Tropical Storm Francine is gaining momentum in the Gulf of Mexico and could potentially impact cruise operations out of the Port of Galveston and the Port of New Orleans this week.
The storm, forecasted to become a hurricane by Wednesday, September 11, 2024, is expected to bring dangerous storm surges and hurricane-force winds to the Upper Texas and Louisiana coastlines, posing a significant threat to cruise lines operating in the area.
In anticipation of the storm, the Port of Galveston has begun implementing precautionary measures and coordinating with cruise lines to manage potential disruptions.
“Port of Galveston tenants and vessel operators in the area are encouraged to make storm preparations and closely monitor the expected development of Tropical Storm Francine in the Gulf of Mexico today,”said the port in its September 9 update.
Meanwhile, the U.S. Coast Guard has issued advisories to cruise ship operators. Port officials warn that operations could be suspended in conditions worsen.
Although there are no disruptions to cruise traffic in Galveston Harbor as of now, officials are not accepting any new berth applications. If Francine follows its projected path, Galveston could experience tropical storm force winds of over 40 miles per hour by September 10, with tidal surges reaching four feet above normal levels.
The Port of New Orleans, while also monitoring the storm closely, has not yet reported disruptions and continues to operate normally.
Passengers planning to depart from either port in the coming days are being urged to stay updated on the storm’s progress, as last-minute changes to cruise schedules may be announced depending on the storm’s developments.
Cruise Ships to Keep an Eye on
Currently, Carnival Cruise Line’s 130,000-gross-ton Carnival Breeze, 128,250-gross-ton Carnival Dream, and 183,521-gross-ton Carnival Jubilee are homeporting in Galveston. Carnival Dream is currently in Key West, Florida, heading next to the Bahamas before returning to Texas on September 15.
Meanwhile, Carnival Jubilee, which debuted in December 2023 and can hold 5,374 guests, is at sea on a 7-night Western Caribbean journey. It is expected to call in Roatan, Honduras, on September 10, and will be behind the storm as it travels to Costa Maya and Cozumel, Mexico, before returning to Galveston on September 14.
Carnival Breeze, which can accommodate 3,690 passengers, is set to depart today, September 9, heading to Costa Maya, Roatan, and Cozumel during a 6-night Western Caribbean cruise. At this time, the cruise line has not altered its itinerary.
Tropical Storm Francine
Royal Caribbean International’s 138,863-gross-ton Mariner of the Seas and 226,963-gross-ton Harmony of the Seas are also based in Galveston. Both are currently on western Caribbean voyages in Mexico and not expected back in Galveston until September 12 and 14, respectively. Itineraries for these voyages are also not altered at this time.
In New Orleans, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Valor and Carnival Liberty, which both weigh 110,000 gross tons, sail from the port. Carnival Valor is currently in Cozumel on a 5-night western Caribbean itinerary that will continue to Progresso, Mexico. It is expected to return to port on September 12.
At sea today, Carnival Liberty will arrive in Roatan on September 11 during its 11-night western Caribbean cruise. It will continue to Belize City, Belize, and Cozumel, before returning to NOLA on September 15.
With what is expected to be Tropical Storm Francine today, heading toward the Texas & Louisiana coasts, tropical storm & hurricane watches will be issued in those areas. Elsewhere, tropical threats remain very low. pic.twitter.com/2fNpt9M8t9
Currently building off the coast of Mexico, Francine is expected to make landfall between East Texas and western Louisiana by Wednesday night, September 11, bringing life-threatening storm surges and hurricane-force winds to coastal communities.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasts that southern Louisiana could experience hurricane-force winds as early as Wednesday, and a Storm Surge Watch is currently in effect for portions of Upper Texas and Louisiana coastlines.
Greece is taking decisive steps to manage the overwhelming influx of tourists by introducing a €20 (approximately $22) fee for cruise ship passengers arriving in Santorini and Mykonos.
The announcement comes as the Greek government seeks to address the strain on local infrastructure and environmental resources caused by a surge in visitor numbers.
Greece’s Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis announced the measure in response to concerns about overtourism and its impact on local communities and the environment. The fee, expected to be implemented by 2025, will be reinvested into the island communities to improve infrastructure and sustainability efforts.
“We have been very concerned [about] the image that exists on some of our islands regarding cruising during certain months of the year,” Mitsotakis said during his State of the Economy address in Thessaloniki on September 7, 2024.
