The start of a cruise is filled with joy, excitement, anticipation and intrigue into the fabulous destinations and ports you will visit on your voyage. Over three and half years on ships I sailed to over 100 different ports, some good, some bad and some that will live long in the memory. Iconic skylines, historic landmarks and natural beauty all make for a great sail-away departure. Here are my most memorable sail-aways during my time at sea.
- Venice, Italy
The first port of call during my ship career was Venice, Italy. The Sun Princess was at the halfway point on the World Cruise spending the night in Venice. Steeped in history and mystique Venice is a magical destination that attracts thousands of visitors each year and must be visited at least once in your lifetime.
Experience Venice Like A Local: Small Group Cicchetti & Wine Tour
Having oriented myself around the ship, my first task at my new job was photographing guests as the ship departed from Venice. This is where you truly appreciate the vantage point a ship has as you gaze over the panoramic lagoon of spires, house, piazza’s and bridges.
Murano & Burano Islands Guided Small-Group Tour by Private Boat
The sun princess sailed right past St Mark’s Square and along Giudecca Canal and out into the Mediterranean A few years later I was back in Venice on the Regal Princess as she spent inaugural season sailing Mediterranean between Venice and Barcelona. Unfortunately, this was the last season the big ships were allowed to sail into Venice, since 2015 they have reduced the volume and frequency of cruise ships to preserve the lagoon. Select smaller cruise ships still operate on 7–14-night itineraries, however for that special occasion Venice will still be an overnight port on the Mediterranean section of the Princess World Cruise.
Venice: St.Mark’s Basilica & Doge’s Palace Tour with Tickets
- Sydney, Australia
Towards the end of my first contract the Sun Princess was on its last leg towards Sydney to start the New Zealand season. As the ship approached Sydney, the opera house and harbor bridge came into view. The size of the ship determines the location to where in can dock. Sunset and Sparkle Sydney Harbour Cruise
Experience Skyfeast at Sydney Tower
Smaller cruise ships will dock in darling harbor, if this is the case the ship will sail under the harbor bridge and past the opera house resulting in quite a spectacle. Larger vessels dock opposite the opera house with the Harbor bridge behind.
Sydney Harbor Tour by Helicopter
This location is smack in the downtown giving you easy access to the city sites. Either location and your in for a treat when the ship departs, the sun glistens in the glass windows of the opera house, the harbor bridge is a silhouette in the sunset and the panoramic views of Sydney skyline radiate into view.
Harbor Bridge Breakfast Paddle
- Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a fantastic city to begin or end a cruise and well worth spending a few days in to discover the city. The cruise will likely depart from Victoria Harbor giving you a spectacular view of the city skyline. During the day skyscrapers of glass and steel dominate the harbor while tradition junk boats sail between the mainland and Hong Kong Island. Aqua Luna: Symphony of Lights Cruise in Hong Kong
Private Hong Kong Tour with a Local, Highlights & Hidden Gems 100% Personalised
At night the landscape comes alive with a spectacular lightshow in the harbor, the buildings are illuminated with an array of colors while beams of light swirl in the night sky.
Lantau Island Day Trip – Big Buddha & Tai O
- New York
New York has a rich maritime history as the fabled final destination on a transatlantic crossing during the golden era for cruising. Ships such the Lusitania, Mauretania and even the ill-fated titanic would embark on their maiden voyage from Europe transporting passengers and goods across the Atlantic. Today this route is kept alive by the pioneer in the cruise industry Cunard.
9/11 Memorial Museum Admission Ticket
Cruises sail from Southampton to New York on a weekly basis giving you a sense of nostalgic luxury. Guest can sail to the maritime in Canada, across to Bermuda and around the Caribbean. New York is also the gateway to adventures through the Panama Canal and South America.
The Manhattan Helicopter Tour of New York
Wherever you go the view you leave behind is truly spectacular, the iconic New York city skyline is forever changing yet the vantage point from a cruise ship is you take in the skyscrapers, bridges and Statue of Liberty all in one panorama. The Sea Princess was docked just outside the intrepid sea, air and space museum right in the heart of Manhattan and would sail along the Hudson River with skyscrapers to the left and the statue of liberty to the right. It sure beats the Staten island ferry! Full-Day New York “Must See” Small-Group Tour plus One World Observatory Ticket
Empire State Building Ticket
- Dover
Dover was the port of call during my second world cruise on the Sea Princess, cruises departing from the south of England will tend to sail from Southampton or Dover normally promoted as London in brackets. Both seaports are roughly 1h 45 mins away from central London by car depending on traffic.
Stonehenge, Windsor Castle and Bath with Pub Lunch in Lacock
Avoid the risk of arriving in London the day of the cruise and then taking a train or cab to the port. Its worth exploring London for a few nights then heading off to either port and spending the night their.
From Dover Port; Grand Tour of White Cliffs Country & back
The majority of cruises will sail from Southampton with the exception of Disney and Viking amongst others that opt to sail from Dover. If this option presents itself try to sail from Dover at least once. As the ship departs you are left with a scenic panorama of the magnificent white cliffs of Dover that stretch along the coastline. Weather permitting very few ports I visited over the years left such an impression of outstanding natural beauty.
Leeds Castle, Cliffs of Dover and Canterbury Day Trip from London with Guided Cathedral Tour
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