Practical guides for every port of call, written for cruisers who want to make the most of their time ashore.
Photo by Fernando Jorge on Unsplash Whether you are stepping off a ship for the first time or returning to a familiar itinerary, the guides here cover what actually matters: how to get ashore, what is worth your time, and where to eat when you get there.
Port guides, route overviews, and practical advice on everything from packing to excursion decisions, all in one place.
More about usHand-picked guides from our editors: the ports, routes and tips worth reading right now.
A clifftop town above the Bay of Naples, with Capri across the water and Pompeii half an hour away by train. A guide to tendering in at Marina Piccola, the lift up into town and…
Read GuideBrowse by region and find the ports that make an itinerary worth sailing.
Plan your Western Caribbean cruise with confidence. Honest port logistics and day guides for Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Roatan, Costa Maya and…
Explore RoutePlan your Eastern Caribbean cruise with confidence. Honest port logistics and day guides for San Juan, St Thomas, St Maarten and Tortola,…
Explore RoutePlan your Southern Caribbean cruise with confidence. Honest port logistics and day guides for Barbados, St Lucia, Antigua, Grenada and St Kitts,…
Explore RouteFrom what to pack to how tender ports work, practical advice for every stage of your cruise.
Walkable can mean five minutes or a two kilometre pier with no pavement. How to work out before you sail…
Read TipThe daily charge lands on your SeaPass account whether you notice it or not, and there are two rates. What…
Read TipIrons and steamers are banned outright, hair straighteners are not, and the exceptions are narrower than most packing lists suggest.…
Read TipEvery guide covers getting ashore, transport options, excursions, where to eat and what to skip. The detail that is missing from most cruise planning resources.
No cruise line sponsorships. No paid placements hidden as editorial. Just straightforward advice you can actually rely on when you step off the ship.
Ports change. Visa rules change. Tender policies change. Our editorial team reviews and updates guides regularly so you are never working from stale information.
From choosing your itinerary and packing your bags to going ashore and booking excursions, everything you need is in one place, before and during your trip.