Have you ever caught yourself looking through holiday snaps and saying, ‘my camera just hasn’t done it justice’? Pretty as pictures can be, there’s nothing quite like seeing those epic, once-in-a-lifetime sights with your own two eyes. These six wonders are even more picture-perfect in person.

These views are better in real life

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<h2><b><i>See it on a shore experience</i></b></h2>
<h3><i>Pisa by Trolley and Boat&nbsp;</i></h3>
<p>Take in Pisa’s beautiful sights from two unique vantage points: on a cruise along the River Arno, and on a trolley train tour through town.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">View cruises to Pisa (from Livorno or La Spezia) <a href="https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise?ports=LI1,LSP">here</a>.</h3>


San Francisco- The Golden Gate Bridge

<h2>3.&nbsp;San Francisco- The Golden Gate Bridge</h2>


<p>The Golden Gate Bridge is a symbol of the city, of California and indeed the United States as a whole – when it was completed in 1937, it was considered a reflection of the country’s power, progress and design prowess.<br>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Stretching over the Golden Gate Strait from <a href="https://www.pocruises.com/ports/san-francisco-united-states">San Francisco</a> to Marin County, the scenery it spans is as beautiful as the bridge itself – rolling hills, blue seas and sandy beaches, with a good chance of some atmospheric fog. However, you won’t be able to take your eyes off the mighty structure: 382 million kg of steel towers, cables and ropes painted in orange vermillion (aka ‘international orange’) with authentic Art Deco touches.</p>
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<p>When it opened to the public (early and under budget!), it was the longest and tallest suspension bridge in the world. It may have since lost those titles, but it’s easily still the most beautiful.</p>


<h2><i>See it on a shore experience</i></h2>
<h3><i>San Francisco City Highlights</i></h3>
<p>A tour that takes in Alamo Square, the serene lakes and lawns of Golden Gate Park, the hustle and bustle of Chinatown and a drive over the Golden Gate Bridge.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">View cruises to San Francisco&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise?ports=SFO">here</a>.</h3>


Rotterdam- Cube houses

<h2>4.&nbsp;Rotterdam- Cube houses</h2>


<p>In a city full of interesting architecture – the swan-like Erasmus Bridge, the epic curve of Markthal – <a href="https://www.pocruises.com/ports/rotterdam-tours-to-amsterdam-netherlands">Rotterdam</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">’s Cube houses still stand out as special. And stand out they do – painted bright yellow and tilted at a 45-degree angle, the village-like set of 40 homes in the historic Oude Haven is hard to miss.</span><br>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Architect Piet Blom designed them in the 1980s following a brief to inject some character into the drab, post-war surroundings. His response was to create a village-like community where each cube represents a tree and together form a forest.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Somewhat surprisingly, almost all the Cube houses are still used as private residences, but one (the Kijk-Kubus) is open to the public and offers the chance to explore inside. However, the best views can be had from amongst this urban ‘forest’, where you can play with angles and get a star-shaped view of the sky.</p>


<h2><i>See it on a shore experience</i></h2>
<h3><i>Leisurely Rotterdam<b>&nbsp;</b></i></h3>
<p>A scenic drive past creative and modern architectural sights such as the Kop van Zuid, the White House, Markthal and the Cube houses.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">View cruises to Rotterdam&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise?ports=RTM">here</a>.</h3>


St Lucia- The Pitons

<p><a href="https://www.pocruises.com/ports/castries-saint-lucia">St Lucia</a>’s Pitons – those verdant twin peaks that soar from sea to sky – are so symbolic of the island nation they feature on its flag, not to mention on countless postcards and travel posters. Aptly named Gros Piton (the larger one at 770m) and Petit Piton (only slightly smaller at 743m), the volcanic plugs were created when magma cooled and hardened within a vent of the (now very much dormant) volcanoes some 300,000 years ago.<br>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Arawaks, the first known inhabitants of St Lucia, worshipped the Pitons as gods, and today, they’ve rightfully received their reverence from UNESCO with World Heritage status.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>There are a number of different ways to see them, from the leisurely (cruising by in a catamaran) to the active (hiking up Gros Piton) to the dramatic (helicopter ride, anyone?).</p>


<h2><i>See it on a shore experience&nbsp;</i></h2>
<h3><i>St Lucia by Land and Sea</i></h3>
<p>Spend a day discovering the best of St Lucia by land and sea, including Soufrière, home to the Pitons.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">View cruises to St Lucia&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise?ports=SLU">here</a>.</h3>


Sydney- Harbour Bridge and Opera House

<h2>6.&nbsp;Sydney- Harbour Bridge and Opera House</h2>


<p>The world’s largest natural harbour is also the world’s most recognisable. With the arching steel of the Harbour Bridge here, the sail-like shells of the Opera House there, where else could you be but <a href="https://www.pocruises.com/ports/sydney-australia">Sydney</a>?<br>
</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>The Harbour Bridge – affectionately nicknamed ‘the coathanger’ due to its bowed shape and grey paint – links the central business district with the north shore. You can drive, walk or cycle over it, or for those without a fear of heights, climb it, as the likes of Kylie Minogue, Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey have done before you.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Just across the harbour is the Opera House, widely considered one of the most beautiful architectural achievements of all time. It was designed by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, who was inspired by both nature and history when he entered an international competition to design the building in 1956. There are numerous spots from which to view it (McMahon’s Point and Mrs Macquarie’s Chair are good ones), or, of course, you could gaze up at it from the foot of the Opera House itself.</p>


<h2><i>See it on a shore experience</i></h2>
<h3><i>Sydney Sights, Opera House and Bondi</i></h3>
<p>Take a guided tour of the famous Sydney Opera House and see sights such as The Rocks and Sydney Harbour Bridge.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h3 style="text-align: center;">View cruises to Sydney&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise?ports=SYD">here</a>.</h3>


<p>&nbsp;</p>
<h1 style="text-align: center;">Check out these views in real life by booking your cruise&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pocruises.com/find-a-cruise">here</a><span style="font-weight: normal;">.</span><br>
</h1>


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Have you ever caught yourself looking through holiday snaps and saying, ‘my camera just hasn’t done it justice’? Pretty as pictures can be, there’s nothing quite like seeing those epic, once-in-a-lifetime sights with your own two eyes. These six wonders are even more picture-perfect in person. 

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