What is the Prettiest Harbor......

[sail7seas]

That you have sailed into or from?

[Krazy Kruizers]

Alaska - Sitka - all the small islands surrounding you - no matter where you anchor.

Europe - Toss up - either Stockholm or Oslo - wooded islands and fjords.

Mediterranean - Venice - the approach to the Grand Canal via the Lido Islands.

Caribbean - St Lucia - can actually watch other ships go by while docked.

[Lisa63]

Portland, Maine. Approaching this wonderful city from the water is breathtaking, with all the lighthouses leading the way.

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I have to agree with KK on Sitka Alaska, in May with the Snow Capped Mountains and the Islands surrounding it. One of my highlights was very early in the morning like 6:30 as we were coming into Sitka I was up in the gym on the treadmill it was wonderful.

Another port I love but I have actually not sailed in or out of it on a cruise ship but I know many have, is Kona Hawaii. With all the shops and the church there is just something that make me feel at home there.

[cactuslady]

Almost anywhere in the Gulf Islands of British Columbia (provided one has a small enough yacht).

For a cruise ship, and a real port with facilities, leaving Acapulco at night is gorgeous.

[Krazy Kruizers]

LAFFNVEGAS

Forgot about the Pacific - do agree about Kona, Hawaii.

[mhshapiro]

I didn't consider Kona's harbor to be all that pretty.

Actually among urban Harbor's Honolulu actually has a spectacular one.

I have some pix posted:

http://community.webshots.com/user/mhshapiro

Look at the Hawaii cruise albums.

[dakrewser]

In the U.S., San Francisco.

In Europe, Mahon, on Menorca.

http://vquill.com/gallery/Image/mahon_port_small.gif (http://vquill.com/gallery/Image/mahon_port.jpg)

http://vquill.com/gallery/Image/menorca_port_small.gif (http://vquill.com/gallery/Image/menorca_port.jpg)

[jhannah]

I really like St. Johns, Newfoundland. Not that it's all that "georgous," but coming through the narrows and seeing the town inside there is really quite a sight.

[JohnR49er]

Have to agree with San Francisco !!!!!!!!!!

[habenicd]

I would have to agree with Sitka.

[sail7seas]

I agree that Portland, Maine has a pretty harbor. I loved sailing into and out of Venice and also think that St. Thomas' Harbor is pretty.

Sailing by the White Cliffs into Dover is beautiful but the port itself is very industrial.

Honfleur in France is beautiful IMO

[sail7seas]

Although cruise ships cannot come into this harbor due to its small size, it is hard to imagine a more beautiful harbor anywhere in the world than Marblehead, Massachusetts.....the birthplace of the U.S. Navy.



We do not live too far from there and have enjoyed coming into that harbor on private vessels and it is absolutely beautiful.



Another gorgeous harbor IMO is Monaco.

[Starr Mtn]

Our votes would be:

Sydney, Australia

San Francisco - especially upon return in the early morning, seeing all the
City lights come on, and sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge

Agree re Sitka, and love Acapulco at night -especially at Christmas

[aaannnthony]

South America.......RIO!

New York City is a must, just to pass by "Lady Liberty". We've done it half a dozen times, and, it's always a great experience.

[dakrewser]

Although cruise ships cannot come into this harbor due to its small size, it is hard to imagine a more beautiful harbor anywhere in the world than Marblehead, Massachusetts.....the birthplace of the U.S. Navy.
Um, the Navy's birthplace was Naragansett Bay, Sail, even their official history recognizes that! (click here (http://www.nuwc.navy.mil/hq/history/0002.html) ) :)

-dave

[GayleArc]

Personal favorite, Bermuda.

[LizB1]

Stockholm, Sydney and Venice...not necessarily in that order.

[Bill S]

Most impressive for me, has been Rio at sunrise.

Leaving Acapulco at night was also very nice.

Other ports I have enjoyed sailing into are: Ushuaia, Sitka and San Diego. Vancouver is also a favorite, more so departing than arriving.

[MISSYLOU]

I would have to say Honolulu is a very exciting port to sail into as is San Francisco. Even though I don't care for Jamaica, the port at Ocho Rios really is pretty.

