49 of the best · the world’s cruise lines, ships and seas
Getting to the Ship: Airports and Trains
Gateway airports and rail links to the home ports, with journey times only from official sources.
Our 49 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
What's onThis week in the world’s cruise lines
Insiders' picks
Three of our favourites from this list, vetted by people who know and love the sea.
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18 minutes
Arlanda Express
The airport train between Stockholm Arlanda and Stockholm Central: 18 minutes.
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1 Line
Link light rail from Sea-Tac
Sound Transit’s 1 Line runs between SeaTac/Airport station and downtown Seattle.
The full list: Getting There, A–Z
Western Mediterranean & the Rivieras 4
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Barcelona–El Prat Airport
Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat, run by Aena, south-west of the city: the main airport for Barcelona embarkations.
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Marseille Provence Airport
There is no direct link from the airport to the cruise terminals: the airport shuttle runs to Saint-Charles station in about 25 minutes (up to 50 at rush hour), then a taxi or the line’s transfer (marseille-tourisme.com).
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Nice Côte d’Azur Airport
The airport for Monaco, Villefranche and the French Riviera ports.
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Trenitalia to Civitavecchia
Regional trains run between Rome and Civitavecchia; from the station, the port buses run to Largo della Pace. Check the timetable on Trenitalia before you travel.
Greek Islands, Adriatic & Eastern Med 4
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Athens International Airport
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos, the gateway for Piraeus embarkations.
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Istanbul Airport
Istanbul Airport (IGA), the city’s main international airport, for Galataport embarkations.
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Jadrolinija ferries and catamarans
Croatia’s national ferry line: catamarans from Split to Hvar Town and to Korčula, and car ferries to the islands.
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Split Airport
The airport for Split and central Dalmatia, west of the city along the coast.
The Caribbean & the Bahamas 4
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Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport
The airport for Port Everglades, run by Broward County.
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Grantley Adams International Airport
Barbados’ international airport, for Bridgetown embarkations.
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Houston Airport System
Houston Hobby is the closest airport to the Port of Galveston, about a 45-minute drive; George Bush Intercontinental suits international travellers (portofgalveston.com).
Northern Europe, the Norwegian Fjords & the Arctic 5
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Schiphol–Centraal
Amsterdam Schiphol by train
NS trains connect Schiphol Airport with Amsterdam Centraal, a short walk or tram ride from the cruise terminal.
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18 minutes
Arlanda Express
The airport train between Stockholm Arlanda and Stockholm Central: 18 minutes.
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Skyss
Bergen Light Rail (Bybanen)
Skyss runs the light rail between Bergen Airport, Flesland, and the city centre.
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Line M2
Copenhagen Metro to the airport
Line M2 links Copenhagen Airport (Københavns Lufthavn) with the city centre.
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Train and bus links
Southampton Airport
Southampton’s own airport, linked to the city by train and bus.
Alaska & the Pacific Northwest 3
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YVR–Waterfront
Canada Line from YVR
TransLink’s Canada Line connects Vancouver International Airport with Waterfront Station, by Canada Place.
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1 Line
Link light rail from Sea-Tac
Sound Transit’s 1 Line runs between SeaTac/Airport station and downtown Seattle.
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Pier 66 and Pier 91
Parking at the Seattle terminals
Parking for Pier 66 is run by Republic Parking, and for Pier 91 by USP Parking, as listed by the Port of Seattle.
Asia & the Gulf 3
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Ship-call days
Kai Tak terminal shuttles
On ship-call days, free shuttle buses link the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal with nearby MTR stations.
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Haneda
Tokyo Haneda Airport
Tokyo’s close-in airport, convenient for both the Tokyo and Yokohama cruise terminals.
The Great Rivers 4
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BUD
Budapest Airport
Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport, for Danube embarkations in Budapest.
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Airport–Wien Mitte
City Airport Train, Vienna
Non-stop between Vienna Airport and Wien Mitte, every 12–15 minutes.
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Trindade–Aeroporto
Porto Metro to the airport
Metro do Porto’s line from Trindade to the airport links Porto with Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport.
The Galápagos & South America 6
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Across the Río de la Plata
Buquebus
Ferries across the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento and Montevideo.
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Aeropuertos Argentina
Ezeiza International Airport
Buenos Aires’s international airport, run by Aeropuertos Argentina; allow a transfer to the port terminal.
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Via Quito
Flights to the Galápagos
Galápagos voyages start with a flight from mainland Ecuador to Baltra or San Cristóbal.
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Flights from Lima
Iquitos airport for the Amazon
Peruvian Amazon voyages begin at Iquitos airport, reached by flights from Lima.
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Near Callao
Jorge Chávez International Airport
Lima’s international airport, in Callao, close to the port; the new terminal is operated by LAP.
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16 km / 2 km
RIOgaleão and Santos Dumont airports
Galeão is about 16 km and 25 minutes from Pier Mauá without traffic; Santos Dumont is about 2 km away, by VLT tram.
Antarctica & the Arctic 5
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45 minutes
Flybus from Keflavík Airport
The airport coach between Keflavík and the BSÍ Bus Terminal in central Reykjavík: about 45 minutes.
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Opens 29 Oct 2026
Ilulissat’s new international airport
Ilulissat’s new international airport opens on 29 October 2026, with Air Greenland and Icelandair routes.
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Opened 28 Nov 2024
Nuuk Airport
Greenland’s new international airport, opened on 28 November 2024; bus route 3 runs to town.
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Fly the Drake
Quark’s Antarctic Express
Quark flies across the Drake Passage from Punta Arenas one way and sails the other.
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Select voyages
Regional flights on Swan Hellenic polar voyages
Swan Hellenic includes regional flights on select polar voyages; check yours when you book.
The Indian Ocean & Africa 5
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ACSA
Cape Town International Airport
Cape Town’s international airport, run by Airports Company South Africa.
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ACSA
King Shaka International Airport
Durban’s international airport, north of the city, run by Airports Company South Africa.
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Temporarily suspended
MyCiTi airport service
The City of Cape Town’s airport bus is temporarily suspended; plan a transfer or taxi instead.
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Namibia Airports Company
Walvis Bay International Airport
The airport for Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, run by the Namibia Airports Company.
Australia, New Zealand & the South Pacific 6
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15 minutes, 12 km
Brisbane Airport to the cruise terminal
The cruise terminal is 15 minutes’ drive (12 km) from Brisbane Airport and 30 minutes (21 km) from the city.
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10 minutes
Cairns Airport to the cruise terminal
Cairns international airport is about ten minutes’ drive from the Cruise Liner Terminal, which makes the city an easy fly-cruise port.
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450 m to the terminal
Sydney Airport to Circular Quay by train
Direct trains link the airport with Circular Quay Station, a five-minute walk (450 m) from the Overseas Passenger Terminal.
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50 minutes
Tahiti to Bora Bora by air
A 50-minute flight from Tahiti’s Faa’a International Airport to Bora Bora, for a stay before or after a voyage.
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Route 109
Tram 109 to Station Pier
Tram Route 109 links Station Pier with Melbourne’s city centre, about 3 km away.
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Ferry every 20 minutes
Waitangi to Paihia and Russell
Shuttles run 2.1 km from the Waitangi tender landing to Paihia, where ferries cross to Russell every 20 minutes.
