There are many avid cruisers who will tell you that you should stay on your cruise ship while you’re in port. Doing so allows you to enjoy many of the ship’s features without waiting around in long lines or dealing with excess crowds (for example, many Carnival Cruise Line fans swear that port days are the best time to go to the often crowded and lauded eatery Guy’s Burger Joint).
However, while there are perks to staying on the cruise ship when in port, there are also downsides and reasons you shouldn’t. Here are the 10 reasons not to stay on a cruise ship when in port.
In This Article:
- 1. Getting Off the Cruise Ship Might Be Easier Than You Think
- 2. Cruise Ports Know How to Make Your Experience as Easy and Convenient as Possible
- 3. There’s More to Do Than Just Cruise Line Shore Excursions
- 4. You Might Have a Harder Time Visiting the Port at a Later Date Without the Cruise Line
- 5. You Might be There for a While
- 6. Some Cruise Ship Attractions and Amenities are Closed While in Port
- 7. The Crew Uses the Time to Get Some Extra Work Done
- 8. Crews Will Likely Be Conducting Safety Drills During Port Days
- 9. You Never Know How Your Cruise Itinerary Might Change
- 10. Having a Good Time in Port Doesn’t Have to Be Pricey
1. Getting Off the Cruise Ship Might Be Easier Than You Think
One thing that deters some cruisers from visiting port? The fact that it just seems difficult. With thousands of travelers all flocking to the same small area, it can seem like a hectic headache. The bigger the ship, the more people you’re dealing with — potentially 6,000-plus other travelers if you’re cruising on a behemoth like Icon of the Seas.
Why not just let those other cruisers fight amongst themselves while you kick back by the newly emptied pool?
Well, while this might be the impression you have, you might be pleasantly surprised to find that getting off the cruise ship is probably easier than you think.
Many cruise ships and their crews work like well-oiled machines. They have these processes down pat and they can expedite your disembarking process like magic. For example, large ships might use a card system to send passengers out to port in groups rather than all at once.
Want to make the process even faster? Pay for it, with add-ons like Carnival’s Faster to the Fun package, or book a suite. Suite guests and those with a high loyalty program tier receive preferential treatment when going to port.
2. Cruise Ports Know How to Make Your Experience as Easy and Convenient as Possible
The most popular cruise destinations want your business. Cruises are huge money-makers for these port cities.
For example, the U.S. Virgin Islands welcomes millions of cruise passengers per year and, according to a 2023 press release, the destination noted that cruising makes up a huge part of the islands’ tourism economy, which accounts for 60% of the Territory’s overall GDP.
As such, many port cities are doing their best to make your experience as easy and convenient as possible. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that getting off at port is going to be a stressful time of trying to find things to do and desired amenities in just a few short hours, all before you have to rush back to the ship again.
Many port cities have built up the areas right around where cruise ship passengers arrive, with restaurants, shopping and more. Most businesses take a range of currencies, including international credit cards, and many people in heavy tourist areas know the primary languages of those often traveling on the cruise ships.
So, if you’re sailing from the United States to Caribbean ports, have no fear. Most people you’ll encounter in the ports will speak English. In short, don’t let a fear of a stressful, inconvenient time in port keep you from exploring.
The only caveat is if you’re traveling to a port city that’s more industrial in nature and far from tourist sites. While it might seem odd that a cruise ship might dock somewhere like this, in some cases, the port is as close as you can get to a major destination nearby — and some cruise ship passengers are more than willing to take a long car ride or excursion just to see a major city or site.
3. There’s More to Do Than Just Cruise Line Shore Excursions
From the moment you book your cruise to the moment you step foot on the cruise ship and beyond, you’ll be bombarded with pushes to book a cruise line shore excursion.
While there’s nothing terrible about these excursions, it’s important to realize that you’re not limited to them. You can often find more personalized experiences, with smaller groups and a greater range of activities, as well as better prices, when you book your own excursions via a third-party.
For example, if you’re traveling on a Carnival cruise to Bermuda, you’ll have 24 shore excursion options and most are your basic tours, with activities including snorkeling, sailing and fishing. Most start at just under $100 per person, but others can go over $200 per person.
In contrast, if you just look at a popular tour booking site like Viator, you have more than three dozen tour options in Bermuda to choose from, with options you can’t get via Carnival Cruise Line, like food tours, cliff jumping experiences and even private tours. The pricing is very comparable.
You don’t even need to book a shore experience or tour, though. There’s so much more to do in port. You can simply walk around and explore (just make sure to keep an eye on where you’re at, so you can make it back to the ship on time), or go shopping, dining and drinking or sightseeing. You can even just go to the local beach and enjoy a beach day!
How you spend the time in port is totally up to you, so don’t feel like pricey, stereotypical shore excursions are your only options.
4. You Might Have a Harder Time Visiting the Port at a Later Date Without the Cruise Line
If you have any interest in visiting the port at all, and you’re thinking that maybe you’ll just wait and visit at another time, on your own, sans cruise — think again. There are some destinations that are far easier to visit when on a cruise than on your own. It’s all because of the visa process.
As anyone who’s ever tried to get a visa will tell you, it’s not an enjoyable process and it’s often time-consuming and frustrating. Still, it’s necessary to visit many countries.
