Missing boarding time (on purpose)

[JackieCZA]

We're busy planning our excursions and port day activities for our upcoming Western Med cruise and the time allowed at some of the most desired locations seems woefully short.  Once we exclude bus or train travel times at Livorno and Civitavecchia we probably only have 9-10 hours in each city.  So a radical plan has been proposed: Don't reboard the ship at the harbour; but take a high speed train intercity.

 

Pros:

• Get to Rome during the evening and have time to visit more sights. 
• Be available to start the museums when they open in the morning.  
• Save time in traffic. 
• Take part in the evening passeggiata.  
• See the buildings floodlit at night.  

 

Cons

• Extra cost for train and hotel stay.
• Dinner and breakfast at own cost.
• Missing out extra calories in the MDR (or is this actually a Pro?)

 

Provided I prewarn guest services of my plan so they aren't tempted to delay departure at Livorno, are then any other factors or risks I need to take into account?  One long shot event might be the ship having to miss out Civitavecchia completely, although it's probably not worth planning for.

[LHT28]

Can  you plan extra days before  or after the cruise  & do the land portion then?

 

 Yes  you may ask in advance  for permission to stay ashore & catch the ship at a later port  or check with the Purser once onboard

 

[shepherd really]

47 minutes ago, JackieCZA said:

We're busy planning our excursions and port day activities for our upcoming Western Med cruise and the time allowed at some of the most desired locations seems woefully short.  Once we exclude bus or train travel times at Livorno and Civitavecchia we probably only have 9-10 hours in each city.  So a radical plan has been proposed: Don't reboard the ship at the harbour; but take a high speed train intercity.

 

Pros:

• Get to Rome during the evening and have time to visit more sights. 
• Be available to start the museums when they open in the morning.  
• Save time in traffic. 
• Take part in the evening passeggiata.  
• See the buildings floodlit at night.  

 

Cons

• Extra cost for train and hotel stay.
• Dinner and breakfast at own cost.
• Missing out extra calories in the MDR (or is this actually a Pro?)

 

Provided I prewarn guest services of my plan so they aren't tempted to delay departure at Livorno, are then any other factors or risks I need to take into account?  One long shot event might be the ship having to miss out Civitavecchia completely, although it's probably not worth planning for.

Why even cruise if you want to spend more time in cities? Just do a land trip.  

 

[PhD-iva]

When I book a cruise that ports in Civitavecchia, I look for the cruise to embark or debark there. I know its not the best use of my time to bus back and forth to Rome from the port…..

[pinotlover]

Let Destination Services or someone know and get their approval.

 

We did a delightful private tour well out into the Croatian country side seeing from beautiful unique sites. No way was getting back to the ship for, imo, a stupidly early 5:00 departure from Split feasible. We ended out tour in the next port which was Dubrovnik. 
 

What an absolutely lovely town. We had a wonderful dinner and then strolled the enchanting streets without all the cruising crowds. Next morning out on our private tour of the city, with a stop by our hotel to pickup our bags, prior to reboarding the ship by the designated time. 
 

We’re travelers, for us a night in Dubrovnik far outdoes a night aboard. Others have their own opinions on the issue.

 

Truth be told had Oceania done a late departure from Split or particularly Dubrovnik we wouldn’t have spent the night. Guess getting out to sea early and the casino and shops open was more important .

[Guest ldtr]

5 hours ago, JackieCZA said:

We're busy planning our excursions and port day activities for our upcoming Western Med cruise and the time allowed at some of the most desired locations seems woefully short.  Once we exclude bus or train travel times at Livorno and Civitavecchia we probably only have 9-10 hours in each city.  So a radical plan has been proposed: Don't reboard the ship at the harbour; but take a high speed train intercity.

 

Pros:

• Get to Rome during the evening and have time to visit more sights. 
• Be available to start the museums when they open in the morning.  
• Save time in traffic. 
• Take part in the evening passeggiata.  
• See the buildings floodlit at night.  

 

Cons

• Extra cost for train and hotel stay.
• Dinner and breakfast at own cost.
• Missing out extra calories in the MDR (or is this actually a Pro?)

 

Provided I prewarn guest services of my plan so they aren't tempted to delay departure at Livorno, are then any other factors or risks I need to take into account?  One long shot event might be the ship having to miss out Civitavecchia completely, although it's probably not worth planning for.

You need to ask and get permission before. There are immigration considerations as well as

ship considerations.

 

Also keep in mind what you eould do if for one reason or another the ship had to miss the next port.

 

Do it without getting permission and there is the possibility that the ship might not let you back on.

