Explain port days to me...

[Kierste]

First timer... If the itinerary says we will be in port 8 am to 5 pm, I am assuming we can't get off the ship right at 8 am right? What is typical? An hour later? Two hours? And at the other end of the day... When do you need to be back the ship, an hour before? Two hours?

 

So say on our Curacao day hubby wants to golf, if we are just grabbing a cab, and heading straight for the course (which is about 45 minutes away I think)... Can I expect he could make a 10 am tee-time or better to aim for 11? I understand the pace of play is quick there, so I think even noon wouldn't be too late, if he needed to finish by 3 and cab it back to the ship by 4, or do they allow you to board all the way up to 5 pm?

 

Tia!

[KeithJenner]

You generally can leave the ship very soon after the docking time. Often just minutes.

 

You need to be back on the ship about 30 minutes before the departure time.

 

If you are docking at 8am and it's s 45 minute journey then 10am should be fine, as long as there are no delays. I'd probably go for 11am to be safe. It should still leave you plenty of time to get back.

Edited March 16, 2014 by KeithJenner

[Kierste]

You generally can leave the ship very soon after the docking time. Often just minutes.

 

You need to be back on the ship about 30 minutes before the departure time.

 

If you are docking at 8am and it's s 45 minute journey then 10am should be fine, as long as there are no delays. I'd probably go for 11am to be safe. It should still leave you plenty of time to get back.

 

Thanks!

[Kierste]

If this is a port where golfing is offered as an excursion though NCL you can sign up for that and not have to worry about any time issues (getting to the course and back to the ship).

 

 

 

 

Favorite Cruise Activities:

me - free play in the casinos

s/o - relaxing on the balcony reading a book

 

 

Which I will look into... So far what I have seen is we can book most excursions cheaper if we don't go thru the ship.

[sdmike]

Which I will look into... So far what I have seen is we can book most excursions cheaper if we don't go thru the ship.

 

Exactly. Local excursion operators get less than half of the amount charged by NCL. If you can find a competing company, chances are you'll get something a lot cheaper. Some also guarantee that you'll make it back to your ship on time. Even if not, these companies thrive on ship traffic, so if they missed getting folks back to the ship it would really hurt their business once word got out.

[garycarla]

which i will look into... So far what i have seen is we can book most excursions cheaper if we don't go thru the ship.

 

bingo!

[Kierste]

We travel frequently, just never did a cruise... I have always avoided large group excursions, and done things our own way... Usually more enjoyable! So, automatically I was looking at booking things on our own and not going thru the ship... Glad to see you guys think I am on the right track :)

[Kamloops50]

First timer... If the itinerary says we will be in port 8 am to 5 pm, I am assuming we can't get off the ship right at 8 am right? What is typical? An hour later? Two hours? And at the other end of the day... When do you need to be back the ship, an hour before? Two hours?

 

So say on our Curacao day hubby wants to golf, if we are just grabbing a cab, and heading straight for the course (which is about 45 minutes away I think)... Can I expect he could make a 10 am tee-time or better to aim for 11? I understand the pace of play is quick there, so I think even noon wouldn't be too late, if he needed to finish by 3 and cab it back to the ship by 4, or do they allow you to board all the way up to 5 pm?

 

Tia!

 

Many ships arrive before their scheduled time. Depending on the port and what has to be done to set up the gangways you might be off as early as as scheduled port time. You should plan to return not later than 30 minutes before scheduled departure , usually they recommend 60 minutes depending on how many people are on board the ship.

[roger001]

I would never intentionally plan a schedule that would get me back to the ship at the 30 minute before departure deadline. We do 1 hour as the absolute latest. NCL booked tours are the exception knowing we are protected in the event we are late returning.

[chrislynnet]

I would never intentionally plan a schedule that would get me back to the ship at the 30 minute before departure deadline.

 

Me either. Call me chicken but an hour is the least amount of time I will allow myself to get back on the ship. I have nightmares about standing sadly at the dock as my ship sails away! :)

[Kierste]

It wouldn't be the end of the world if we got stranded in any of the ports... Just an expensive mistake I guess! But I will plan on being back an hour early anyway. Plus that gives us time to clean up and rest a bit before we head to dinner (we are kinda early eaters!)

