Six of the world's best port cities and harbours for cruise ships

FIRST SIGHTS Sailing in or out of Hong Kong's Victoria Harbour is a dramatic event – the waterway is thronged with ferries, cargo ships and junks, while the surrounding shores are ringed by high-rise buildings that climb up picturesque peaks. Every night the skyline is lit up by the Symphony of Lights, a coloured laser show.

CRUISE TERMINAL Hong Kong has two: Ocean Terminal, in Victoria Harbour at the southwestern end of Kowloon Peninsula, and Kai Tak (the former airport) on the East Kowloon waterfront. Kai Tak has the largest rooftop garden in Hong Kong; both terminals have onsite shopping malls and both are well served by train, ferry and bus systems.

STEP ASHORE You can walk from Ocean Terminal straight into the shopping and dining district of Tsim Sha Tsui, to the Cultural, Space and Art museums and to the Star Ferry terminal. Attractions near Kai Tak include the Chi Lin Nunnery and Nan Lian Garden.

SHORE EXCURSIONS First-time visitors should book a day tour that takes in Hong Kong's highlights. These typically include a narrated harbour cruise; tram ride up Victoria Peak; sampan trip in Aberdeen; and Stanley Market, famed for its clothing and souvenir stalls as well as its beachside location.

INFO discoverhongkong.com

VALLETTA, MALTA

FIRST SIGHTS Cruising into Valletta's Grand Harbour is like going back in time by a few hundred years – no wonder so many Game of Thrones scenes were filmed here. Ancient, honey-coloured fortifications and tall shuttered houses overseen by church steeples stretch as far as the eye can see, while colourful fishing boats and sleek yachts dot the impressive waterway.

CRUISE TERMINAL Valletta Waterfront has two terminals, Pinto and the Forni-Magazino, within its restored 250-year-old warehouse buildings. Facilities include shops, duty free outlets, restaurants, cafes, taxis and buses. The Waterfront is also used for cultural and sporting events.

STEP ASHORE Ships dock right in the middle of Grand Harbour, one of the biggest in Europe. An elevator close to The Waterfront links to the Upper Barrakka Gardens (pictured) and from there you can walk or take a bus around the city.

SHORE EXCURSIONS Guided small-group walking tours are the best way to soak up the basics of Malta's long and complex history.

INFO visitmalta.com

CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA

FIRST SIGHTS Cape Town's Table Bay is dominated by unmistakeable Table Mountain, its craggy cliffs dropping down to a harbour bustling with activity. Ships dock at the stylish V&A Waterfront at the foot of the mountain.

CRUISE TERMINAL The Cape Town Cruise Terminal is situated at the Duncan Dock. Facilities include immigration processing, a tourist information desk, free wifi, a restaurant and taxi rank.

STEP ASHORE In addition to housing the cruise terminal, V&A Waterfront is a massive multi-purpose hub that comprises more than 450 shops and galleries, and dozens of cafes and restaurants, most of which have harbour views. Dating back to the 18th century, the precinct has 22 heritage sites, including the Chavonnes Battery Museum. It's also the departure point for Robben Island Museum tours and Hop-On Hop-Off bus tours.

SHORE EXCURSIONS You can combine a cable-car ride up Table Mountain (an essential Mother City experience) and city tour in a half-day tour, which allows you time to visit Robben Island independently. Alternatively, take a day trip to the gorgeous towns and wineries of Cape Winelands.

INFO southafrica.net

See also: The country that should be on everyone's bucket list (but isn't)

OSLO, NORWAY

FIRST SIGHTS Approaching Norway's capital along the ruggedly scenic Oslo Fjord is a standout cruise experience. The harbour's architecture is a mix of the strikingly contemporary (Oslo Opera House, Barcode district), restored 19th-century wharves and the medieval (Akershus Fortress and Castle).

CRUISE TERMINAL Ships dock at four piers, including Akershus Fortress (400 metres from City Hall), Revierkaia (near Opera House), Filipstadveien (800 metres from City Hall), or Vippetangen (south of Akershus). Akershus has a small cruise terminal building with some shops, a snack bar and a tourist information booth.

STEP ASHORE You're within walking distance of several significant sites as soon as you arrive. The new Harbour Promenade stretches nine kilometres along Oslo's waterfront, tying the city together from east to west.

SHORE EXCURSIONS Oslo's ferries and buses are easy to navigate on your own so why not design your own tour? Must-visit attractions include the Bygdøy peninsula museums (ferries run from City Hall); Royal Palace and Karl Johans Gate (Oslo's main shopping, bar and café street); and Vigeland Sculpture Park.

INFO visitnorway.com

NEW YORK, USA

FIRST SIGHTS The Statue of Liberty must be the world's most recognisable city symbol and cruising past it at sunrise or sunset makes even the most experienced traveller's heart beat a little faster. Then there are the bristling skyscrapers, Ellis Island and Staten Island ferries that have starred in countless movies and TV shows.

CRUISE TERMINAL There are three cruise terminals: Manhattan, on the Hudson River; Brooklyn at Red Hook, used by Cunard and Princess; and Cape Liberty at Bayonne, New Jersey, used by Royal Caribbean and Celebrity.

STEP ASHORE Manhattan terminal is close to the key tourist attractions of downtown Manhattan; Red Hook is in South Brooklyn, and it's best to use a bus, shuttle bus or taxi to get to Manhattan; Cape Liberty is about 16 kilometres from Manhattan.

SHORE EXCURSIONS First-time visitors can take various day tours that take in the must-dos with skip-the-queue access. These include, among many, the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, 9/11 Memorial and historic South Street Seaport.

DETAILS nycgo.com

FIVE FAVOURITE RIVER CRUISE CITIES

France's third-biggest city and gastronomic centre sits at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers. Medieval Vieux Lyon is a wonderful maze of cobbled lanes linked to La Croix-Roux hill by traboules (covered passageways). Presqu'ile, the peninsula between the rivers, is an elegant shopping and cultural district lined with lovely 19th-century buildings.

2. VIENNA, AUSTRIA

Austria's immaculate capital boasts imperial palaces, stately museums and art galleries, busy coffee shops and cool wine bars. It's home to the famous Spanish Riding School (pictured) and, as you'd expect in the City of Music, numerous prestigious classical music venues. Johann Strauss II penned the world's best-known waltz, The Blue Danube, for his home town.

3. PORTO, PORTUGAL

Porto (like St Petersburg and Bordeaux) is accessible to both river and ocean ships but river ships have the best docking spot – on the Douro River opposite the old city in Vila Nova da Gaia, where the port cellars are located. A night out in Ribeira to listen to fado music in atmospheric bars is a must-do.

4. ST PETERSBURG, RUSSIA

An intricate network of canals, grand squares and monumental architecture give the city its nickname, Venice of the North. Like Russia, St Petersburg is vast, complex and compelling – a cultural treasure trove that turns into a months-long festival during the Summer White Nights.

5. BORDEAUX, FRANCE

You don't have to be a wine aficionado to fall in love with Bordeaux but it is one of the UNESCO World Heritage city's many claims to fame. The spectacular 18th-century Place de la Bourse is a short walk from where ships dock and the city's medieval centre, the Golden Triangle easy to explore by bike or on foot.

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