pseudoware Posted March 5, 2015 #1 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Kind of broad, but in your experience, what are some of the 2 or 3 best ports you've visited where there's a lot to do and offers a great experience within the immediate port area or within a very short walking distance? And no, having my pic taken at the gangway w/someone dressed in a traditional, local costume, getting swarmed by and saying "no" to a bunch of local, independent tour operators, and then shopping for handmade trinkets, cheap t-shirts w/iron-on decals, over-priced booze, etc. under the shadows of humungous shipping containers and cargo ships is not what I consider a great experience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cruzaholic41 Posted March 5, 2015 #2 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I think the best port for walking around is Key West. Costa Maya is also a good one, especially if you take the shuttle to Mahahual. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockdoctor Posted March 5, 2015 #3 Share Posted March 5, 2015 So many come to mind - Kotor, St Peter Port, Venice (a short walk to the vaparetto and you're in St Mark's Square). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted March 5, 2015 #4 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Having been to well over 100 different ports on 6 continents we thing nearly EVERY port is better without an excursion :). However we do understand that many folks do not share our spirit of adventure or strong dislike to being stuck in a group. We will admit that some countries such as China make it very difficult to do anything independently. Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cb at sea Posted March 5, 2015 #5 Share Posted March 5, 2015 There really are very few ports where you NEED an excursion! At least, in the Caribbean! A guidebook will really be the most helpful thing. Tells you ALL about where you're going, an how to do what interests you! Things like beaches, or shopping really never need excursions! Research is key Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hallasm Posted March 5, 2015 #6 Share Posted March 5, 2015 when I'm cruising Caribbean or Europe (except for Sct Petersburg) I newer take excursions - most cities are walking distance. Different for Asia and South America cruises. Here is an example from my last cruise with no excursions. link to my blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare geoherb Posted March 5, 2015 #7 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I think the ports on New England/Canadian itineraries are great for not needing excursions. We booked just one on our first cruise there and did not book any on our second one (but we did rent a car in Halifax). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kartgv Posted March 5, 2015 #8 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Several come to mind immediately: Kona Bar Harbor Catalina These ports all have beautiful little town areas with great shops and restaurants, though more exciting activities might require taxis or shuttle buses. The same is true of many of the Alaska ports (think Red Dog Saloon in Juneau!). Sydney (Australia, not Canada!) Vancouver, BC Both of these are also gorgeous settings, plus having easy access to public buses or ferries that can deliver you quickly to a multitude of other activities. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dsrdsrdsr Posted March 5, 2015 #9 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Stavangar is probably the best one I've been to, with Bergen a close second (both in Norway). Juneau, Alaska is up there as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
navybankerteacher Posted March 5, 2015 #10 Share Posted March 5, 2015 For the immediate port area, San Jusn, PR, Cadiz and Lisbon come to mind - as soon as you step off the ship you are right there. But even when you have to take some transport - you can pretty much always do it on your own - just spend a little time in advance to figure what you want to see/do in the area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slidergirl Posted March 5, 2015 #11 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Any European port (minus St. Petersburg because of the visa issue). This includes any Med cruise of any of the River Cruises. I'm with Hank; I don't do excursions (ship or private) unless it is a port where I would have no choice. I have yet to have problems doing what I want to do at a port on my own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jocap Posted March 5, 2015 #12 Share Posted March 5, 2015 I agree with Cadiz, and if you're not to good at walking, there's HOHO buses at the port gates. Some vast ports have shuttles, such as Livorno, Civitavecchia and Barcelona. The island of Rhodes has the old town within easy walking distance; Amsterdam centre is close or there's a nearby tram; Cork (Cobh) and Glasgow (Greenock) are close to trains. Venice is super easy, because there's even a people carrier to the main transport, and the city is flat walking with plenty of sign posts. Various ports in Norway are in the centre of things, and several in Spain, such as Cartagena, where it's a simple stroll into the town/Roman ruins etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CowPrincess Posted March 6, 2015 #13 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Loreto Mexico -- the tender drops you off right in town, a couple of blocks one way and you get to a beach, a couple of blocks inland you get to some restaurants and shopping, and a church. Or turn the other way once off the tender and walk the malecon. Ketchikan -- stop at the Visitor Center, get the self-guided walking map. Or take a stroll uphill to Creek Street, or along Stedman and uphill to the Totem Heritage Center. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare Hlitner Posted March 6, 2015 #14 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Am smiling at some of the responses to the OP. The OP does not mention any specific ports, a part of the world, a continent, etc. There are literally several hundred ports around the world (on 7 continents) used by cruise lines. Unless the OP asks a more specific question it is really not reasonable to try and answer. Should we list the more then 100 ports we have visited on cruises with info on each? We think not :) Hank Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
