Top 10 One and Done Cruise Ports
There are some ports that are just not worth visiting in the first place but for the majority of cruise ports, I like to call them One and Done ports.
These are the sort of places that you really want to visit, and you do enjoy your time whilst visiting but one you have been there, you really don’t need to go back.
These are the sort of ports that only have a limited offering for visitors, or that just have a specific reason for you to go there and those are the exact type of ports that I look at in this list, so just which are the top 10 One and Done cruise ports?
Let’s find out in this list which is based mostly on my own personal experiences of ports that I have visited.
Our Top 10 One and Done Cruise Ports
Private Islands
OK, so to start with, yes, I have cheated with this one as it isn’t really a destination as such but a type of destination, but they are all so similar and the reason is the exact same.
Heading to a private island, such as Royal Caribbeans CocoCay or Princess’ Princess Cays can make for a fun day or sunbathing, swimming and enjoying the attractions that ar eon offer such as flumes and zip slides but the chances are that after your first visit there, you will likely have done it all and won’t be too interested in visiting again.
You also have the issue of the majority of things awaiting you on shore, can be done on your ship so if you just want to sunbath, swim, or have a day doing fun activities- why not just stay on your ship anyway where you can do it all and its often quieter?
Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada
I have personally visited Victoria on Vancouver Island and it’s a beautiful city, with a Victorian charm to it befitting of its regal name but it is only a small place and once you have seen the gardens, enjoyed an afternoon tea and walked around its downtown area, you’re done.
With it relying on its historical charm, it’s also somewhere that doesn’t change too much, so there no real need to go back once you have already been there.
Punta Arenas, Chile
If you are sailing around Patagonia or heading down to Antarctica, one of the highlights of your journey can be a visit to Punta Arenas in Chile.
It has a small and charming, town centre but you will need to tender on all but the smallest of ships so not the best port of call overall, but the reason cruise ships head there is to allow guests to visit Magdalena Island- home to thousands of penguins.
I have been lucky enough to visit there, and it is somewhere that I will always remember but now I have been to see the penguins and have that experience, its not somewhere I will be rushing back to- but I would highly recommend it.
Port Stanley, Falkland Islands
This maybe just my British bias here but when I visited South America, calling into a little bit of home in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean made for a great day ashore.
Its quaint capital city of Stanley can be easily explored on foot and offers a number of sights to take in a place to grab a bite to eat but again, once you have been there, you have done it all.
The highlight of any visit is to head off and see penguins and whilst there are a few options of where you can do that, they are very similar, so it’s not worth heading back to try another beach or farm- but it is worth heading there if you never have.
Cherbourg, France
I visited Cherbourg on a mini cruise some years back and it was just the type of port that I like to visit.
Its city centre is walkable from the cruise port, you can easily explore all that it has to offer and it even has a couple of attractions right next to where you dock but it is only a small place and only offers a limited number of things to do.
To be honest, I did everything I wanted to do on my visit there so whilst I have fond memories of my visit, its not somewhere I am searching out itineraries that call in there.
Mumbai, India
It was an incredible experience visiting Mumbai and I am so glad I went there but with the immigration difficulties you face, the poor organisation of the port and the feeling that local authorities don’t really want tourists there and it is an experience you don’t really want to do more than once.
When you add in the difficulties in exploring what in offer there and problems I had simply breathing there and you have a port that is a perfect One and Done port.
Hambantota, Sri Lanka
There is nothing on offer in Hambantota itself, so it could be said that it isn’t a good match for this list and more of a entry on a do not visit list but there is one big reason for its placement on this list and that it is gives visitors the chances to head off on safari.
There are a number of national parks nearby, all of which allow you to get close to some of the incredible wildlife found in southern Sri Lanka.
On my visit there I was lucky enough to see elephants, crocodiles, birds of prey, buffalo, monitor lizards and many more species at close quarters and as an animal lover, that made for an incredible day ashore but now I have done it, and with the costs involved, there is no need to revisit the port.
Mormugao, India
Goa is one of those places that you hear about, but you still don’t really know anything about t and that is because the bulk of those visiting simply fly there, head to a luxury resort and never leave their hotel complex until it’s time to go back to the airport.
For those arriving on a cruise, it is the port of Mormugao that welcomes you and it’s a bit an insight into what you are in for going forward.
Its hard work getting in and out of the port, there is nothing there and even if you have booked an excursion, it will be poorly organised.
It was good to see Goa and experience it but it’s just not worth the effort needed to simply spend a day ashore, especially when there are so many other options in the region.
Motril, Spain
Motril is located on the southern coast of Spain and features on many cruises of the Mediterranean but sadly it is such a disappointing port and that is only made worse by the number of great ports located nearby.
There is one big reason for heading there and that is to head in land and to the historic city of Granada, home to the Alhambra Palace and that is just where I went when I visited the port.
It is well worth you going there and exploring both the palace and the cities old town but Motril itself, well there’s nothing worth going there for, so now I have done Granada, I don’t need to waste a day of cruising the Med by re-visiting Motril.
Caribbean Islands
I have bookmarked this list by cheating somewhat but as I have done for number one, I have grouped a variety of ports into one entry as to be honest, you could easily make a top 10 of just Caribbean cruise ports that are one and done ports.
Some do stand out and make a great place to keep visiting but the majority are the perfect mix of small places, with enough to do for a day, but you do everything you want on your first visit and that makes them ideal for this list.