[the2ofus]

Sitka and Grenada

[TedC]

Oslo, Stockholm, Sydney (Aus.) and Venice - in alphabetical order. Please don't make me try to pick the most favorite!

(Also like Santorini, if a caldera can be called a harbor.)

[Tatka]

St. Thomas, VilleFranche, Naples .

[sail7seas]

Um, the Navy's birthplace was Naragansett Bay, Sail, even their official history recognizes that! (click here (http://www.nuwc.navy.mil/hq/history/0002.html) ) :)

-dave

Um...they have been fighting it out for years along with Beverly, Massachusetts. I am not going to bother to google for you for Marblehead. If you wish to.... :)

[lipoppop]

Ha Long Bay in Vietnam with all of the mountains rising out of the sea and the small fishing boats sailing by.

[Druke I]

San Francisco, very closely followed by Sydney.

Michael

[allen.crawford]

We really like Bonaire. Everything is so nicely painted and seeing the mountains of salt when approaching the harbour really makes it nice too.

[weluvcruisin']

Sydney Australia, St. Thomas, St. Lucia are all beautiful ports,

[jdrblue]

Speaking of nicely painted buildings, Cobh, Ireland comes to mind. Cobh also has a towering cathedral which can be seen for miles. The spire is said to be the last part of Ireland seen by many Irish immigrants and many of the passengers of the Lusitania and Titanic.

I think the caldera at Santorini should be included even if it may not be officially a harbor. Are we limited to just one? Oslo, Stockholm, and Honolulu are hard to leave out. Venice is spectacular and while were are in the v's how about Vancouver and Valletta. The old walled city and Maltese flags flying make Valletta quite a view. Rio, Sydney, and NYC are on my to do list.

[anngie]

I've never been to Hawaii but St. Barts has to be about the prettiest place that I have seen. St. Lucia is pretty also. San Juan at night is pretty awesome.

[BJane]

My choice will probably not be on anyone elses list, but my favorite will always be Port Antonio, Jamaica. When I began cruising 25 years ago, it was the first port we came to. To me, it was absolute magic to be on a ship sailing to an entirely different place than I had ever imagined I'd see. Now with 42 cruises under my belt I can still visualize every detail of that day!

[debsea]

Europe: Stockholm

Mediterranean: Valletta, Malta; Venice

[arzz]

Curacao is one of my very favorites -- the ships used to come in, turn around and dock just across the water from the colorful downtown area (it was really worthwhile to get up at dawn, go out on deck, and watch the ship come in)-- getting across the water was also fun -- walking across the pontoon bridge (or taking the crowded ferry) -- haven't been there in years -- somehow I bet the new larger ships have to dock elsewhere -- somewhere that is far less interesting.....

Santorini is hard to beat for plain old ordinary natural beauty

[PEFER33]

JHANNAH

I agree, St John Newfoundland was a beautiful port to enter or leave. When we left on the Rotterdam, many of the residents were on Signal Hill and the opposite shore to bid us goodbye.

I also like leaving San Juan at night. I realize the dock area is not that nice, but passing Old Town and the fort all lit up as you leave the harbor, oh my!

In Alaska, I enjoyed the sail thru the Lynn Canal to/from Skagway.

Phil

[jhodg56010]

I liked Miami where the causeway motorists waved and honked as we cruised out to sea Also, Vancouver, as you pass under the Lionsgate Bridge and past Stanley Park with mountains in the background. New York City is also fun to cruise out of. Actually, cruising into and out of most ports is fun for me. Jim

[elmorejj]

For me, it has to be Vancouver as number one, followed by, Acapulco, Venice, Monte Carlo and any other as long as I`m on a cruise ship!!....jean :cool:

[Aussie Gal]

My favourite would have to be Sydney on a beautiful sunny day with the Opera House and Sydney Harbour bridge in your view.

My other favourites would be coming into Stockholm with the wonderful archiepalegos (sp) surrounding you as you approach, Santorini is hard to beat and of course Venice, the most magical city of all.

Actually just being on a ship is wonderful.


Jennie.

