Staying on ship while in port questions

[mamato5girls]

My family of 7 (5 kids) are going on Jewel of the Seas the last week of October, and due to the size of our family, we are unable to go on excursions in every port. Are we allowed to stay on the ship and go swimming, and so on? What activities will be closed due to being docked? I'm guessing Adventure Ocean clubs will be closed as well.

 

Thanks in advance for any answers.

[SECdawg]

Many people stay on board when the ship is in port. They will have dining options open as well as activities planned. I cannot speak for Adventure Ocean. Jewell is a wonderful ship. Enjoy your cruise!

[NorbertsNiece]

Yes you can stay on the ship.... many people do.... I have in the past.... lunch is served in WIndJammer as normal. You can get a lounger by the pool and chill! There will be some activities but much scaled down. The Daily Compass will have all details.

[gregwhates]

Don't worry, everything that can be open will be open! The shops and casino will be closed (these only open once the ship is in international waters) but all of the bars, restaurants, etc. Will be open.

 

Port days are quite nice times to stay on board as the ship is quieter and the staff are a lot more relaxed not being as busy. A lot of the ports don't need excursions anyway. Where are you visiting?

[mdjohn5]

The shops and the casino will be closed. Most other things including AO will be open.

 

It is a great time for the kids to play in the pool, while most people are in port.

[gregwhates]

Should have said earlier; Adventure Ocean is open the same time every day, and Jewel's AO is excellent!

[BillOh]

(these only open once the ship is in international waters) but all of the bars, restaurants, etc. Will be open.

 

It may vary, but on a lot of ships the main dining room doesn't serve lunch on port days. I know that is true when visiting Labadee and CocoCay for sure, but I think I've heard of the MDR not being open on some port days at lunch time.

[mamato5girls]

We're visiting:

October 25, 2014 Depart San Juan, PR 8:30 PM

October 26, 2014 Tortola, British Virgin Islands 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

October 27, 2014 St. John's, Antigua 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

October 28, 2014 Day at Sea

October 29, 2014 Oranjestad, Aruba 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM

October 30, 2014 Willemstad, Curacao 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

October 31, 2014 Day at Sea

November 1, 2014 Arrive San Juan, PR 6:00 AM

 

I'm so glad to hear that most everything is open! This is our 4th time cruising, but first time staying on ship while in port due to having kids with us. So relieved! :)

[reallyitsmema]

We're visiting:

October 25, 2014 Depart San Juan, PR 8:30 PM

October 26, 2014 Tortola, British Virgin Islands 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

October 27, 2014 St. John's, Antigua 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

October 28, 2014 Day at Sea

October 29, 2014 Oranjestad, Aruba 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM

October 30, 2014 Willemstad, Curacao 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

October 31, 2014 Day at Sea

November 1, 2014 Arrive San Juan, PR 6:00 AM

 

I'm so glad to hear that most everything is open! This is our 4th time cruising, but first time staying on ship while in port due to having kids with us. So relieved! :)

 

Staying on the ship can be relaxing but walking around in port can be fun too and doesn't have to be expensive. Just walking around window shopping or finding a playground or a nearby beach can make for a fun, free day.

[PuterMonkey]

Your kids might actually enjoy staying on the ship for port days =) No competition at the pools. Soooo much more room to splash around without bumping into people.

[wrp96]

I'll be staying on Jewel in a lot of ports next week.:D

 

A lot of the open air stuff that can be crowded on sea days will be congestion free on port days so your kids may enjoy it more.

[cruis247g]

We love staying on the ship on port days. However, if you're looking for fun and easy port activities, you can often catch a cab (or maybe two for 7 people:)) and head to the beach. Have fun!!

[cb at sea]

Aruba's beaches are nice, and its not too expensive to enjoy....taxi fare and I think there are buses,.....the beaches are public. You can rent loungers/umbrellas....just get 2..the kids don't need them.

 

Old San Juan is walkable...so that's an easy, cheap day!

 

We never do excursions! We read up on the ports (get a guidebook) and find plenty to do on our own. Saves big $$$!

