Award-Winning Cruise Ports and Destinations
The 2026 best cruise terminals and destinations, from Dubai and Madeira to Jamaica and Prince Edward Island.
Quote an Award-Winning CruisePorts win awards too. The World Cruise Awards publish a best cruise terminal and a best cruise destination for the world and for each region — useful when you are choosing between itineraries or deciding where to start a cruise.
Award-Winning Cruise Terminals, 2026
| Scope | Terminal |
|---|---|
| World’s best | DP World Mina Rashid, Dubai, UAE |
| World’s best for sustainability | Port of Funchal, Madeira, Portugal |
| Caribbean | Port of Ocho Rios, Jamaica |
| Europe | Port of Reykjavik – Vör Cruise Terminal, Iceland |
| North America | Port of Saint John, Canada |
| Latin America | Pier Mauá International Cruise Terminal, Brazil |
| Asia | Ha Long Cruise Port, Vietnam |
| Africa | Cape Town Cruise Terminal, South Africa |
| Indian Ocean | Port Victoria, Seychelles |
| Oceania | Port of Suva, Fiji |
Award-Winning Cruise Destinations, 2026
- World: Abu Dhabi, UAE
- Caribbean: Jamaica
- Europe: Lisbon, Portugal
- North America: Prince Edward Island, Canada
- Latin America: Mexico
- Asia: Vietnam
- Africa: Morocco
- Indian Ocean: Seychelles
Source: the World Cruise Awards 2026 winners list.
Planning Around an Award-Winning Port
A destination award is a good reason to look for itineraries that call there, and to plan the day well. For the Caribbean winners such as Jamaica, Caribbean Cruise Ports has port-by-port guides; for Lisbon and other European calls, see Europe Port Excursions; for Vietnam and Ha Long, Asia Shore Excursions; for Brazil and Mexico, South America Shore Excursions. Shore Activities covers excursions worldwide.
Terminal awards matter most where your cruise begins or ends. Arriving at a smooth, well-signed terminal with good taxi and transfer links takes much of the stress out of embarkation day. If your cruise starts somewhere new to you, a night in a hotel nearby beforehand is still the best insurance against flight delays.
Award-Winning Ports: FAQ
What was the world’s best cruise terminal in 2026?
The World Cruise Awards named DP World Mina Rashid in Dubai the World’s Best Cruise Terminal 2026, and the Port of Funchal in Madeira the World’s Best Cruise Terminal for Sustainability.
Which was the world’s best cruise destination in 2026?
Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates, according to the 2026 World Cruise Awards.
Does a terminal award affect my cruise?
Mostly on embarkation and disembarkation days: check-in, security, luggage and transport links. A destination award is about the port as a place to visit.
Want help choosing an itinerary that includes one of these ports? Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise can search sailings that call there. And if you love this kind of planning, Be a Travel Agent explains how to turn it into a career.
Award Winning Cruises That Call at Winning Ports
Several 2026 winners line up neatly. Princess, the Caribbean’s best cruise line, sails to Jamaica, the Caribbean’s best destination, where Ocho Rios won the regional terminal title. Lisbon, Europe’s best destination, is a common call on Mediterranean, Atlantic island and transatlantic itineraries, and Funchal on Madeira, the sustainability winner, often appears on the same voyages. Prince Edward Island and Saint John are regular stops on Canada and New England cruises in summer and autumn. Matching an award-winning line with award-winning ports is a simple way to build a shortlist of itineraries worth pricing.
Find a Cruise Through an Award-Winning Port
Tell us the port or destination; our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise find the itineraries that call there.
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