Welcome back to Byte Size Cruises! This is our LAST post of 2023 and we are SO excited for what is to come in 2024. If you are new to our blog, welcome! We are a small travel agency outside of Philadelphia, PA and we specialize in all things cruising. If you enjoy cruise vacations or are interesting in learning more about them, you're in the right place! Our goal is to share the best and latest information with you so you can craft and go on your best cruise vacation. Looking back at 2023, we visited a lot of different places all around the world. Here is our list of TOP CRUISE PORTS of 2023!

12. Miami, FL. Yes, this is a major tourist city and a cruise port that we visited last year. Wandering around the town, seeing the culture and experiencing this rich city was tons of fun. Miami is a beautiful port; it absolutely has one of the best sail-away views and is very easy to navigate. 

11. Charleston, SC. We really enjoyed our time at this port. This port is only going to be available for a bit longer as it will be closing within the next few years, so go see it while you can. When you dock here, you land right in the downtown area and can step off the ship and be immersed in the town immediately. It was great going to Bitty and Beau's coffee, seeing historic sites, and enjoying the culture of this town.

10. Portland, Maine. If you enjoy beer and quaint towns, this port is for you! Again, this is a port where you can step off the ship and right into the city and all it has to offer. Obviously while you're there, definitely try some seafood. It feels a bit like Massachusetts rather than Maine as far as being a great place to see and explore. 

9. Nassau, Bahamas. We have been to this port MANY times and it remains a wonderful place to visit. The new port area that they built down there is really incredible and makes the process of docking and site seeing much more enjoyable. You can walk right off the ship and into the town to explore the culture and visit the beach. There's tons of shopping, lots of really great food, and many different opportunities to see and do unique adventures. 

8. Puerta Plata, Dominican Republic. This is not a stop where you walk right into the City; instead you get off at port and have to make your way into the city. However, the port that they have built here is wonderfully done. There are three beaches, there's a lazy river, fun restaurants, and then great excursions that take you out and about to explore. 

7. San Juan, Puerto Rico. This is another port where you walk off the ship and right into town! If you enjoy Puerto Rican food and historic culture, this is the place to be. There are wonderful parks, sites to see, and overall just a really enjoyable experience. 

6. Halifax, Nova Scotia. This past year was our third time visiting this port and once again we really enjoyed our time. They have the boardwalk there with great views, shops and restaurants and a chance to take in the local culture. You can walk right off the ship here and into the town; again, a really great place to explore and adventure as fast or as slow as you'd like. 

5. Bermuda. We love going to the port at Bermuda. This is a another port we visit a lot and each time we enjoy it. There is something for everyone here, whether you're looking for culture and adventure or to relax by the beach. There's great food and shopping and a wide variety of excursions. Often the ship will be at this port overnight, giving you more time to enjoy the sites. 

4. Newport, RI. This was a new port for us last year and we really enjoyed our time here. This is a quaint town and the history here, especially the architecture, was really cool to see and experience. It was interesting to see the historic mansions here that were built in the late 1800's to early 1900's and learn about the people who lived there. 

3. Bar Harbor, Maine. This is definitely one of our favorite ports to visit and is a classic American Northeast town. Lots of seafood, lobster, shopping and culture to see and experience. Great places to stay and visit with that quaint New England vibe. It is a tender port, which means you need to take small boats from the cruise ship over to the port which makes the process of getting on and off the cruise ship a bit more lengthy, but it is absolutely worth it. When you go, definitely visit Acadia and see the beautiful wildlife. 

2. Ocean Key, Bahamas. This is the MSC private island in the Bahamas and is just a TON of fun. This island doubles as a marine reserve and opened recently to the public. You dock right at the port and can wander on to the island for lots of shopping, eating, and magnificent beaches. 

1. OUR TOP PICK! Perfect Day at Coco Cay. This does show you our favorite types of cruises. We love culture and getting out to explore; and we also love a tropical oases where you can relax and enjoy the sunshine. Perfect Day is the private island owned by Royal Caribbean and is set up to be a water park, adventure zone, and tropical oases all in one. We especially recommend this port to anyone who is looking to take a short cruise, maybe only four or five days, and wants to really feel like they got away and relaxed in a tropical location. At Perfect Day, you dock right there and walk onto the island. Anything you can think of on a private island, they have it. 

Those are our top 12 ports of 2023! Did you go on a cruise this past year? What was your favorite port? Comment below! We hope everyone has had a wonderful holiday season and we look forward to seeing you in 2024!