Cruise Ship Captain – View from the Top Mast

Aerial View Of Palma Port showing West Sea Wall and Poniente Quay cruise ship berths

Introduction

Palma lies on the south west coastline of the island of Mallorca in the West Mediterranean Sea.

The Romans were the first people to exploit the potential of Mallorca as a trading base, and in 123BC set up two ports, one being Palmeria.

Mallorca was captured by the North African Moors in the middle ages, but little remains of this time, except the narrow maze-like layout of the streets of the old city similar in design to a Medina. The Mallorcan Moors used Palma as a base to harass Catalan ships sailing to and from the mainland. In 1229, to negate the threat, James I of Aragon captured Palma. So the Kingdom of Aragon took over control of Mallorca and Palma. The following years were a glorious time for Palma and Mallorca. This time is often called the Golden Age of Mallorca. The city was considerably enhanced with the building of a number of grand buildings, including the Bellver Castle, a renovated Almudaina palace and le Seu Cathedral.

Despite the effect of mass tourism on the island, these magnificent buildings built during Mallorca’s golden age remain to impress and awe the visitor. The city’s Old Town, with its character squares, medieval palaces and quaint cobbled alleyways are the historic highpoints of the city.

Mallorca is situated in the middle of the Western Mediterranean sea making Palma a very popular port-of-call for cruises. Lately, mainly thanks to the large nearby Palma de Mallorca airport, it has also become a busy homeport for cruise ships.

Palma Cruise Port In Detail

Poniente Quay

Cruise Terminals 1, 2, 3, and 4

These cruise terminals access ships berthed at the Poniente piers numbers 21, 23 25 and 26. The terminals are connected with a network of raised walkways. Services comprise of police station, restrooms, snackbar, telephone kiosks, waiting areas, office and health office. The Poniente quay is about a mile and a half southwest of the city center.

Palma Cruise Terminal 5

Cruise Terminal 5

Some ships berth inside Dique Del Oeste (the west sea wall) at docks 28, 30 and 32. These piers are served by cruise terminal number 5.

For the port website see APB.

La Seu Cathedral, Palma De Mallorca

Top 5 Things To Do In Palma

Almudaina Palace
The signature Moorish style of the Palacio de la Almudaina echoes its beginnings as a Moorish fortress. On the occupation of Mallorca by James I of Aragon in the 13th century the fort was converted into a palace for the Mallorcan monarchy. Today it is a museum with art including oriental carpets, Flemish tapestries and an excellent selection of paintings.

La Seu
Palma’s spectacular cathedral la Seu is Palma’s most popular draw. Construction started in the early years of the 13th century, and continued for over 3 centuries. A significant remodeling project commenced in the the 20th century, with the famous architect Gaudi designing several noteworthy contributions.

Bellver Castle
The impressive Bellver Castle is home to the Despuig Classical Sculpture Museum and the Palma History Museum. There are spectacular views from the castle’s walls over the beautiful Bay of Palma. Bellver Castle is a 10 minute walk up the hill from the Estacion Maritima.

C’an Pere Antoni Beach
The seafront south of the city center has a thin strip of sand, which, if you walk for a short distance in the direction away from the main seaport, widens into the expansive C’an Pere Antoni beach. The golden sands shelve gently into warm waters. A few palm trees at the back of the beach provide shade, and close by concessions sell beach items and refreshments.

Palma To Soller Railway
This quaint electric train joins Palma with the mountainside town of Soller, a trip 27km long. The railway crosses a wide plain, then climbs up through 13 tunnels to reach Soller. The journey, which takes just over an hour, is an interesting way of getting to know the picturesque interior of the island. The Palma station is sited in the center of the city, by the main train station.

Cruises On Offer From Palma

Palma is an excellent base for a week long cruise calling at exciting ports in the Western Mediterranean. Memorable shore trips available at ports-of-call would include the leaning tower of Pisa (from Livorno), the awe-inspiring La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the atmospheric D’Alt Vila of Ibiza, the panoramic views from the rock of Gibraltar and the impressive Colosseum in Rome (from Civitavecchia). In fall repositioning cruises may be on offer to the Caribbean and the Canaries.

For a list of itineraries see cruises from Palma De Mallorca.

Seattle Skyline

Introduction

Near the western coastline of the US, located between Puget Sound to the west and Lake Washington to the east sits the compact city of Seattle.

The first township in the Seattle area, built in 1850, was called New York. The settlers soon moved a short distance to the other side of Elliott Bay to the area now named Pioneer Square, which had an excellent sea harbor. In honor of a local Indian leader who had helped the incomers, the new settlement was named Seattle.

Processing and exporting lumber was the initial business enterprise of the new town. In the fall of 1863, surveyor Edwin Richardson found coal next to a stream draining into Lake Washington. Almost immediately extensive coal mining began, and coal joined lumber as a principal export from Seattle docks.

In the 1880s and 1890s the population grew strongly when the city was connected to the North Pacific transcontinental railway. In 1889 the city was almost completely ruined when a raging fire raged through its center. The burnt-out buildings were replaced during a busy decade of reconstruction. The new layout included reconstructed wharves, proper sewers and wider streets.

The early 1900s saw a period of continued growth, as migrants from all over the world came in to labor in the service, resource and business industries. Ship building activity surged in importance during World War I, thanks to huge demand. Unemployment and suffering were commonplace among the city’s population throughout the deep 1930s Depression years. World War II saw a commercial turn around as Boeing, a previously little-known airplane manufacturer, took on many more workers. In 1962 10 million people visited the Century 21 Expo hosted by Seattle. The Expo left the city a permanent legacy of iconic structures such as the Pacific Science Center, the Seattle Center, the Monorail and the Space Needle.

Today Seattle is an international center for manufacturing, marketing and trade, home to well-known enterprises like Microsoft, Costco and Real Networks.