“That is why a cruise fee is imposed per passenger disembarking at a Greek port, high in Santorini and Mykonos, lower in the rest, with escalation per period,” he said.
In addition to the new cruise fee, the government plans to limit the number of cruise ships allowed to dock at the most popular islands, particularly during peak seasons.
Santorini, for example, will cap the number of cruise passengers allowed to visit at 8,000 per day starting in 2025.
Other island destinations like Rhodes, Corfu, and Crete’s port of Heraklion will be included in the fee structure and passengers visiting multiple ports can expect to pay a fee per call.
Additionally, a digital berth allocation system will be reintroduced to manage the arrival of cruise ships. The system will spread out ship arrivals throughout the day, avoiding overcrowding at popular times.
The allocation will consider criteria such as ship size, whether the ship operates as a “green” (environmentally friendly) ship, and the length of stay on the island. Ships staying longer will be prioritized to prevent passengers from rushing between tourist spots.
Greece to Introduce New Cruise Tourism Regulations
The islands of Santorini and Mykonos, in particular, have seen an overwhelming number of tourists arriving by cruise ship in recent years. In 2023, 800 ships brought 1.3 million visitors to Santorini alone.
Santorini remains the most popular cruise destination in Greece, with upwards of 17,000 cruise ship visitors arriving on the island of 15,500 residents in a single day during peak summer months.
(Photo Credit: Kirk Fisher)
The cruise industry in Greece is expected to see an increase in arrivals by 20 percent in 2024, bringing more than 8 million passengers to the nation that rests on the Ionian, Mediterranean, and Aegean Seas.
Santorini Mayor Nikos Zorzos supports the efforts to cap cruise visitors at 8,000 per day, although he recognizes cruise ships have planned itineraries years in advance and that the cap will require changes with cruise lines.
The mayor also suggested introducing a day-tripper fee similar to one trialed in Venice earlier this year.
The Venice Access Fee, implemented from April 24 through July 14, 2024, charged day visitors €5 to access the island of 50,000. The trial brought the city more than €2.4 million in less than 3 months, resulting in the Italian city’s proposal to double the fee in 2025.
As is the case in Venice, earnings from a day-tripper fee would directly benefit local authorities.
In addition to the new fee and cruise limitations, Greece is raising the lodging tax during peak tourist months, from April to October. While specific details about the exact rate have not been disclosed yet, it will apply to hotels, rental accommodations, and short-term rentals.
The prime minister said details about the upcoming fees and limitations will be revealed in the coming months.
The wait is over. Royal Caribbean International is gearing up to bring back one of its most cherished destinations, Labadee, Haiti.
Labadee, a private destination operated by the cruise line, has been absent from itineraries since March 2024 due to escalating instability in Haiti.
However, recent developments, including the return of airlines to local airports and an increase in peace-keeping efforts, have made the cruise line optimistic about restoring cruises to the Caribbean nation.
In a message to a guest, Royal Caribbean said,“Labadee is one of our fan-favorite private destinations and we are ready and excited to return to Labadee in October 2024!”
The message continued, “It’s time – and we know you’re just as hopeful as we are for a successful return to Labadee.”
The temporary suspension of Labadee began in early 2024, when Royal Caribbean, as well as Celebrity Cruises, opted to cancel all visits due to increasing unrest in Haiti. Initially, the cancellations were planned to last only a few months, but as the situation in the country failed to improve, the cruise line extended the halt multiple times.
However, a passenger scheduled to cruise with the cruise line in December 2024 noticed the itinerary included Labadee, asking on social media if the itinerary would be adjusted.
That’s when Royal Caribbean confirmed it would be returning, continuing, “Airports are open and all airlines have already returned. With the positive presence of peace-keeping officers, and relief efforts for Haitian residents, we expect the full return of tourism soon.”
Labadee Reopens in October 2024
Haiti has been grappling with severe instability in recent years, driven by the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse in July 2021, which plunged the country into deep political chaos.
In March 2024, 4,000 inmates escaped from two prisons in the nation, leading Royal Caribbean Group, which owns Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, Silversea Cruises, and TUI Cruises, to suspend visits to the private destination due to safety concerns.
Now, Royal Caribbean will resume visits to Haiti with the arrival of 3,807-passenger Adventure of the Seas on October 8, 2024.