[Cerinda]

Oponuhu Bay, Moorea, French Polynesia

Sitka, Alaska

New York, New York

[bronbeth]

There are so many to choose from! While I agree with many of the ports already mentioned, a few others come to mind.

Istanbul, Turkey
Cape Town, South Africa
Bora Bora, French Polynesia
Hong Kong

[Kami's pal]

Vancouver with Canada house, bridge
Sydney, Australia with opera house and bridge

I expect San Francisco would be a favorite too if I ever get there.

and oh to be in Halifax when tall ships are there!

[Randyk47]

I'd vote for San Francisco. Can't comment about some of the others as I've only cruised out Ft Lauderdale and Port Canaveral. Having said that, my favorite is Gig Harbor in Washington state.....I was 18 and in my sail boat with my first love and we......oh well....that's a story for another thread and probably another message board. :rolleyes:

[DJErikD]

Um, the Navy's birthplace was Naragansett bay, Sail, even their official history recognizes that! (click here )
-dave
Um...they have been fighting it out for years along with Beverly, Massachusetts. I am not going to bother to google for you for Marblehead. If you wish to.... :)

Actually you're both right, in a way... ;)

Many argue that Philadelphia is the birthplace of the Navy, since it was there that on 13 October 1775 the Continental Congress signed the legislation that led to the Continental Navy. This date is formally recognized by the Navy as its birthdate.

Just ten days earlier, Rhode Island's delegates proposed a resolution to form a Navy (thus staking their claim to the birthplace). This "mad" resolution was rejected as being too vague by those who felt that forming a Continental Navy would be a hasty and foolish challenge to the superior British Navy. However, General Washington had already (at Continental expense) procured three schooners (from Beverly and Marblehead, Mass.) to patrol off the coast of Massachusetts under control of the Continental Army. When the Continental Congress learned of Washington's (Army) ships, it then seemed reasonable to authorize Rhode Island's earlier resolution and they did just that on 13 October 1775.

However, out of recognition to the contributions that other towns played in the American Revolution, the Navy does not recognize any single place as its place of origin.

Birthplace of the Navy
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq112-1.htm

Birth of the Navy
http://www.history.navy.mil/faqs/faq31-1.htm

Oh yeah, to keep on topic, my "prettiest harbor" is whichever one I'm getting off at following a 6-month deployment (usually San Diego for this west-coast Sailor), although Pearl Harbor is a close second!

- Erik

[wander]

There are many, many beautiful harbors to sail into in my opinion. The top ones I can think of just now (not in any particular order) are: San Francisco, Seattle, New York, Sitka, Stockholm, Sydney, Malta. There are many more that I would describe as facinating or awesome, but not necessarily beautiful. These are too numerous to mention, but an example is St. Petersburg (Russia).

[grannynurse]

We like Newport RI and Bar Harbor Me.
In Europe
Tromso Norway and hamburg Germany.

[HeatherInFlorida]

There is no question for us for first place: It is Bora Bora ... nothing can compare the approach and nothing can equal the arrival at this magnificent island so far from everything you ever knew.

After that, I agree with Sail that St. Thomas is a lovely harbor. And I agree with Tatka that Villefranche is magnificent. I remember being moored there on our honeymoon cruise and it is not only magnificent in the approach, but when you arrive on shore of this beautiful village in the South of France ... it is truly magical.

Sail, what a wonderful thread ... it makes me dream:) . There are so many favorites I've seen ... so many I hope to see ... and so little time.

[star453]

Ahh, what memories this thread brings back! The most picturesque IMHO is Oppenohu Bay in Moorea. Just unbelievably beautiful. Bora Bora would be a very close second. Cobh,Ireland was very pretty too.

