Cape Town Cruise Terminal ranks 12th among the world's most beautiful cruise ports

Cape Town’s Cruise Terminal has been named one of the most beautiful cruise ports in the world, placing 12th in a new international eye-tracking study by travel insurance specialists AllClear.

The research measured which ports capture travellers’ attention the fastest and hold it the longest.

Cape Town’s approach – with panoramic views of Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, and the city’s vibrant harbour – helped it secure its place in the global top 15.

AllClear analysed 33 cruise ports from around the world, each known for offering stunning views for passengers arriving by boat.   

A group of 100 participants from around the world took part in the research. Each participant was presented with a series of images showcasing these cruise ports, and their visual engagement was measured using eye-tracking technology.

To do this, researchers conducted an eye-tracking study that compared a variety of the world’s most scenic ports and monitored which caught travellers’ eyes the quickest, and for the longest amount of time.

Cape Town Cruise Terminal ranked 12th worldwide with an ‘eye-catching’ score of 70/100. They shared 12th place with Port of Kotor in Montenegro, Geiranger Cruise Port in Norway and the Funchal Cruise Terminal in Portugal.

The study also revealed which locations around the world are the most beautiful to sail into, crowning Valetta in Malta as giving the best first impression from the water.

Head of communications at AllClear, Letitia Smith, said: “When cruising, often it's the incredible moments you sail into a new port for the first time that take your breath away. Around the world, there are cruise ports and harbours that are set in some spectacular destinations, and those who love to sail around the world will understand how exciting that feeling is."

The remote port of Ushuaia in Argentina, also known as ‘The End of the World’, ranked as the second most attractive cruise port, as ships that depart from here to go to Antarctica do so 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 a blend of historic architecture, colourful streets, and views of the sparkling sea. 

Sydney’s cruise terminal, offering iconic views of the Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House, also landed among the global top 20 (7th). Meanwhile, Canada’s Port of Québec also secured a spot in 16th place thanks to its charming historic feel.

“Cruising comes with its own set of concerns, however, from missed port departures to cabin confinement due to illness. Ensuring you’ve purchased comprehensive cruise travel insurance before you set sail is important and will help to ensure you enjoy your trip with peace of mind,” Ms Smith said. 

V&A Waterfront communications manager, Donald Kau, said the Port of Cape Town was recognised as Africa’s leading cruise port.

"This is a testament to the proud maritime heritage of the City of Cape Town as well as the investment and upgrades that the Waterfront has made since it won the concession to run the terminal.

"We have constructed a world-class terminal that has improved the experience of cruise passengers, as well as successfully integrated the terminal into our tourist services, amenities of our hotels, attractions, and retail offerings, all of which have enhanced the desirability of the port and Cape Town as a destination for cruise," Mr Kau said.