Ports for your cruise

A port is the beginning of a journey, or a place where a new destination opens up for a few hours. For embarkation, you need to consider the terminal, luggage and how to get there; for a port call, it’s about getting into town and returning to the ship. Both are easier to plan when you know the actual berth. The name of the port city alone doesn’t tell you which quay your journey starts from.

First choose the country, then ocean or river

Start by selecting the country where the port is located. Within each country, you can then browse ocean and river ports to find individual destinations. An ocean-going ship can also dock on a river: Hamburg is connected to the North Sea via the Elbe and is visited by ocean-going ships. Conversely, being on the coast doesn’t make every ferry port a starting point for an ocean cruise.

Some cities welcome both types of cruise ship. Rotterdam has a central seaport terminal as well as various river landing stages. So when planning your journey, consider not just the city but also the type of trip and the specific quay.

What would you like to do at the port?

If your trip starts here, plan your journey according to the cruise line’s information. The station, car park and terminal entrance are separate locations; if you’re travelling with luggage or need assistance, it’s particularly worthwhile to plan the final leg carefully. A visit to the port without embarking, on the other hand, could start by the waterfront, at a viewpoint or in a museum.

For a shore visit, choose an activity that fits the time you have in port. A city stroll, a day at the beach and a longer excursion don’t necessarily fit into the same visit. In Warnemünde, the beach and the Alter Strom can easily fill your entire stay; if you’d like to visit Rostock, allow extra time for the journey. In Marseille, the transfer from the cruise port is a separate leg before your stroll around the Vieux-Port.

Our suggestion: First find your port, note your berth, and then decide what to do ashore. That way, you’ll have time not only for getting around but also for the destination itself.