Ports or Sea Days?

[Trevor Fountain]

It seems that many people think that a cruise with more ports equals better value/experience. I've always thought it's a bit of a cheat to have lots of port days.

It means the Cruise Line gets pax off the ship, meaning serving less meals, and providing less entertainment.

My next cruise is very port intensive, but the dates fitted, and I get to stay a few days in Venice prior to sailing, but really my ideal cruise is one with plenty of sea days.

For me the vacation is the ship, ports are just a bonus.

Thoughts?

[punkincc]

I guess it depends on the itinerary. I do enjoy sea days on Caribbean cruises, and they are a money maker for the cruise lines for sure. Casino is open, drinks are flowing, bingo, etc.

 

But if I am doing an itinerary like Alaska or Hawaii, then 3 sea days would seem like a wasted opportunity to see what I came to see. I certainly did not miss them when I took those cruises. I would think the same might be true for some of the European or Mediterranean cruises.

[Barb Nahoumi]

I'd love to do a Trans Atlantic because I prefer sea days.

[Ilovesailing]

I guess it depends on the itinerary. I do enjoy sea days on Caribbean cruises, and they are a money maker for the cruise lines for sure. Casino is open, drinks are flowing, bingo, etc.

 

But if I am doing an itinerary like Alaska or Hawaii, then 3 sea days would seem like a wasted opportunity to see what I came to see. I certainly did not miss them when I took those cruises. I would think the same might be true for some of the European or Mediterranean cruises.

 

 

I feel like this on Caribbean cruises that we have done a dozen of times. To just stay on the ship and enjoy the quietness, sun and read.

 

On our up coming Panama cruise we are doing just that as we've been to all the ports before and it's more about the canal.

[LrgPizza]

I'd love to do a Trans Atlantic because I prefer sea days.

Same here. We booked one for that very reason.

[missdixie]

I prefer sea days. But on port days if there is no excursion planned I like the quiet ship

[OCruisers]

We aren't fond of having TOO many At Sea Days in a row.

LuLu

[welove2cruise2014]

This is one of the main reasons I love the Boston- Bermuda cruise on the Dawn: I love the sea days, and I love being in the same port from Sunday - Tuesday. We don't feel rushed to get back to the ship at a given time (with the exception of Tues of course, but plan accordingly that day so there's no rush). I like being able to get on and off the ship throughout the day - wander around Dockyard, back to the ship for lunch, maybe a sunset cruise in the evening... Plus the sea days to us equals the best of both worlds! :)

[FireEater]

To me, ship is the taxi to get me to the port. Mind you, high end taxi, but never the less..... :D

[emcelh]

I like a equal mix of both. I never thought of being "cheated" if a cruise was port intensive. I think cruise lines have a financial goal to meet and set fares accordingly. People often complain if a port is missed for some reason and demand compensation. We leave on Thursday on the Pearl and have 5 sea days and 5 port days. Perfect

[shof515]

Sea days can be a bit boring when there is 2 sea days back to back

[Susie51]

I like a mix. Sea days make money for the cruise line: Casino, Art Auction, Bingo, Drinks, Shops, Spas, Salons, ect.

[mugtech]

10 ports in 12 days gave us a chance to see parts of Europe we would probably never get to see otherwise. I did like having two full days at the beginning to recover from flying in from USA to Venice, and our retirement cruise through PC starts with three sea days, a perfect way to really retire while getting to know the Sun. If I ever do a cruise with another cruise line, it will be because of the itinerary in Australia or Asia. We only started cruising in 2007 because my wife won a free RCI cruise, have been on NCL ever since. It can be difficult to convince friends to try it, my brother has been cruising every year since he believed me and tried it out.

[richs52]

I cruise for the ship, not for the ports.

[ncklhaus]

Same for me, except we love Great Stirrup Cay. That's the only port we got off the Breakaway on our last cruise. And now with the Ultimate Beverage Package, its even more worth it!:eek:

[BadKitteh]

I like a good split. Sea days means you can't get near the pool, but on port days I like to walk around and then spend the afternoon by the (quiet) pool.

 

 

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[cb at sea]

Port days...because if you choose, you can stay on the ship, and make your own "sea day' without the crowds!

[marelind]

Short answer - it depends.

