Do cruise ships ever make it to a port early?

[riclop]

Yes they do get there early alot of times.

[GlendaleCruiser]

In my opinion ... NO!!!! Please do not book this excursion if it leaves at 12:30. Even if your ship happened to pull into port a few minutes early - for ports with afternoon times, generally there are long lines with people just waiting to get off. (Less so, when you pull into ports early morning - people are more spread out in what time they get off).

 

And once you do get off the ship, then you have to make your way to wherever that is, and at Cozumel there's a fairly long pier.

 

You don't want to stress yourself out, or lose all your money for the excursion on your vacation. Maybe try to find something else that you'll enjoy instead? Or see if Carnival offers it, even if it's a bit more money maybe it would be worth it to you.

 

Good luck!

Jenn :)

 

Ditto that.

If they get there early, which rarely happens because they will slow the ship to make sure it doesn't happen, they would stay offshore until their scheduled time. They pay to be in that particular tie up in port for a certain number of hours and can't just pull into a parking spot early.

 

Also, the ship has to be cleared by that country's customs authority. That may be taken into consideration when they publish an arrival time, but I wouldn't book a tour based on "what if". Like said, there will be a lot of people coming off the ship at the same time, too, and it can get crowded.

 

I wouldn't.

[gusandgidgetsmom]

Even if your ship gets there early and say they allowed people off early those with ship sponsored excursions would be the first off. Then you would stand in line to get off. They will have their pic people out there taking pixs so your line will be held up. I'd be afraid to chance it.

[Aplmac]

Even if your ship gets there early and say they allowed people off early those with ship sponsored excursions would be the first off. Then you would stand in line to get off. They will have their pic people out there taking pixs so your line will be held up. I'd be afraid to chance it.

You were going to look for some old cruise-cards for me...

any luck? :confused:

 

pcdoctor (at) karibcable.com

 

 

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[Ehpride]

I don't book any indeendent excursion unless it starts at least an hour after the ship is supposed to arrive. Just because the ship is supposed to get there at a certain time doesn't mean that you're going to be able to get off right at that time or get to the meeting point that quickly.

[happy cruzer]

hi. thanks and you're right.

 

i ended up chatting with a couple reps from cozumel-tours.com and cozumelcruiseexcursions.com and found more info.

 

here is an update: they said that as you mentioned, the time listed is ship time, not local. so basically i would be getting there at 12pm their time, and that it should be no problem (assuming i was waiting to leave before the ship docked) to get there. she put me on hold and spoke with the actual tour operator and they said they don't exactly start on time anyway so for our specific date they would be able to do 1pm.

 

thanks for all the help. the information is pretty invaluable.

 

Hopefully you will not be prepaying. I imagine that they do wait on the ship, that's were they are getting the folks for the excursion.

 

If you don't prepay then there should be no risk.

[A2Mich]

Have never pulled into port much earlier than posted times. As said before, the cruise lines are paying for the time they are tied up in port. The longer they are in port, the more they pay in fees. Also, the cruise lines don't want you off the ship for too long. When you're in port, you're spending money with local vendors, not onboard. That is also tied into why ship's stores must be closed when in territorial waters. However, once the ship hits international waters, the shops and casino reopen. Ports have laws prohibiting sales of taxable goods and gambling while in port to protect the local merchants. Again, why the ships don't want to be in port for longer than their contract stipulates. And, some port calls aren't really for the passenger's benefit. In some instances, ports stops are really stops to refuel, take on fresh water, dispose of trash or wastewater, maintenance nor repairs, etc.

[gusandgidgetsmom]

sorry I totally spaced. I have been trying to catch up from my last cruise. I will go look for them. send your physical address to nickspumpkin@psci.net. I have a few for you.

You were going to look for some old cruise-cards for me...

any luck? :confused:

 

pcdoctor (at) karibcable.com

 

 

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[Sargent_Schultz]

Hi! Thanks for reading this and forgive me inexperience please.

 

I am taking a Carnival cruise aboard the Victory going from Key West to Cozumel.

 

I really really want to schedule this excursion but it's only at 12:30pm and it says my ship gets there at 1pm according to the schedule provided (below).

 

Do boats generally get there early? I am afraid to book.

 

1 Miami, Florida --- 4:00 p.m.

 

2 Key West, Florida 7:30 a.m. 2:00 p.m.

 

3 Cozumel, Mexico 1:00 p.m. 10:00 p.m.

 

4 At Sea --- ---

 

5 Miami, Florida 8:00 a.m. ---

 

Boats can be early, late, or in between.

 

Have you asked the tour operator for their recommendation?

[Aplmac]

sorry I totally spaced.

I have been trying to catch up from my last cruise.

I will go look for them. send your physical address to nickspumpkin@psci.net.

I have a few for you.

You've got Mail!!

 

Thanks for your efforts. So few ppl actually SEND!

Maybe they think I'm going to steal their identity! :eek:

 

From a cruise-card??? :D

 

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[goose30]

Just my opinion but that doesn't sound right. Ships stick to the time of the home port, in this case, Miami. Miami is on EDT and Cozumel is on CDT. The schedule says you'll be arriving in Cozumel at 1pm, so that means 12pm local time. If the excursion starts at 12:30pm local time, you could possibly make it if you're off the ship quickly.

 

Not true! If it were then a TA from London to NY would always operate on London time? So if the schedule says they arrive at noon would they dock at 7 AM local time? Every time the time on board changes a note is left in your stateroom. Book only with tour operators who operate on ship's time (usually local) and don't require a deposit.