whogo Posted March 6, 2015 #15 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Kind of broad, but in your experience, what are some of the 2 or 3 best ports you've visited where there's a lot to do and offers a great experience within the immediate port area or within a very short walking distance? I would not classify them as a very short walking distance, but I have toured Kona, Alicante, Key West, Monaco, Barcelona, Lahaina, and Ensenada on foot from the ship without problem. Pubs were a short walk from the ship or tender dock in Ushuaia, Argentina and Stanley, Falkland Islands. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crystalspin Posted March 6, 2015 #16 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Agree with @whogo on Ushuaia and Stanley -- although we did excursions we also had plenty of time and daylight to enjoy the pubs! Additionally, Montevideo, Puerto Vallarta, and Cabo San Lucas, as well as Juneau and Kona that others have else mentioned. Note that when you rule out over-priced booze, you may have removed some of my recommendations! =)) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slidergirl Posted March 7, 2015 #17 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Am smiling at some of the responses to the OP. The OP does not mention any specific ports, a part of the world, a continent, etc. There are literally several hundred ports around the world (on 7 continents) used by cruise lines. Unless the OP asks a more specific question it is really not reasonable to try and answer. Should we list the more then 100 ports we have visited on cruises with info on each? We think not :) Hank I based my response based on some postings by the OP in the Cruise Air forum. Has cobbled together some flights to/from Europe for a cruise out of Venice with a stop in London to visit friends/relatives... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pseudoware Posted March 7, 2015 Author #18 Share Posted March 7, 2015 I based my response based on some postings by the OP in the Cruise Air forum. Has cobbled together some flights to/from Europe for a cruise out of Venice with a stop in London to visit friends/relatives... Thanks Slidergirl. I think my use of "excursion" is confusing. I really meant ports where you don't need to take a bus, taxi, etc, ship-affiliated or not, to find worthwhile, interesting and fun attractions or activities. I've been to Civitavecchia, for example. Not a place I'd think would qualify, IMO. Anyway, I didn't expect a list of every port on the planet, just a couple that others thought were their favorites or would best qualify. Thx for the replies. Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
donaldsc Posted March 7, 2015 #19 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Kind of broad, but in your experience, what are some of the 2 or 3 best ports you've visited where there's a lot to do and offers a great experience within the immediate port area or within a very short walking distance? And no, having my pic taken at the gangway w/someone dressed in a traditional, local costume, getting swarmed by and saying "no" to a bunch of local, independent tour operators, and then shopping for handmade trinkets, cheap t-shirts w/iron-on decals, over-priced booze, etc. under the shadows of humungous shipping containers and cargo ships is not what I consider a great experience. There are about 1000 cruise ship ports anywhere in the world and you are asking which is the best anywhere. Reducing the geographic area to at least a continent might get you a better answer. However, since you ask, I would suggest any port in Antarctica or in Greenland as a good choice. DON Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiseapril Posted March 7, 2015 #20 Share Posted March 7, 2015 In the Caribbean area ( if that is of interest) we like exploring Willemstad, Curacao and Old San Juan, Puerto Rico on our own. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjones Posted March 7, 2015 #21 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Some of my favorites for self-exploration: Sitka, AK - Visby, Sweden - Tallinn, Estonia - Lahaina, Maui - Stockholm, Sweden Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pseudoware Posted March 7, 2015 Author #22 Share Posted March 7, 2015 (edited) Brain cramp, deleted Edited March 7, 2015 by pseudoware Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bonsai3s Posted March 7, 2015 #23 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Some of my favorites for self-exploration: Sitka, AK - Visby, Sweden - Tallinn, Estonia - Lahaina, Maui - Stockholm, Sweden jjones...we love those ports. Tallinn was such an easy walk from the ship. Fond memories and easy walking in: Montevideo (From the port, simply follow the arrows on the sidewalk.) Punta Del Este Yokohama Osaka Singapore Ushuaia Quebec City Ketchikan Venice Istanbul Nice All of the South Pacific islands...you can always find a beach nearby. :) Hong Kong Key West San Juan, PR San Francisco Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tarara75 Posted March 8, 2015 #24 Share Posted March 8, 2015 I really loved playa del Carmen. We headed to the beach, swam a bit, then went to Carlos and Charlies for lunch...then walked around the shops for a bit....that was a good day Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jasbo49 Posted March 8, 2015 #25 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Key West, Puerto Vallarta, anywhere in Alaska. Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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