for it. I also love the sail out of St. John's, Newfoundland. The cut is so close you feel like you can reach out and touch the rock sides. Stockholm is one of the world's most beautiful sails. I sat out on the bow of the Rotterdam for almost four hours, just enthralled. I agree the sail into Tortola is beautiful, as was the sail into Hamilton, Bermuda last October. And the sail into Istanbul was gorgeous.

You said two ports? Who can limit it to two???? :confused:

[cruisinjudy]

so I have to say our best sail-in so far has been Valletta Malta.
I loved the sail in to Malta. Next fall we get to try the Venice one!

[RD64]

Without a doubt ...Venice...however, in the Caribbean I must say that I totally enjoyed Curacao!

[bobalink]

Stockholm - the archipelago is so beautiful.

This summer we will get to see Venice - after reading all of the votes for Venice I can't wait!

[tim agg]

Vancouver (hometown bias), Stockholm, Valletta, Istanbul, San Francisco, New York, Calvi (Corsica), Madeira and Acapulco just before sunrise, Sitka...

[Southbound]

Haven't been to Venice . . . yet, so would have to say Curacao, with our next-door neighbor, NYC, a very close second. There's just something special about being welcomed by the "Lady in the Harbor". :)

[jimmy2x]

Have sailed under the Golden Gate many times. Arrival always seemed better than departure;).

FLL 2nd cause I know we are headed out on another HAL cruise!

[Willsot]

Stockholm archipelago for me.

[ansjefitnes]

For me its Geiranger and Alesund both in Norway.

[kazu]

Venice for sure, San Juan with El Moro - I never get tired of it ;)

[KirkNC]

For me it would be Malta (Valletta) and Istanbul.

Kirk

[Krazy Kruizers]

venice -- love going by the small islands as you saul away and watching the people on the tiny beaches

[Kathyh1313]

New Orleans- well not the port itself but the cruise down the Mississippi River and out into the Gulf of New Mexico. What a spectacular sight to see the oil rigs! Wow- lit up at night- I never would have thought an oil rig could be such a wonderful sight.

Curacao- when docked at the inner harbor (not the mega pier)

and if I could name a third- Puerto Rico with the fort lit up at night

[ConnyR]

Sydney - my absolute favorite
Oslo - especially the scenic Oslo Fjord
St Lucia - with spectacular views of the island

[deserttraveler]

Venice, not yet, but maybe this fall.

Istanbul on a rainy day, with occasional flashes of sun on the minarets
Ushuaia just after a snowstorm, viewing from the Crow's Nest because of the cold.

[musicismylife]

Stockholm was gorgeous.
Another interesting sail out was St Petersburg going through the old navy yard and seeing what used to be the strong Soviet port and how everything is just sitting and rusting. Not beautiful scenery but lots to see.

[SJSULIBRARIAN]

Sydney and San Francisco.

[KATIE8]

Venice, NYC and Istanbul.

[Randyk47]

We've only cruised in the Caribbean so we've not been in some of the exotic locations you all have been but I really enjoy getting up early in the morning in the Caribbean as we slowly cruise into port. I kind of like the sun just coming up and watching the island come awake. Some mornings it's just so calm and peaceful...I love it. :)

[TheresaMarie]

We thought Santorini was pretty awesome.

[Kay240]

Sailing out of Venice was amazing!


We will be sailing OUT of Venice in October and will make sure to be on deck with both the camera and the camcorder!!

[azcruiser64]

Venice and Monte Carlo.

[Cruising-along]

Istanbul (the first sight of those minarets is breathtaking IMO)
Santorini
Venice

would be my top 3 --- so far!

[catl331]

Actually, I found Istanbul very interesting to watch while sitting on the veranda. Our ship, (New AMS.) was there overnight and the traffic through that port is truly amazing. You have the freighters etc. going to and from the Black Sea and then the local ferries cutting across from Asian side to European side.

[DeepWaterMariner]

Some of these posts have reminded me of some small really cool ports that you don't want to miss being on deck. Several have mentioned San Juan with which I agree. Also, St George's, Bermuda is unique due to the extremely tight passage into the harbor. No mega ships are going in there. Also Moorea with the harbor rimmed by the ancient volcanic mountains.

[sapper1]

Unless it's an afternoon arrival, I'm not up early enough to watch the sail in to the harbor. But there have been some beautiful sails on the way out.

First in my heart has to be the sail out of NYC. "Thrilling" is the only word for it. I also love the sail out of St. John's, Newfoundland. The cut is so close you feel like you can reach out and touch the rock sides. Stockholm is one of the world's most beautiful sails. I sat out on the bow of the Rotterdam for almost four hours, just enthralled. I agree the sail into Tortola is beautiful, as was the sail into Hamilton, Bermuda last October. And the sail into Istanbul was gorgeous.

