Cruise Port - Brisbane, Australia

Introduction

Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland, straddles the Brisbane River with the coastline of Moreton Bay to the east and the hills of the Great Dividing Range to the west.

The city was at first a far-flung penal colony built on the Brisbane river for convicts who had caused trouble in other colonies. The officials recognized that the natural loop of the river provided a good obstacle to escape. In the late 1830s the area became a destination for free settlers, who were given incentives to farm sheep on Darling Downs, a fertile region under the Great Dividing Range. In 1859 following Queen Victoria’s Queensland Proclamation, which declared Queensland a separate state to NSW, Brisbane was chosen as the state’s capital. This led to an upswing in commerce, and by the end of the century Brisbane was the principal center of industry in the area. In WWII Brisbane was a major supply center to the Pacific war and the staging post for thousands of Australian and American soldiers.

Today, Brisbane is a sophisticated and easy-living city of 2.3 million people recognized as among the world's most desirable destinations for leisure, lifestyle and business.

You Choose The Cruise

Brisbane is ideally located for an attractive variety of cruises lasting one week, two weeks or even more. Sail northeast to the sun-drenched Loyalty and Vanuatu islands to chill out on a palm-tree shaded beach, or travel north to the the picturesque Whitsundays Islands to swim in crystal clear waters above iridescent corals. Extended cruises are also available, including the intrepid circumnavigation of New Zealand.

Cruises from Brisbane details all the cruise departures out of Brisbane.

Cruise Terminal

Brisbane's cruise port, the Brisbane International Cruise Terminal, is located on the mouth of the Brisbane River, 25km east of the city. The modern terminal completed construction in 2020, and offers a range of facilities including check-in desks, luggage handling, restrooms, and a cafe.   The terminal also offers a parking lot which has a capacity of 900 cars. Please note that on-site parking has to be booked in advance on-line.

Sightseeing in Brisbane

Walking tour

Brisbane City Council's 'Explore the Classic City Centre', an informative walking tour map, is available on their website. Interesting sights include the General Post Office Building, dating from 1872 and still owned by Australia's postal service, the Old Windmill, used from as early as 1828 to grind corn, Government House, built in 1862 and the residence of Queenland's first Governor, the Anzac Memorial, dedicated to Queensland's fallen servicemen and St Stephens, constructed in 1850 with a neo-gothic facade.

Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary

Founded in 1927 on a small area of scrub by the Brisbane River, the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is the world's pioneer koala sanctuary and home to over 120 koalas. After petting a cute koala, watch the amazing skill of sheep dogs as they cleverly martial sheep by following the whistles and the gestures of the shepherd.

South Bank Parklands

The South Bank Parklands are located on the site of Brisbane's World Expo 88, and many of the buildings and art installations constructed for the fair have been kept. Unwind at the Nepal Peace Pagoda, a fine looking copy of a Kathmandu Temple, watched over by terrifying lion statues. Or sunbathe at Streets Beach, a wide curve of imported sand fronting a clear blue lake.

South Bank Cultural Centre

The South Bank Cultural Centre, on the southern side of the Brisbane River in the area between the the Kurilpa bridge and the Victoria bridge, comprises three prestigious attractions, the Queensland Museum, the Queensland Art Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art. The Queensland Art Gallery features both permanent and temporary exhibitions of paintings and sculptures by international and local artists. The Gallery of Modern Art offers the biggest collection of modern art in Australia, presenting the output of a diverse variety of accomplished artists. The Queensland Museum opened its doors in the middle of the 19th century, and its collection has increased in size becoming a detailed record of the cultural and natural heritage of the state.

Mt Coot-tha Lookout

A quick half hour journey by coach brings you to the Mt Coot-tha Lookout, set up high up on a hill overlooking the city. In 1880 a large tract of hilly was allocated as a reserve for a public park and given the name Mt Coot-tha, a derivation of the Aboriginal word for honey.

Driving To The Cruise Terminal

The cruise terminal is easy to get to via Route 25.  Set your sat nav to 1, Cruise Terminal Drive, Pinkenba.