Read Also: Unique Cruise Destinations You Don’t Want to Miss Out On
However, in some instances, countries will waive visa requirements for cruise passengers or, in others, the cruise line will handle the visa process for you.
This is the case in China (as of May 2024), which allows cruising travelers in groups of two or more to enter the country without a visa, at costal cruise ports. Similarly, many cruise lines handle the visa process on your behalf when stopping in countries like Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Myanmar and Tanzania.
5. You Might be There for a While
While the standard cruise will stop in port for about half a day or up to a full day, arriving in the morning and leaving in the afternoon or early evening, some cruises linger in a certain port.
If you’re cruising on one of these itineraries, you may find that you’re in one place for so long that it negates all the typical reasons why some cruisers stay on the ship.
As passengers have more time to visit port, they might stick around on the ship for longer. This means you’re still dealing with your fellow cruisers, and because the flow of passenger traffic to port is a little slower, you may find visiting port a little more seamless.
As a few examples, on past itineraries, Celebrity Cruises has overnighted in European destinations like Reykjavik and Copenhagen. Regent Seven Seas has similarly overnighted in Stockholm and Berlin, for multiple nights. Bermuda is a popular overnight port of call for Norwegian Cruise Line ships.
Silversea Cruises likewise overnights in destinations in China. Some cruises may not overnight, but might decide to stay in port until late-night, to give passengers the opportunity to experience the destination’s nightlife.
6. Some Cruise Ship Attractions and Amenities are Closed While in Port
While you’re in port, you’ll definitely find that some cruise ship attractions are open and more enjoyable due to the lesser crowds. However, other cruise ship attractions and amenities close down while in port.
Crew members are needed elsewhere, and due to the fewer number of people on board the ship, it just doesn’t make sense to keep everything open.
Often, a cruise ship will close down its shops, like its duty-free shops, while in port. The casino might be closed as well (especially if you’re in a port with laws around gambling). Some restaurants are also closed, so if you had your eye on going to a specialty restaurant while crowds are low, you might be out of luck.
Worth Reading: Reasons Cruise Passengers Remain on the Ship While in Port
For example, past cruisers on Reddit have noted that, on Norwegian Cruise Line ships, you can expect The Local, O’Sheehan’s, one of the main dining rooms and the buffet to be open during port days, with slightly reduced hours.
Keeping that in consideration, if you’re imagining your port day on the ship as basically your own private enjoyment of everything the ship offers, scale back your expectations.
While you can still zip down waterslides without waiting in line, or get a spa treatment at a discount, you probably won’t find yourself fine dining or gambling to your heart’s content.
7. The Crew Uses the Time to Get Some Extra Work Done
While the majority of cruisers are away, enjoying themselves elsewhere, the crew uses that time to get some much-needed work done. The hallways will be filled with stateroom stewards who are busy cleaning cabins and suites. Elsewhere, any needed ship maintenance might be taking place.
As such, you may find that you get annoyed with all the work happening around you, and the crew members might get a little annoyed at you as well, if you’re in the way. This is all necessary behind-the-scenes work to keep the cruise ship operating as it should, and to make your experience more enjoyable, but it’s not very fun.
If you’d rather not be around when all this work is happening, make tracks for port.
8. Crews Will Likely Be Conducting Safety Drills During Port Days
In addition to completing any necessary work around the ship during port days, crew members also often conduct safety drills, such as abandon ship drills. These can be very disruptive for cruisers, so port days are the perfect time to do them (and it’s very important for your safety that crews do complete them).
However, if you stick around on the ship while everyone else goes to port, you might just find yourself stuck in the middle of all the action. During these drills, loud announcements are made over the ship’s PA system (potentially disrupting your planned relaxation).
Additionally, crew members might be running around in life jackets and crowding certain areas of the ship. It can be difficult to get around and overall unpleasant.
9. You Never Know How Your Cruise Itinerary Might Change
If you know that you want to spend a few days exploring your cruise itinerary’s various ports, but you also want to enjoy a few days on the ship, plan wisely. You never know how your cruise itinerary might change.
Cruise ships skip ports all the time due to weather, mechanical needs, emergencies and more. In some instances, the cruise line will replace the skipped port with another, nearby port. In other instances, they’ll just skip the port altogether and spend extra time at sea.
As such, if it’s still earlier in your cruise, opt for going to port when you can. You don’t want to spend those first few stops on the ship, and then realize you didn’t get to spend as much time in ports as you would’ve liked, because your itinerary changes later on in the cruise.
10. Having a Good Time in Port Doesn’t Have to Be Pricey
Yes, staying on the ship during a port day can save you a little money, if you’re the type to blow your travel budget on kitschy souvenirs and high-priced tours. That said, you don’t have to spend a ton of money in port.
You can have a perfectly nice time in port by enjoying free or budget-friendly activities. Again, there’s no need to stick with the typical tourist activities that you think of, when you think cruise excursions and cruise ports.
Skip the higher-priced, tourist-geared restaurants near the port and find a local restaurant a little further off to dine at. Better yet, find a local market or grocery store and stock up on local products for a picnic of your own creation.
Read Also: What Are Port Fees on a Cruise?
For free fun, head to the local beach or simply stroll around and sightsee the landmarks. The further you get from the port, the better prices you’re likely to find, but just be sure that you do your research first.
Stick to areas that are safest for tourists and don’t wander too far from the ship unless you’re absolutely sure you can make it back in time for departure.
