While many visitors to Haugesund flock to its colourful harbour houses and Viking monuments, a truly unique and hauntingly beautiful sight awaits just north of the city—one that many cruise passengers miss. Imagine four ghostly pale horses and their riders…
Ijmuiden Cruise Port (sometimes labelled as “Amsterdam (Ijmuiden)” in cruise itineraries) is located on the Dutch coast at the mouth of the North Sea Canal. Ijmuiden, the town itself, (pronounced “eye-mow-dun,”), is centred around one of Western Europe’s largest fishing…
Nestled on the tip of the Cotentin Peninsula, Cherbourg France, is a historic port city with a wealth of maritime history, authentic Norman culture and dramatic coastal landscapes. Cherbourg Cruise Port is also the world’s largest artificial harbour! Its official…
Nestled peacefully at the head of the Eidsfjord, a tranquil arm of the mighty Nordfjord, lies the village of Nordfjordeid Norway. With a population of just 3,000, it retains the quiet authenticity of a working village. Nordfjordeid is famous for being…
Nestled deep within the stunning Hardangerfjord, the charming village of Ulvik Norway presents a serene and picturesque alternative to its more frequented neighbour, Eidfjord. Wondering what there is to see & do in Ulvik? Ulvik is famously known as the heart…
Long before Eidfjord Cruise Port comes into view, your ship would have navigated the deep, serene waters of the Hardangerfjord, the second-longest fjord in Norway and the fourth-longest in the world. This 179-km waterway, often hailed as the “Queen of…
Skjolden Cruise Port lies at the end of Sognefjord, rightfully nicknamed the “King of the Fjords“. To reach this secluded point, ships have to navigate over 200 km (~120 miles) inland from the open sea, traversing the full length of…
Stepping onto Northern Irish soil at the Belfast Cruise Port, you’ll be in a city whose maritime heritage is forever defined by the shadow and splendour of the Titanic – the most famous ship ever built. And you can see the…
Nestled deep within the dramatic Romsdalen valley, Åndalsnes, Norway, is a port that promises adventure and awe-inspiring scenery the moment you step ashore! If your cruise itinerary includes the Andalsnes cruise port, you’re in for a treat. Often dubbed the ‘Alpine Town…
Aarhus Cruise Port gets you right into Denmark’s second largest city, known as the “City of Smiles”! Known for its youthful energy, thanks to its large university population, striking modern architecture, world-class museums and that signature Danish ‘hygge’, it’s easy…
Skagen Cruise Port (pronounced Skain) is the gateway to Denmark’s luminous land’s end. Nestled at the very northern tip of Jutland, where two seas dramatically collide, Skagen Cruise Port is also Denmark’s second most visited cruise port, after Copenhagen Cruise Port.…
Copenhagen Cruise Port is a great port for DIY cruisers! From the iconic Little Mermaid to the colour houses of Nyhavn and the buzz of its world-class food markets, the Danish capital certainly offers loads of experiences to enjoy. In…
Seydisfjordur Cruise Port is East Iceland’s picture-perfect harbour town! While home to only 700 people (!), Seydisfjordur is known for its incredibly well-preserved colour wooden buildings, its vibrant arts community and its setting at the head of one of Iceland’s…
Reykjavik Cruise Port is your stepping stone into the land of fire and ice! My comprehensive guide will help you explore the unique wonders from Iceland’s capital. I’ll start with the essentials, covering the five cruise terminals at Reykjavik cruise…
Isafjordur Iceland Cruise Port is nestled in the breathtaking Westfjords, a peninsula in northwestern Iceland known for its rugged mountains, deep fjords and abundant wildlife. The town itself is relatively small, with only about 2,500 residents. In this blog post,…
Nicknamed the “Capital of North Iceland“, Akureyri Cruise Port is home to Iceland’s second largest city (after Reykjavik), though it still only has about 20,000 residents today. Surrounded by breathtaking mountains, fjords and waterfalls, Akureyri cruise port offers not just…
Wow! Can you believe it’s been a whole year since DIYCruisePorts.com was launched? It’s been an incredible journey, and I’m so grateful to all 150,000+ of you who’ve come aboard to explore the world of DIY shore excursions with me.…
Did you know that many Northern European Cruise Ports are year-round cruise destinations? That’s right! Forget the myth that it’s too cold to sail in Northern Europe between November and March! Northern European cruise itineraries continue to head to Hamburg,…
Le Havre Cruise Port is often seen as a boring industrial port and many cruisers take a day-trip to Honfleur, Caen, Rouen or the Normandy D-Day landing beaches instead. While Le Havre is definitely not one of France’s most glamorous…
Hamburg Cruise Port is the gateway to Germany’s second largest city (after Berlin), known as a dynamic port city, with a thriving arts scene and Reeperbahn, the famous entertainment district. It’s not surprisingly that as a major port city, there’s…
