Cruises to Stanley

113 Reviews
Stanley (Photo:jo Crebbin/Shutterstock)

About Cruising to Stanley

Stanley, capital of the Falklands, is the only town in the archipelago of 778 islands and is home to almost 75 percent of the total population of 2,932 people. If you are looking to cruise to the Falklands, there's a good chance Stanley will be included on your itinerary. Its human population is greatly outnumbered by about one million penguins and half a million sheep.

The Falklands are a remote island group in the South Atlantic, about 300 miles east of South America's Patagonian coast. They cover about 4,700 square miles -- roughly the size of Connecticut or half the size of Wales. The landscape is harsh and windswept, boggy and treeless.

The islands are a British Overseas Territory but Argentina claims sovereignty and invaded the islands, which it refers to as Las Malvinas, in 1982. The resultant Falklands War lasted 74 days -- from April 2, with the invasion of South Georgia, until the Argentine surrender on June 14. Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth 2 and P&O's Canberra were among the merchant vessels drafted in as a troop carrier and hospital ship. In total, 255 British military personnel, 649 Argentines, and three Falkland Islanders were killed during the conflict. Argentina still maintains its claims to the islands and a garrison of about 1,300 U.K. military personnel and civil servants is stationed there. In a referendum held in March 2013, 99.8 percent of voters declared they wished to remain under British rule.

The island receives about 40 visits a year from medium and large-sized cruise ships and is on the itineraries of a number of smaller expedition vessels. The five-month season runs from early November to the end of March. Ships anchor some way off shore and tender passengers to a jetty in Port Stanley. High winds and rough seas can occasionally prevent landings. It comes as little surprise to learn that the harbour and surrounding waters contain more 19th century shipwrecks than anywhere else in the world -- 20 are visible from the town at low tide.

Cruise ship excursion teams are anxious to warn passengers not to stray from well-trodden paths because of unexploded mines left over from 1982, though here have been no recorded cases of any civilians being injured by mines.

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  • Why Cruise to Stanley?

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Marina
Marina

18 Night
South America Cruise

808 Reviews
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Sapphire Princess
Sapphire Princess (Photo: Princess Cruises)

17 Night
Antarctica Cruise

1,020 Reviews
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Sapphire Princess
Sapphire Princess (Photo: Princess Cruises)

14 Night
South America Cruise

1,020 Reviews
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Norwegian Star
Norwegian Star

14 Night
South America - Buenos Aires

2,583 Reviews
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22 Night
South America & Antarctica

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63 Night
World Cruise

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51 Night
South America Cruise

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22 Night
South America & Antarctica

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35 Night
Antarctica Cruise

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Cruise Critic Favorite

14 Night
South America Passage

1,087 Reviews
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32 Night
South America Cruise

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17 Night
South America & The Chilean Fjords

426 Reviews
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17 Night
South America & The Chilean Fjords

426 Reviews
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Cruise Critic Favorite

31 Night
Panama Canal Inca & South America Discovery

1,087 Reviews
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17 Night
South America & The Chilean Fjords

426 Reviews
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More about Stanley

Why Cruise to Stanley?

Pros:

See five species of penguins while checking a remote locale off your bucket list

Cons:

High winds and rough seas can easily cancel your port call; island still has unexploded land mines

Bottom Line:

Though Stanley doesn't offer a ton of activities, it's worth a visit for the bragging rights

Stanley Cruise Port Facilities?

The Visitor's Centre is directly across from the tender dock; inside are international telephones and internet stations, as well as maps and access to island tours. There are also several shops within a few steps of the dock, and a pub, the Globe Tavern, located less than a block away.

Good to Know?

The weather. Falkland islanders may boast their climate is milder than you might expect, but it can get windy, cold, and wet -- very quickly. Be prepared for four seasons in one day and don't get caught without waterproofs or you could soon be scurrying back to the ship. Look out for lamb -- in sandwiches or roast lunches. If you're eating ashore, then eat local rather than running up food miles with the frozen meals lined up in Stanley's busy West Store supermarket.

Getting Around?

On Foot: The town of Stanley is easily walkable. Free maps and guides are available from the visitor centre in a number of languages. There are several shops and cafes within yards, and a stroll along Ross Road takes visitors to the cathedral and further to the Standard Chartered Bank. On the promenade is displayed the mizzen mast from Isambard Kingdom Brunel's steamship Great Britain, which from 1845 to 1854 was the longest passenger ship in the world. The ship ended its working life when it was scuttled in the Falklands in 1937. It was rescued in 1970 and is now a tourist attraction in Bristol, England.

Taxis: are available from the visitor centre; a tour of Stanley and a short way out of town costs about ?20 ($30).

Currency & Best Way to Get Money?

The Falklands pound is on a par with U.K. sterling. Souvenir shops and cafes accept pounds and dollars. Credit cards are accepted by most establishments in Stanley, although rarely outside the town.

Language?

Resolutely English. There's one red telephone box on the jetty and more at the post office; motorists drive on the left.

Where You're Docked?

After a 15 to 20-minute tender ride, passengers disembark at the jetty, a few steps from the visitor centre in the middle of the waterfront.


Stanley Cruise Reviews
Bluff Cove shore excursion was excellent seeing the penguin colonies. Van drive was informative and comfortable. Hot drinks and baked delights in the Sea Cabbage Tea Room was special as well as the small museum andRead More
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TallBlindGuy
Ditch the whaling museum and any/all package tours, just slide a cab driver a Benjamin and tell him to take you out to Gypsy Cove and the other beaches area around the airport to see the Gentoo and King penguins. (SRead More
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Packetf1re
We were very privileged to visit Stanley, as weather often does not permit docking there. We were tendered to the town port and enjoyed exploring the community. One of us went off to a penguin preserve, which was alRead More
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wbeeman
It was the most interesting port. There was enough time to walk the town with an interesting museum, discover the history, and also travel to Bluff Lagoon to see a king penguin colony.Read More
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Leo T

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