Cruising takes us to exciting and picturesque cruise ship ports around the world. Whether they feature nature’s masterpieces or something manmade in vibrant colours, our favourite cruise destinations are each a photographer’s paradise. What we love about cruising is the variety in destinations, the one time unpack, the culinary delights, and the opportunity to make …
Cruising often takes us to places we might never have visited otherwise. When we choose our ship and itinerary, there is usually a mix of cruise ports already on our bucket list, cities we know little about, and somewhere we had never thought of visiting before.
An eclectic mix, we have shared about things to do in a number of ports around the world. Many of them are stunning locations, allowing us to share photos, thus taking you there virtually.
To date, we have sailed in Asia (Indonesia), Australasia (American Samoa, Australia, French Polynesia, New Zealand), Europe (France, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Turkey, UK), North America (Alaska, Canada, Caribbean, Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama, USA), and South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay).
Enjoy our articles based on a variety of cruise ports around the world:
Istanbul Must See: 7 Places to Visit in Istanbul Turkey
Energy levels were high as our ship pulled into the port of Istanbul. Exotic, yet familiar, it’s a city filled with an extensive history, intricate architecture, gastronomic delights, and culture. Our Istanbul must see list whittled down to seven key sites, we were ready. Istanbul is a city that deserves more than one day, but …
Cruising to Tahiti: Things to do in a day (besides the beach)
Tahiti instantly conjures up images of an exotic tropical paradise. For us, it was a cruise port that I could hardly wait to reach as we crossed the Pacific. Sailing first from Los Angeles to Tahiti and then home to New Zealand, French Polynesia was to be one of the highlights of our three weeks …
24 Unique Things to Do in Buenos Aires Argentina
Elegant yet energetic, Buenos Aires has it all. The cosmopolitan capital of Argentina offers an eclectic mix of modern and European colonial styles. Filled with Argentine traditions, it’s the unique things to do in Buenos Aires that drew me here. A city pulsing to a tango beat, it has a few surprises. Unique Things to …
22 Things to Do in Montevideo Uruguay
Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay is an often-overlooked South American city with a European flair. Uruguay is a liberal nation with a sordid history and progressive laws. Nestled between Brazil and Argentina, it’s a coastal nation with its own personality. We found plenty of interesting things to do in Montevideo and other parts of Uruguay. …
Santos Brazil for Coffee, Beaches and Leaning Buildings
As we cruised into the Santos Brazil port, passing South America’s largest dock, we had two choices for our day on shore. We could spend it in São Paulo, Brazil’s largest city, or stay in its seaside resort town of Santos and enjoy some of the world-famous Santos coffee, relax at one of the many …
Bali Itinerary: Cruise Port Adventure in Ubud Indonesia
One day in exotic Bali is not enough, but as a cruise port, that was all we had. There are two basic choices for a Bali itinerary. We could head inland to Ubud and see the rice terraces, monkey forest, and markets. Or we could simplify our Bali itinerary to a day at the beach. …
A Guide to Paraty Brazil: From a Day to a Week
Paraty is a popular holiday spot with Brazilians, yet they have somehow kept it a secret from the rest of us. This tropical paradise overlooks Ilha Grande Bay on Brazil’s Atlantic coast. Paraty put a smile on my face from the first moment I stepped ashore. The vibrantly painted boats that line the coast create …
Kauai Excursions: Highlights of Kauai, Hawaii in a Day
The rain beat down as our ship docked in Kauai, an island that is one of nature’s most exquisite masterpieces regardless of the weather. We were ready to see the highlights. We hadn’t prebooked one of the ships Kauai excursions, and we were not going to let the weather slow us down. The fourth largest …
Visiting American Samoa: Home to a Tropical US National Park
American Samoa is a tropical paradise waiting to be discovered. Situated in the southern Pacific Ocean just east of the dateline, it’s a small unincorporated US territory that many people don’t even know exists. For me, it is the lush green hills, warm turquoise waters, and a blend of traditional Samoan culture with modern American …
24 Unique and Fun Things to Do in Napier New Zealand
Napier is best known as the Art Deco Capital of the world, but this offbeat New Zealand town has a lot more to offer. From Māori and European history to wine tasting or adventure, there are plenty of novel and fun things to do in Napier and the surrounding Hawke’s Bay region. To understand Napier, you need …
25 Fun Things to Do in Tauranga and Mt Maunganui
Home to New Zealand’s top-rated beach, the world’s most accessible active marine volcano, kiwifruit, glow worms, street art, and more, the region is aptly named the Bay of Plenty. It is filled with exciting and fun things to do in Tauranga (the largest city), Mount Maunganui (coastal beach town), and the surrounding region. It’s a …
Ketchikan Shore Excursions: Our Favorite Things to Do in Ketchikan Alaska
The Ketchikan Alaska cruise port is a stop for nearly every ship sailing the inside passage. Generally the first port for on northbound cruises heading to Anchorage, Ketchikan serves as an introduction to the rugged Alaskan frontier for many visitors. A quick glance at the ship’s Ketchikan shore excursions and it is clear that visitors …
Ephesus Library of Celsus: The Best Option from Izmir or Kusadasi
The ruins of Ephesus Turkey are filled with inspiring examples of ancient craftsmanship; however, none compare to the masterpiece that is the Ephesus Library of Celsus. Towering over the ruins, the remaining facade is enough to impress even the most apathetic of travellers. The Greeks constructed portions of the ancient city of Ephesus as early …
Oslo in One Day: Ski Jump, Sculptures, Vikings Ships
Attempting to see the highlights of Oslo in one day, we disembarked our cruise ship in the capital of Norway. This is not the optimal way to see this beautiful city. However, for us, it was our only option as it is the final port of our cruise through the majestic Norwegian Fjords before we …
