I can't say I'm quite well-versed enough in the setting to make any educated decisions when it comes to our starting point, but I've always been a bit of a fan of getting right into the thick of things.  Beginning in a port smells suspiciously like the age old "Tavern Beginning" of other RPGs.  It's always interesting to see how players react to having all their characters plopped together nearly right out of the gate and into some mild conflict or planning stage.  Great way to force interaction and show how each character's personality is likely to mesh (or grate against!) one another in the days, weeks, and months ahead.