stay on ship or get off at port and explore?

[GTO-Girl]

We just got off the Oasis yesterday and only got off on one of the three ports.  We have been so many times that we enjoy a quiet ship while others have gone ashore.

 

 

[Clarea]

5 hours ago, goingbroke2015 said:

I was wondering if everyone gets off the ship at the ports to do excursions or do some of you just stay on and relax??

Thanks!

 

We stay on the ship at some ports from time to time.

[Mary229]

I live contraflow.  Often I will take an early morning stroll through town then get back to the ship when everyone else is just getting moving.  Off the ship at 7 am and on by 10:30 am.  If the ship is in port late I will stroll off again at dinner time.

 

If it is a new port with lots of unique attractions then I spend the whole day away

Edited March 11, 2019 by Mary229

[Yvonne]

On 3/11/2019 at 1:40 PM, SimplyMarvie said:

I can't imagine not going ashore -- going places is the reason we cruise, and we've got plenty of time to hang out on the ship during evenings and sea days.

 

And I can’t imagine why anyone can’t imagine that some people don’t always want to get off the ship.

 

Everyone is different, and cruise for different reasons.

 

This last cruise for us the ship was the destination.  The stop in Nassau we stayed on board, have been there several times.

 

St. Thomas we stayed on board, same reason.

St. Martin we decided to get off, for about an hour, to do a little shopping but no excursions.

 

We loved less people on board, enjoyed a quieter Central Park, Boardwalk, Solarium and dining venues.  Was great!  And I was able to walk around the whole ship taking photos with no, or fewer, people in them.

 

Now if we cruise to a port we’ve never been to we take a private tour or excursion.  But going to ports multiple times we prefer to stay on the ship.

[Tree_skier]

We were on Liberty in Nov. and got off the ship at each port for planned excursions.  Next month we'll be on Mariner for a little weekend cruise and I doubt we'll get off the ship.  Maybe just a quick little jaunt in the shopping area of Nassau just off the ship for a souvenir or two.  I'm hoping for a near empty ship to explore and enjoy.

[CruisinCrow]

23 minutes ago, Tree_skier said:

We were on Liberty in Nov. and got off the ship at each port for planned excursions.  Next month we'll be on Mariner for a little weekend cruise and I doubt we'll get off the ship.  Maybe just a quick little jaunt in the shopping area of Nassau just off the ship for a souvenir or two.  I'm hoping for a near empty ship to explore and enjoy.

 

It will be less crowded but don't count on near empty.  Lots of people stay on the ship in Nassau.

[Tree_skier]

2 minutes ago, CruisinCrow said:

 

It will be less crowded but don't count on near empty.  Lots of people stay on the ship in Nassau.

I'm sure that's true.  I've read enough here on CC to get that indication.  Less crowded will still be nice.  This cruise is being tagged onto the end of a business trip to south Florida and will cap a really busy time for us.  It is really just about relaxing for us so we aren't planning on doing anything that requires even the slightest bit of effort!  I'll probably make a spectacle of myself on the Flowrider and and waterslides with the young kids but that'll be it.

[A2Mich]

We are going to St Maarten for the third time next year and San Juan for the second time.  May save St Maarten for a ship day, or just stroll to some of the port shops or take a taxi to Front St for a little bit, but probably won’t be doing a full day tour.  Last time took a full island tour with Bernard’s Tours (including a stop at Serafina’s Bakery and Maho) and did the America’s Cup race on our first trip.  St Thomas would be another port where I’d consider staying on board, after 3 trips there already. To each their own.  There is no right or wrong answer. I will say that I agree with others that if it were Nassau, I’d also stay onboard and take advantage of the discounted spa services or just sleep in late.

[BigHouseFootball]

On 3/11/2019 at 1:40 PM, SimplyMarvie said:

I can't imagine not going ashore -- going places is the reason we cruise, and we've got plenty of time to hang out on the ship during evenings and sea days.

Exactly!

[mr walker]

On ‎3‎/‎12‎/‎2019 at 4:41 AM, Biker19 said:

Cruises to nowhere are no longer allowed and no port repos are quite rare.

Come on down 'downunder' - all cruise lines operating here have cruises to nowhere (samplers of 2/3/4 nights). Whilst not our cup of tea, they are very popular, albeit they can be a bit of a 'booze cruise'.

 

Sorry to take this OT, but I am just thinking that the USA, whilst seemingly the bastion of capitalism & the 'land of the free' seems to be very overregulated by rules & regulations eg Jones Act & PVSC compared to most other countries.

 

BOT, we would rarely not get off at a port. We travel to 'see the world' & mostly cruise as it suits us in this endeavour. We almost always are going to venture further than taking a walk around the port area. 

[mr walker]

On ‎3‎/‎12‎/‎2019 at 4:41 AM, Biker19 said:

Cruises to nowhere are no longer allowed and no port repos are quite rare.

duplicate post!

Edited March 13, 2019 by mr walker

[katiel53]

All my cruises have to been to the Caribbean except for a couple to Alaska.  I have traveled to Europe several times, just not on a cruise.