From early days the economy of Seattle has been closely linked to the commercial activities of its port. To start the docks were utilized for the export of timber and coal. Apart from large cargo vessels, smaller boats plied the route along the coast north from the city, servicing resource-based industries based on mining, fishing and wood. Summer voyages to Alaska were popular even in the early 1900s, with Alaska Steamship Company running 7 day cruises. By the 1950s demand had slumped, and the Alaska Steamship Company closed. During the second half of the 20th century the city’s cruise business was virtually non-existent. Then in 2000 Seattle again became a major cruise departure port, when the Port of Seattle opened the Bell Street Pier cruise terminal at Pier 66. In 2009 the Smith Cove terminal was constructed to add cruise ship capacity. During 2010 over 900,000 cruise vacationers departed on cruises departing out of Seattle.

Seattle Cruise Ports In Detail

Seattle boasts 2 cruise ship ports, the popular downtown Bell Street Terminal, and the Smith Cove Terminal, 3 miles north of the city center.

Bell Street Cruise Port

Bell Street Pier

The Bell Street Pier cruise terminal was inaugurated in 2000 as a component of a 10-acre, downtown, waterside, multi-purpose project. It sits on Pier 66 which has a historic past all the way back back to 1914. The terminal is 2 stories high, with a mechanized bridge platform providing ship transfer from the 2nd level. Facilities at the terminal comprise customs, check-in, café, restaurant, luggage handling, retail kiosks, rental car kiosk and concierge service. A 1700 car capacity garage is located just across the road from the cruise terminal. The cruise terminal homeports Norwegian Cruise Line and Celebrity Cruises cruise ships.

Smith Cove Cruise Port

Smith Cove Cruise Terminal

The Smith Cove cruise port is positioned 3 miles from downtown. Amenities include check-in, shops, car rental kiosk, concierge, baggage checking and customs. A 1,000 car parking lot is sited not far away with a free shuttle bus service to the terminal. Smith Cove is used by Carnival Cruises, Holland America Line, RCCL and Princess Cruises.

For the port website see Port Of Seattle.

Seattle Aquarium

Top 5 Things To Do In Seattle

Museum of Flight
In addition to being the home of massive airplane manufacturer Boeing, Seattle has an amazing Museum devoted to flying. Check out a history of air hostess fashion, a traffic control tower, a superb display of WWII fighter planes, Air Force One and the reusable Shuttle space vehicle. Seattle Museum of Flight is about 4 miles south of the city center.

Seattle Aquarium
Sited by Pier 59, the Seattle Aquarium has an interesting range of ocean life. Watch the coral world of the Pacific, long tentacled octopus, Lake Washington fresh water fish, lively otters, colorful fish and Puget sound fish in prize winning exhibits.

Pioneer Square
If you’re into history, head to Pioneer square, Seattle’s original neighborhood. The great 1889 fire ruined the ramshackle structures built by the town’s founders. Today the district is distinguished by 1890s brick and stone buildings, and is filled with interesting shops, splendid architecture, bookstores and art galleries.

Space Needle
Catch the elevator to reach the 520 feet high hovering disk deck of Seattle’s signature building for a magnificent outlook on the city and its attractive surroundings. Visit the souvenir shop for a memento or, for a meal with a twist, eat at SkyCity, the tower’s revolving restaurant that completes on revolution per hour.

Olympic Sculpture Park
First opening its doors in 2007, the Olympic Sculpture Park has completely changed a area of commercial docks into a green and satisfying venue for art. Walk around the sculptures and enjoy stunning views of the Olympic mountains and Puget Sound.

Cruises On Offer From Seattle

Seattle acts as a cruise port only in summer time, on account of Alaska’s hard and long winters.

Cruises out of Seattle take a different course to Alaska than those leaving from Vancouver. The extra round-trip distance is around 320 miles, and the shortest route to Alaska is around the outside of Vancouver island.

A well-liked itinerary is the week long return trip calling at Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay and Ketchikan. You will see mighty glaciers falling into the sea, spectacular coast and mountain panoramas and coastside settlements with rich histories.

When the Seattle cruise season ends a range of exciting repositioning cruises are available: to places like Florida, Hawaii and California.

For a list of itineraries see cruises from Seattle.

Vacouver Cruise Terminals

Introduction

Vancouver is situated at the Burrard peninsula on the west seaboard of Canada. The city sits between the Fraser river to the south, the Burrard inlet to the north and the Salish sea to the west. Encircled by snow-topped mountains, huge green forests and cold clear seas Vancouver counts as one of the world’s favorite cities.

The region was first settled in the 19th century when several lumber businesses moved in to harvest the huge natural forests of Canada’s west coast. Today the city is a major commercial harbor, and the heart of a prominent technology zone.

The city’s natural deep water harbor has continually played an important function in its growth. Initially timber and wheat were the main goods exported from the docks. The port also functioned as a homeport for smaller ships transporting goods to settlements further north. The passengers on these boats returned with tales of magnificent scenery. As early as the 1900s Union Steamship, Canadian National Steamers and Canadian Pacific Steamers were offering week long summer voyages following the coast to Alaska. Sadly by the 1950s the Alaska cruise industry was reduced to just Canadian National Steamers’ Prince George and CPR’s Princess Patricia.

In 1957 Chuck West founded Alaska Cruise Lines, operating two ships to bring customers to his Alaskan motor coach tours. In 1971 Chuck West sold his business, by now called Cruise West, to Holland America. Encouraged by the great response to such small cruises, Holland America sailed their new cruise ship ms Prinsendam to Vancouver in 1975. Princess Cruises soon joined Holland America, sending two cruise ships, which in turn attracted other lines to station ships in Vancouver for the cruising season. Further growth continued, with passenger numbers through Vancouver increasing from 20,000 in 1970 to 1 million in 2001.

