Staying on ship when in port-what to do?

[ECD23889]

We've cruised twice before, but always got off the ship and explored the islands either on our own or through planned excursion. This time we are travelling with some folks who prefer not to do that and wonder if there are any activities available on the ship while we're in port.

We'll be on Adventure of the Seas and wonder if the rock wall, mini golf, ice skating, pools, hot tubs, etc will be able to be used while in port. Does anyone know?

Thanks

[betcat]

You can also do the spa thing. They offer better deals in the spa on the days at port. The have to drum up more people because most passengers are off the ship.

[lovn2liv]

you can always check out some of the copies of the daily papers that cruisers have posted. They should give you some idea as to what is available while ship is in port.

 

We have stayed back on some ports during our cruises and loved it. If you like the ship you are on, you have it all to yourself. Poolside chairs, quiet atmosphere, no crowds. Love it.

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

I often stay on the ship during port calls in places I have been before such as Grand Cayman which has little to offer for my taste. Anyway, just to add here...the shops won't be open and the casino is not open.

 

The ship is very peaceful and relaxing in port when most people get off. It is easier to find a nice place to sit, read and relax. The putt putt golf course is easier to get on. The basketball court isn't taken over by pre-teen boys. Fewer people are at the table tennis tables. The Windjammer or ship's buffet is less crowded. Elevators are easier to get. The gym is less crowded.

 

The only thing I would change is to open the shops because if you would like to buy a magazine or book or need toiletries or something, you can't do that.

[ECD23889]

Thanks for the suggestions and information! And in case anyone else is interested here is a link to various past cruiseline daily lists of activities. www.cruisedailies.com.

Thanks everybody!

[wrp96]

Pool and mini-golf are open 24 hours. You can get a spa treatment. Go to a bar. The rock climbing and ice skating are open limited hours each day, and that may or may not be while you are in port, you will have to check your compass for that.

 

I stay on the ship usually at least one port a cruise.

[Krazy Kruizers]

We have stayed on ships many times when we have been to ports that we have been to many times before. You can always find something to do - it is never boring on a ship. You will find even fewer people around the pools.

[momofmeg]

We've cruised twice before, but always got off the ship and explored the islands either on our own or through planned excursion. This time we are travelling with some folks who prefer not to do that and wonder if there are any activities available on the ship while we're in port.

We'll be on Adventure of the Seas and wonder if the rock wall, mini golf, ice skating, pools, hot tubs, etc will be able to be used while in port. Does anyone know?

Thanks

 

You do not have to stay on ship just because they do-we often go with friends on cruises-we meet for dinner-enjoy the shows together, but we may or may not do the ports together.

 

My health is not good-so often I stay on ship, read a book and enjoy the pools. Hubby loves scuba diving-and to -go-go-go! I let him!

 

Often too when hubby wants to do a 100 differant things in port-I shop on my own or take a short excursion on my own-heck I know I will see plenty of him later!

 

This is one reason why we love cruising so much! We each do what WE want.

[momofmeg]

Pool and mini-golf are open 24 hours. You can get a spa treatment. Go to a bar. The rock climbing and ice skating are open limited hours each day, and that may or may not be while you are in port, you will have to check your compass for that.

 

I stay on the ship usually at least one port a cruise.

 

Yes if you are on a RCCL voyager class ship I guess.

[agabbymama]

I don't get it? Why would you go on a cruise that is going somewhere you don't want to see? At the cost of the cruise, I would certainly want to see everyplace we stopped. The ports are the reason to travel, the ship is only the means of tranportation. And why would you go back to someplace you had already been if you didn't like it? What am I missing here? I have to really like a place to return a second time.:confused:

[Trevoli]

There are any number of reasons to not want to get off the ship while in port:

 

you don't like the port. I wasn't particularly enamored of Jamaica (Ocho Rios), so if I were on a Western Carib cruise again that included that stop, I'd probably pass.

 

you've been to the port before. I've done the 3-night cruise to Ensenada out of San Pedro several times. For me, it's more about the long weekend getaway than the destination itself, so skipping Ensenada is no big deal.

 

the ship is the destination. The design features on some of the newer ships are more appealing than the port. I've been to several islands in the Bahamas, but really wanted to sail on the Explorer (this is several years ago), so when she stopped in Nassau, I chose to stay aboard and enjoy the ship.

 

you just need some rest! Some of the Caribbean itineraries are very port intensive, so skipping a port in favor of sleeping in (and being able to stay up late the night before, knowing you can sleep in) and having a leisurely day with the ship to yourself can be very appealing.