Sailing on a 6-night Eastern Caribbean voyage from Port Canaveral, the 137,276-gross-ton ship will call in Haiti following a visit to Puerto Plata/Amber Cove, Dominican Republic and before a visit to the cruise line’s other private destination, Perfect Day on Coco Cay in the Bahamas.
Labadee, Haiti (Photo Credit: fitzcrittle)
Following Adventure of the Seas is the 3,634-passenger Freedom of the Seas, arriving in Labadee on October 9 on a 7-night roundtrip Western Caribbean journey from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Independence of the Seas, carrying up to 4,375 passengers, will call in Labadee on October 12 on a short, 4-night roundtrip voyage from Miami, specifically visiting only the private resort, located 90 miles from the capital of Port-au-Prince.
All three ships will keep Labadee on their winter Caribbean schedule, as will the 2,446-passenger Grandeur of the Seas, which arrives on November 3 during a 9-night Southern Caribbean cruise from Fort Lauderdale.
Royal Caribbean is the first major cruise line to return to the nation. Celebrity Cruises isn’t scheduled to return to Haiti until February 2025 when the 2,158-passenger Celebrity Summit, departing from Port Everglades, arrives on Valentine’s Day during a charted Smooth Jazz Cruise.
Guests aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Radiance of the Seas had to cut their time in Juneau a bit shore, thanks to a technical issue that has delayed the ship’s arrival.
The cruise line informed passengers that, due to the issue, the ship would be late to dock in Juneau, arriving at 5:30 p.m. on September 8, several hours later than originally planned.
In a letter to guests, Royal Caribbean explained the situation,“As previously announced by our Captain, Radiance of the Seas was experiencing a technical issue, which has delayed our arrival into Juneau.”
The cruise, which departed aboard the 2,143-passenger ship in Vancouver, British Columbia, on September 6, was originally slated to call in Juneau at 2 p.m. The ship was meant to provide 8 hours in Alaska’s capital city before departing at 10 p.m.
However, Radiance of the Seas, which experienced a technical issue impacting one of its propulsion systems during a May 2024 Alaskan cruise, experienced another unexplained technical issue on its current voyage, delaying the port arrival.
Although a propulsion issue was not specified, ships experiencing problems with propulsion systems may not have enough power to turn propellers at full speed, meaning reducing speed and delaying arrivals into port.
Additionally, propulsion issues may limit steering capability, forcing ships to reduce speed to safely maintain course and avoid sharp maneuvers. If a problem is detected in a propulsion system, the ship’s crew may deliberately limit the speed to prevent further damage and ensure safe operation.
With safety cited as a top priority for its passengers, Royal Caribbean’s delay into Juneau did not extend into the rest of the 7-night voyage. It continued, without any delays, to Icy Straight Point today, September 9, arriving at 8 a.m.
The 90,090-gross-ton ship’s itinerary also includes stops at Sitka and Skagway, with scenic cruising at Hubbard Glacier before the voyage wraps up in Seward, Alaska, on September 13.
Compensation and Ongoing Repairs
Despite the setback, the ship’s 10 p.m. departure time gave passengers some evening time to enjoy the city. The extra time, however, didn’t help guests who were scheduled to enjoy outdoor excursions not available in the evening hours, leading to disappointment.
To compensate for the disruption, Royal Caribbean offered onboard credits per stateroom, depending on cabin type. Interior and Ocean View staterooms received $125, Balcony staterooms received $175, and Suite guests got $250. Additionally, an extra $25 will be credited for a third or more guests in the stateroom.
Shore excursions that could no longer be completed were automatically refunded as onboard credits to guests’ SeaPass accounts. Any unused credits will be refunded to the card on file at the end of the cruise.
Radiance of the Seas (Photo Credit: Songquan Deng / Shutterstock)
Any excursions booked outside of Royal Caribbean were at the discretion of passengers, who had to cancel and receive refunds independently.
The problems plaguing Radiance of the Seas first began during a repositioning cruise from Los Angeles to Vancouver in April 2024. Cancelling two calls in an effort to arrive early in Vancouver to fix propulsion issues, passengers scheduled to sail on its first Alaskan cruise of the 2024 season received word their cruise was cancelled.
This current voyage is the last one-way trip to Seward of the season in Alaska. Radiance of the Seas is scheduled to depart Seward on September 13 for a last one-way voyage to Vancouver.