[OCruisers]

There will be enough open to keep the children amused!

Lots of people simply use the ship as a destination.

Have a great cruise with your family! :)

LuLu

Edited September 8, 2014 by OCruisers

[dancinman66]

As long as it's not a turn around day plenty of things are still run to keep people amused

Just nothing on turn around a so best leaving the ship

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

[jonbgd]

While we enjoy staying on the ship, at ports we have been too

 

Even if we couldn't afford a tour, we would get off in every port to explore, we havnt been too.

 

Where you dock in Aruba, its a short walk to the left, for some great beaches

Edited September 9, 2014 by jonbgd

[slyster]

OH you are headed on the deaf cruise! We are going the following week and just like you we can't afford excursions every day or we have already visited a particular port. We plan on staying on board too. I believe the shops and casino remained closed until they leave port but the rest should be open

[mulan1123]

If you can't afford an excursion every port, just go out and explore the port at least! We did this in Cozumel after our excursion was cancelled. We walked around and shopped in the port and went back on the ship (Oasis) for lunch and for the rest of the afternoon. Had nap, read a book, enjoyed the zipline (no line up).

 

There may be some tournaments going on. I know on Oasis they had table tennis and volleyball tournaments during port days....just check the Daily Compass for port day activities.

[Host Jacquelyn]

Adventure Ocean is open, and in many cases with extended hours. On Freedom last year it was open all day while in port, and the staff took the kids for lunch at the Windjammer. At sea days, AO is closed 12-2

[sharktums]

^Exactly. On Port Days Adventure Ocean is open more and continuously while the ship is in port to accommodate parents that go off an excursion and leave their child on the ship. They usually open an hour before the first excursion meeting time and stay open until about an hour after the ship sails (usually this coordinates with dinner time so they'll just be open the whole time). They will feed your kids (what and where depends on how many kids they have) and take good care of them whether you choose to get off without them or they just want to go!

[AlFrank]

We did that on our last cruise. We got off and walked around the port for a little while but headed back to the ship after a few hours. Everything, except shops and casino, was open and we just enjoyed the ship, plenty of lounges and room at the pool. They had activities planned for people that stayed on board and there were quite a few of us. It was nice to just enjoy the ship and not run around.

[ehfl]

Also keep in mind that there's no charge for walking off the ship and strolling around town.

[akcruz]

I will just add if you, or others in your family, have not been to a port before why not get off for an hour or so and explore. There is no cost in that, and hey who knows when you will back there again?

 

You can always get back on the ship and enjoy the peace and quiet while most others are still off on their excursions.

 

Nothing wrong with staying on the ship the entire time if that is your choice as well. There will be plenty to do.

[gerif]

I discovered the joys of staying on board on my first cruise. It was an eastern Caribbean with a different port each day. After three or four days of sightseeing I told my travel companion that I was just not getting off the ship and she could find me at the pool. Had the most relaxing day and was the only person at the pool! Heaven. I highly recommend it.

[LeeW]

We're visiting:

October 25, 2014 Depart San Juan, PR 8:30 PM

October 26, 2014 Tortola, British Virgin Islands 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

October 27, 2014 St. John's, Antigua 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

October 28, 2014 Day at Sea

October 29, 2014 Oranjestad, Aruba 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM

October 30, 2014 Willemstad, Curacao 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM

October 31, 2014 Day at Sea

November 1, 2014 Arrive San Juan, PR 6:00 AM

 

I'm so glad to hear that most everything is open! This is our 4th time cruising, but first time staying on ship while in port due to having kids with us. So relieved! :)

 

If you don't have anything planned in Aruba, just walk out of the port and bear right across the busy street to the bus terminal. Buses run around every 20 minutes along the beaches to the north (buses 7, 10, 10A, 10B) for $2.30 - and they give change in US if they have it. Get off anywhere, walk the beach as long as you want and then catch the bus back to town. Private buses run along the same route and are a bit cheaper, but may not have room for your whole group. These let off in town adjacent to the terminal, not in it. See arubus.com for details.