[HeatherInFlorida]

Star, can't argue Opunohu Bay, Moorea! We approached on the Wind Song at dawn with dolphins leading the way. Be still, my heart!:p

http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:1fKAGo2Ps90J:www.worldisround.com/photos/1/303/318_o.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.worldisround.com/photos/1/303/318_o.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.worldisround.com/articles/26645/photo58.html&h=693&w=1068&sz=112&tbnid=1fKAGo2Ps90J:&tbnh=97&tbnw=149&start=8&prev=/images%3Fq%3DOpunohu%2BBay,%2BMoorea%26hl%3Den%26l r%3D%26sa%3DN) http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:WuUcMsnBikwJ:www.gcollier.com/t7.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.gcollier.com/t7.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.gcollier.com/t7.html&h=420&w=279&sz=23&tbnid=WuUcMsnBikwJ:&tbnh=122&tbnw=81&start=4&prev=/images%3Fq%3DOpunohu%2BBay,%2BMoorea%26hl%3Den%26l r%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN) http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:M4MpyJTzRmkJ:www.najad.se/owners/images/story3_Opunohu-bay-Moorea.jpg (http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.najad.se/owners/images/story3_Opunohu-bay-Moorea.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.najad.com/story3.asp&h=210&w=280&sz=5&tbnid=M4MpyJTzRmkJ:&tbnh=81&tbnw=108&start=2&prev=/images%3Fq%3DOpunohu%2BBay,%2BMoorea%26hl%3Den%26l r%3D%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN)

[localady]

Sitka, Haines, Villefranche, the port for Messina, Ushuaia, Stockholm and Copenhagen are my favorites to date. :cool:

[Esme]

Hamilton, Bermuda, Honolulu (with Diamond Head in the background), Vancouver

[Cracker Ken]

Of the places I've seen - San Francisco, San Diego, Bar Harbor, and Quebec City. We have been to Sitka, but it was rainy and the ceiling was so low we couldn't see the sight (I've seen pics since, and long to return).

Ken

[sail7seas]

We always thought Grenada had a pretty harbor. Since the horrible devastation they suffered this past hurricane season, I don't know if it has lost it's beauty. That island suffered such devastation.

Venice always grabs my heart. Mykonos, Greece is so magnificent we could not bear to eat our lunch indoors. We bought sandwiches and our little group all ate on the boardwalk abutting the harbor so we could 'feast our eyes' while we ate. :) Didn't want to miss one second of that incredible beauty.

[stanford's girl]

I left my heart in San Francisco.:D

[Peggy Sue]

DJErikD--thanks for the background on the american navy. We live in Beverly, MA and our fair city, along with Marblehead does indeed claims to be the birthplace of the navy. I agree with Sail, the Marblehead harbor is quite beauiful..as is all the north shore harbors..salem, Beverly, Manchester by the Sea .. lots of quaint New England Charm!

Also agree with previous posters about Bar Harbor, Maine

Loved Curacao --
St. Georges - Bermuda

Peggy Sue

[johnnycruise]

:) :) :) Um...they have been fighting it out for years along with Beverly, Massachusetts. I am not going to bother to google for you for Marblehead. If you wish to.... :)

[sail7seas]

PeggySue.....


Did you happen to be at Marblehead Harbor when they sailed the USS Constitution (Old Ironsides) from Boston to Marblehead. All new sails had been sewn for her and when she rounded the bend (sailing under her own sails with no tow), what a magnificent sight. No ship lover/sea goer who was there that day will ever forget that picture. It was during the last celebration of the Tall Ships in Boston, I believe....probably about 1998 or so.

[sandij]

I have to go with Curacao. You enter into the town by way of a inlet or river and there are these quaint colorful buildings on both sides of the waterway. It was wonderful, very European.

[jasl]

1. Rio de Janeiro
2. Sitka
3. St. Thomas
4. Venice
5. Sydney

The pictures of Halong Bay look very beautiful, but haven't had the pleasure of visiting yet.

[Ziggy7]

I've only been to a few so far but St. Thomas is the best so far :) Looking forward to seeing many others!

[gizmo]

I haven't been there, but my vote goes to Sydney.

[saltydog28]

Hamilton and St. George Bermuda. I also like the view from Gibb's lighthouse.

Pat.

[ekerr19]

It's a tie for me....:)

Stockholm, Sweden
St. Thomas, USVI

[obriendan]

We found that Funchal, Madeira was a particularly attractive harbor.

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=6028&stc=1

[DFD1]

Neat thread. Interesting and fun to read. I'd go for San Francisco or New York for urban ports, St. Thomas or Grenada for the Caribbean. The sail out from Tortola late in the afternoon with the sunset between the smaller islands is also really beautiful.