 

All that being said, of course, sometimes it DOESN'T make sense. I'm drooling over a Med/Greek Isle cruise next fall. This itinerary has 11 stops in 12 days and I wouldn't dream of missing a single one. Who knows when I'll be there again, if ever. The thought is both exhausting and exhilirating, at the same time.

 

T

[wrp96]

I don't get it? Why would you go on a cruise that is going somewhere you don't want to see? At the cost of the cruise, I would certainly want to see everyplace we stopped. The ports are the reason to travel, the ship is only the means of tranportation. And why would you go back to someplace you had already been if you didn't like it? What am I missing here? I have to really like a place to return a second time.:confused:

 

I'm going on an 8-night Eastern Caribbean cruise next February. I love the true Eastern Caribbean ports but almost all Eastern itineraries include a stop at Nassau. I've been there, done that, wasn't my favorite port. So I stay on the ship to take advantage of the discounts that are offered in the spa on port days. I'm still going to get off the ship in the other 4 ports. For me, the ship is as much a destination as the islands.

[agabbymama]

Guess we all have differing opinions. I don't see the ship as the destinations. I see the ship as a floating hotel. I book a cruise when it's not feasible to get to the locations any other way (Alaska - Sitka, Ketchikan, Juneau, Glacier, Inside Passage, Anchorage) Driving a car just isn't possible, and flying is wayyyyy to expensive, yet I wanted to see these ports. Also have a Canada/New England (Boston,Bar Harbor, Portland, Halifax, St. John and Quebec)cruise booked in Sept. The ship is the affordable hotel/transportation to do this. Now that I have visited, Alaska, while it was absolutely fantastic, I doubt I will ever return there. I've been to Jamaica (land based) then took a cruise our of Puerto Rico to St. Martin & St. Thomas (nothing else in the Caribbean I want to see). Took a cruise to Puerta Vallerta, Mazatlan and Cabo (no reason to ever return there). Took a cruise from LA to Vancouver (Victoria was lovely). While I have flown to many land based places (Australia twice, Hawaii three times, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, England, Greece, Italy, Hungary twice and Tahiti) I doubt I will return to any of them. Once you've been there, seen and done that, no reason to go back (unless you make friends). Too many new places in the World still to explore. I cannot envision just being on the ship doing absolutely nothing. My two weeks of vacation per year are too precious to waste like that.:p

[Trevoli]

I guess it depends on what you/others consider a waste of time. For you, it's a waste to be in a port and not explore it. For the most part, I absolutely agree.

 

For others, enjoying the solitude on the ship, getting a reduced-price spa treatment, etc. is not a waste of time at all, and sometimes I fall into that category.

 

T

[critterchick]

I don't get it? Why would you go on a cruise that is going somewhere you don't want to see? At the cost of the cruise, I would certainly want to see everyplace we stopped. The ports are the reason to travel, the ship is only the means of tranportation. And why would you go back to someplace you had already been if you didn't like it? What am I missing here? I have to really like a place to return a second time.:confused:

 

Maybe the OP's travel companions have limited mobility. Maybe they love to be onboard a ship. My FIL is retired Navy, and can't get about in ports, but he just loves to be onboard a ship and watch the goings on, so cruising is a wonderful vacation for him.

 

And the ports aren't always the reason to travel. We sometimes need to get away for a long weekend - we could drive or fly to Vegas or drive up/down the California coast, but we choose to drive to the port of LA and hop on Monarch of the Seas. She's not the newest ship in the fleet, and sometimes she's overcrowded, so when we get to to sole port of Ensenada, we stay onboard to enjoy a bit of solitude. With our busy schedules, having a few hours to sit and read a book is a real treat. Doing so with the sea right next to us is icing on the cake. Yes, we could stay home and read a book, but have you ever tried to get a Border Collie to bring you a lemon drop martini?

 

Please don't be so quick to conclude that a choice other than the one you might make is a waste of time.

[momofmeg]

I don't get it? Why would you go on a cruise that is going somewhere you don't want to see? At the cost of the cruise, I would certainly want to see everyplace we stopped. The ports are the reason to travel, the ship is only the means of tranportation. And why would you go back to someplace you had already been if you didn't like it? What am I missing here? I have to really like a place to return a second time.:confused:

 

Well I just love cruising and because of the closeness we have cruised the caribbbean many times. I am sick of Nasseau and Cozumel-so I usually stay onship inthose ports. We do try to go somewhere extra special at least once every 5 years. It is just for us the carbbean is much more affordable.

 

I love the being on a ship as much as where it goes! So soothing and relaxing! A great stress reducer!

