Cruise ships cannot dock in Portofino, but some, like the Celebrity Constellation will drop anchor outside the small harbour and use tender boats to transport passengers from ship to shore. Other ships will dock at Genoa and use local ferries to bring people to this port. However you get here, it is a charming place to visit but be prepared for walking up hills. There are numerous cafes, a castle and churches to explore, nature trails and a sculpture garden. Of course, there is gelato and shopping!

For me, this trip has been a bit of a challenge as my knee has made walking up and down stairs very hard. Fortunately,  I did find a way up the hill that did not include stairs,  just a steep slope behind the main street that included souvenir shops, a champion gelato store and a family-run shop with embroidered linens and scarves.