One of the great excitements of cruising is watching the ship arrive or depart a port, and some destinations are more visually impressive than others.
It turns out Malta's Valletta offers the most breathtaking arrival experience of any cruise port worldwide.
New research from AllClear Travel Insurance has crowned Valletta as the most visually captivating port to sail into, so it could be worth looking for itineraries that stop here. Scientists tracked where people's eyes lingered longest when viewing different harbour approaches to produce the findings.
Argentina's remote Ushuaia port, nicknamed 'The End of the World', claimed second place with its dramatic mountain backdrop.
Valletta in Malta has one of the most stunning ports
| GETTYSicily's Palermo rounded out the top three, where passengers are treated to historic architecture and sparkling Mediterranean views.
The study examined ports globally, measuring which harbour arrivals caught travellers' attention fastest and held their gaze longest.
European ports absolutely dominated the rankings, with Stockholm's cruise terminal landing in fourth place. Passengers love the approach through the Swedish capital's archipelago, where colourful cottages dot the skyline all the way into the city centre.
Lisbon's port also scored highly - ships sail beneath the famous 25 de Abril Bridge before docking, giving passengers incredible views of the city's terracotta rooftops from the top deck.
Norway appears twice in the top 20, with both Geirangerfjord and Flåm's Skolten Cruise Pier making the cut. These ports are famous for their spectacular scenery - passengers find themselves surrounded by towering cliffs, cascading waterfalls and verdant valleys as their ship navigates these dramatic fjords.
The 20 most stunning cruise ports
- Valletta, Malta
- Ushuaia, Argentina
- Palermo, Italy
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Nassau, Bahamas
- Oranjestad, Aruba
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Sydney, Australia
- Muscat, Oman
- Kușadası, Turkey
- Dubrovnik, Croatia
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Kotor, Montenegro
- Geiranger, Norway
- Funchal, Portugal
- Québec City, Canada
- Flåm, Norway
- Cozumel, Mexico
- Monaco
- Philipsburg, Sint Maarten
CRUISE NEWS
Palermo in Italy is another port worth looking out at when arriving
| GETTYSydney's harbour earned seventh place with its iconic Opera House and Harbour Bridge views. The Caribbean features strongly too - Nassau offers those famous swimming pigs, while Aruba's port leads to flamingo-filled beaches. Canada's historic Québec City port also secured a spot in 16th place.
Head of communications at AllClear, Letitia Smith, said: "When cruising, often it's the incredible moments you sail into a new port for the first time that really take your breath away.
"Around the world, there are cruise ports and harbours that are set in some spectacular destinations, and those who love to sail around the world will understand how exciting that feeling really is.
"Cruising comes with its own set of concerns, however, from missed port departures to cabin confinement due to illness. Ensuring you've purchased comprehensive cruise travel insurance before you set sail is really important and will help to ensure you enjoy your trip with peace of mind."