You said two ports? Who can limit it to two???? :confused:
While I have never sailed out of St. John's, I am quite familiar with the narrow cut. It's sort of like threading a needle.

I remember hearing the story about a cruise ship that was departing from the harbour after a hurricane, when the seas were still very high outside the wall of cliffs. They say half the city turned out to watch and see if it would make it. Obviously it did.

I heard that story on board the Eurodam just after our call to St. John's was cancelled due to Hurricane Bill. It would have been the safest place in the world to sit out a heavy storm but leaving afterwards would have been quite interesting to say the least.

[Willsot]

The posts keep bringing back pleasant memories. To Stockholm I would add Oslo and St. Lucia. Much is enhanced by the time of day and condition of the sea - sailing in at dawn (or out at sunset) can be so beautiful looking over a calm sea.

[Diane Rose]

The port that comes to mind from those that we have cruised to is St. George, Bermuda. Only a small ship can make it through the passage and the seas must be calm. Quite an experience.

[BlackJack2]

Sydney - Very festive! Everyone was out on deck and the boats, ferries, and water taxis were zipping around us. The view of the Opera House and the Bridge were amazing.

[ricki]

I agree that sailing out of NYC can be magical. We sailed past Lady Liberty at dusk when she was back lit---just beautiful!

Ricki

[liketraveling]

Hilo, Hawaii
Especially after being at Sea for 5 days and seeing Land

[luxurysailer]

It's difficult to pick only one. I'd include Venice, Rio, Sydney, and the approach to Santorini. But if I must choose only one it would have to be Venice.

[clueless2]

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_MAPPYFsz6OI/Sr4V0BItHvI/AAAAAAAACYo/2b_NJY89RtU/s912/P1020069.JPG

[roobrie]

Nothing beats pulling into the West Side Terminal in Manhattan going past the Verrazano Bridge and then the Statue of Liberty and then up the Hudson seeing the Manhattan skyline. You only get to see the first 2 when you dock in Brooklyn.

[Essiesmom]

The port that comes to mind from those that we have cruised to is St. George, Bermuda. Only a small ship can make it through the passage and the seas must be calm. Quite an experience.

I have to go with this one, too...But a totally different experience is the approach to Manaus, Brazil, with the meeting of the waters, views of life along the river...EM

[RAYSAN11]

Bermuda and Bora Bora

[PattiG]

I'm so glad someone mentioned Malta. It is by far the most dramatic port I have sailed into. I usually sleep through docking, but my travel partner woke me up when we were entering Malta, saying "Sorry to wake you, but you must see this". She was right.

[mamaofami]

My favorite port to sail in and out of so far has been NYC. Even though I live close by, approaching in the early dawn hours is thrilling and leaving and passing lady Liberty at dusk is beautiful. Seems like I'm going to have to add Venice to my list. I've been there on a land vacation, but not by ship.

[sansterre]

Another vote for Stockholm Archipelago.
For departure, don't miss the fireworks in Curacao
or the friendly people of Guatemala!

[sail7seas]

They no longer do the fireworks when we sailaway from Curacao and that's a shame. It was always so festive and fun on aft deck with the band playing and locals waving us off from shore. It's been several years since HAL provided them along with the people of Curacao. :(

[Copper10-8]

Without a doubt, Amsterdam, all the way from the locks in IJmuiden through the Noordzee Kanaal (North Sea canal) into the city, past the Centraal Station to the cruise terminal:)

Flam, Norway is the other one

[ANSalberg]

Distinct memories of either sailing in/out.

Venice [ a Princess Ship 1998] Listening to Andre Bocelli sing "Time to say Goodbye" as I wept.
Sydney on Amsterdam -twice. After spending 2 days with our friends there; we waved HAPPILY/SADLY to them - first NEAR the Coat-hanger and last near the tower in "The Rocks" -and we'll be WITH them on the Nieuw Amsterdam in a little over a month.
NYC - someone said it; You see "our" statue of Liberty and THAT says it all!
Sailing thru the Red Sea/Suez Canal....on both sides are soldiers with weapons, who wave in a friendly manner to cruiseship's passengers..............something to think about!
Yokohama is the MOST amazing cruise terminal I have ever seen; it "multitasks" -the roof is literally a PARK, the architecture stunning and the port area fully entertaining!
Seattle. In 1960 that pier area [91/92] were military and the Japanese fleet sailed in for "Seafair Days" one summer -DH was in the military stationed at Ft Lawton in Magnolia and I passed 91/92 every day going to work at JC Penney's on Second Ave. THEN we sailed out of it for the last 2 or 3 "Grand Asia" cruises - It is NOW the renovated HAL pier. BUT what memories for this "Newlywed" in 1960.......
EVERY cruise is a WONDERFUL adventure.....

