Our surroundings have a big influence on our stress levels and overall mental well-being, and never more than during the challenging times we live in. So Icelandair recently commissioned a study to discover how various cities around the globe fare when it comes to the highest levels of tranquility.

Fortunately, many of them are cruise ports! And we could all use a break around now, right?

Some of the winners were surprises ... at least to me. 

First place went to Bergen, Norway, which ranked so high because of low levels of traffic congestion (13%), minor amounts of light and noise pollution, and a long average life expectancy of 83 years, Travel + Leisure reported.

Reykjavik, Iceland, came in third (after Perth in Western Australia). It ranked in part because of its awe-inspiring natural surroundings. While it’s a frigid climate, the area is filled with geothermal hot springs thanks to the area’s volcanic activity.

Here, then, are the 12 most tranquil places to cruise:

1. Bergen, Norway
2. Reykjavik, Iceland
3. Helsinki, Finland
4. Brisbane, Australia
5. Melbourne, Australia
6. Stockholm, Sweden
7. Auckland, New Zealand
8. Oslo, Norway
9. Sydney, Australia
10. Copenhagen, Denmark
11. Toronto, Canada
12. San Jose, Costa Rica

For a peek at the complete list see here.