Nearly one in five Britons are planning to take a cruise in the next year, according to ABTA travel trends, but doing your research is key before setting sail.
The ports of some popular stops can be far from the city you hope to visit, so it is worth checking this when planning your trip.
Many cruise liners use regional ports but name the biggest nearby city on the itinerary, and first-time cruisers may not realise they have to travel up to a couple of hours to get to the sights.
Seeing such stops on your cruise itinerary shouldn't put you off booking the trip, but it is worth being prepared for the journey and allowing yourself extra time when travelling to and from the city.
Some ports are further from the city than guests realise
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European Waterways itinerary specialist, Maryanne Sparkes, shared the top offenders and revealed the distance from the advertised city.
Ports furthest from the city
- Berlin (Warnemünde) – 236 km or 2h 25m
- Paris (Le Havre) – 196 km or 2h 5m
- Venice (Trieste) – 157 km or 1h 38m
- Venice (Monfalcone) – 129 km or 2h 6m
- Granada (Málaga) – 124.6 km or 1h 18m
- Seville (Cádiz) – 119 km or 1h 17m
- Florence (Livorno) – 89 km or 1h 10m
- Rome (Civitavecchia) – 71 km or 55m
- Cinque Terre (La Spezia) – 27.1 km or 39m
- Amsterdam (IJmuiden) – 26 km or 28m
Maryanne explained: “We’ve seen travellers on mainstream cruises step off at ports like Trieste or Le Havre thinking they’re in Venice or Paris. But often, the real city experience is hours away by coach.
“Not all boats are banned, however. Cruise companies operating smaller boats are still able to dock right in the heart of the city.
"For example, we’re fortunate that our 20-passenger luxury hotel barge La Bella Vita is able to dock right in the heart of Venice, as are any vessel weighing under 25,000 gross tons, so it’s a vital question to ask when booking any cruise.”
Docking at a port hours away from the city must be considered when planning, as you will want to get off the ship early and leave plenty of time to get back before the ship leaves. As experienced cruisers will know, a ship can leave late-running passengers behind.
Maryanne continued: “If you’re not docked in the heart of a city, you could potentially miss key landmarks, or feel rushed around a city, or even be forced to pay for expensive taxis to maximise your time in the new city.
"Some people may even face unexpected travel fatigue thanks to additional dock-to-city travel, especially for families and older travellers."
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Seville is worth visiting, but prepare for a long journey
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The expert recommended booking a smaller ship - "it doesn’t just get you closer to the city, it gives you more energy to enjoy it" - but if that's not possible, follow the tips below.
How to avoid missing your ship
- Double-check the port name before booking, and research its distance from the advertised city
- Look for nearby overnight stays or longer dock times if your dream city is far inland
- Pre-book transport or excursions through trusted providers, not just the cruise line
For more information on what to consider before booking, a cruise expert shared little-known booking tips that "make choosing the perfect cruise easier".
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