Strategic sightseeing makes the most of a cruise

By Carolyn Spencer Brown

updated 1:37 p.m. ET Sept. 25, 2006

For those who want to travel the world and broaden their horizons, cruising offers a conundrum. On the one hand, there's no doubt that it's an easy, pleasant way to see a whole host of places without the undue stress of moving from city to city, braving unfamiliar hotels and transportation systems, and (let's face it) lugging your stuff.

On the other hand, sightseeing via cruise ship offers limited opportunity to really experience a place. Hopscotching from port to port, where calls usually are limited to an eight-hour day (or thereabouts), can be unsatisfying or even downright frustrating.

But as someone who has seen much of the world — and quite a bit of it for just a day at a time — I've learned that there are ways to create on-shore experiences that are incredibly memorable, even given the limitations of cruising. Some insights:

The Sampler: Have you ever cruised to a port of a call that charmed you unutterably? And, conversely, ever visited a place that just didn't resonate, making you eagerly anticipate the ship's pulling up anchor? That's what's good about the sampler strategy, which without a major time or financial commitment to one destination allows you to check out a variety of places and see for yourself which you'll want to return to. This approach is especially valid in sprawling regions such as Europe, Australia/New Zealand, Asia, Hawaii and the Caribbean.

Mini-Breaks: Some ports are just too amazing to see for just a day — and the good news is that in many instances these cities serve as turn-around spots. That means you can add a few days' stay on either of the trip. Particularly intriguing homeports (most of which are seasonal) include New York, San Juan, Rome, Venice, Athens, Los Angeles, Hong Kong, Buenos Aires and Vancouver (to name just a few!).

Overnights: Some cruise itineraries feature overnight stays in particularly interesting ports of call. For instance, Silversea overnights in Tripoli, Libya on a cruise from Villefranche to Port Said. Regent Seven Seas offers a trip from Monte Carlo to Copenhagen that docks for two days in London. Seabourn's roundtrip from Singapore spends a couple of days in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). Just about every cruise ship that calls in St. Petersburg spends at least one night in port; a handful, such as Seabourn, stay for two (which means passengers get three days to explore Russia's most beautiful city).

Beyond these strategies, what's the best way to experience a port of call when you really only get a day? Some cities and islands make it incredibly easy, particularly when main attractions are within walking distance, or a short shuttle or taxi ride away. Favorites in this category include Helsinki, Edinburgh, Barcelona, St. Barth's, Sydney, Buenos Aires, Vancouver, Maui, Bermuda's St. George's and Hamilton, and Quebec City, among others.

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On the other hand, successfully navigating other ports with such a time constraint can be a challenge. Regions such as Asia, Europe and even the Caribbean fall into this category. Here's my guide to efficiently exploring these regions — rest assured, it's tough but not impossible!

Europe
The Challenge: Some of the most important cities for touring are located a good distance from their ports — and a drive of 1.5 - 2.5 hours each way can eat up a good bit of precious time.

Livorno (for Florence)
First Time: Pre-cruise, hire a driver and a guide who will drop you off in Florence and pick you up at a designated time and place. Make sure to leave plenty of room in your schedule to accommodate rush-hour traffic when returning to the port. Alternatively, take your ship's Florence excursion — that way if the tour is late returning, the captain will wait.

Return Visit: Livorno is in the heart of Tuscany. Take a taxi to the train station in Livorno to go to Lucca, Siena or Pisa — or rent a car and drive to the walled village of San Gimignano.

Warnemunde (for Berlin)
First Time: Take the train to Berlin, no question!

Return Visit: The seaside village of Warnemunde, within walking distance of the cruise docks, is absolutely charming — and a vacation destination for Germans. There are food markets, boutiques, cafes and seafood stands. The Hanseatic town of Rostock is 45 minutes away.

Le Havre (for Paris)
First Time: While Paris is the big draw, it's too huge to really enjoy on a rushed day trip. Instead, head to other interesting towns that are closer to Le Havre, such as the battlefields and memorials of Normandy and the absolutely charming fishing village of Honfleur.

Return Visit: If your ship is in port for a long (12-hour) day, rent a car and drive to St. Malo, on the Brittany coast, or visit places like Giverny and Deauville.

Asia
The Challenge: In most cases, ports are located right in major cities or within a short taxi or shuttle ride. The real challenge here is that for most folks Asia is a once-in-a-lifetime experience — and the cities are so magnificent that it's hard to know where to begin!

Hong Kong
First Time: Many ships offer a half-day "highlights" tour of this frenetic city, and that's a good way to get your bearings — leaving plenty of time afterwards to explore areas that piqued your interest. Potential attractions include the city's markets (bird, jade and flower), the antique shops of Hollywood Road, and a tram ride to the top of Victoria Peak.

Return Visit: Spend a day in the New Territories absorbing Hong Kong's culture; here you'll find Lam Tsuen Wishing Tree and Lung Yeuk Tau. Disney aficionados should head to the just-opened Hong Kong Disneyland.

Singapore
First Time: Again, a "greatest hits" half-day tour offers a sturdy introduction to this island nation; highlights generally include visits to the Thian Hock Keng Temple, the Botanic Gardens (don't miss the fabulous National Orchid Garden inside) and the 350-ft. summit of Mount Faber.

Return Visit: Take a cable car from the Harbourfront Centre to Sentosa Island. Sentosa is a popular retreat especially among the local Singaporeans looking to eat well, play golf, visit different museums or just head for a beach. Sentosa Island can be toured by monorail, and there are lot of attractions, such as Underwater World, Dolphin Lagoon, Butterfly Park and Insect Kingdom. If you're looking for history, Fort Siloso, built in 1880, is the place to go. The popular beaches are Siloso, Palawan and Tanjong.

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