If issues do not persist, the ship will complete one last roundtrip journey in Alaska, concluding on September 27, and repositioning back to Los Angeles on October 5, 2024.
Frequent cruisers know that the excellent service crew members provide can make an oceangoing vacation truly memorable.
While automatic gratuities are in place to ensure all crew members get recognized for their hard work, guests often want to give a little extra to those crew members they interact with the most or who go above and beyond.
But how do you offer those extra tips? Because the majority of cruisers link a credit card to their onboard account, it can be easy to increase the gratuity amount that is charged to that card. Doing so, however, will not recognize an individual crew member.
An interested guest with Carnival Cruise Line recently reached out to the cruise line’s Brand Ambassador, John Heald, with the question about offering extra gratuities.
“I have a quick question about tipping our room steward,”the guest explained.“We like to tip extra at the end of our cruise for the excellent service we always receive. Can we add a gratuity specifically for our room steward on our [Sail & Sign] card at guest services? Or should we bring cash?”
Heald routinely responds to hundreds of comments, questions, and requests through his popular Facebook page each week, and was easily able to clarify this question.
“How lovely of you. It would need to be cash,”he explained.“You can leave extra on your card, but it’s not possible to do that specifically for one crew member.”
If extra service gratuities were added to a passenger’s onboard Sail & Sign account, that extra amount would be split amongst all the tip-receiving crew members who served that guest. This includes not only the cabin attendant, but also the dining and culinary team and other behind-the-scenes personnel.
Therefore, to offer an extra bonus to an individual crew member, guests would need to present cash to that crew member. This could be done in person with a heartfelt thank you, or in an envelope, card, or even a small gift.
The Guest Services desk onboard does have tipping envelopes available. These may be set out on the desk in the last day or two of the cruise for passengers to take as needed, or guests can simply ask for one at the desk and it will be provided.
About Carnival Cruise Line Gratuities
Carnival Cruise Line’s gratuities are currently $16 per person, per day for standard staterooms, and $18 per person, per day for guests staying in suites. Gratuities apply for all passengers age 2 and older.
Furthermore, the same gratuity rate applies whether guests indulge in specialty dining options, visit the Main Dining Room (or Main Restaurant) every day, or simply prefer casual dining such as the buffet, Guy’s Burger Joint, or the pizzeria throughout their cruise.
Carnival Cruise Line Crew Members (Photo Credit: Melissa Mayntz)
Travelers should note that cruise line gratuities are subject to change. While Carnival Cruise Line has not increased gratuities since April 2023, Princess Cruises increased their gratuities in late August 2024. Both lines are owned by Carnival Corporation & plc.
Extra service charges are assessed for some specialty dining options, such as the Chef’s Table experience or Emeril’s Bistro, as well as the 18% service charge for all beverage purchases.
When a crew member goes above and beyond, however, many travelers wish to reward that extra service with an extra tip. This may be a dollar or two to a bartender who customizes a favorite drink, a dining room server who ensures that warm chocolate melting cake is just right, or a stateroom attendant who crafts the perfect towel animal scene.
Extra gratuities can be extended at any time during the cruise, whether offered in advance, after individual tasks, or as an end-of-cruise thank you.
Some guests onboard Norwegian Joy’s upcoming sailing that embarks on November 30, 2024, may be feeling a little less joyful after some itinerary changes.
The 15-night cruise, which embarks from Miami, Florida, and sails one-way to Los Angeles, California, was supposed to call on Acapulco and Mazatlan in the Mexican Riviera on December 9, 2024, and December 12, 2024, respectively.
However, NCL has announced that both of these ports of call will need to be skipped – although it’s not clear as to why.
Additionally, the sailing will depart from Miami a half hour early – at 5 p.m. instead of 5:30 p.m. – and will arrive in Los Angeles to disembark an hour late on December 15, 2024.
“We recognize the importance that destinations play in our guests’ vacation decision-making process and assure you that these modifications were made with an optimal guest experience top-of-mind,”Norwegian wrote in an email to impacted guests.
While the reason behind the change remains unclear, it’s not uncommon for the mainstream cruise lines to adjust itineraries due to factors like port congestion, maintenance requirements, scheduling conflicts, inclement weather, or other safety concerns.