But the advent of Seattle into the cruise market in 2000 brought to an end Vancouver’s expansion. The number of vacationers departing on cruises from Vancouver slumped to 600,000 by 2010.

Vancouver’s Cruise Ports In Detail

There are two cruise ports in Vancouver, Canada Place, on the north side of the city center close to Waterfron rail station, and Ballantyne, a mile eastwards from the city center.

Canada Place

Canada Place

Canada Place has developed from its beginnings as Canadian Pacific Railway pier B/C, which managed the rapid transit of goods from rail to waiting merchant ships.

The terminal is part of the original Canada Pavilion from the 1986 World Exposition, with its an iconic 5 sail roof, designed to represent the area’s seafaring history. Also located within the complex are the Vancouver Convention Centre, Port Metro Vancouver corporate offices, a big VINCI car park and a World Trade Center office. Available facilites include restrooms, a snack bar, security, cab and bus ranks and customs. The terminal has 3 cruise ship berths.

Ballantyne Cruise Terminal

Ballantyne

Ballantyne terminal was expanded and redesigned in 1995, and today boasts modern passenger processing. Because of its history as a goods port, the terminal surroundings have a very drab flavor. Services on offer include baggage trolleys, security, customs, snack shops, taxi ranks and restrooms. The cruise port has one berth – East. Occasionally the West berth is also utilized.

For the port website see Port Metro Vancouver.

Harbor Center Tower

Top 5 Things To Do In Vancouver

Harbour Center Tower
A short elevator ride takes you to the top of the 581 feet high Harbour Center Tower, where there’s a panoramic view around soaring mountains, the wide sea and the modern city center.

Gastown
The 19th century roots of Vancouver lie in the historic district of Gastown. Though the first wooden houses were totally razed in the1886 fire. See the edifice of ‘Gassy Jack’ in Maple Square and the peculiar steam clock whistle then have a quiet break at a welcoming café.

Stanley Park
The huge green space of Stanley Park hugs the end of the Burrard peninsula. It’s where you’ll find the Vancouver Aquarium and a wonderful collection of native American Totems. Fit walkers can follow the 5 mile seashore, along a path which gives magnificent views over the sea.

Vancouver Aquarium
Tour Vancouver Aquarium and enjoy a variety of ‘animal encounters’, with dolphins, sea otters, sea lions and sea turtles. Children will love Clownfish Cove, with its sea stars, corn snakes, clownfish and sea urchins.

Capilano Suspension Bridge
Hundreds of feet above the Capilano river sways the long Capilano Suspension Bridge. After teetering across the bridge, try the Treetops adventure, where you follow walkways laid out high above the ground to inspect the grand trees of the forest close up.

Available Cruises From Vancouver

The winters in Alaska are long and cold, so Vancouver’s cruise season is firmly summertime only. Nearly all the cruises that depart out of Vancouver make by way of the famed Inside Passage, getting to Queen Charlotte Sound by majestic Discovery Passage. If you’re liable to being seasick, you’ll be thankful for the calm seas of this itinerary over the Pacific ocean route followed by ships leaving from Seattle. A well-liked itinerary is the 7 day return voyage with calls at Skagway, Glacier Bay, Juneau, Tracy Arm Fjord and Ketchikan. See characterful port towns, enormous glaciers falling into the sea and magnificent coastal and mountain panoramas. Another option is a one week one way trip from Vancouver visiting Skagway, Ketchikan, Glacier Bay and Juneau followed by crossing the ocean to finish at Seward or Whittier. You can return by taking a further cruise, or by plane back from Anchorage. This choice enables you to extend your vacation with a trip into the spectacular interior of Alaska.

At the end of summer a variety of interesting repositioning cruises are available: to places such as Hawaii, Florida and California.

For a list of itineraries see cruises from Vancouver.

Panorama of Sydney

Introduction

Sydney is the biggest city in Australia, with a population of over 4 million. The city sits in a coastside plain, surrounded by the the Hawkesbury River, Pacific Ocean and the Blue Mountains.

The town was started in the late 18th century when the first convict fleet from England landed at Sydney Cove. The new outpost was named after the British Secretary of State, Lord Sydney, who had recommended the establishment of a penal colony in Australia. To start with life in the new settlement was difficult, with simple accommodation in wood huts, tiny amounts of food, and a ruthless system of authority. The native people, though, were to fare even more baldy, as the infectious diseases brought killed vast numbers of Aborigines. The mild weather, and the availability of land proved a draw, and the first free settlers arrived in 1793.

Uninhibited by bureaucracy, the settlement grew quickly through the next hundred years, as the inhabitants set up lots of mines, farms, businesses, shops and factories.

Through the 20th century, fast growth carried on as immigrants arrived from both Europe and Asia. Today Sydney is a large, modern and multicultural city, with citizens originating from all over the globe.

The city has become a favorite destination for tourists. Celebrated attractions include the Sydney Opera House, Bondi Beach, Sydney Harbor Bridge and The Rocks.

The city’s seaboard location and many attractions have helped make it Australia’s busiest cruise ship port, both for cruise departures and visits. Nearly 150 cruiseliners make use of Sydney cruise port annually.

Sydney’s Cruise Ports In Detail

The city’s cruise facilities are separated between two sites, the Overseas Passenger Terminal and Wharf 5.

Overseas Passenger Terminal

Overseas Passenger Terminal

The Overseas Passenger Terminal has access to a 800ft mooring, with a capacity of one full-sized vessel. The terminal is a contemporary building with a complete variety of functions for cruise passengers. It further features an hotel, restaurants and outside . The OPT is located at Circular Quay, across from the Opera House a short walk from Sydney’s sights.

Wharf 5 Darling Harbor

Darling Harbour Wharf 5

Wharf 5 at Darling Harbour in Bangaroo is a short-term cruise terminal for use during the building of a new facility at White Bay. Wharf 5 offers customs control, an arrivals area, an immigration area and a departure area. The terminal is within easy walking distance of Circular Quay.

