Cruise itineraries can place ports far from headline destinations
Deep-water requirements mean travelers may face lengthy transfers to cities such as Rome, London, Paris and Orlando’s theme parks.
Cruise passengers planning port days may need to account for an hour or more of travel between the ship and the destination highlighted on an itinerary. Travel agency owner Jared Feldman says large vessels require deep-water ports with suitable facilities, which can be far from major tourist centers.
Civitavecchia, commonly used for access to Rome, is about 40 minutes from the city by train or an hour by car. Port Canaveral is roughly an hour’s drive from the Orlando area’s major theme parks. Cruise lines often clarify such arrangements by placing the actual port city in parentheses beside the better-known destination.
Holland America says it calls at Le Havre an average of two or three times each year, generally remaining from 7 a.m. until mid-evening. The line offers excursions to Paris, about two hours away by train or two and a half hours by car, as well as trips connected with the D-Day landing beaches and other activities.
The company also visits Cherbourg once or twice annually. Although Cherbourg is closer to sites including Omaha Beach, it is farther from Paris, and Holland America does not offer Paris excursions from that port. Transfers can also shape Mediterranean calls: a Royal Caribbean excursion from La Spezia covering Pisa and Florence lasted 10 and a half hours.