Chosen by several of the Royal Caribbean captains surveyed, Venice's stunning architecture was considered to be at its best when the sun is rising over it first thing in the morning. Click on for more of the captains' port picks.
Venice harbor (Italy) —
Chosen by several of the Royal Caribbean captains surveyed, Venice's stunning architecture was considered to be at its best when the sun is rising over it first thing in the morning. Click on for more of the captains' port picks.
Royal Caribbean
The beautiful green, jagged volcanic mountains of Moorea helped get it onto the ship captains' list of favorite port views. This French Polynesian island paradise is known for its juxtaposition of sandy beaches and dramatic mountain ranges.
Island of Moorea (French Polynesia) —
The beautiful green, jagged volcanic mountains of Moorea helped get it onto the ship captains' list of favorite port views. This French Polynesian island paradise is known for its juxtaposition of sandy beaches and dramatic mountain ranges.
Royal Caribbean
Lord Byron was so enamored with the La Spezia town of Lerici that the bay became known as the Bay of Poets. The captains commented that it was "easy to see why" it earned such devotion, noting that the view of the Golfo dei Poeti as ships sail out of the port of La Spezia is "enchanting."
Golfo dei Poeti (La Spezia, Italy) —
Lord Byron was so enamored with the La Spezia town of Lerici that the bay became known as the Bay of Poets. The captains commented that it was "easy to see why" it earned such devotion, noting that the view of the Golfo dei Poeti as ships sail out of the port of La Spezia is "enchanting."
Royal Caribbean
Norway's Geirangerfjord is located in More og Romsdal, in the southwestern part of the county. Cruisers heading into this port get excellent views of its deep blue water, snow-covered peaks, waterfalls and forests. "It seems like everything is blooming," says Captain Espen Been of Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas.
Geirangerfjord (Norway) —
Norway's Geirangerfjord is located in More og Romsdal, in the southwestern part of the county. Cruisers heading into this port get excellent views of its deep blue water, snow-covered peaks, waterfalls and forests. "It seems like everything is blooming," says Captain Espen Been of Royal Caribbean's Grandeur of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean
Captain Lis Lauritzen, from Vision of the Seas, commented that Kotor in Montenegro deserved a spot on their list of favorite views as it's "completely different in terms of view and environment." The historic town of Kotor has little commercial traffic and is known for its Venetian-style architecture.
Kotor (Montenegro) —
Captain Lis Lauritzen, from Vision of the Seas, commented that Kotor in Montenegro deserved a spot on their list of favorite views as it's "completely different in terms of view and environment." The historic town of Kotor has little commercial traffic and is known for its Venetian-style architecture.
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Royal Caribbean says eastern Alaska's Hubbard Glacier was chosen by several of its captains, who commented on the magnitude and scale of the views they get to take in from Yakutat to Disenchantment Bay. "It is different every time, as the colors vary with the light," says Voyager of the Seas' Captain Sindre Borsheim of the 122-kilometer glacier. "When a piece of ice falls into the ocean it makes an extraordinary roar, like a thunderstorm," adds Captain Juan Caranti of Radiance of the Seas.
Hubbard Glacier (Alaska) —
Royal Caribbean says eastern Alaska's Hubbard Glacier was chosen by several of its captains, who commented on the magnitude and scale of the views they get to take in from Yakutat to Disenchantment Bay. "It is different every time, as the colors vary with the light," says Voyager of the Seas' Captain Sindre Borsheim of the 122-kilometer glacier. "When a piece of ice falls into the ocean it makes an extraordinary roar, like a thunderstorm," adds Captain Juan Caranti of Radiance of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean
With more than 240 kilometers of shoreline, Sydney's got "the most iconic harbor in the world," says Captain Rick Sullivan of Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas. Cruise ship passengers sailing into the city get amazing views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Sydney Harbour (Australia) —
With more than 240 kilometers of shoreline, Sydney's got "the most iconic harbor in the world," says Captain Rick Sullivan of Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas. Cruise ship passengers sailing into the city get amazing views of the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge.
Royal Caribbean
The landscape of the Mediterranean was regularly cited by the captains as housing some of the best views in the world, says Royal Caribbean. But several identified the view of Vesuvius towering over Naples at sunrise as a particularly extraordinary image to capture from the sea.
Vesuvius (Naples, Italy) —
The landscape of the Mediterranean was regularly cited by the captains as housing some of the best views in the world, says Royal Caribbean. But several identified the view of Vesuvius towering over Naples at sunrise as a particularly extraordinary image to capture from the sea.
Royal Caribbean
The captains commented that the view of Nice as they sail into the neighboring port of Ville Franche deserved a place on the list thanks to its mountainous backdrop. "When the ships arrive in the Mediterranean in April, the mountains are still snow-capped but the beaches are welcoming sunbathers," says Captain Tomas Busto of Adventure of the Seas.
Nice (France) —
The captains commented that the view of Nice as they sail into the neighboring port of Ville Franche deserved a place on the list thanks to its mountainous backdrop. "When the ships arrive in the Mediterranean in April, the mountains are still snow-capped but the beaches are welcoming sunbathers," says Captain Tomas Busto of Adventure of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean
The archipelago through which ships sail as they come into Stockholm was described as being like "nothing else." It's filled with thousands of rocks and tiny islands, all of which have to be navigated to enter this Baltic Sea port. "Homes look like doll's houses" as you sail past, says Captain Espen Been.
Stockholm archipelago (Sweden) —
The archipelago through which ships sail as they come into Stockholm was described as being like "nothing else." It's filled with thousands of rocks and tiny islands, all of which have to be navigated to enter this Baltic Sea port. "Homes look like doll's houses" as you sail past, says Captain Espen Been.
Royal Caribbean
Captain Rick Sullivan, from Explorer of the Seas, says that Vancouver was one of his picks due to the perspective you get when sailing under the First Narrows Bridge into Vancouver harbor, looking at the city against the backdrop of mountains.
Vancouver (Canada) —
Captain Rick Sullivan, from Explorer of the Seas, says that Vancouver was one of his picks due to the perspective you get when sailing under the First Narrows Bridge into Vancouver harbor, looking at the city against the backdrop of mountains.
Royal Caribbean
Forget solid ground. For Captain Henrik Loft Soerensen of Brilliance of the Seas, nothing beats the "beautiful and peaceful" expanse of the English Channel.
The English Channel —
Forget solid ground. For Captain Henrik Loft Soerensen of Brilliance of the Seas, nothing beats the "beautiful and peaceful" expanse of the English Channel.
Royal Caribbean
Spectacular ports: Cruise ship captains share their favorite views
CNN  — 

Not everyone’s a fan of cruising.

The rigid schedules imposed by the ships usually have you sailing into port in the morning then back on board by early evening, giving you just a few hours to explore some of the world’s greatest destinations – but plenty of time to gamble away your kid’s college fund at the onboard casino.

The plus side?

Nothing beats the feeling you get while standing on the ship’s top deck as you sail into a new port, taking in mind-blowing views of places like Malta’s ancient city of Valletta or Sydney’s famed natural harbor.

Which is why we can’t help but envy cruise ship captains, who get to check out some of the world’s most beautiful harbors from the bridge as they steer their mega ships into port.

So which views really stand out?

Cruise line Royal Caribbean asked the captains of its 23 ships to share their favorite ports to cruise into.

Check out the above gallery for their picks.