For the port website see Sydney Ports.

Sydney Opera House

Top 5 Things To Do In Sydney

Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House, sited on Bennelong Point on Syney Cove, is thought by many to be an architectural classic. Designed by Jorn Utzon and built with much controversy, it was inaugurated in 1973. Be sure to watch an opera, a concert or a ballet, if your vacation schedule allows you to. The Opera house is a quick walk along the shoreline from the OPT.

The Rocks
The original colonists landed at The Rocks, and several of the structures at The Rocks are well preserved, such as Campbells Storehouse, the Merchants House, Susannah Place and Cadman’s Cottage. Integrated into this historical area, the tourist will find shops, cafes, bars, restaurants and galleries. The Rocks area is adjacent to Circular Quay.

Royal Botanic Gardens
The scenic Royal Botanic Gardens is an oasis of greenery situated between the harbour and the concrete center of the city. A walkway leads around the sea front, giving great views across Sydney Harbour and Farm Cove.

Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge has a footpath giving excellent access to the sightseer. Visit the Pylon Lookout on the south side of the bridge to enjoy an absorbing display on how the bridge was made. If you’re not frightened of heights sign up for the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb, a three and a half hour trek to the top of the bridge. The climb takes you up girders, ladders and catwalks during day or night.

Bondi Beach
Bondi Beach is known across the world as as Sydney’s most popular beach. During summer Bondi beach is a centre for fun, sun and surf. The white sandy beach has a magnificent outlook over a wide crescent shaped bay of wave swept water. From Circular Quay Bus 380 gets you there in about forty minutes.

Cruises On Offer From Sydney

Sydney is the departure port for a great range of cruises.

Greenhorn cruisers will appreciate the limited cruises to nowhere, which give a great feel for cruise vacations. Cruises to mysterious Tasmania or sunkissed Queensland are well-liked 7 night vacations. Longer (9-10 day) cruises journey to the beautiful beaches of the Pacific islands Vanuatu and New Caledonia. Fourteen day cruise vacations take in a voyage around New Zealand, or a journey to the exotic Pacific atolls of New Caledonia, Vanuatu and Fiji. Longer cruises include voyages to the magnificent sights of Japan and China, or the famous trip around Australia.

For a list of itineraries see cruises from Sydney.

San Pedro Cruise Port

Introduction

Los Angeles is the largest city in the state of California, and the second biggest city in the United States. Sited on a broad flat area in Southern California, LA is enclosed by vast mountains, the Pacific Ocean, widespread forests and arid deserts.

Starting as a insignificant town in the eighteenth century, the city started to get bigger about a hundred years later due to the coming of the railroad, and enlargened rapidly throughout the following years. These days the city is centered in Los Angeles County, but extends into San Bernardino County, Ventura County, Orange County and Riverside County.

The 18 million people who live in LA originate from all parts of the world. LA has citizens of many backgrounds, incorporating an extensive Hispanic community, a major Asian community, and big populations from many further ethnic origins.

LA is a major center of media, business, trade and culture, however it is most recognized for being the focal point of the world’s entertainment studios. The fame of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Sunset Strip and Bel Air has increased Los Angeles’s allure as an accessible heaven further pushing the region’s huge growth.

Los Angeles’s cruise ship terminals are more used today than ever before, and today nearly three hundred cruises originate from the port every year. Destinations available take in the Mexican Riviera and the Hawaiian islands. Choosing a cruise from LA leads to an unforgettable vacation.

LA Cruise Terminals In Detail

LA’s San Pedro bay contains two cruise ports, the World Cruise Center in the Port of Los Angeles (often called simply San Pedro), and 4 miles eastwards Long Beach Cruise Terminal across from the Port of Long Beach. Ships dock at the World Cruise Center, except most (but not all) Carnival ships – which leave from Long Beach.

San Pedro Cruise Port

World Cruise Center Cruise Terminals
There are two cruise terminals at the World Cruise Center, Terminal 91-92 for boarding at berths 91-92 and Terminal 93 for berth 93. Capacity is 2 to 3 large ships. Each cruise terminal has the necessary amenities, including shops, check in, parking zones, bars, cafes and cab ranks. For the cruise port website see Port Of Los Angeles.

Long Beach Cruise Port

Long Beach Cruise Terminal
In 2003 Carnival Cruiseline left San Pedro and moved to the Long Beach Cruise Terminal across the bay. The cruise terminal is situated inside the dome that once was home to Howard Hughes’ Spruce Goose flying boat, nowadays moved to Evergreen museum at McMinnville in Oregon. Long Beach cruise terminal has one pier with the cability to accommodate one cruise ship. The cruise terminal offers all the basic amenities, including bars, check in desks, shops, restaurants, cab ranks and parking zones. Just by the terminal is the historic Queen Mary liner.

Queen Mary

Top 5 Things To Do In Los Angeles (Near the port)

Los Angeles Maritime Museum (San Pedro)
Be introduced to the history of the harbor of Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Maritime Museum, sited at the old Municipal Ferry Terminal. Check out many items like photos, original maps, models and machines of significant ships and boats. Sited at 6th and Harbor about 1/2 mile southwards from the cruise port.

Red Car Trolley Ride (San Pedro)
The Red Car Line is a 1.5 mile long vintage trolley service between the Marina and the World Cruise Center. The trolley has drop-offs by Ports O’ Call and the LA Maritime Museum. The Red Cars are completely restored to their former glory, complete with comfortable seats, wood paneling and ornate brass fittings.

Queen Mary (Long Beach)
In 1936 Queen Mary entered service for the famed Cunard Line and the ship operated for over 30 years, including a period of military use in WWII. RMS Queen Mary crossed the Atlantic Ocean more than a thousand times, making speed records many times. In 1967 Queen Mary arrived in Long Beach and became a floating hotel/museum.
Located adjacent to the cruise port.

