Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s captains name their 12 favourite views around the world

By Deborah Stone From Daily Express UK

CRUISE ship captains are among the most travelled people on Earth, and now those behind the wheel of Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s ships have identified their favourite views in the world.

Royal Caribbean’s 23 ships sail to 260 destinations, but the captains have managed to whittle down their favourite panoramas to just 12 must-see views, ranging from Alaska’s Hubbard Glacier to the English Channel.

The Hubbard Glacier: Alaska’s glaciers were a favourite of several captains, who commented on the magnitude and scale of the view from Yakutat to Disenchantment Bay. Voyager of the Seas’ Captain Sindre Borsheim loves the view because: “it is different every time, as the colours vary with the light”, while Captain Juan Caranti, from Radiance of the Seas, adds: “When a piece of ice falls into the ocean it makes an extraordinary roar, like a thunderstorm.”

Sydney Harbour: Regarded as one of the most beautiful natural harbours in the world with more than 240 km of shoreline and meandering waterways, Sydney Harbour is home to two of the world’s most instantly recognisable sights: Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Captain Rick Sullivan, from Explorer of the Seas, called Sydney Harbour “the most iconic harbour in the world”.

Venice Harbour: Chosen by several of the Captains surveyed, Venice’s stunning architecture was considered to be at its best when the sun is rising over it first thing in the morning.

Geiranger fjord: Located in the southwestern part of Norway’s M=F8re og Romsdal county, Geiranger fjord’s deep blue water is edged by snow-covered mountain peaks while lower down the slopes there are wild waterfalls and lush vegetation. Captain Espen Been, from Grandeur of the Seas, says: “Where the mountains meet the sea and the snow from the surrounding tops is mirrored, it seems like everything is blooming.”

Stockholm archipelago: Ships have to carefully navigate past thousands of rocks and tiny islands to arrive or depart from Sweden’s capital, a sight like “nothing else”, with Grandeur of the Seas’ Captain Espen Been adding that “homes look like doll’s houses as you sail past”.

With nearly 30,000 islands, islets and rocks from Arholma in the north to Landsort in the south, there are wooded islands, rocky cliffs and sandy beaches in the second largest archipelago in the Baltic Sea.

Vesuvius: The Mediterranean was regularly cited by the Captains as housing some of the best views in the world but several identified the sight of Italy’s famous volcano towering over Naples at sunrise as an extraordinary image to capture from the sea.

La Spezia: Lord Byron was so enamoured with Lerici, on Italy’s north west coast, that the bay became known as the Bay of Poets. The Captains agree it is easy to see why it earned such devotion, and say the view of the Golfo di Poeti as ships sail out of nearby Cinque Terre port La Spezia is “enchanting”.

VilleFranche: The view of Nice as ships sail into the neighbouring south of France port Villefranche deserves a place in the top 20, says the captains, thanks to its mountainous backdrop. Captain Tomas Busto, from Adventure of the Seas, says he loves it because: “When the ships arrive in the Mediterranean in April, the mountains are still snow-capped but the beaches are welcoming sunbathers.”

Kotor: Captain Lis Lauritzen, from Vision of the Seas, says Kotor in Montenegro deserves a place in the list of favourite views as it is “completely different in terms of view and environment”.

The historic port, in the Gulf of Kotor, is on one of the most indented coastlines of the Adriatic Sea, and the unspoilt town is known for its Venetian style architecture.

Island of Moorea: The “beautiful green, jagged, volcanic mountains” of the Island of Moorea were singled out by some of the captains. The French Polynesian island paradise is known for its sandy beaches set against dramatic mountain ranges, with rainforest trails and scuba diving available for adventurous travellers.

Vancouver: Captain Rick Sullivan, from Explorer of the Seas, explains that Vancouver makes the list due to the perspective of sailing under the First Narrows Bridge into Vancouver Harbour, and looking at the city against the backdrop of mountains.

The English Channel: Captain Henrik Loft Soerensen, from Brilliance of the Seas, says his favourite view is of the “beautiful and peaceful” English Channel.

IMAGES:
Several captains commented on the magnitude and scale of the Hubbard Glacier
The English channel was described as “beautiful and peaceful” by Captain Henrik Loft Soerensen
The view of Nice shows ships sail into the south of franceSP

For more on this story go to: http://www.express.co.uk/travel/cruise/606812/Royal-Caribbean-Cruise-Line-s-captains-name-their-12-favourite-views-around-the-world