Staying onboard

[jocelysue]

Do many people stay on board on days when the ship is in port? If so, is any entertainment or activities offered?

 

I'm asking this question because DH has mobility issues, and some days has difficulty in getting up early enough to be able to take a shore excursion on time.

 

So far we haven't had too much difficulty because we've taken 20-30 day or more cruises with lots of sea days. In the Mediterranean, time didn't really matter because we had lived in Europe and knew our way around by ourselves.

 

However, we are taking a Panama Canal full transit on Celebrity Infinity where there are many shore excursions that leave early since the ship docks at 6 or 7 am. So it may prove difficult for DH to be able to be ready earlt enough. His health will not permit him to forego breakast neither. So most likely we will have to stay on board with a couple of exceptions & are wondering what is offered. We know there is no shopping, that the MDR is closed at lunch time, no casino (we don't go anyhow) & are wondering if it is likely we will feel as if we were on a ghost ship. TIA for your answers.

 

Please no flaming about DH's problem. The Panama Canal is on his bucket list and this year may be the one of the last he can cross it off.

[Alliezona09]

Most things are open, buffet, pools, bars, spa, planned activites (just read the daily you get in your room the night before) what isn't open are shops, casino, and MDR~ there will be lots of things for you to enjoy~ and the fact that there will be less people is always nice! Have a wonderful cruise~ :D

[Coveguy4]

Many people stay onboard when doing repeat cruise ports and enjoy the quiet. The highlight of the Panama Canal is going thru the locks and Gatun Lake (sp?) I've been lucky enough to expereance it twice, and thats done on the ship in transet. Enjoy your cruise!

[CowPrincess]

First, congrats to your DH for doing this bucket list cruise. And congrats to you for helping him achieve his dream.

 

We've stayed onboard a few times and enjoy having so much room, and so many crew around to look after us. Have never felt we were on a ghost ship -- to us it feels more like we have an enormous private resort :D If your husband wants to use the pool, port days might be a good time -- virtually no one around so no crowds in the pools. Easier to get in, easier to enjoy without trying to stay out of other people's way.

 

Sorry I can't help you with specifics of what is available, but wanted to reassure you that it is very nice, being two people among very few others.

 

We usually just park our behinds in chairs by the aft pool, have a cocktail, a few nibbles, and then we read.

[LHT28]

You might look into doing some private tours that you can leave later in the mornings & tour at your pace

 

Check the Ports Of Call forums here for recommended guides

 

Enjoy the cruise

Edited March 22, 2014 by LHT28

[Dayenu]

I am not an early riser, and didn't make reservations for early tours for this reason :) When on the ship, check the schedule, often their print-outs are different for what is offered on-line.

 

The ship will not be a "ghost town". There will always be passengers who skip ports, those who come back early, or wait for a later tour. I think movies are shown on port days at mid-day. There will be limited activities, but be prepared to lounge with a book by the pool and enjoy ice-cream.

[griffy116]

We've stayed on the ship if it's a port that we've been to a few times..and especially if it is one that we aren't particularly fond of (cough, Jamaica). We've never felt it was a ghost ship. We've enjoyed the extra space, more leisurely pace, not having to get in a line at the buffet or the restaurants. We've also taken a private excursion so that we could enjoy a leisurely breakfast, meet the tour guide and explore a great place for lunch then return to the ship and sit and enjoy being able to easily get a drink from the bar without a wait. Private cars make it easy and you can find great recommendation on the cars and restaurants or a museum on the roll call or port of calls. Enjoy checking that off the bucket list. It sounds wonderful.

[SadieN]

Ask on the Celebrity board about onboard activites and the Disabled Cruising board for ideas for short, private excursions.

 

Activites onboard during a port day, as you probably already know, depend on the line, ship and CD.

Edited March 22, 2014 by SadieN

[OCruisers]

Most things are open, buffet, pools, bars, spa, planned activites (just read the daily you get in your room the night before) what isn't open are shops, casino, and MDR~ there will be lots of things for you to enjoy~ and the fact that there will be less people is always nice! Have a wonderful cruise~ :D

 

Agree with Allie ... except the planned activities are very limited.

On our last full transit we stayed on the ship in several ports. There's way less people but not a ghost ship. We enjoy chatting with others and there are always others who didn't get off for one reason or another.

You are quite "well traveled" so will not have a problem. ;)

LuLu

~~~

[cb at sea]

Many will stay onboard, depending on the port. The ship is up and running on port days...no worries. Especially on the Panama Canal cruises, it's not imperative to get off the ship....going thru the canal IS an excursion on it's own!