Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal has been ranked among the world’s top 10 most beautiful cruise ports and one of only two in the Southern Hemisphere.
As cruising continues to rise in popularity in Australasian waters, passengers have rated Sydney’s Overseas Passenger Terminal in seventh place, tying with Lisbon Cruise Port in a list of the top 10 most beautiful cruise ports.
According to AllClear travel insurance’s eye tracking study, Sydney caught cruise passengers’ rapt attention for the unforgettable sight of Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge upon entry to the port.
Valletta Cruise Port (Malta) took the top spot on the list of the world’s most beautiful cruise ports, while Ushuaia (Argentina) , as the gateway to Antarctica, nabbed second place.
Valletta Cruise Port in Malta was rated as the world’s most visually appealing with breathtaking views against the Mediterranean Sea and the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Grand Harbour.
The remote port of Ushuaia in Argentina, ranked as the second most attractive cruise port with the backdrop of the snow-covered peaks of the Martial Mountains.
Completing the top three is Palermo’s Cruise Terminal in Sicily, where visitors are welcomed by historic architecture, colourful streets and waterfront views.
Stockholm’s Stadsgården Cruise Terminal (4), Nassau Cruise Port in the Bahamas (5), Aruba Cruise Terminal (6), Oman’s Port Sultan Qaboos (9) and Turkiye’s Ege Port (9) rounded out the top 10 list.
European cruise ports dominate the rankings with 11 listings in the top 20. Stockholm, ranking in fourth place, greets passengers with an eye-catching approach of colourful cottages all the way into the city centre.
Lisbon’s port also ranks highly with ships sailing beneath the iconic 25 de Abril Bridge before docking with views of the city’s terracotta rooftops from the top deck.
Norway appears twice on the list – Geirangerfjord and Skolten Cruise Port made the global top 20 with both destinations known for their stunning landscapes featuring sheer cliffs, waterfalls and valleys.
The eye-tracking study compared a variety of the world’s most scenic ports and monitored the ones that caught travellers’ eyes the quickest and for the longest amount of time.
AllClear also ranked the world’s most stunning sunset destinations, using the same eye-tracking method.