 

Long answer - On our first cruise we did B2B2B Alaska/one nighter/Pacific Coastal. I never felt settled. When I was in the cabin I thought, "I should be out taking advantage of the activities on the ship or seeing the sights in the ports." When I was out exploring the ship I thought, "I should be sitting on the balcony or napping in the cabin," and this thought only increased when we were upsold into an Owner's Suite. When I got home I thought about it and realized I could "vacation" which involves sunning, a lounger, fruity drinks and enjoying the cabin, or I could "travel" which involves getting up early to see the sights and spending less time in the cabin. I now know I prefer to vacation, but on occasion will "travel" when in a port I'd like to explore.

 

This is why we like longer itineraries that have almost as many days at sea as in ports. We have done the Panama Canal three times for this reason.

[WildcatRock]

We hop on the Jewel in 5 days and are looking forward to the itinerary - 3 sea days and 3 ports.....perfect.

 

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[garycarla]

.....It means the Cruise Line gets pax off the ship, meaning serving less meals, and providing less entertainment.

...

 

 

Very true for SOME people.

 

When we are onboard, we are buying drinks. And if at sea, we are donating in the casino. So, in our case, they make more money form us when at sea, rather than in port.

[4774Papa]

We cruise for the ports, but enjoy a sea day break every now and then.

Still, we have done two TAs with many sea days and still enjoy.

[hpecorari]

I love both port and sea days. It breaks it up a bit for me. However, I must say that the last cruise I took it seemed like there was not many activities that actually interested me. Many of them were:

Acupuncture seminars, jewelry presentations, spa seminars, health seminars (detox, weight, flatter stomach, etc.), lots of art auctions, hypnosis seminars, future cruise and rewards presentations, port and shopping presentations, excursion presentations, etc. Then there were also a lot of exercise stuff for a fee like Pilates, cycling, body boot camps, yoga, etc. I'm not really into the exercise stuff although I should be! LOL And as far as the seminars and presentations.......once you've been to a few they're all the same. There are also wine, etc. tastings but I'm not a drinker so there goes that. Bingo, yes I like Bingo but NCL prices for Bingo is extremely high. There are a few things during the day they have that I really do enjoy......otherwise, sea days are simply a very relaxing day for me. Too many sea days = toooo much relaxation with me getting antsy with nothing to do.

 

Harriet

[sverigecruiser]

Some seadays and some portdays is what we prefer.

 

Our first cruise was 11-nights around Hawaii and to Fanning Island with four seadays, perfect!!!! We should love to cruise in that area again but since NCL don't have any seadays there anymore we won't do it!!!

 

Our next cruise is a 12-night cruise with five seadays, perfect!!!

Edited November 18, 2014 by sverigecruiser

[KeithJenner]

Neither are better than the other in my opinion, they just make for different holidays.

 

I love a cruise that has just sea days. A transatlantic gives loads of time to relax, eat, drink, make friends, read, whatever you want. It's a great holiday.

 

A port intensive cruise lets you visit lots of different places. It can be a bit of a whirlwind as you go from place to place, seeing so many interesting places, that you would struggle to visit in such a short time any other way. It's a great holiday.

 

Meanwhile, a cruise with a mix of both means you get the opportunity to see different places in a slightly more relaxed fashion. You have time to recover between ports and you really can make the most of the ports. It's a great holiday.

 

Personally, I like to do them all. None is any better than the other for me.

[JMHAM1]

Short answer - it depends.

 

Long answer - On our first cruise we did B2B2B Alaska/one nighter/Pacific Coastal. I never felt settled. When I was in the cabin I thought, "I should be out taking advantage of the activities on the ship or seeing the sights in the ports." When I was out exploring the ship I thought, "I should be sitting on the balcony or napping in the cabin," and this thought only increased when we were upsold into an Owner's Suite. When I got home I thought about it and realized I could "vacation" which involves sunning, a lounger, fruity drinks and enjoying the cabin, or I could "travel" which involves getting up early to see the sights and spending less time in the cabin. I now know I prefer to vacation, but on occasion will "travel" when in a port I'd like to explore.

 

This is why we like longer itineraries that have almost as many days at sea as in ports. We have done the Panama Canal three times for this reason.

 

That is a great way to put it. The travel wears you out sometimes. The last thing I want is to need a vacation after my vacation.

 

 

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