Shoreline Aquatic Park and Aquarium of The Pacific (Long Beach)
Find out about the amazing reefs of the Tropical Pacific, the freezing waters of the North Pacific and the warm seas of California at this marvelous aquarium. See the ocean’s ultimate predators in the huge Shark exhibit. Subsequent to your tour to the aquarium saunter through nearby Shoreline Aquatic Park, a large green space by the bay. Situated across the bay from the cruise terminal, around two miles by cab.

Rancho Los Cerritos Ranch (Long Beach)
Built in 1844, the house and grounds of Rancho Los Cerrotos Ranch echo with the rich tradition of a mixture of American California, Spanish and Mexican origins. The rooms are authentically furnished to show the life and times of both the owners and the workers on old-style ranch. Sited around five miles north of Long Beach cruise facility.

Available Cruises From Los Angeles

The best liked voyage from Los Angeles cruise port is sailing following the western coast of Mexico. Baja California itineraries generally visit Ensenada and Catalina island. Mexican Riviera voyages call at Puerto Vallarta, Mazatlan and Cabo. Longer cruises available are journeys to Hawaii, and one-way trans Panama canal journey to Florida. In early summer a few cruises to Vancouver are available, as cruise ships position for Alaska cruising. For a list of itineraries see cruises from Los Angeles.

Aerial View of Bridgetown Cruise Port

Introduction

The Caribbean island of Barbados has more than its fair share of beautiful sandy beaches, swaying palm trees and warm azure waters. Add in the friendliness and welcome of the locals, and it’s no suprise it’s a a favorite Caribbean destination.

During the 18th and early 19th centuries the island was operated as a sugar cane economy under British management, and there are a few original sugar plantations renovated as museums chronicling the daily lives of the slaves toiling in the sugar fields.

Nowadays the people of Barbados are termed Bajans, and the descendants born out of the old plantation economy rub shoulders in general harmony under a representative government.

Barbados is the easternmost island in the Caribbean and is often spared the worst effects of the region’s tropical storms because the island is situated outside the principal storm strike zone. Records show that a hurricane only hits the island about one time every 27 years. These advantages make the island a favorite cruise ship port, and in recent years, partly due to the well used closeby airport, it has become a busy departing port for cruise itineraries.

Bridgetown Cruise Port Breakwater

Bridgetown Cruise Port In Detail

The Port of Bridgetown (also known as the Deep Water Harbor) is located in Carlisle Bay on the south-west coast of Barbados. The Port handles all of Barbados’s cargo ships, together with a large number cruiseships. Built in 1961, the Deep Water Harbour was created by a manmade isthmus. In 2002 the central channel plus the inner docks were deepened to allow bigger cruiseships to call.

Since the dredging project the port has experienced significant growth both in cargo and cruiseliner volumes.

There are 4 deepwater quays for larger sized cruise ships These handle 5-6 large cruiseships. There are the breakwater , the sugar berth , berths 2,3 and 4 and the Esso Jetty , located outside the breakwater. The Esso terminal is only occasionally occupied when the main docks are full.
See www.barbadosport.com for the port’s official website.

On the shoreside of the quays sits the new cruise terminal, officially opened in 1994. It acts as the centre for services for cruise passengers and crew members arriving at Barbados. The cruise terminal contains the normal departments to process passengers, including Immigration, Customs, Plant and Animal Quarantine, Health Center,, Post Office and the Barbados Tourism Office. There are other useful facilities, including restaurants and bars, a business center, and an net cafe. The terminal has a large amount of floor space devoted to shopping, with more than twenty duty free outlets stocking lovely jewellery, fine china, electronic goods, and locally-sourced craft stands.
Cab services and rental cars are available for passengers just outside the terminal entrance doors.

Traveling To Bridgetown Cruise Terminal From The Airport

Grantley Adams International Airport is 21 kilometres from Bridgetown Port. The airport is served by aeroplanes from North America, Europe and elsewhere in the Caribbean. The transfer from airport to Bridgetown Port is easiest by cab, and takes around half-an-hour.

Harrisons Cave

Top 5 Things To Do In And Around Bridgetown

1) Harrison’s Cave
View wonderful caverns with stunning crystal outcrops, gushing waterfalls, and subterranean lakes with blind crayfish. An electric train transports you on your trip.

2) Welchman Hall Gully
The lush tropical gardens are filled with numerous tropical specimens – here before the British arrived in 1627 – set amid natural caves.

3) Sunbury Plantation House
A Plantation Great House whose inside is open to the public. The 300 year house is rich in history, with old prints, fascinating plantation inventory lists, characterful antique funiture and a collection of horse-drawn carriages.

4) Beaches
The star tourist attraction of the island are its beautiful beaches, all of which are open to the public. Just a mile from the port are the beaches of the Gold Coast. Payne’s bay is good for swimming. Nearby lies Fresh Water Bay, which boasts a lovely trio of beaches, Brandon’s Beach, Paradise Beach and Brighton Beach .

5) Mount Gay Rum Distillery and Banks Beer Tour
Enjoy a guided tour and sampling at Barbados’s main rum distillery, then travel to Banks Brewery to sample the local beer.

There’s A Great Selection Of Cruises From Bridgetown

Due to its position in the center of the Southern Caribbean, Barbados makes a brilliant choice as a departure port.

Cruises available include the Greater Antilles (Jamaica), the Windward Isles (Dominica, Martinique, St Lucia, St Vincent), the Leeward Isles(St Barts, St Martin, St Kitts, Nevis, Guadeloupe, Trinidad, Tobago), the Netherland Antilles off the north coast of Venezuela (Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire) or, for even the most jaded of travelers, the Brazilian Amazon.

For a complete schedule of departures see cruises from Barbados.