Anne

[Bill S]

Boy, hard to limit it to two! So, here are my favorites:

NYC, Sydney, Flam (Norway), Venice, Istanbul, Stockholm, Honolulu, and Rio de Janiero. I would love to sail into San Francisco some day on a HAL ship.

[Pixiescleo]

I was fascinated by the entrance to Istanbul about half an hour after sunrise. The colours on the volcanic rocks were spectualr.

Smiles

Marg

[bet410]

Geiranger, Norway is my absolute favorite. From there on it's hard to choose, but I think I'd go with Sydney and Bora Bora.

[cruisinggranmama]

A definite tie:

Venice and Stockholm's Archipelago

Still cruising to see if any other ports can top these two!

[Susie51]

NYC and San Francisco

[bob brown]

Any cruise that arrives via a river or fjord or canal that offer scenic views on either side on the way in. The longer, the better.

For me, the ultimate would have been on one of the river "Queens" from Houston along the coast to the Mississippi, then all the way up to the Ohio, and on to Pittsburgh.
Sadly, this is no longer possible.

[bob brown]

If the subject is strictly HAL cruises I've taken, the winner is the Maasdam up the St. Lawrence into Montreal.

[solocanadian]

What are two of your all-time favorite HAL ports to be deckside when entering the harbor?

Mine so far would be sailing out of Hong Kong at about 7:30pm as the light show starts and another is the sail in to Venice.

Looking for my next adventure.....hopefully I can steal some of your memorable experiences!
1. Venice - sail in was narrated by our cruise director
2. Vancouver, BC
3. San Diego
4. Bermuda when you dock at the waterfront in town

[sbn cruisers]

Acapulco, Mexico - at night

[RetiredMustang]

My two favorites are not the usual ones for the HAL boards ... but those who have sailed the Haze Gray Line may understand. They are Norfolk, VA, and Jacksonville, FL ... returning home from deployment of six months or more, on point, on watch, and knowing that it soon will end. And that your wife, and perhaps new child you have never seen or held, will be waiting on the pier. And that the engineers are putting on "channel turns", a few more rpm on the main drive than the captain ordered ... except he has done this before, and compensates. And that no one can sleep, even if you just came off watch, and the mess decks are serving 1,000-calorie sliders (greasy hamburgers), and you can maybe, just possibly, see the glare of Virginia Beach, or Jacksonville Beach, on the horizon. And then you spot the first buoy, and you get _really_ pumped.

Aside from those, of the cruise ports I have seen, I would say:

St. Lucia -- very pretty entrance at dawn. Until you get to the Pointe Seraphine area and the industrial docks and reality sets it. But, the appoach is wonderful.

Willemstad, Curacao. Especially if you sail into Anna Bai and into the turn basin to moor.

Naples, Italy. OK, the harbor is ordinary, but the Bay of Naples, bounded by Capri on the south and Ischia on the north, with Vesuvius brooding over the far shore, is a wonder.

Venice. Pure magic on a stick.

Dave

[siebelqueen]

I get a kick out of being on deck when ships dock in Hamilton, Bermuda. The space between the buoys at Two Rock is so tight that it's like watching the ship squeeze between them. Fun to watch. Another one I like is being on deck when ships leave San Juan, PR at night. Everything is lit up and it's like a huge festival with all the cruise ships embarking at the same time.

[canadarocks]

Retired Mustang, thank you for your wonderful post! I think it puts into a great context how much an individual port can matter to someone, coming or going!

I have loved reading each and every response on this thread, put yours Retired Mustang has been by far the highlight! :cool:

[SilvertoGold]

Acapulco at sunrise and Shanghai

[TedC]

Venice, Sydney, Cape Town, Rio, Stockholm, Oslo - not necessarily in that order.

[natty bumppo]

I enjoyed the sailaway from Seattle. The Needle and skyline close by; Rainier "floating" in the distance; the Olympics port side; "North to Alaska" played at sailaway. Very nice.

[jmkennett]

In no particular order:

Hong Kong
New York
Venice
Geiranger, Norway
Flaam, Norway
Stockholm
Night sailing out of Honolulu on New Year's Eve with fireworks over Waikiki

[TrolleyGirl]

At sunrise weaving through all the tiny islands on the way to Belize.