Dreaming of My Favorite Cruise Ports!

By Mark Donaldson

Hi friends! Have you been fantasizing about an incredible vacation like I have? One of my favorite ways to travel is by sea. Today I thought I'd highlight some ports of call full of adventure, beauty, and memories. Let's take a look at a few of my favorite cruise ports.  

Kotor, Montenegro
Kotor is one of my absolute favorite ports of call. I even prefer it to its much more popular nearby cousin Dubrovnik. Kotor is a small town with fortified walls located on the fjord-like Bay of Kotor. This UNESCO World Heritage site offers a well preserved walled-in old town, al fresco cafes on cobblestone streets, charming churches, and a not to be missed zigzagging hike up the mountain walls to the fortress of San Giovanni. 

Juneau, Alaska
Juneau is the capital of our 49th State and a stop on almost every Alaskan itinerary. There is so much to do in this port of call! You can take a gondola to the top of a mountain or fly high above the glaciers in a seaplane. My greatest adventure though, was a hike to Mendenhall Glacier and its ice caves. This was one of my all time favorite days of travel in my life! While the ice caves I visited have melted, Mendenhall Glacier is also accessible by adventure tours or its visitor center right next to Nugget Falls. 

Lisbon, Portugal
Last but not least for today's post is the magical city of Lisbon. With it's cable cars traversing the hilly streets and a giant red suspension bridge, you might think you were in San Francisco! But Lisbon offers an old world charm with nooks and crannies to explore around every corner. Some of my favorite sights here include the Jeronimos Monastery, the Castelo de São Jorge, and a ride on the cable cars. But the best part of Lisbon is simply strolling the black and white tiled sidewalks as you stop to sample a glass of port wine, view some street art, or munch on the famous pasteis ne nata custard pastry.  

If you have any questions about these or any other ports of call, email me at [email protected]! ​