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.

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.

Key Aspects:

• Bar Harbor’s 1,000-passenger cap has been upheld by the US Court of Appeals.
• However, the ruling sends one clause back to the lower court for further review.
• The dispute began with a 2022 voter-approved referendum and doesn’t appear to be ending soon.

Bar Harbor, Maine, can keep its controversial 1,000-person daily limit on cruise-ship passengers disembarking. At least for now.

The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit upheld most of a decision in a ruling issued August 11, 2025.

The ordinance, first approved by local voters in 2022, is designed to reduce passenger congestion in the town that serves as a gateway to Acadia National Park by limiting the number of people who can come ashore.

While supporters say it protects the quality of life for residents and improves the visitor experience, opponents argue it slashes tourism revenue.

The appeals court, in an opinion from Chief Judge David Barron, retired Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer, and Judge William Kayatta, agreed… for the most part.

The judges say Bar Harbor has the authority to impose the restriction, and federal statutes regulating ports, navigation, or immigration do not override it.

“We largely affirm the District Court’s ruling in favor of the defendants as to these claims, but we do vacate and remand a portion of it,” the opinion states.

That means the court sent one part of the case back for further review, saying the lower court did not go far enough in weighing whether the ordinance creates an “excessive burden” on interstate commerce compared to the benefits it provides to the town.

Now the case heads back to US District Judge Lance Walker, who must take a look at how the ordinance impacts the cruise industry and regional tourism compared with its local benefits.

Years of Legal Battles Not Over Yet

The dispute over Bar Harbor’s cruise-ship passenger cap began in 2022, when residents gathered enough signatures to place a referendum on the ballot limiting daily disembarkations to 1,000 passengers.

The measure passed that November with 58 percent of the vote, and town officials scheduled the cap to begin during the port’s 2024 season, which begins in the spring and ends in the fall.

This would give the cruise industry and local businesses time to adjust. However, a recount rejected the vote.

That same month, opponents filed a federal lawsuit saying cruise ships calling at the port often brought between 2,000 and 4,500 passengers at a time, far exceeding the new limit.

In February 2024, Judge Walker upheld most of the ordinance, but the battle didn’t end there. In 2024, the town cited Golden Anchor, owner of the Harborside Hotel & Marina, for allowing passengers to disembark without permits.

By March 2025, Bar Harbor had filed a $4 million lawsuit against the company, alleging nearly 98,200 passengers came ashore in violation of the new ordinance.

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Meanwhile, appeals in the main case continued, and with the new ruling, will continue. Judge Walker’s next findings will undoubtedly upset one side of the argument and send the ruling to appeals again.

With all of the turmoil, many cruise lines have steered clear of Bar Harbor. Still, the port is welcoming regular arrivals from Norwegian Cruise Line’s 3,903-guest Norwegian Getaway and 2,344-passenger Norwegian Gem.

Seabourn’s 458-guest Seabourn Sojourn, Regent Seven Seas’ 750-passenger Seven Seas Splendor, and Crystal Cruises’ 740-guest Crystal Serenity are also sailing to the port, taking advantage of having smaller capacity ships that are allowed to call.