Portofino and Beyond: Santa Margherita, Rapallo & Genoa by Cruise

Portofino may be one of the most beautiful cruise ports in Italy, but do you really need an entire day to explore it? After visiting Portofino twice aboard Celebrity Constellation, once in 2024 and again in 2026, we discovered how much more you can experience beyond its famous harbor. During our first visit, we explored Portofino before taking the ferry to Santa Margherita Ligure. On our second visit, we traveled through Rapallo and continued to Genoa. In this video, we compare both cruise days, show what we enjoyed most, and explain which destinations we would recommend for first-time and repeat visitors. We also cover Portofino’s tender process, priority tender access, summer heat, ferry connections, and the risk of planning a long independent excursion from a tender port. If you are planning a Portofino cruise stop, this guide will help you decide whether to stay in town or explore more of the Italian Riviera. Which destination would you choose: Portofino, Santa Margherita, Rapallo, or Genoa?