Top 10 Gateway Cruise Ports
You know the sort of ones I mean, they are usually listed as abc for xyz in itineraries or Civitavecchia or Rome to give a real world example, and in all honesty, most of them don’t have much going for them and the right decision for visitors is always to book on a shore excursion or to find a way to head off an explore on your own.
Thankfully, there are many cruise ports that will get listed as something else or will be promoted as somewhere to go to visit somewhere but they themselves offer a great day ashore.
Not only do you then get a bit of a hidden gem of a cruise port but with much of your shipping heading off on day trips, you get to enjoy the cruise port with out the crowds of tourists for a much more authentic visit.
For me, that makes for an ideal day ashore, but just which cruise ports offer just that? That is exactly what I look at in this list of my top 10 gateway cruise ports.
Our Top 10 Gateway Cruise Ports
Cadiz (For Sevilla)
This one just had had to atop a list such as this one for me as it was the only time when I have visited a port and had to make a difficult choice between two separate places to visit.
Mostly I will just explore the area where the ship docks, or there will be one place I really want to head out on excursion to visit but when I visited Cadiz, I both wanted to explore Cadiz and the city of Sevilla.
Unless you get lucky and have the chance to overnight in the port and get the chance to do both, it just isn’t possible to head for a day exploring Sevilla and have the time to see the best of Cadiz when you get back before barding your ship as Sevilla just has so much to explore you need a full day excursion and it is also quite a distance from Cadiz.
With so many lines calling the port Sevilla, or Cadiz for Sevilla, many who visit will likely think nothing more about going inland and away from Cadiz itself, but that is a shame as it is a fantastic city in its own right and it has plenty on offer for those who do decide to stay there.
Many of its sights can be seen from your ship as you do enjoy a city centre port location, but that makes an even better choice to the lines recommendation and stay in Cadiz itself.
Warnemunde (For Berlin)
If you have looked at a Baltic Sea cruise, you will likely have seen Berlin listed on many itineraries, I know that I have, and the chances are that has left many of you confused as Berlin is quite some distance from the coast.
Where you actually dock at is the seaside resort town of Warnemunde, which is part of the city of Rostock.
It is somewhere that so many will never have heard of and those onboard the ships calling in their will likely simple book a shuttle to Berlin, it is the port of Berlin after all for so many cruise lines, but that means visitors just miss out on a hidden gem of European cruise ports.
Its offer a large beach, although not always the weather to enjoy it, but there is much more to Warnemunde than that including the Alter Strom district which features a canal full of old ships which is lined by historic building that are now bars, cafes and restaurants.
The whole town is a pleasant place to walk around and with plenty to see and do, you can have an authentic German experience, without the need to sit in traffic for hours on your way to and from Berlin.
La Spezia (For Florence/Cinque Terre)
The Italian port of La Spezia is often billed as either Florence or Cinque Terre and whilst those two are incredible places to visit, that probably shouldn’t come at the cost of missing out on La Spezia. The port hosts some of the biggest ships in the world and is located in one of the busiest cruise regions in the world.
That often leaves every ship and every port you visit been crowded but with so many onboard the ship heading off on excursion, those who chose to explore the port city itself can have a much more relaxed and authentically Italian experience whilst walking around the historic streets of La Spezia.
They are home to numerous museums, a beautiful castle, multiple town squares and lots of small backstreets to home to local shops and cafes.
A Coruna (Santiago de Compostela)
Santiago de Compostela is an historic city with plenty of royal links and that has left its town centre almost being a living museum where there is lots to see and do for those who visit there.
As one of Spain most photogenic cities, it is no surprise that many cruise lines expect many visiting Galicia to want to visit there but for my visit to the port, I stayed in A Coruna and had a great day ashore.
The city centre is almost split into two, with the port at one side and the huge Riazor beach at the other.
In between are plenty of small streets offering authentic Spanish food and drink whilst the main city square is one of the most impressive you will come across on a Spanish cruise holiday.
With so much to enjoy just a short stroll form your ship, there really is no need to go off on a shore excursion.
