silly question regarding sailing from port to port

[KarlChilders]

I was looking at our upcoming western Caribbean itinerary and notice that the distances from port to port are rather short (Roatan-Belize about 120 miles, same for Costa Maya to Cozumel) So with the speeds the ships are capable of they could make it in considerably less time than they schedule. So my question is, do they just cruise very slowly, or take an indirect route (unlikely as it would waste fuel) or do they just get to open sea and stop for a while, then continue? Just curious.

[1025cruise]

They will go slow and do "donuts".

[casofilia]

Travel at a speed that is most economical to arrive on time. They almost certainly pay for the dock by the hour and wouldn't want any extra charges there. Also shore staff are there for a specific time. In the past we have arrived in port a couple of hours early due to a following sea and then had to wait till customs and immigration were ready!!

[KarlChilders]

They almost certainly pay for the dock by the hour and wouldn't want any extra charges there. Also shore staff are there for a specific time. In the past we have arrived in port a couple of hours early due to a following sea and then had to wait till customs and immigration were ready!!

That's what I figured. No advantage from an operations/cost standpoint to be in port longer.

[roger001]

Leaving one port about dusk (can't remember where), it was a beautiful evening with lights from shore lovely. We made 3 passes up and down their coast very slowly until finally heading off to our next very near port stop at a very reduced speed. They just kill time at a fuel saving pace when the distances are short.

[FreestyleNovice]

Often the ship will turn towards sunny weather and sail around at a slow pace.

[BirdTravels]

I was looking at our upcoming western Caribbean itinerary and notice that the distances from port to port are rather short (Roatan-Belize about 120 miles, same for Costa Maya to Cozumel) So with the speeds the ships are capable of they could make it in considerably less time than they schedule. So my question is, do they just cruise very slowly, or take an indirect route (unlikely as it would waste fuel) or do they just get to open sea and stop for a while, then continue? Just curious.

 

Leaving port allows the ship to open its duty free shops and casinos. Along with minimizing charges for early/late departures from port (requiring the entire port infrastructure to be present and active).

[Sauer-kraut]

The year that Mexico was closed due to swine flu we just did a few days of "donuts" until it was time to get to our next port of call which was basically very close to the port we left from :(