Civitavecchia Port

Introduction

Located about 45 miles northwest of Italy’s capital city Rome, Civitavecchia, translated as ‘old town’, is a busy ferry and cargo port with good transport links to the Rome area and the middle of Italy. There is an efficient train service from Civitavecchia Port to central Rome, with trains running every half hour, and a time for the journey of around an hour.

Emperor Trajan founded the Port of Civitavecchia in the part of the 2nd century, calling it Centumcellae. Even today, ruins of the original Port, which lie within the walls of the modern port boundaries, are still visible.

At the end of the fifteenth century, the Port of Civitavecchia was vulnerable to attack by pirates. Pope Julius II instigated the construction of a massive castle to protect the port. The works were completed by Michelangelo in 1537. In the 19th century the Port of Civitavecchia was connected to Rome by rail. World War II saw the destruction to large parts of the Port. Reconstruction extended the Port beyond its previous area.

Today the Port of Civitavecchia handles over 2000 ferry and cruise ship movements per year, catering for over 2 million passengers, making it the third busiest Mediterranean port.

Civitavecchia Cruise Terminals in Detail

Bramante cruise terminal

The Port of Civitavecchia contains over 20 piers. Much of the harbor is taken up by container ship and ferry ship traffic. Cruiseliners dock at piers on the land side of the sea wall. These are 11 – Traianea, and numbers 12/12B/13A/13B – Antemurale Colombo. Sometimes quay 25 (Commerciale) across the harbor is also utilised. There are currently 3 cruise terminals, the Bramante at pier 12, and temporary facilities on piers 11 and 25.

For the port website see port of Rome.

Things to do near Civitavecchia Cruise Port

Civitavecchia Promenade

Forte Michelangelo
The 16th Century fortification called Forte Michelangelo stands imposingly over the harbor. It was commissioned by Pope Julius II and completed in 1535 by Giulano Leno. The central tower was designed by Michelangelo. Built on the ruins of Roman barracks, the fortress is made from walls over 6 metres in depth.

Cathedral of San Francesco d’Assisi
Franciscan monks constructed the 18th Century Cathedral of San Francesco d’Assisi on the remains of 17th Century monastery. The Baroque-Neoclassical decoration of the cathedral impressive. The foundation stone was laid by Pope Gregory IX in 1228, and the cathedral was finished in 1253. The church features beautiful stained glass windows and frescos.

Civitavecchia Beach
Steps leading from the coastline pavement, just across from the train station, descend to a pretty sandy beach. The sea is very clear and great for swimming.

The Archaeological Museum of Civitavecchia
This is located in an eighteenth century building once the property of Pope Clemente XIII and built for the papal guard. It is an ideal setting for the showing of items mainly of Estrucan and Roman origin.

Available Cruises from Civitavecchia

Most itineraries focus on either the East Mediterranean – Greece, the Greek Islands and Istanbul, or the West Mediterranean – France, Spain, Corsica and Sardinia, and the Balearic Islands. For a listing of cruises see cruises from Rome.

Cruise ship negotiates Venice's waterways

Introduction

Venice Cruise Terminal is situated in the west area of the city, sandwiched between Tronchetto Island and Piazzale Roma. In this area there are 3 transport facilities (cruises, ferries and hydrofoils). The number of passengers has dramatically increased from three hundred thousand in 2000 to the current figure of substantially in excess of one million. The numbers continue to grow, confirming Venice as a number one choice of cruise passengers.

Venice port is not directly on the Mediterranean, but sits on the Venetian Lagoon, this is connected to the Adriatic by a channel named the Porto di Lido. The business concern that operates Venice Port is the Venezia Terminal Passeggeri.

Venice Cruise Terminal plays host to over 20 cruise lines, including and MSC and NCL.

Venice Cruise Terminals In Detail

Venice Cruise Terminal contains three areas: the Marittima basin, which can berth the biggest cruise ships that call in Venice, and and the smaller Santa Marta and San Basilio quays. These two are just around the corner on the Giudecca Canal.

Maritima Basin

Marittima is the biggest of the ship docks at the Port’s Venezia Terminal Passeggeri, with 3 terminal buildings and enough docking space to handle several large ships at once. It incorporates the Isonzo Quay (berths 18 and 20), the Tagliamento Quay (berths 107, 109, 110, and 112), the Piave Quay (117) and the TM Quay (aka TM berth).

Santa Marta (Quays 24 to 28) and San Basilio (Quays 29 to 31) is the long quay than runs from the mainport basin to the Fondamenta Zàttere, the walkway beside the bank of the Giudecca Canal. San Basilio handles smaller ships like the Regatta (Oceania).

St Marks Square

Things To Do Near Venice Cruise Port

In choosing a cruise from Venice, you have already treated yourself to visiting arguably the most magnificent and romantic city in the world. So ensure you allow at least two to three days either before or after your cruise to enjoy wonderful Venice.

The most famous of Venice’s buildings are those around St Marks Square – the Basilica, the Doge’s Palace, and the Campanile. All 3 were started in the 10th century, and in the next three hundred years the buildings underwent many renovations and changes. Other don’t miss sights include the romantic Rialto bridge, and the imposing Venetian Arsenal.

Available Cruises From Venice

Cruises from Venice generally concentrate on three areas, the Adriatic Sea, the Ionian Sea (with its spectacular Greek Islands), and Turkey. For a list of itineraries see Venice cruises.

Aerial View Of Port Canaveral

Introduction

Cape Canaveral is situated on the Atlantic coast of Florida, roughly midway between Jacksonville and Miami and around forty miles eastwards from Orlando. Bounding the city on the south side is Cocoa Beach, on the west side is the Atlantic Ocean, to the north is Port Canaveral and on the east side is the Banana River.

