When thinking about the next cruise you want to take, consider embarking from a home port outside of North America. There are dozens of fabulous cities where you can catch a cruise ship and enjoy a memorable pre-cruise or post-cruise stay. To get your imagination fired up, here’s a quick sample of home ports around the globe – and where you could sail from each one.
London, England. Actually, only small ships can sail up the
Thames to the city of London; ocean-going ships usually depart from Southampton.
That’s just two hours away from London, so you can spend some pre-or
post-cruise time soaking up history in the city’s museums, parks, galleries, and
palaces. Many cruise itineraries are available from Southampton; for example, an
11-day London to Rome cruise may include port calls in Portugal, Spain, France, and Italy. Or choose a ship that sails north to the Norwegian fjords or the capital
cities around the Baltic Sea.
Hong Kong. Spread over several small islands, Hong Kong’s
immense skyscrapers are surrounded by stunning natural beauty. There are
markets and monasteries to visit, mountain peaks to hike, museums to tour,
incredible street food to sample – even the world’s longest escalator to ride. A
boat tour of Victoria Harbour is one of the best ways to enjoy views of the
skyline, by day or night. Among the many cruise options is a four-day itinerary
that will take you to Vietnam’s beautiful Halong Bay and back.
Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona is a city of amazing
architecture, from the remains of a Roman temple in the Gothic Quarter to the otherworldly
works of Antoni Gaudi. There are fabulous restaurants and cafes, designer
boutiques, beautiful parks, and museums devoted to the works of Picasso and
Miro. Before or after exploring the city, enjoy a Mediterranean cruise: a five-day
itinerary can take you to Nice, Monaco, Naples, and the island of Corsica.
Cape Town, South Africa. Nestled on Africa’s southwestern coast, Cape Town offers the bustling Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, lined with shops, restaurants, and attractions. Take a hike up Lion’s Head or Signal Hill or ride the cable car to the top of Table Mountain to enjoy stunning views. Ships embark from Cape Town on a variety of African itineraries – popular ports of call include South Africa’s Durban and Namibia’s Walvis Bay.
There are so many more global home ports (and great cruises)
to choose from; for guidance, talk with Anita, your professional travel
advisor.
