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- I’ve been on 110 cruises and disembarked at ports around the world.
- Some of my favorite places to dock are off the beaten path and don’t appear on many itineraries.
- St. Martin, Santorini, and Sitka are several of the most memorable ports I’ve visited.
As someone who’s gone on 110 cruises, I’ve visited ports around the world. My late wife, Donna, and I found intriguing qualities about each one.
However, some ports stand out in my mind, and many of these off-the-beaten-path locations deserve more attention.
Here are my favorite ports, in no particular order.
Travelers can feed brown bears in Sitka, Alaska
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Sitka, a town on Alaska’s Baranof Island, isn’t on many travelers’ itineraries since it sits outside the Inland Passage. Other islands off the Alaskan coast offer similar experiences, but Sitka, which was a Russian territory until the mid-19th century, is special.
It was a tender port when we visited — meaning Donna and I had to take a smaller vessel from our ship to reach the shore — and it boasted magnificent views. We took local tours, walked through quaint shops, and learned about the Tlingits, the indigenous people who have lived there for centuries.
The most interesting site we visited in Sitka was Fortress of the Bear, a brown-bear rescue center.
Donna and I went to the enclosure since she wanted to feed the bears. Our guide took Donna to a safe area and allowed her to push 10-pound scraps of meat through the fence, where the bears snatched them up and devoured them.
Donna, an animal person, enjoyed the experience, but I was much happier watching the feeding frenzy from behind the car’s rolled-up windows and locked doors.
Funchal has an unforgettable toboggan ride through the city
Funchal, the largest city in Portugal’s Madeira region, has a great port that’s protected by a large fortress. The ships dock along a quay that separates the harbor from the Atlantic Ocean.
Visitors can take a taxi or walk along the coastal streets to see the city’s cafés, shops, beaches, and dining areas. But in my opinion, Funchal’s toboggan ride is its most unique offering.
To get to the two-person wicker seat. we took the scenic cable car from the Old Town up to a neighborhood called Monte. Visitors should prepare for a wait, particularly when there are several ships in port.
We found our ride at the foot of Monte Church. Guides prepared us to zip 2 km down the hill alongside traffic and pedestrians. The toboggan took about 10 minutes from start to finish. By the end of the run, we were in an area called Livramento, which was a short taxi away from the ship or downtown area.
The Kagoshima beaches are special, and it’s worth venturing to the Chiran Peace Museum
Robert Willett
I took a transpacific cruise in 2012 just to see the Kagoshima beaches, where I was going to be deployed when I served in the US Army during World War II.
When I was there, I also went to the Chiran Peace Museum for Kamikaze Pilots, which was slightly outside of Kagoshima.
This museum’s powerful centerpiece was a wall of photographs of young Japanese pilots who died on suicide missions, along with the final letters they wrote.
The museum grounds also had replicas of Japanese aircrafts and a bunk house where pilots spent their final nights.
St. Martin feels like two destinations in one
A stop at the Caribbean island feels like visiting two countries in one destination since it’s divided into a Dutch side, called Sint Maarten, and a French side, called Saint-Marten.
And all it takes is a 45-minute cab ride to get from one side to the other.
Marigot, Saint-Marten’s capital, has intriguing shops, marinas, and a fortress called Fort Louis, all of which are within walking distance from the downtown area. I recommend grabbing a leisurely lunch there to take in the city’s vitality and charm.
In Philipsburg, Sint Maarten’s capital, Caribbean influences are more evident. Many of the island’s administrative centers are also there.
The island’s main airport, Princess Juliana International Airport, is on the Dutch side and ends at Maho Beach, where planes take off and land close to sunbathers’ heads.
Donna and I visited the island several times. It used to be a tender port, but a new port facility opened years ago that made it possible for large ships to tie up directly to the docks.
The new structures led to more shops and waterfront cafés by the boats, which are convenient but take away some of the island’s old charm.
Santorini, Greece, is as beautiful as it looks in photos
Santorini is one of the most photographed Greek Islands, and deservedly so. The villages looked the same as they did in tourism brochures, and there were no bad settings for a photo when we were there.
Our arrival on the island made the experience unique. To get to the elevated village, we had two choices: ride a donkey or take a cable car. I chose to ride a donkey, and Donna took the cable car. Unfortunately, we didn’t see each other again until dinnertime.
The donkey route took me along a trail that was winding, narrow, and precipitous. I stared down at the rocks below and put my trust in an animal that seemed unaware of the hazards. The ride was scenic and stimulating, but it was also uncomfortable and seemingly endless.
In contrast, Donna reported that her three-minute-long ride in the cable car offered gorgeous views and was very comfortable.
We toured the Santorini Caldera and an ancient town called Akrotiri, but our strolls through the tiny Santorini streets showed us the best parts of the island. When we were tired from all the exercise, we sought relief at the local wineries and cafés.
We concluded our remarkable day by watching the sunset and taking a cable car back to our ship.
Avignon, France, is a medieval town on the Rhone River
Robert Willett
Avignon, which was a papal capital in its 14th-century heydey, is a port on the Rhone River.
The French town retains much of its medieval character. Walls still enclose narrow, cobblestone streets.
Four of the Pont d’Avignon’s original 22 arches remain from the 12th century. And the ancient Pont du Gard aqueducts still carry water into the city reservoirs. There’s also the Palais de Papes, which was once the papal residence, with a large square across from it.
Shops, offices, and cafés line Avignon’s streets, and the Rhone River’s grassy banks are directly outside the city walls. Summertime visitors should try to catch the annual Avignon Festival, which attracts artists from around the world every July.
Many river cruises begin in Avignon, so I recommend taking a day or two to explore this old wondrous city before setting sail.
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