The tides which sweep past the Cape make it perilous to boats, and countless seamen have died in wrecks around the Cape. The peninsula was first given the name Cape Canaveral by Spanish seamen as early as the 16th century. Because of the risks to boats, the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse was erected in 1843, helping boats to navigate without danger in the seas around the Cape.

In the early twentieth century a little settlement centered around fishing was founded to the south of the Cape. The town was named Artesia. In the 1930s, half-a-mile to the south of Artesia, the Brossier brothers purchased a portion of land calling the development Journalista. This area ultimately became the area called Avon-by-the-Sea. World War II provided the impetus for the construction of a naval air station at the Cape to support coastal sea planes.

After WWII the USAF, searching for a promontory extending into the Atlantic ocean to create a secure rocket launch base, decided on the Cape. Avon-by-the-Sea and Artesia were swallowed by facilities constructed to cater for the space workers of the space base, and the city of Cape Canaveral came into being.

Work on constructing a deep-harbor facility at Port Canaveral started in 1951, and was mostly completed by 1953. The port handled the retrieval of booster rocket motors from the ocean.

The amusement parks of central Florida are a big attraction, and during the 1970s Port Canaveral was first utilized by cruise ships as it was a port-of-call convenient to Orlando. During the 1980s 3 cruise terminals were constructed, and Premier Cruises (no more in existence) and Carnival Cruises ships homeported at Port Canaveral, departing for multi-day trips to Nassau. During the 1990s Disney cruises started operating cruises from the port, from the new purpose-built facility terminal 8. During this decade further demand saw the construction of two additional cruise terminals.

Today more than a million people depart on their cruise trip from Port Canaveral each year. Disney and Carnival have been joined by Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line at the port.

Port Canaveral Cruise Terminals In Detail

Port Canaveral has six cruise terminals, but only 3 are in regular use for multi-day cruise ships. These are terminals 5, 8 and 10 which are sited on the northern shore of the port. Terminal 2 is home to a casino ship. Terminals 3 and 4 are not utilized often.

Port Canaveral North Side Cruise Terminals

North Side Terminals 5, 8 and 10

Cruise terminals 5, 8 and 10 are positioned on the north or A side, alongside Charles M Rowland Drive. These newer cruise terminals are each capable of handling over 3000 people, with large quays to moor the new super sized cruise ships.

Cruise Terminal 5 is an attractive 2 story triangular shaped building, with a thirty foot high glass central hall resplendent with tropical vegetation and waterfalls. Embarking cruisers are processed on the top floor, debarking cruisers on the bottom. Cruise Terminal 8 was designed for Disney Cruise Line, and is an attractive modern terminal with an impressive 90ft glass entrance. Cruise Terminal 10 has an efficient passenger loading/unloading arrangement, and fully automated baggage processing.

Each terminal offers the necessary services such as ATMs, restrooms, check-in desks, pay phones, cab rank and vending machines. A dedicated parking lot for passengers’ use is located adjacent to each cruise terminal building.

South Side Cruise Terminal

South Side Terminals 2,3 and 4

Cruise terminal buildings 2, 3 and 4 are sited on the B or south west side, along George King Boulevard. These terminals were amongst Port Canaveral’s first facilities for the cruise industry, and each can handle about 1800 passengers.

The 3 cruise terminals all access the same length of jetty offering the capacity to accommodate two large or three medium-length cruise ships. A big parking lot for passengers’ use is located beside each terminal.

For the port website see Port Canaveral Port Authority.

Cocoa Beach Pier

Top 5 Things To Do Near Port Canaveral

Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex
The Kennedy Space Center is the heart of NASA’s operations and served as the launch pad for the Apollo missions. At the Center you can go to the LC39 Gantry and the Apollo/Saturn V Center, discover all about what the future holds for space exploration at the Exploration Space exhibition, see a space movie at the IMAX center and undergo the Shuttle Launch Experience. The Center is about 9 miles north from Port Canaveral.

Astronaut Hall of Fame
The Astronaut Hall of Fame celebrates American astronauts. Tour an absorbing collection including an astronaut training simulator, space suits, the Science On A Sphere show and the Sigma 7 Mercury rocket. The Hall of Fame is only 4 miles west of the Space Center.

Cocoa Beach Pier
Originally constructed in 1962 Cocoa Beach Pier is among the best-known spots on Florida’s Space coast. The 800 ft long pier is home to 5 restaurants, souvenir shops, frequent live street entertainment and four bars. The beach next to the pier offers year-round lifeguards, restrooms, showers and beach-hire stalls. Cocoa Beach is situated only 3 miles southwards from the port.

Orlando Amusement Parks
Drive west from Port Canaveral on Highway 528 to reach fabulous attractions like Sea World of Florida, Disney/MGM Studios, Walt Disney World and Universal Studios all no more than 60 minutes car drive away.

Jetty Park
Jetty Park is a lovely Atlantic facing park that has a beach, picnic tables, a playground, camping grounds and pavilions. The park’s pier is very popular as it gives close-up views of cruise ships traveling to/from Port Canaveral, and rewarding fishing for common jacks, redfish and tarpon. The long sandy beach offers several facilities like year-round lifeguards, showers, restrooms and convenient parking. The lively Cove Waterfront area located between the park and the port has restaurants, shops and cafes.The park is part of the Port, and is sited on the south side of the port main channel.

Available Cruises From Port Canaveral

Cruises on offer include the Eastern Caribbean (St Thomas, San Juan and St Maarten), the Western Caribbean (Roatan, Cozumel, Grand Cayman and Belize), or the Bahamas (Nassau and Freeport). More extensive trips are to be had, such as repositioning transatlantic cruises to Europe. For a list of itineraries see cruises from Port Canaveral.