Considering the 3,804-guest vessel is scheduled to call on Mazatlan again as soon as December 18, 2024, and to Acapulco on January 10, 2024, this change likely was not made due to safety reasons – and the cruise line has not announced any changes to Norwegian Joy’s subsequent Mexican Riviera itineraries.
There are no travel advisories currently in place for Mazatlan, although the US currently has an advisory in place that forbids government employees from traveling to any area in the state of Guerrero, which includes Acapulco, Zihuatanejo, Taxco, and Ixtapa, due to crime rates.
Norwegian Joy’s Revised Itinerary
While some may be disappointed that they won’t get to visit Mazatlan and Acapulco, the original ports of call have been replaced with other exciting destinations.
“While we will no longer visit Acapulco and Mazaltan, Mexico, we are pleased to share that we have added a visit to Puntarenas (Puerto Caldera), Costa Rica. In addition, we have extended our visits to Panama City (Pacific Cruise Terminal), Panama, and Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala,”the cruise line wrote in the email.
The first three ports of call on the itinerary – to Cartagena, Colombia; Transit Panama Canal, and Panama City, will all take place as planned – and now come with an extended overnight stay at Panama City, lasting from 8 p.m. on December 4, 2024, until 8:00 p.m. the next evening.
Originally, the 167,725-gross ton vessel was only supposed to remain in Panama City until 3:00 p.m. on December 5 – so the revision gives guests five extra hours to explore the port, which is known for world class beaches, unbeatable fishing, and waterfront dining.
Norwegian Joy Docked in California (Photo Credit: Debbie Ann Powell)
The new port of call on Puntarenas, Costa Rica, is up next and is scheduled for December 7, 2024, when the Breakaway Plus-class cruise ship was supposed to call on Puerto Quetzal, Guatemala.
Guests will still make it to Guatemala, but it will be two days later on December 9 and will feature extended time in port. This is when the original itinerary would have placed the ship in Acapulco.
The 7-year-old ship will then call on Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, on December 12, 2024, instead of the planned call on Mazatlan.
There were no changes to the final stop of the voyage – which will be on Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – nor to disembarkation in Los Angeles, California, on December 15 (other than arriving in port an hour later than initially expected).
Once she arrives in Los Angeles, Norwegian Joy will temporarily homeport in the San Pedro-based port until January to offer a series of week-long Mexican Riviera cruises. She will return to Miami on January 21, 2025.
Cruisers asked, and Carnival answered. As Brand Ambassador John Heald can attest, there have been lots of requests for a multi-device Wi-Fi plan – which can be of particular value to professionals working from sea or families sailing together.
On September 8, 2024, Heald took to his public Facebook page to announce that the premium multi-device plan was officially available to book in advance of future sailings.
“Last week I had quite a few people asking me about the multi device program for the Internet, which allows you to use multiple devices when you purchase the premium Internet. We had successfully tested this on a few ships, but now it is available across the fleet and can be pre-purchased only and not from on board,”wrote Heald.
While Carnival’s previous internet plans had a set price per person per day depending on the quality of the Wi-Fi they selected, they only allowed guests to use one device.
The new Multi-Device Premium Wi-Fi Plan allows for the use of up to four devices per package and can be shared with other guests in the same family or travel party.
Per the Carnival website, this package offers internet speeds up to three times faster than their current “Value Plan,” supports music streaming, video streaming, and allows for video calls on popular platforms like Skype, Zoom, and Teams.
This Premium option comes after Carnival completed its rollout of Starlink connectivity earlier this year in May of 2024 – and it’s likely that access to faster and better internet is allowing the cruise line to further enhance the Wi-Fi experience onboard.
The service uses satellites in space operated by SpaceX to provide high-speed Wi-Fi during cruises, revolutionizing the speed and quality of internet at sea – which has been notoriously slow in the past.
New Wi-Fi Plan Already Getting Some Complaints
While there are certainly cruisers who can benefit from the multi-device capabilities, many of Heald’s followers couldn’t quite wrap their heads around the price. The Premium Plan starts at $75 per day, which can certainly add up for longer sailings.
“I guess if you have a family or work while on vacation this is ok. But it’s very expensive,” one person wrote on Heald’s Facebook page.
“Wow, for those prices, I could pay for my home internet for more than two months!”another person said in the comments.
The shock is somewhat understandable, as the pricing is a big jump up from the three other plans offered by the cruise line.
