How to Tackle These Cruise Ports Before Setting Sail
If you think that cruising only means days at sea with a dash through various ports-of-call, stop right there. Some of the world's great cities—Barcelona, Miami, Singapore—are where you'll start and end your time on board. So why not fly in a little early to get some quality time on land? It means you'll have to unpack more than once on your cruise holiday (sorry!) but it's totally worth it. Below, how to do five of our favorite ports in a day.
Leonardo Finotti, Courtesy The Leading Hotels of the WorldRio de Janeiro
Spend the night at our Hot List property, the Emiliano, in central Zona Sul, which puts you near Copacabana and Ipanema beaches. Do dinner at Satyricon or Aprazível in Santa Teresa; the latter has the best fish stew and views of the city. There should even be time to squeeze in an hour of samba in the Lapa district. We like Rio Scenarium.
Courtesy The WarehouseSingapore
We love the Warehouse Hotel—and relaxing in its excellent bar, especially after a day spent exploring The Intan house museum, filled with jewels and armoires from the local Peranakan culture. Have a nightcap at the historic Fullerton Hotel or Atlas bar, which feels like a vestige of a bygone era in this very sanitized city.
Kieran ScottAuckland
Stay at the central Hotel DeBrett, off Queen Street. It’s within walking distance of Depot, one of our favorite dinner spots for braised lamb and kumara gnocchi, and the Britomart development, a cluster of high-end shops with top Kiwi labels like Karen Walker and World and outdoor food markets near Viaduct Harbour.
Michael WeberMiami
Use downtown Brickell’s proximity to the airport and cruise terminal as an excuse to stay in Miami’s hottest new neighborhood. Check into East, Miami, above the upscale shopping complex Brickell City Centre. You're also not far from the bike paths at Venetian Causeway should you want to get in some activity before the sea legs take over.
Valery EgorovBarcelona
Barcelona's cruise port is next to the Poble Sec neighborhood, home to Albert Adrià’s empire (do Bodega 1900 for an afternoon vermut, then Tickets for dinner). Check out Gaudí’s Casa Vicens, now opened as a museum, and book a junior suite at Hotel Neri in the Gothic quarter, close to the ships.