Greenock (For Glasgow)
If you book a cruise to visit Glasgow and are expecting waking up and been able to see the Necropolis, the city Chambers, the Armadillo of the cities Cathedral, think again as you dock well outside of the city in the historic town of Greenock.
Instead of a sights of a huge city, you are surrounded by mountains and incredible scenery that may think you are in Norway rather than Scotland.
Greenock itself is a great place to walk around and enjoy meeting some locals whilst enjoying those stunning views whilst enjoying some coal cuisine.
I’ll be honest and say Glasgow isn’t my favourite city and isn’t somewhere I particularly enjoy visiting but even if it was, I would choose to stay down in Greenock and make the most of the natural beauty of the River Clyde and surrounding countryside.
Livorno (For Florence/Pisa)
Livorno gets the dignity of different lines calling it different places, with it featuring as Florence on some itineraries and Pisa on others but in my opinion, its historic streets deserve better.
With much of the city’s streets dating back to medieval times, it is a place to simply stroll around and see what you come across and thankfully for those choosing to stay in Livorno when visiting on a cruise, there is plenty awaiting you.
Things such as its fortresses and city walls are great to walk around and gives you a chance to enjoy the historic side of the city, whilst newer parts such as the Piazza della Repubblica is an ideal people watching spot.
Florence and Pisa are incredible paces to visit but both are incredibly crowded tourist hotspots, so why not avoid the other tourists and keep things more authentic by staying in Livorno.
Seward (for Anchorage)
Many cruise ships start or end their Alaskan adventures in Seward, but they will almost always promote Anchorage instead and that does make sense as if you are starting or ending their, it is Seward you will need to head to for its international airport.
Sadly, many itineraries that go there as a port of call also bill it as Anchorage and whilst many will head there or off on a train ride to remember, there is lots to enjoy in Seward itself.
If you are cruising Alaska will never be far from an incredible vista and the same can be said when you walk around Seward, with every street offering incredible views as you walk around it.
The Two Lakes Park offers some great hiking trails whilst its aquarium allows you to get up close to some of the regions incredible animal species.
Next time you are cruising Alaska, make sure you give yourself some time in Seward.
Kobe (for Osaka or Kyoto)
Kobe is a port that I would love to visit but it must be a frustrating one for visitors as there is just so much to see on a visit there.
Many lines will bill it as either Osaka or even as Kyoto and whilst they are both incredible places to visit, if you are only there for a day, why leave Kobe?
Kobe is a bustling city in its own right that is full of incredible modern architecture, historic temples, world class museums, impressive shrines and so much more.
Even if you book a private tour, you will never get around all that you want to see in the city during a day of exploring, but thankfully there are many itineraries that offer an overnight stay there.
That does allow you to have 1 day in Kobe and one day exploring elsewhere but even then, it could be well worth just staying nearby and exploring even more of Kobe itself.
Fremantle (for Perth)
Fremantle and its port acts as a gateway to the large city of Perth and whilst most visiting Western Australia’s leading cruise port may think they are in Perth as many cruise lines call the port just that, Fremantle is a separate city and has lots to offer.
There are lots of museums to visit whilst there including the Fremantle Prison has a long and fascinating history and is now a World Heritage Site that can be explored by visitors to the city as can the WA Maritime Museum.
There is a bustling market to by some local produce and to try some local food and drink or if you just want an easy day, there are a number of beautiful beaches to just sit back and relax and all without the need to travel into the big city.
Valparaiso (for Santiago)
If you are starting or ending your Patagonian adventure in Valparaiso, the chances are you will need to fly in or out of Santiago, the Chilean capital, and many lines will call the port Santiago in their itineraries but it is actually around 1.5 hours away.
If you are visiting the port as a port of call, save your time sitting on a coach although and enjoy an incredible city in its own right.
Valparaiso has some incredible building to see including the magnificent Edificio Armada de Chile and it has a number of funiculars for visitors to ride up its steep hills.
One of the highlights of a visit to the city is to take in its historic quarter, a UNESCO World Heritage site whilst a popular attraction it to walk around its many colourful houses.
