Key Aspects:
- Eye-tracking technology was used to determine which cruise port views held guests’ attention the longest.
- Valletta, Malta, ranked in the No. 1 spot globally.
- Small and large ports, such as Nassau, Bahamas, were placed in the Top 20 list.
Anyone who has ever cruised knows the thrill that comes with arriving in each new port of call. Guests typically fill the outer decks to watch as the next exciting destination comes into view, all the while snapping photos to post on social media or send to friends.
So, where are the most beautiful cruise ports? According to a just-released study based on eye-tracking technology, the top 20 most beautiful ports represent a surprising mix of small and large ports.
The research was based on the cutting-edge technology that measures which cruise port views caught people’s attention first and held it the longest. The study was commissioned by a UK-based travel insurance company called All Clear.
“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,” said Letitia Smith, head of communications at AllClear.
Onward to the results, which, by the way, contain no US-based ports.
Valletta Cruise Port, in Malta, ranks No. 1 on the list. The rocky island nation just off Sicily’s south coast is a growing cruise destination.
In 2024, it welcomed about 940,000 cruise passenger transits, a 4 percent increase from its pre-pandemic record. Its scenic Grand Harbour hosted 357 cruise ship calls last year.
The spotlight shone on Malta in May 2023, when Oceania Cruises held a gala christening ceremony there for Vista, the first of the line’s new Allura class. The whole city of Valletta is, after all, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The Port of Ushuaia, Argentina, holds the No. 2 spot. Best known as the jumping off point for Antarctica voyages, the so-called End of the World port offers dramatic views of the Martial Mountains, located just north of the port city on Isla Grande de Tierra del Fuego.
Roughly half of the top 20 ports are in Europe, and Palermo, Sicily, comes in at No. 3. With three cruise berths, the destination is a common stop on Western Mediterranean voyages.
For No. 4, we head to Stockholm, Sweden, and its Stadsgarden Cruise Terminal. One of three in the city, Stadsgarden is located within the city center and accommodates large ships.
Rounding out the top five is a true giant: Nassau, Bahamas. With its eight cruise terminals that can welcome the industry’s mega-ships, the port is situated in downtown Nassau.
The Port of Nassau welcomes more than 5 million cruise arrivals each year, according to its management firm Global Ports Holdings.
Following Nassau, Aruba Cruise Terminal came in at No. 6.
| Rank | Cruise Port | Location | Country | Score/100 |
| 1 | Valletta Cruise Port | Valletta | Malta | 100 |
| 2 | Port of Ushuaia | Ushuaia | Argentina | 86 |
| 3 | Port of Palermo | Palermo | Italy | 83 |
| 4 | Stadsgården Cruise Terminal | Stockholm | Sweden | 82 |
| 5 | Nassau Cruise Port | Nassau | Bahamas | 81 |
| 6 | Aruba Cruise Terminal | Oranjestad | Aruba | 79 |
| 7 | Lisbon Cruise Port | Lisbon | Portugal | 76 |
| 7 | Overseas Passenger Terminal | Sydney | Australia | 76 |
| 9 | Port Sultan Qaboos | Muscat | Oman | 74 |
| 9 | Ege Port | Kușadası | Turkey | 74 |
| 11 | Port of Gruž | Dubrovnik | Croatia | 71 |
| 12 | Cape Town Cruise Terminal | Cape Town | South Africa | 70 |
| 12 | Port of Kotor | Kotor | Montenegro | 70 |
| 12 | Geiranger Cruise Port | Geiranger | Norway | 70 |
| 12 | Funchal Cruise Terminal | Funchal | Portugal | 70 |
| 16 | Port of Québec | Québec City | Canada | 67 |
| 16 | Skolten Cruise Pier | Flåm | Norway | 67 |
| 16 | Cozumel Cruise Port | Cozumel | Mexico | 67 |
| 19 | Port Hercules | Monaco | Monaco | 66 |
| 20 | Port St. Maarten | Philipsburg | Saint Maarten | 65 |
Ports in Canada, Norway, Mexico Rank No. 7
Some ports received the same ranking. For instance, Lisbon Cruise Port, Portugal, and the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Sydney, Australia, both rank at No. 7, while Port Sultan Qaboos, Oman, and Ege Port, Turkey, are No. 9.
There is no No. 8 ranking, nor is there a No. 10. The Port of Gruz, Croatia, is No. 11.
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Moving farther down the list, the No. 12 spot goes to four ports — Cape Town Cruise Terminal, South Africa, Port of Kotor, Montenegro, Geiranger Cruise Port, Norway, and Funchal Cruise Terminal, Portugal.
All of the ports are visually appealing, but Geiranger, Norway’s second-largest cruise port, is particularly known for its spectacular views of the Geirangerfjord.
Three ports are listed at No. 16: Port of Quebec, Canada, Skolten Cruise Pier, Norway, and Cozumel Cruise Port, Mexico. Cozumel is another huge port in terms of annual cruise arrivals, which topped 4 million in 2024.
Port Hercules, Monaco, comes in at No. 19. The small, picturesque harbor is normally filled with luxury yachts, and the views of Monte Carlo are stunning.
Finally, at No. 20 is Port St. Maarten, a Caribbean island located in the Lesser Antilles. The port has two cruise ship piers and is a popular call on Eastern Caribbean voyages.