[JoePDX]

51 minutes ago, ldtr said:

Do it without getting permission and there is the possibility that the ship might not let you back on.

 

And your passports and potentially your belongings will be left with the Port Agent in the first city.  Always ask.   Has never been a problem for us.

 

We did an overnight off the ship in Egypt and Israel (the ship was also overnighting in both ports).   In both cases our passports were given back to us so we could travel with them.  You should request the same thing.  We saw so much we couldn't have seen traveling back and forth each day.   I disagree with others who have stated "take a land trip"....   One night off the ship is not negating why you cruise.   We cruise to see the world and to identify places we want to return to for more in depth exploration with the cruise experience being important too.

 

Enjoy!   Rome and Florence are both incredible places.

 

Joe

Edited August 14, 2022 by JoePDX

[JackieCZA]

11 hours ago, ldtr said:

You need to ask and get permission before. There are immigration considerations as well as

ship considerations.

 

Also keep in mind what you would do if for one reason or another the ship had to miss the next port.

 

Do it without getting permission and there is the possibility that the ship might not let you back on.

There should be no immigration issues as I'll have a valid Schengen visa and the whole 2 day excursion will be within Italy.  

 

Having the ship not being able to dock in Civitavecchia would be a black swan event, and I haven't made a firm plan B as we don't know where they might dock next; should they have to skip Rome.  

 

In terms of getting permission and consent from the ship, should I contact the cruise line head office before my trip, or wait until aI embark and then discuss it with Guest services?

[LHT28]

5 hours ago, JackieCZA said:

In terms of getting permission and consent from the ship, should I contact the cruise line head office before my trip, or wait until aI embark and then discuss it with Guest services?

Yes  get the permission in writing

If that fails talk to the Purser once on the ship

[Guest ldtr]

9 hours ago, JackieCZA said:

There should be no immigration issues as I'll have a valid Schengen visa and the whole 2 day excursion will be within Italy.  

 

Having the ship not being able to dock in Civitavecchia would be a black swan event, and I haven't made a firm plan B as we don't know where they might dock next; should they have to skip Rome.  

 

In terms of getting permission and consent from the ship, should I contact the cruise line head office before my trip, or wait until aI embark and then discuss it with Guest services?

It becomes an immigration issue because you do not leave that port with the ship.  If the ship gives permission they also clear it with immigration.  If you miss the ship without reporting it will get reported to immigration.  The ship has a responsibility to each location it visits for the passengers getting off and back on board the ship.  Deviations have to be reported.

[Guppy99]

On 8/14/2022 at 1:53 PM, pinotlover said:

Let Destination Services or someone know and get their approval.

 

We did a delightful private tour well out into the Croatian country side seeing from beautiful unique sites. No way was getting back to the ship for, imo, a stupidly early 5:00 departure from Split feasible. We ended out tour in the next port which was Dubrovnik. 
 

What an absolutely lovely town. We had a wonderful dinner and then strolled the enchanting streets without all the cruising crowds. Next morning out on our private tour of the city, with a stop by our hotel to pickup our bags, prior to reboarding the ship by the designated time. 
 

We’re travelers, for us a night in Dubrovnik far outdoes a night aboard. Others have their own opinions on the issue.

 

Truth be told had Oceania done a late departure from Split or particularly Dubrovnik we wouldn’t have spent the night. Guess getting out to sea early and the casino and shops open was more important .

You're making assumptions which are often untrue. There are many reasons why a ship has specific times for entry and departure. That includes port fees, pilot boat availability, other ship schedule etc.  It's nt all about spending more time at sea to make money.

[pinotlover]

22 minutes ago, Guppy99 said:

You're making assumptions which are often untrue. There are many reasons why a ship has specific times for entry and departure. That includes port fees, pilot boat availability, other ship schedule etc.  It's nt all about spending more time at sea to make money.

True. There are also some lines that offer more late departures and overnights at the same ports visited than others do.

[Guppy99]

53 minutes ago, pinotlover said:

True. There are also some lines that offer more late departures and overnights at the same ports visited than others do.

True...and I'm sure that is factored into the cost of the entire trip.

[pinotlover]

5 minutes ago, Guppy99 said:

True...and I'm sure that is factored into the cost of the entire trip.

I wish I had a tape recorder! On one of our longer cruises Captain Max did his usual very lengthy noon announcements. One was exceptional. He talked about the differential costs in port fees in multiple different ports. Differential in fuel consumption at full sail versus maintaining power supply at port and a host of cruise costs.

 

I often wish he had done that lunchtime, over the intercom, lecture as a presentation as an enrichment talk instead of how it was delivered.