Manhattan Cruise Terminal

Introduction

In 1626 a Dutch settlement, called New Amsterdam, was established on Manhattan Island. In 1664 the English conquered the settlement and renamed it New York. Under the control of the British New York grew quickly as a valuable trading center. The 1775-1783 Revolutionary War started when the colonys rebelled because of the heavy levies enforced by the English government. For most of the war New York was held by the English, and was utilized as a military base. In 1783 George Washington triumphantly marched into the city when the English withdrew. New York served as the US’s first capital until superseded by Philadelphia in 1790.

New York continued to grow all through the 19th and 20th centuries turning into a world center for manufacturing, finance and banking. A highlight of the 20th century was an ambitious construction plan which saw the emergence of Manhattan’s impressive skyscraper filled skyline.

All through the history of New York its docks dotted around the Hudson Bay have been key in the city’s rise. Aside from the export and import of goods, passenger transport has from the beginning also been important at the docks of the city. The first US immigration center was Castle Garden, followed in 1892 by Ellis Island. In the early 1900s, many immigrants would arrive at Chelsea Piers, on Hudson river’s east bank, and were then transported to Ellis Island for processing. However Chelsea Piers was incapable of handling big ships, and new piers were built between West 44th and 52nd streets in the 1930s, making the New York City Passenger Ship Terminal, nicknamed ‘Luxury Liner Row’.

Convenient air travel finished off the era of the magnificent transatlantic liner. But the cruise lines bounced back when the New York City Passenger Ship Terminal relaunched itself in the 1970s as the Manhattan Cruise Terminal. As the demand for cruises increased, two further cruise terminals opened for business in the Hudson Bay area, the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal and the Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal.

New York Cruise Terminals In Detail

NYC offers 2 cruise ports, the Mathattan Cruise Terminal on the Hudson River on the west side of Manhattan Island, and 6 miles to the south Brooklyn Cruise Terminal on the eastern side of Hudson Upper Bay on the Red Hook shoreline of Brooklyn. Also close by is Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal, on the west coastline of the Upper Bay, at Bayonne, New Jersey.

Manhattan Cruise Terminal

Manhattan Cruise Terminal
The Manhattan Cruise Terminal is located next to West 44th through 52nd streets on the west side of Manhattan Island. The cruise port has three docks, 88, 90 and 92. A terminal building sits atop each pier. The facilities at the terminal include check-in areas, newsstands, cafes, rest rooms, seating areas, VIP areas and customs and immigration. Each of the cruise terminals has a parking area above.

There are 5 docks at piers 88, 90 and 92 (just the south side of Pier 92 is utilized).

Manhattan Cruise Terminal is primarily used by Holland America, Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line cruise ships.

For the cruise port website see New York City Economic Development Corporation.

Brooklyn Cruise Terminal

Brooklyn Cruise Terminal
The Brooklyn cruise terminal on the Red Hook coastline opposite Governor Island opened in 2006. On account of its history as a port, the terminal surroundings have a very industrial feel. The terminal contains restrooms, immigration, check-in desks, vending machines and customs. There is an adjacent parking area able of holding 500 cars.

There is 1 quay at pier 12.

Princess and Cunard Cruise Line ships use Brooklyn Cruise Terminal.

Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal

Cape Liberty Cruise Terminal
Cape Liberty cruise terminal (also called Bayonne Cruise Terminal) is positioned at the Peninsula in Bayonne Harbor. Formerly the Bayonne Navy base, the cruise terminal was started operations in 2004. The terminal has immigration, check-in desks, a snackbar, restrooms and customs. Passengers have to be bused from the terminal to the ship dock, as they are half-a-mile apart. By the dock lies the 9/11 Tear Drop Memorial. Close to the terminal lies a large parking lot.

The terminal offers a single cruise ship dock, 900ft in length.

RCCL and Celebrity ships use Bayonne Cruise Terminal.

Statue Of Liberty

Top 5 Things To Do In New York

Empire State Building
New York’s famed Empire State Building soars over a quarter of a mile above the heart of Manhattan.The pavilion and promenade at 1050feet high, is a vertigo inducing trip. The Empire State Building is a half-hour walk from the cruise ship terminal.

Central Park
In the center of Manhattan island sits iconic Central Park, a huge green space designed in 1857. Worth visiting are the Botanical Gardens, Sheep Meadow, the Zoo, the Obelisk and Strawberry Fields.

Metropolitan Museum of Art
This world famous museum, founded in 1870, has a huge array of artworks from all around the world.
Make sure you see Rembrandt’s Aristotle with a Bust of Homer, the medieval tapestry The Unicorn in Captivity, Van Gogh’s Wheat Field with Cypresses and Vermeer’s Young Woman with a Water Pitcher.
The museum is sited to the side of Central Park between E81st and E82nd streets.

Brooklyn Bridge
Finished in 1883 Brooklyn Bridge which crosses the East River is Brooklyn’s most well-known sight. There is a pathway along the bridge, which you can reach at the junction of Tillary and Adams streets or stairs on Prospect St. As you stride across Brooklyn bridge you are treated to marvellous vistas of Manhattan, Brooklyn and Hudson Upper Bay .

Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is one of the most celebrated statues of the USA and New York City. A present from the French, the sculpture, originally named Liberty Enlightening the World, was constructed in Paris, and finished in 1894. It was then taken to pieces and shipped to the USA where it was reassembled on Bedloe’s Island in Upper Bay to be finally inaugurated in 1886. Tickets to the base may be reserved or bought on-site. Admission to the inner stairway and crown is limited to 30 people per hour, so crown tickets should be booked in advance.

Available Cruises From New York

Favorite all-year itineraries are the Bahamas and the eastern Caribbean. This far south you’ll get away from the chilly east coast winter, as you voyage into warmer weather.

In summer, cruises to Bermuda often stay two days, so you can experience the brilliant nightlife. Also on offer in summer are cruises along New England and Canada, stopping at charming and historic ports-of-call. An alternative idea during summer and fall is a transatlantic cruise to Europe. For a list of itineraries see Cruises From New York.