Cruise Departure Port - San Diego

Introducing San Diego

San Diego was named by Spanish expeditionaries, who sailed into the sheltered bay as far back as 1542. But it was nearly two hundred years before Spanish missionaries returned to establish a remote settlement.  Fast forward to today and San Diego is not just the oldest city in California, but also its 2nd largest. The city is a main navy center, an extensive commercial harbor, and the center of a prominent technology area.  San Diego's busy harbor and its proximity to the Mexican border give the city a bohemian vibe, and a redeveloped downtown and a long historical past adds to this energizing atmosphere. With more than 300 days of sunshine per year, the sunny climate attracts many new people and companies each year. So it's not surprising that many visitors come to discover this beautiful city.

You Choose The Cruise

There is a super range of cruise destinations from San Diego port. Options include the Mexican Riviera, Baja California, the Hawaiian islands, and routes to Florida via the (newly enlarged) Panama canal. Cruises from San Diego provides a comprehensive calendar of cruise ship sailings out of the city.

Cruise Terminals

The San Diego Cruise Ship Terminal is positioned across from North Harbor Drive at the B Street Pier, so it's very near to central San Diego. The cruise terminal is modern with a complete range of facilities for passengers. In 2010 a new cruise terminal was constructed on the neighboring Broadway pier.

The port website can be found at Port of San Diego.

Sightseeing in San Diego

USS Midway Museum
It's a short stroll on North Harbor Drive from the cruise port towards the big aircraft carrier ship, named the USS Midway, berthed at the Navy pier. Tour around the USS Midway Museum to experience the navy heritage of San Diego.

Embarcadero Marina Park
By the cruise port you'll find Embarcadero Marina park. Walk along the coastline for sweeping vistas across San Diego bay.

Maritime Museum of San Diego
Take a tour of the fantastic Maritime Museum, an excellent collection of historic ships, such as Pilot, Californian, Medea, the Berkeley and the Star India.

Gaslamp Quarter

San Diego's Gaslamp Quarter is perhaps the city's most characterful neighborhood.  Development of the area started in 1867. The Quarter is home to a concentration of designer shops, galleries, restaurants, sidewalk cafes, bars, nightclubs and jazz clubs offering a charming Victorian ambience mixed with a modern party atmosphere. The quarter is also home to big city events, from food fairs and music festivals to St Patricks Day.

Coronado Beach
Take a half hour ferry to Coronado island. A quick cab trip across the barrier island will get you to Coronado beach, a lovely sweep of sand on the ocean's coastline. Drop in at famous Hotel del Coronado, one of the few surviving examples of the Victorian beach hotel.

Balboa Park
The growth of Balboa Park started in 1916, when an ambitious series of Spanish style buildings were designed and built for the Panama-California exhibition. Today the park has become the largest city cultural park in the US. 15 galleries and museums are situated in the 1200 acre area. The most well known is San Diego zoo, however further notable museums include the San Diego Natural History Museum and the San Diego Museum of Art. The park also has wonderful grounds, especially the Inez Rose Parker Memorial Rose Garden and the Japanese Friendship Garden.

Spanish Missions
San Diego contains 21 catholic missions, established more than two centuries ago. The major task of the missions was converting the American Indians to Christianity. The first ever, named the Mother of the Missions, is named Mission San Diego de Alcala. This was founded in the eighteenth century by Blessed Junipero Serra. Only six years after completion Mission San Diego de Alcala was fired in a riot, but it was quickly reconstructed.

Traveling to San Diego Cruise Terminals

From the Airport
The terminal is a short10 minute drive from San Diego International Airport. Cab pick-up areas are situated on the forecourts of all three airport terminals.

By Train
Amtrak's main San Diego station, the Santa Fe Depot, is just a fifth of a mile away from the cruise terminal, so it's possible to go by foot or catch a taxi. If you are walking, travel west on Broadway street towards the bay.  On reaching the waterfront, the cruise port is easy to see.

