Flexibility at Ports

[chitownGib]

What kind of flexibility do you have getting on and off the ship at the ports of call? I see we dock early morning, 8am and sail around 5 or 6. If we don't have an excursion can we sleep in and get off the boat later - 10 or so? Do we have to wait until the end of the day to get back on board?

[paul929207]

Yes,ou can get on and off when ever you want. If we don't have an excursion, we often wait till the mob clears. Normally,you need to be onboard 30 minutes before sailing. You can get off in the morning,sightsee some, get back on and have lunch and then get off again.

[chitownGib]

Thanks - very helpful!

[Arwenmark]

Thanks - very helpful!

 

If it is a tendering port you can't get off until your tender ticket number is called unless you are booked with a cruiseline excursion. until the open it to all, after that you can come and go as you please, but must be on board 30 prior to departure time.

[cb at sea]

You may go and return at will....or not leave the ship at all! Your choice! We prefer to wait until the "rush hour" is done, then leave at our leisure. We seldom book excursions, and just head to a beach somewhere!

[satxdiver]

You can get off generally 30 minutes after arrival in port - they have to secure the ship, put out the gangplanks, etc. You have to be back on board 30 minutes prior to departure - they have to secure the ship before departing. You may come and go as much as you desire. However at times there will be a line sometimes very long so you may want to plan ahead.

 

Don't forget to take both your ship issued card and a photo ID. Quite a few port's security (theirs not the ships) will not allow you to approach the ship without the photo ID and ship card. The ship only requires the card to leave or reboard. You will have to put the card in a reader both when leaving and reboarding. The ship security officer standing there will see your picture on the video screen when you insert the card into the reader and the time will be recorded. This is to help them know who is on the ship and who is not. Good information when the ship is about to depart the port!

 

In the daily newsletter on port days, they will list the name, address and telephone number of the ship's agent in that port. Take that information with you when you leave the ship. It may come in handy.

 

It is a time-honored tradition to stand on your balcony or top of the ship and watch the late arrivals running (literally!) on the pier to get on the ship before they pull up the gangplanks. We like to cheer (or jeer) them on. Join the fun.

[broberts]

In some, but not all, ports the ship time and the port time are different.The ship's daily newsletter will give you this information. Make sure that you stay on ship time because the ship will not wait for you. Have a wrist watch in your party. It's amazing how easy it is to forget the time difference.

[silentbob007]

We usually avoid the rush to get off and, if feasible, return to the ship for lunch considering it is already paid for (as opposed to paying more ashore).

[Ronnie1a]

and as often as you want unless you are on a tour. In most ports getting off much before 10 is a waste as the shops and restaurants are generally closed before that time.

[cruiserbryce]

you may come and go as you please...just make sure you come back by sailaway or everyone else will be going without you

[simplelife]

You'll have far more flexibility if you are at a docked port than a tendered one. DH and I find tenders to be a hassel, so at a tendered port, we usually leave the ship and return only once; unless we have an excursion that dicates otherwise, we take a later tender out and an early one in.

At a docked port, we often come and go freely, leaving the ship in the morning, reboarding for lunch or a spa appointment, and then back out to port later.