Would you like late port departure?

[steveaaaa]

It seems many people including myself like the late departure of the Destiny from Barbados and Aruba.Should the cruise lines try a late departure from other ports?

Steve

[MrPete]

Do you mean embarkation day or general port visits?

 

Or just those two stops?

 

I like the late departures in San Juan, not for the port, but watching all the pretty lights on the other ships also leaving at the same time.

 

Otherwise, I'd like to leave in daylight to see the natural beauty of the "harbors".

 

Being I'm an early diner, sometimes I miss it as we are departing just as we are eating. But I avoid late dining, and will not change it due to the views, and hope I'm at least near a window.

 

On the Destiny, we had the rear corner table for dinner, and the panoramic views during dinner were to die for.

[cruznlobo]

If we didn't leave ports till late, I wouldn't eat dinner on those days. I would be sitting at some beach bar till it was time to get back on the "boat".

[springtxbill]

I think they usually stay as late as they can to allow them to get to the next port for early morning arrival. If it is a short enough trip and they can stay later, then they should.

[serene56]

I am not liking a late departure- Our Miracle is leaving late for our cruise. We cant get on until late-- instead of 11-12 Since I have to be out of the hotel by 11- what am I supposed to do during that free time?? . but on the good side- I will not miss sail away this time.

[IBEEMOM]

I agree with SPRINGTXBILL. However staying late in some ports allows for longer excursions to some exotic places. The most important thing is being on the ship and not home dreaming about one.

[GoinCruisin]

Last year our departure from Coz on the Sensation was midnight... it was wonderful as we were able to spend the entire day in Cozumel... HOWEVER, Coz wasn't serving alcohol that day, so it was rather pointless, LOL...

 

There are other ships that have late departures in ports... just doesn't seem to be many.

[dbcruzin]

The reason for the late departure is late incoming flights......

[sallyb]

GoinCruisin,

 

Why were they not serving alcohol on Coz? I would hate that! What good would it be to go to C&C's?:(

[cruisinqt]

If you're leaving really late like 9 pm or midnight, you're cutting down on the amount of time you will actually be cruising.:( Because no matter how late you leave on the first day, those ships always seem to pull into port on debarkation day quite early. And they start ridding themselves of passengers at the break of daylight. So, in my honest opinion, you're cheating yourself out of valuable cruising time.:eek:

[steveaaaa]

The reason for the late departure is late incoming flights......

What does that have to do with a ship leaving a port a few hours later? When your cruise docks at Grand Cayman for the day, wouldn't you like to stay until 9pm or so instead of the mid afternnon departure?

Steve

[dbcruzin]

I was referring to the original embarkation port....ie, San Juan.......sorry to upset your apple cart.....

[GoinCruisin]

LOL, read the OP's question... this is NOT about what time the ship leaves the original port... it is about what time the ship leaves the ports of call, ie, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas etc. (hence the mention of Barbados and Aruba)...

 

Sally, we cruised over the 4th of July, which is election time in Mexico... they do not serve alcohol in town the day before or the day of elections. If you can find a strictly tourist spot (some of the beaches and Fat Tuesdays were all we found), then they will serve. C&C's is not considered strictly tourist because it is in town, so it was empty :( SUCKED!!!!!

[dbcruzin]

I did read it again.....that's why I said I was sorry....thanks for your input

[GoinCruisin]

Dan, I wasn't responding directly to you.. It just seemed that many misunderstood the original question.... so I wasn't directing that to you... sorry :(

[kujobie]

I posted something similar in the past and was surprised that more people didn't agree. I would MUCH rather have longer time in ports, even if it meant fewer ports. For example, on our Glory-East carib cruise, I would have forgone stopping in Nassau altogether if we could have had more time in St. Thomas and/or St. Maarten. 6-8 hours is just not enough time to really experience what many of these islands have to offer. To each his own, I guess. Some people cruise for the ship time and others for the port time. I'm more into the ports.

[GoinCruisin]

I am tossed on that one.... I wouldn't mind ONE port being a late departure... but if you have 4 ports on a 7 day cruise, and you are there until midnight each night.... I would end up spending WAY more, because I would never go back to the ship to eat, LOL! But, my favorite days are sea days... I would rather do a land based vacation in order to spend a lot of time at the ports... but one late night would be great for me!!!

[bluelghttr]

steve, i am with you

 

one of the things i absolutely love about the 4 day Fantasy

cruise to the bahamas is the 24 hour overnight stay in Nassau

you can go out to the nightclubs and not have to worry about getting

back to the ship

 

shy of a 24 hour stay, midnight works very well for me

I hate pulling out of port at 3 or 4 in the afternoon, especially if its a

tender port like grand caymen

 

as far as island stops go, i think this has been discussed before

but 3 island stops on a seven day cruise, is just the number i like

4 stops on a seven day cruise is a little to port intensive for me.

 

just my 02

Mitch

[RWolver672]

I think they usually stay as late as they can to allow them to get to the next port for early morning arrival.

In most cases, they have to leave to clear the docks for the next ship coming in. They have time slots where they are only allowed at the docks for a certain period of time. We have seen where they pull out, then just go in circles all night long before pulling in to the next port. The Virgin Island ports are notorious for this.

 

On the Destiny before she moved to San Juan and the Victory, we stopped at St. Croix and stayed real late. The Island threw a street party for both ships. That was real nice. Got to do our thing all day, go back to the ship for dinner, then back on the island again for the street party. Sadly, they no longer stop there.

[L_T]

We have seen where they pull out, then just go in circles all night long before pulling in to the next port.

How does the on-board casino play into this scenerio? Don't know it it's true, but I was told that is why you slowly cruise around between Calica and Cozumel, so the casino can open up.

[RWolver672]

The casinos can only be operated in international waters which is usually three miles off shore. That is why they go out to sea and go around in circles. More profit for the cruiseline. (I'm not saying this to be negative either. It's just a fact that the cruise ships make very little money when they are in port.)