By Car
If traveling southward on Interstate 5, follow the highway into the middle of San Diego. Exit at Sassafras, signed to the airport. Follow Kettner for 3/4 mile, until you reach Laurel. Make a right on Laurel and proceed west until you reach Harbor Drive. Turn left on Harbor Drive. The cruise port is one-half mile on your right.
If driving north on I-5, continue along the road into downtown San Diego. Turn off at Hawthorn, signed to the airport. Follow along Hawthorn until Harbor Drive.  At Harbor Drive, turn left. The cruise ship terminal is one-half mile on your righthand side.
Many parking lots cater for cruise passengers. Booking parking ahead is recommended.

Cruise Port - Vancouver, Canada

Introduction

Vancouver is counted among the world’s most beautiful cities, surrounded by snow-capped mountains, tall trees, and sandy Pacific beaches. The city lies on the west coast of Canada, sheltered from the rough waters of the Pacific ocean by the vast landmass of Vancouver island.

The huge forests in this part of Canada were a big potential source of timber, and the late nineteenth century saw the founding of a number of lumber enterprises. The small township of Granville was founded beside Burrard Inlet to cater for the needs of the thriving lumber processing businesses. In 1871 British Colombia merged with the newly formed Dominion of Canada after agreement was reached that the railroad system was expanded to the western coast. Granville was picked as the west coast last stop. In 1886, the city was incorporated and given the new name of to Vancouver. Officialdom felt that this name was more widely known (on account of well-liked Vancouver island) and more fitting for the railway’s terminus. In the same year the first ever CPR train arrived. Later the same year the city was almost entirely ruined when the Great Vancouver fire raged through the center.

The city continued to grow through the 20th century, with arrivals of migrants from eastern Canada, Asia and Europe. Today Vancouver has a major commercial harbor, and the center of a prominent business area.

Vancouver’s excellent deep water port has continually played an important role in its growth. Initially lumber and grain were the main goods exported from the docks. Apart from big cargo ships, small boats sailed the route along the coast northwards, servicing resource businesses based on fishing, wood and mining. Accounts of unbelievable coastal landscapes came back with the travelers on these smaller boats. Summer voyages to Alaska were busy even in the early 1900s, with shipping lines running week long cruises. Sadly by the 1950s the Alaska cruise industry had shrunk to only CPR’s Princess Patricia and Canadian National Steamers’ Prince George.

1957 saw the founding of Alaska Cruise Lines, which ran Yukon Star and the Glacier Queen. The company, now named Cruise West, was acquired by Holland America in 1971. Encouraged by the popularity of such small cruises, Holland America brought their new cruise ship ms Prinsendam to Vancouver in 1975. Before long Princess joined HAL, sending two cruise ships, and this in turn attracted other lines to homeport ships in Vancouver for the summer.

The number of cruise passengers continued steady growth from in 1970 to more than 1 million in 2001. But the arrival of Seattle into the Alaskan cruise market in 2000 brought to a close Vancouver’s growth. By 2010 the number of cruisers leaving from Vancouver each year had fallen to around 600,000.

You Choose The Cruise

Vancouver serves as a cruise port only in summertime, due to Alaska’s hard and long winter months. All the cruises which leave out of Vancouver make through the famous Inside Passage route, getting to Queen Charlotte Sound by the legendary Seymore Narrows. The calm nature of this itinerary to Alaska is better than the Pacific itinerary out of Seattle.

The most popular itinerary is the 7 day return cruise with calls at Glacier Bay, Juneau, Ketchikan, Skagway and Tracy Arm Fjord. You will see mighty glaciers falling into the ocean, spectacular coastal and mountain scenery and characterful port towns.

Another option is to take a one week one way cruise from Vancouver visiting Juneau, Glacier Bay, Skagway and Ketchikan before sailing across the Gulf of Alaska to end up at Seward or Whittier. You can return by taking another cruise, or by plane flying from Anchorage. This choice enables you to make your vacation longer with a tour into the picturesque Alaskan interior.

At the end of the cruising season a number of excellent repositioning cruise itineraries are available: to places such as California, Florida and Hawaii.

For a list of cruise from Vancouver, see cruises from Vancouver.