 

A few years ago my husband and I never set foot off the ship for the whole week.  He was having trouble walking because of a back problem and had rented a scooter for the week on the ship.  We loved it and felt it was so much more relaxing.

 

There are some ports I have no problem staying on the ship.  When my family and I went to San Juan on Allure the last couple of years, the port time was short and the casinos we loved are not longer in existence, so I stayed on the ship.

 

My next cruise has the last day in Nassau and I have no desire to get off the ship there.  It's fine with me that it's the last day as I will pack and enjoy the last of the cruise.  My family hasn't been there before, so they will get off and explore.

 

We all cruise for different reasons and find different things to do.  I totally enjoy my cruises,  no matter if I go onshore or not.

[CDNCRUIZR]

We've always cruised in the Caribbean so have done most of the ports multiple times. We still get off the ship to walk around for a few hours but usually back on the ship for a late lunch. We enjoy spending time on a less busy ship while at port. We cruise more for the ship than the islands now. 

[DragonOfTheSeas]

We have stopped getting off at Grand Cayman.  It is a very nice island--but, we have been there 6-7 times.  Also, we dislike the whole tender process there.  Getting off the ship can be very time consuming.  Often there is a big line to board the tenders back to the ship and it is usually VERY hot.  . . . also, the ride is sometimes rough.

 

On our last visit we stayed onboard [a Celebrity ship].  A fast, severe storm blew in and the last 2 tenders had trouble.  The last one had to go back to shore and they made everyone put on the life jackets and get on a bigger tender.  

[Big_G]

We just sailed Harmony western Caribbean in January and only got off in Labadee. Put me in the southern or eastern Caribbean and it's whole different story.

[cft8]

We have not been to the Caribbean (I hope to go someday!) - we have been to the Pacific NW, New England/Canada, and Europe. This year we are going to Bermuda and Alaska. So, they have all been ports where I have wanted to see things, and also places where the temperatures were not conducive to pool time. So far all the ports have been places that I would want to see again. But, if we ever did do a warm climate cruise, I can see staying on board. The first time to any port, though, I’m sure I’d have FOMO and get off at least for half a day!

[ONECRUISER]

On 3/11/2019 at 10:16 AM, goingbroke2015 said:

I was wondering if everyone gets off the ship at the ports to do excursions or do some of you just stay on and relax??

Thanks!

I do both. Been to most stops, usually only one new Port a yr. Since travel Solo stay on board 2/3 the time and enjoy ship and quiet... Now if with my Kids will do the Excursion thing

Edited March 14, 2019 by ONECRUISER

[fmhealth]

Are all the activities (flow rider, rock climbing, etc) available on port days? Thank you.

[Clarea]

7 minutes ago, fmhealth said:

Are all the activities (flow rider, rock climbing, etc) available on port days? Thank you.

 

Generally yes, with different hours than while at sea.

[Mikew0805]

I've stayed on the entire cruise, and was happy as can be. In fact, on the Harmony I just did in January, I never got off the ship. Total of 4 cruises that I have not gotten off the ship, and I see more of those coming. This cruise coming up on Saturday, we will likely go ashore only in St. Thomas.

[OCruisers]

On 3/11/2019 at 1:16 PM, goingbroke2015 said:

I was wondering if everyone gets off the ship at the ports to do excursions or do some of you just stay on and relax??

Thanks!

 

Yes ... as time has gone by ... we often just stay on the ship in ports we've been MANY times.  

We like to sleep late until lunch time  and then have fun chatting with others who also stayed on the ship.  

Port stops have become way less inportant to us now than they once were.  

[John&LaLa]

On 3/11/2019 at 1:41 PM, Biker19 said:

Cruises to nowhere are no longer allowed and no port repos are quite rare.

 

Our Allure TA only has one stop

[Tasm3n]

For us, it is very ship and port dependent.  There are some ports we have done a some (as others have mentioned for themselves) and we just opt to stay on board.  Grand Cayman is one of those ports for us.  Nassau would also be there for us if so many other people didn't stay on board in Nassau as well.  We tend to get off ship there simply to go somewhere else with less crowds.

[tinkr2]

Absolutely no way I would ever stay on the ship in any port. I have been to Nassau probably 20 times and Cozumel 30. I have done so many different things and seen so much of both of those. t amuses me when people say "oh, I have been there once before". Most of these island ports are a unique slice of the entire country. You're telling me that in 6 hours , you saw the whole country?

On 3/11/2019 at 1:40 PM, SimplyMarvie said:

I can't imagine not going ashore -- going places is the reason we cruise, and we've got plenty of time to hang out on the ship during evenings and sea days.

Exactly. The ship will be there when I return. I did not sail across the ocean to sit by a tiny pool. (even with the free food and drinks)

 

 

[tinkr2]

4 hours ago, fmhealth said:

Are all the activities (flow rider, rock climbing, etc) available on port days? Thank you.

Pretty sparse hours for most of the day on most ships.