[infoprof56]

Guess we all have differing opinions. I don't see the ship as the destinations. I see the ship as a floating hotel. I book a cruise when it's not feasible to get to the locations any other way (Alaska - Sitka, Ketchikan, Juneau, Glacier, Inside Passage, Anchorage) Driving a car just isn't possible, and flying is wayyyyy to expensive, yet I wanted to see these ports. Also have a Canada/New England (Boston,Bar Harbor, Portland, Halifax, St. John and Quebec)cruise booked in Sept. The ship is the affordable hotel/transportation to do this. Now that I have visited, Alaska, while it was absolutely fantastic, I doubt I will ever return there. I've been to Jamaica (land based) then took a cruise our of Puerto Rico to St. Martin & St. Thomas (nothing else in the Caribbean I want to see). Took a cruise to Puerta Vallerta, Mazatlan and Cabo (no reason to ever return there). Took a cruise from LA to Vancouver (Victoria was lovely). While I have flown to many land based places (Australia twice, Hawaii three times, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, England, Greece, Italy, Hungary twice and Tahiti) I doubt I will return to any of them. Once you've been there, seen and done that, no reason to go back (unless you make friends). Too many new places in the World still to explore. I cannot envision just being on the ship doing absolutely nothing. My two weeks of vacation per year are too precious to waste like that.:p

 

How arogent. You have been amazingly lucky to be able to travel to so many places and I think it is great that that is how you like to spend vacation. Most of my vacations, when I have been lucky enough to even be able to take them at all have been to places like the nearest beach for a week where we do little more than sit and watch the waves roll in and read. Many people use their vacations to relax not to see and do. Not that I don't like to see and do when i can afford to do so. There are as many ways to vacation as there are people in the world. Some people just love to cruise and being on the ship by the pool is a treat, others want to do every possible thing in a port. All choices are legitimate and to think yours is the only right choice is absurd. In my opinion, you should enjoy the way you travel and respect other's choices and understand not everyone can tour the way you do. Sorry if I offended anyone, but I had to get that off my chest as I was personally offend to see someone apparently telling other's that their vacation choices were a waste of time.

[agabbymama]

infoprof56,

 

Sorry I offended you, but as you said, we are each allowed our opinions. Just because we don't happen to agree doesn't make one of us right or wrong. Have a great day.:p

[ECD23889]

As the OP perhaps I should clarify my reason for asking the question which seems to have generated quite a few differences in opinion. Since we always got off the ship at every port and were gone the entire time we were in port, we were not sure what was available to those who chose to remain on the ship. I had been told that everything closed up - pools were drained, spa and shops were closed, you couldn't rock climb, mini golf, skate, use the hot tubs, etc and I was looking to see if this information was accurate. One couple with whom we are travelling has expressed interest in remaining on the ship and we wanted to let them know what they would be able to do.

 

Thanks to all of you who helped to clear this up.:)

[Silvery Seas Cruiser]

I don't get it? Why would you go on a cruise that is going somewhere you don't want to see? At the cost of the cruise, I would certainly want to see everyplace we stopped. The ports are the reason to travel, the ship is only the means of tranportation. And why would you go back to someplace you had already been if you didn't like it? What am I missing here? I have to really like a place to return a second time.:confused:

 

The intineraries of many ships are varied but often include a port or two we've been to before. It is hard to sail the Western Caribbean, for example, without ending up in Grand Cayman. Don't know why, but ships just love to stop in Grand Cayman. Cozumel is another regular stop.

 

If you do the Eastern Caribbean, ships seem to favor San Juan. Many ships also stop in Nassau. So there may be varied ports, but some repeat and you have to stop where the ship stops, so you might end up in a port you've seen several times before in order to get to a port you haven't seen before.

 

Here's a specific example from my case. We loved our trip to the Panama Canal on Brilliance, but the trip included a stop in Aruba. I discovered I did not care for Aruba. But we loved the cruise and will repeat it next year. Luckily for us, the ship now has a new stop in Cartagena, Colombia which I look forward to seeing, but when the ship stops in Aruba, I'm staying on the ship and have no compunctions about missing Aruba at all.

[agabbymama]

It appears that lots of folks cruise the same places, the same itinerary over and over again. That's not something I would do. Once would be enough for me. There is so much of the World yet to see, I move on to new places and new faces.:p

[hajekfam]

We stay on the ship while in ports that we have been to before. On Celebrity, the pools and hot tubs are open provided the weather allows. We do enjoy our "nearly private" pool where we can find a seat anywhere we want.

For us the ship is our vacation, the ports are just gravy to add as much or as little as we want.

[Maria1879]

This is helpful information. We are planning a cruise next year with our mom, who is disabled. She will not be able to physically do all of the excursions, but doesn't want us to miss them. I'm glad there are things to do for her, to enjoy herself and socialize and relax, during these times.