Vancouver Cruise Terminal


Near the center of the city you'll find Canada Place, Vancouver’s foremost cruise port.

To simplify visits at Alaskan ports, a US Customs desk processes passengers prior to embarkation in Vancouver. As an alternative American citizens transferring from Vancouver airport can follow the US Direct Program, this allows for fast customs clearance.


Canada Place

Canada Place has developed from its beginnings as Canadian Pacific Railway terminus pier B-C, this handled the quick movement of corn from rail to docked ships.

The cruise terminal is housed in the original Canada Pavilion from Expo 86 and has a unique 5 sail shape, echoing the city’s rich seafaring tradition. Beside the cruise terminal, the complex holds Port Metro Vancouver corporate offices, a large VINCI car park, a World Trade Center office and a Pan-Pacific five-star hotel. Facilities available include customs, restrooms, security, luggage trolleys and a snack shop.

The terminal has access to 3 cruise ship berths, named East, North and West.

For the port website see Port Metro Vancouver.

Sightseeing in Vancouver


Stanley Park
Stanley Park is the largest urban park in North America. It’s home to the Vancouver Aquarium and an interesting assortment of native American Totems. Enthusiastic hikers can contour the 6 mile seashore, along a pathway which gives magnificent views across the ocean.

Vancouver Aquarium
Visit Vancouver Aquarium and experience sealife close encounters, with sea lions, dolphins, belugas and sea turtles. Children will adore Clownfish Cove, with its sea stars, sea urchins, clownfish and sea cucumbers.

Harbour Center Tower
Standing 581 feet tall the Harbour Center Tower is the highest skyscraper in British Columbia. Take a short elevator to the top and enjoy a 360-degree view of Burrard Inlet, the city and the North Shore Mountains.

Gastown
The 19th century beginnings of Vancouver lie in the characterful district of Gastown. Though the original timber buildings were totally razed in the 1886 fire. See the statue of ‘Gassy Jack’ in Maple Square and the steam clock hiss then have a quiet break at a friendly café.

Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
In the heart of the city’s booming Chinatown, you’ll find the stunning Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. The Garden is built to reflect the mixing of the four elements: plants, water, architecture and rock, resulting in perfect balance.

Getting to the Cruise Port

By Car From USA

Cross the Canadian Border on Interstate 5. I-5 becomes Rte 99. Carry on northwards and cross the Oak Street Bridge. Turn left onto 70th Avenue. Then turn right on Granville Street. Carry on driving northwards across the Granville Street Bridge. Follow the Seymour St exit. Carry on northwards along Seymour St to reach West Cordova St. Turn left on West Cordova Street. Next turn right onto Howe Street, and after a block you’ll get to Canada Place. Parking can be found at the Vinci car park.

By Air From Vancouver International Airport
The new Skytrain Canada Line, built for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games offers a fast connection from the airport to Waterfront station taking just of 28 minutes. Departures are every 9 mins. Canada Place is a small walk from the station. Another option is to take a cab from the airport to the required cruise terminal. It takes about 30 minutes.

Cruise Port - Copenhagen, Denmark

Introduction

Copenhagen, the Danish capital, is located on the island of Sealand 42 km west of Sweden and 260 km east of the Danish mainland. The city is home to over 1 million citizens, and is the biggest city in the whole of Scandinavia.

The city was founded in the years 1160-67 by Bishop Absalon (1128-1201) an advisor of the renowned King Valdemar the Great of Denmark. In 1416 King Erik VII moved the royal residence to to the city, so promoting it to the country's capital.

Copenhagen's signature buildings were erected in the period spanning the 15th and 16th centuries during the monarchy of King Christian IV. Foremost examples include Rosenborg Castle, the Old Citadel and the Old Stock Exchange. Copenhagen's beautiful canals were also dug during this time.

The 18th century was to be a further important era in the development of the city. The impressive Frederiksstaden district, a beautiful series of stylish palaces, was constructed during the reign of Frederick V.