The Social Wi-Fi Plan costs $15.30 per day if booked before embarkation, and provides just enough internet to be able to use most social media and major airline sites. It excludes access to most other websites, email, and streaming services.
Carnival Cruise Line on Phone (Photo Credit: rafapress)
Next on the totem pole is the Value Wi-Fi Plan. This option starts at $19.55 per day, but goes beyond social media use to allow viewers to access their emails and stay updated on news, spots, and weather. However, video streaming and Wi-Fi calling is not supported.
The Premium Wi-Fi plan, which was the previous top option, costs $21.25 per day when booked in advance. It allows for access to everything offered by the Social and Value plans at speeds up to three times faster, and throws in streaming capabilities.
But when one breaks down the cost, especially if traveling with family, the Premium package would cost $85 per day for a family of four – meaning the multi-platform plan would actually be a savings. It ultimately is up to each cruiser to determine what makes sense for their needs and their travel party.
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.
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
Alaska Tours for Cruise Passengers (Photo Credit: Bob Pool)
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
Viking Cruises in Hong Kong (Photo Credit: Daniel_Ferryanto)
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.
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
Norwegian Prima at Port of Galveston (Photo Courtesy: NCL)
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
Photo Credit: Aerial-motion / Shutterstock
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.
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
Cruise Ship Safety Drill
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
Cruise Ships Docked in Grand Turk (Photo Credit: Mateus Andre)
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.
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.
The Port of Galveston has been vying to become the next homeport for Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas – and has just dropped another hint that the world’s current largest cruise ship may be Texas-bound.
The Galveston Wharves, which are located near the Gulf Coast of Texas and approximately 50 miles east of downtown Houston, has three cruise terminals (and a fourth under construction) – one of which was a $125 million endeavor that was built by Royal Caribbean and opened in 2022.
But despite already welcoming a substantial one to two million cruisers per year, the busy port has set its sights on further growth through a partnership with Icon of the Seas – which can carry up to 7,600 guests at maximum occupancy per sailing.
In early September, some cruisers noticed that Icon of the Seas was added to the drop down menu where guests pre-reserve parking at the Port of Galveston. However, the option has since been removed.
But when Port Director and CEO Rodger Rees was asked about bringing the Icon-class flagship to Texas, he didn’t shut down the possibility.
“As the fourth most popular cruise port in the U.S.—and one of the fastest growing—Galveston would be honored to welcome the Icon of the Seas to our state-of-the-art Royal Caribbean Cruise Terminal,” Rees said in a statement shared by CHRON on Thursday, September 5, 2024.
“We’re one of the few cruise ports in the country that can accommodate this class of ship,”continued Rees.
Royal Caribbean has not made any official statements about Icon’s future, but Rees has been vocal about his hopes in recent months. In April, the port director made similar comments about how the port can “handle it” when discussing the massive vessel.
Could Icon of the Seas Really Wind up in Texas?
The mega-ship is currently homeporting in Miami, Florida– where she has been since she entered service earlier this year on January 27, 2024.
From Port Miami, the 1,196.7-foot long ship has been alternating between week-long Western Caribbean and Eastern Caribbean sailings – which she is scheduled to continue to do through April 25, 2026.
Royal Caribbean has not yet released itineraries beyond this date, according to cruise tracking data, so it’s unclear what the cruise line has in mind for its largest ship in the long run at this time.
Royal Caribbean’s Galveston Terminal (Photo Credit: Felix Mizioznikov)
It’s possible that she will continue to service the Caribbean, or that she will be re-deployed elsewhere as new ships join the fleet. For example, the second Icon-class ship, Star of the Seas, will be entering service in the second half of 2025 – with additional Icon-class vessels already ordered.
Plus, it’s fairly common for the cruise lines to shuffle around their fleet over time due to scheduling, maintenance needs (sometimes ships will temporarily exit service to return to drydock for routine inspections and repairs), and demand changes at destinations around the world.
Galveston has proved in the past that it can accommodate larger ships, meaning it could be a potential new home for Icon of the Seas.
The family-friendly ship currently has Harmony of the Seas, another mega-ship, stationed in Texas – as well as the more modestly sized Mariner of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas.
Ultimately, only time will tell what the future holds for Galveston and Icon of the Seas – but it wouldn’t be surprising if a partnership was in their future one day.