Edited March 16, 2014 by Kierste

[oregonian123]

NCL booked tours are the exception knowing we are protected in the event we are late returning.

 

Hi, I know this is true on Carnival, but I have been unable to find it spelled out on NCL.com.

Can you find the reference for it?

Thank you.

Edited March 17, 2014 by oregonian123

[NH Cruisers]

A lot of times the arrival time is the time you may depart the ship. Especially last day. The ship usually arrives 4:30 am - 5:30 am. But debarkation starts around 7:30 am.

 

Go to the Youtube and watch some "missed ship" videos. I don't want to star in any of them. Call me paranoid, I don't care. Unless on a NCL sponsored excursion, I am within hailing distance to the gangplank an hour or two prior to last aboard. Different cruislines may or maynot reset for timezones. Don't missread your watch.

 

 

As for the guarantee about NCL excursions and transport. Do a search and look up the info. I have seen it in the past. They will hold the ship or provide transport to next port. That is the upside to booking an excusion through the cruiseline. Going on a 8 hour Maya ruins tour? Gets back a half hour prior to sailaway? I am booking that excursion through the cruiseline. Taxi tour around Grand Cayman? Find a local.

Edited March 17, 2014 by NH Cruisers

[LocardsChild]

Hi, I know this is true on Carnival, but I have been unable to find it spelled out on NCL.com.

Can you find the reference for it?

Thank you.

 

I've never seen it spelled out, but my husband and I did benefit from it.

 

We were on a NCL run excursion to the ruins at Delphi from the port of Athens. It's a fairly long bus-trip for an excursion, but it was a major bucket list item. Our mini-bus made it back almost 30 minutes after the ship was due to sail and they were waiting for us. Pulled the gangway up behind us and the ship was moving out of the port before we made it to our room. (I don't even know if they still offer that excursion - the Cruise Director commented that it happened all the time with the traffic back from that location.)

 

It could be that it's a Captain's discretion matter, because I've never seen a written policy.

 

Happy cruising!

B

[rogue 35]

Exactly. Local excursion operators get less than half of the amount charged by NCL. If you can find a competing company, chances are you'll get something a lot cheaper. Some also guarantee that you'll make it back to your ship on time. Even if not, these companies thrive on ship traffic, so if they missed getting folks back to the ship it would really hurt their business once word got out.

 

How does it work with Local Excursions? Can they be booked ahead of time or are they booked in-person when you get off the boat? I did a quick google and found one company in the Bahamas but their prices weren't that much cheaper than what I saw from NCL.

[rbrugler]

My experience the past three winters has been that private tours that I arrange ahead of time are more expensive than through NCL, but they usually last longer, are smaller groups, and I do not need to board a bus, only a mini van and since I use a rollator walker, that is a big deal. Tours that one can buy when you get off the ship are not to my liking. I never know if I can trust them, while ahead of time I can check on this site or others to see if people have been pleased with them.

[Kierste]

When we travel, we don't mind paying a little more for our tour to be private... so whilst a tour from NCL might be cheaper, as the PP stated, it could be 50 people crammed on a bus or boat or whatever. My first inclination (since this is our first cruise) is to book private or semi-private tours. You can search the web, and I have even looked on other roll-calls that have our same ports and found reputable companies that I can book myself ahead of time. Usually, they want payment when they pick you up, not before too.

[DMH15]

When we travel, we don't mind paying a little more for our tour to be private... so whilst a tour from NCL might be cheaper, as the PP stated, it could be 50 people crammed on a bus or boat or whatever. My first inclination (since this is our first cruise) is to book private or semi-private tours. You can search the web, and I have even looked on other roll-calls that have our same ports and found reputable companies that I can book myself ahead of time. Usually, they want payment when they pick you up, not before too.

 

A good middle ground is to book a small group with the roll call for your cruise. You can decide how few or many usually.

 

 

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