Today Copenhagen is the most popular city in Scandinavia with many places and attractions to delight the visitor, from interesting museums to historic buildings. The city is also one of the region's most important cruise ship ports, typically handling over 340 cruise ship movements each year.

You Choose The Cruise

Copenhagen's cold winter restricts the cruise ship season to the summer and fall.

Sail around the Baltic and wonder at the quaint medieval streets of Tallinn, Peter the Great's architectural wonders in St Petersburg, the impressive Suomenlinna fortress in Helsiniki and the majestic Royal Palaces of Stockholm. Alternatively voyage to the legendary Fjords of Norway to witness the Art Nouveau town of Alesund, Bryggen harbor in Bergen, the Old Town of Stavanger and the picture-perfect landscape at Geiranger. Or head even further north to the Arctic to visit the wonderful Botanical Gardens at Tromso and the North Cape at Honningsvag.

Cruises from Copenhagen provides a comprehensive calendar of cruise ship sailings out of the city.

Cruise Terminals

Copenhagen is the largest home port in the Baltic region and can cater for 10 cruise vessels at the same time.

There are 4 separate quays in Copenhagen for cruise ships, Nordre Toldbod, 1 mile from the center of the city, Langeline, 2 miles and Ocean Quay, 4 miles.

Nordre Tolbod
The Nordre Tolbod quay is just southwards from Langeline. Just one small cruise ship can moor at this single berth facility, which is rarely used.

Langeline
Langeline Quay is used by cruise vessels making a day visit (turnaround ships use Ocean Quay). The long warehouse behind the pier has been renovated to accommodate a number of small shops which sell items such as amber, porcelain, jewelry and clothing.  The quay is very conveniently placed only a short stroll from the Little Mermaid statue.

Ocean Quay
Ocean Quay (or OceanKaj in Danish), located at Nordhavn, has 3 cruise terminals which are used for homeporting cruise ships. Parking facilities are managed by a independent business at the port entrance.

The port website is at Copenhagen-Malmo port.

Sightseeing In Copenhagen

The Little Mermaid
Art lover Carl Jacobsen asked the sculptor Edvard Eriksento to create a 'Little Mermaid', taking inspiration from the heroine of H.C. Andersen's fairy tale with the same name. The bronze statue was inaugurated in 1913 at the Langelinie waterfront promenade, a stone's throw from the Langelinie cruise ship pier.

Rosenborg Castle
In the early 17th century Christian IV authorized the construction of the impressive Rosenborg Palace to serve as a royal summer palace. Following the reign of Frederik IV, Rosenborg was only employed as a royal official residence on two occasions, consequent to the fire at Christiansborg in 1794, and during the time of the English offensive against Copenhagen in 1801. Four flights of opulent rooms are available for the tourist to see giving you a perspective of the life of the early Danish royal family.

Nyhavn
Nyhavn, meaning New Harbor, was in the 17th century a hard working port where ships hailing from all around the world would dock. Hans Christian Andersen even lived here for 18 years. Nowadays throughout the summer months hoards of tourists visit to enjoy the atmosphere while dining and drinking at the multitude of bars and cafes.

Amalienborg Palace
Amalienborg Palace is made up of four similar rococo palaces centered around a large square. In 1794 the palaces were acquired by the Danish royal family, and have ever since been used as a royal winter retreat. Housed in Christian VIII's palace, the extensive Amalienborg Museum offers you a way to see a series of state rooms and learn about the life of the royal family.

Strøget
Copenhagen's largest shopping district is centered around Stroget in the city center. The street runs between the city's City Hall Square near Tivoli and King's New Square near Nyhavn.

Traveling to the Terminals from the Airport

By cab
A taxi is the hassle-free way to travel to Ocean Quay from the city's airport.

By bus/train
A cheaper alternative is to make the journey by train/bus.  For OceanKaj catch the train from the airport to Osterport, then bus no 27 to OceanKaj.

Cruise Port - Bridgetown, Barbados

Introduction

The island of Barbados has a surfeit of nature's beauty, interesting places to visit, and seemingly endless ribbons of white sand beaches, surely amongst the finest in the Caribbean Sea. The countryside ranges from the hills and rough waves on the Atlantic east coast, to the flatter lands and beautiful picture-perfect beaches on the west Caribbean coast.

