Celebrating the New Year’s Eve on a cruise ship is an unforgettable experience. The dazzling New Year's party and the spectacular fireworks observed from a cruise ship is a unique event. Here are our thoughts on the best ports of call to see the top pyrotechnics around the world from a cruise ship!

Funchal (Madeira)

The autonomous region of Portugal Madeira Island is a popular cruise destination known for the exceptional wine and the New Year’s Eve fireworks. Madeira’s New Year’s Eve fireworks entered the Guinness World Records in 2006 for the largest fireworks display, and since then each year the pyrotechnic display is even greater. At the end of the year, the weather in Funchal, Madeira is generally dry and warm making it a perfect port to visit on a cruise ship and giving you the perfect vantage point to view the world’s best fireworks display. The show displays a magnificent, synchronized spectacle of color and light of fireworks lasting around eight minutes.

This year nine cruise ships will dock or anchor at the amazing harbor and some 17 200 passengers and 6900 crew will have the from seats, watching the spectacle from the open decks. The following cruise ships are scheduled to arrive for the world’s most impressive fireworks: AIDAnova, Columbus, Marco Polo, Queen Victoria, Balmoral, Marella Dream, P&O Ventura, Pullmantur Zenith, and Mein Schiff 1.

Copacabana Beach

New Year’s Eve on Copacabana is a must on your bucket list. Each year, people from all over the world visit the most popular beach in the world to experience the amazing glory of the New Year's celebration. Rio de Janeiro is the official party and celebration center for the New Year's Eve with the famous fireworks display. The spectacle lasting 20 minutes is amazing, and there is no better view for watching the fireworks launched from 11 barges anchored offshore, than from a cruise ship.

This year five cruise liners will stay overnight in Rio for the New Year’s fireworks carrying around 15 640 guests and 5192 crew members. MSC Cruises the leading operator in the South American cruise market will have three cruise ships in Rio on December 31, including MSC Fantasia, MSC Orchestra and the largest cruise ship in sailing in South America MSC Seaview. Other cruise liners arriving for the spectacle include the Italian Costa Fascinosa, and the latest Azamara Club Cruises mid-size vessel Azamara Pursuit.

Sydney Harbour

Sydney New Year’s Eve fireworks are a worldwide-famous spectacle. At the stroke of midnight, the pyrotechnic display will illuminate Sydney Harbour sky from the Sydney Opera House, Harbour Bridge, and several barges. Each year organizers try to make a unique display, and the fireworks marking the beginning of 2019 are expected to surpass the previous spectacle with 8.5 tonnes of pyrotechnics (around 500 kilograms more than 2018). For the first time, Sydney sky will explode in a riot of lime and peach colors with pulsating fireworks in dramatic new shapes.

This year some 1530 passengers will have some of the best views from the Sydney Harbour NYE fireworks. Two mid-size cruise ships Azamara Quest and Fred. Olsen Black Watch will be docked during the spectacle.

Singapore (Marina Bay)

Marina Bay Singapore 2019 countdown is an extraordinary celebration featuring an hour-long show with fireworks, 3D laser lights, and fire performers. New Year’s Eve in Singapore attracts over 350,000 people each year and is a massive event centered around the Marina Bay area.

The front seat of this dazzling showcase of spectacular fireworks over the bay will have some 3470 passengers and 1710 crew members from the cruise ship AIDAbella and Costa Fortuna docked at Marina Bay.

Dubai

Dubai is a city of superlatives, and it's NYE fireworks are no exception. The city is known for hosting a grand display of pyrotechnics and laser shows each year attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors. Last year Dubai hosted the world's largest fireworks display, with 450,000 Grucci sparks. This year won’t be any different, with an extravagant display at the world tallest skyscraper Burj Khalifa and another bid for a Guinness World Record with a 12-minute firework display. The pyrotechnics, which will be at Al Marjan Island will light up the skies like no other place on earth. For the New Year’s Eve, the cruise ship Celebrity Constellation will be docked in Dubai with some 1950 passengers and 1000 crew members.