During the 18th and early 19th centuries Barbados was operated essentially as a large sugar farm under British management, and today there are still a few original sugar plantations reborn as museums chronicling the hardships of the slaves toiling in the fields.

Today the inhabitants of Barbados are termed Bajans, and the ancestors of the old plantation economy live in relative harmony in a democratic society.

Barbados is the easternmost Caribbean island and nomally avoids the terrible effects of the region's tropical hurricanes due to the fact that the island is situated outside the major storm path. Records show that a hurricane only hits the island around once every 35 years.

All these plus points make the island a very popular cruise ship port, and in recent years, mainly due to the very convenient Grantley Adams airport, it has also become a busy starting port for cruises.

You Choose The Cruise

Due to its ideal position at the center of the Southern Caribbean, Barbados makes a good choice as s departure port.

Itineraries include the Greater Antilles (Jamaica), the Windward Isles (Dominica, Martinique, St Lucia, St Vincent), the Leeward Isles(St Barts, St Martin, St Kitts, Nevis, Guadeloupe, Trinidad, Tobago), the Netherland Antilles off the north coast of Venezuela (Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire) or even as far south as the Brazilian Amazon.

For a list of cruises from Barbados, see cruises from Barbados.

Bridgetown Cruise Port



Bridgetown Port is positioned in Carlisle Bay on the Western coast of the island of Barbados. The Port handles all of the country's cargo ships, together with a large number of cruise ships. Constructed in 1961, the Deep Water Harbour was formed by a manmade breakwater added to a natural bay. In 2002 the main channel and the inner harbor were deepened to facilitate large ships to call. Since the dredging project the port has experienced an increase both in goods and cruise ship volumes.

The port consists of four docks totaling 1531 meters in length, and can handle 5-6 large cruiseships.
The official port website is Port of Bridgetown.

Beside the quays sits the cruise terminal, opened in January 1994. It acts as the center for services for cruise passengers and crew members arriving at the island. The cruise terminal houses the normal departments to manage cruise passengers, like Immigration, Customs, Health Center, Animal Quarantine, Barbados Tourist Center and Post Office. There are other useful facilities, including restaurants and bars, a business center, a large shopping area, and an internet cafe.

Cab services and rental cars are available for passengers just outside the cruise terminal main entrance. As an alternative the adventurous can make their way to Bridgetown's main bus station, the Fairchild Street Terminal, around a twenty minute walk, to take advantage of the island's cheap bus system.

Sightseeing Around Bridgetown



Broad Street
The main street of Bridgetown. The street is lined with duty free shops, banks, larger department stores, and bars. A good detour is Swan Street which features many discount clothing stores.

Harrison's Cave
Barbabos's number one visitor attraction. Get on an electrically powered tram and ride through a beautiful subterranean world.

Welchman Hall Gully
The lush tropical gardens set among natural caves are filled with tropical specimens, here long before the British arrived in 1627. Chattering monkeys fill the treetops.

Sunbury Plantation House
A Plantation Great House whose rooms is open to the public. The 300 year house is rich in history, with old paintings, fascinating plantation inventory lists, characterful antique funiture and a small museum of of horse carriages.

Beaches
The island's beaches are open to the public. Easiest to get to are the beaches of the Gold Coast. Payne's bay is good for swimming. Nearby is Fresh Water Bay, which boasts a lovely trio of beaches, Brandon's Beach, Paradise Beach and Brighton Beach.

Mount Gay Rum Distillery and Banks Beer Tour
If you like your alcohol go on a guided tour and sampling at the island's main rum distillery, next head over to Banks Brewery to enjoy the island's favorite beer.

Getting To The Cruise Port

Grantley Adams International Airport is 13 miles from Bridgetown Port. The airport is served by aeroplanes from Europe, North America and other islands in the Caribbean. The journey from airport to the cruise terminal is easiest by taxi, and takes around thirty minutes. The charge is around 60 Barbadian dollars.