10 Reasons To Stay On Your Cruise Ship In Port
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- čas přidán 21. 08. 2024
- There are at least 10 good reasons, and times, that you should stay on board your cruise ship when it is in port. Discover the times, and why, you should consider enjoying what your cruise ship has to offer rather than venturing on to land to explore. Cruising is, of course, about seeing places but you are also spending money for a ship that has lots to offer. Find out what and (importantly) when you should stay on board the cruise ship in port.
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Gary Bembridge's Tips For Travellers aims to help you make more of your precious travel time and money on land and when cruising the oceans or rivers of the world. To help you, in every video I draw on my first-hand tips and advice from travelling every month for over 20 years and 60+ cruises.
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Why not do both? I like to go ashore and take a walk. Then I come back for lunch and enjoy the quieter ship, while most folks are still on shore.
Agree , I'll just get off to use my phone , get a souvenir and hop back on for some quiet time.
I did this on my most recent cruise (just got back today). Went to the ports to pick ups some meds and tea as the ship had ran out of chamomile (would you believe it). Then was back for lunch and a siesta or peaceful swim in the pool.
Although if you do that it is actually better to stay on in the morning and go off in the afternoon. The ship is always busier in the afternoon due to how excursions usually work and people self-exploring tend to go in the morning. I find doing it this way round gets you best of both
same here come back to the ship early enjoy the lack of people onboard.
I usually do that so that I can come back on the ship for a free lunch 😊
I think. #1 reason for staying on board... You won't get left behind when the ship sails away.
Lol, very true 🤣👍
When I got finished watching the video I was thinking of the same thing
Left behind !!!!!!!!!! What are you 12. That why they make clocks dumb ass lol
@@landoneley It actually happens quite a lot apparently - and not to 12 year olds, but adults. If you watch Gary's other videos (as well as the comments), you will know that. People can be careless, over-optimistic, bad wih time, dumb, unlucky....that's life.
i am very bad at keeping track of time
so this is the one and only reason i need to stay on board
I don't know how Gary Bembridge does it, but he consistently offers interesting, informative videos, often about issues you might not think of but really need to know. One of the best channels on CZcams.
but he shows the same b-roll over and over
Amazing channel i agree it is soooo helpful.
Agreed and he does it all without clickbait titles, snarky attitude, hyperbole, and goofiness.
@@howardgofstein96948 777
@@howardgofstein9694 make him a new one
I cruise based on Itinerary....so visiting the ports of call is my primary reason for cruising.
Exactly. I did Italy and Greece there was no way I would stay on the ship over seeing those places!
I agree its important to know your why. If i were to go to Greece or Italy, I'd do the port day. But I understand the benefits of staying on board if a partcular port is not the star attraction.
Agree, I’m going on a 16 day cruise (9 of those are sea days) to the South Pacific with P&O Australia. 7 ports total. I’ll have 9 full days to enjoy the ship and 7 partial days to enjoy the ship. For this reason I booked the mini suite and I’m so excited!!!
@@hayleypaigereviews6744
That is awesome!
I didn't even know what Sea Days were back when I started cruising in the late 90s.
My first 4-5 cruises ( 7-day cruises) had no Sea Days.
Did all Caribbean routes out of San Juan.
My first ever Sea Day was on a 7 day cruise out of Galveston in 2003.
I thought it was the weirdest thing.
Back then felt like a wasted day...lol.
Like...what am I supposed to do all day on a ship?.....lol.
But then all cruises after had Sea Days.
So true. Nothing wrong with that. A LOT of people book cruises to visit certain cities on the cruise ship's list of stops.
My husband and I dream of going on a cruise someday, and we plan to spend most of the time on the ship, probably even just on the balcony, talking, reading, watching the ocean. 🌊 All that plus some tasty food sounds very ideal to us!
This sounds perfect. It’s what we’re planning to do.
That sounds really nice!
You have the right perspective. It is a cruise, not a marathon. Relax, have fun with your guy and enjoy the sea.
If you pick a cruise with plenty of sea days, you won’t feel guilty about missing ports!
Reasons I stayed on board:
1, It’s already paid for. Anything you do on land costs you.
2. If its a small town, you will just see the people you were sailing with, no new people or real locals.
3. Easy to get the amenities that are often booked up while you are at sea.
4. The boat is yours.
If you get an all inclusive excursion, you can use that time to get your fill of alcohol, especially if you didn't pay for the drink package
@@JulieWallis1963 no you
Thank you, your advice I appreciate, I have not cruised yet and a bit nervous about the excursions/ports. If the place is isolated, it will be only the people aboard we see
5. I’m boring and old
@@MixologistMilo Me too! my flat feet and swollen ankles inform my adventuring decisions.
Many times we have a quick breakfast and disembark really early, enjoy the sights and can be back on board around noon for a near empty ship. That’s fun.
Tiddles A. Great idea. Best of both worlds
I do that with my family, wake up at 8-9, come in soon later and just relax.
That sounds like my kind of plan!
That’s what my family always does. It’s honestly better !
@@shaniathemen Best part about it is, you do something other cruisers would cry is "evil". What's that? Slip the head chef a $5 and ask for the special dessert early! (I forgot what brand it was on, a passenger said to slap an extra tip in a cook's hand and politely ask for your favorite dessert. With the passengers all ashore, he/she might be much more inclined to honor the request...
I did this when I returned to my cabin late evening to a message my activity for the next day was cancelled. I spent time at the spa - facial n massage. Relax by the pool. Stroll the ship. Loved it. Was relaxed when my group returned for the late afternoon.
My main reason for staying onboard at a Port is because I finally get the opportunity to have a seat on the upper deck. Way too many goons lay claim to deck chairs and chaise lounges and they don’t use them except for a limited time during the whole day. They toss a towel and book on the chair and they are gone for most of the day only to return for very short times. It’s rude and aggravating but it goes on all the time and it’s one of the most irritating things I’ve experienced on Cruises.
As an infrequent cruiser, I found staying on board interesting in order to watch crew activities such as life boat drills, pool life-saving drills, and other necessities needed to be done by crew when many passengers were not underfoot, as it were. Having virtually private dining experiences, vast areas of intimate hideaways to read (an empty theatre or an empty venue with fantastic views as an added feature). And terrific service from bar servers, waitstaff, and more personal attentiveness were great plusses. And Caribbean islands? Love the weather, but "been on one and you've been on 'em all" as I was advised for an experienced cruiser.
I am a similar traveler as you are which sometimes is hard to find. X😊
Thanks, great idea!!!
I’m wheelchair bound and I sometimes skip tender ports as they’re not very accessible. If you’re prepared to do this before you leave home the FOMO is greatly diminished and you’re rewarded with the ship all to yourself.
Do you have a suggestion of a good wheelchair cruise line or ship?
@@p.d.waltman9451 my apologies for getting back to you so late, I’ve only just noticed your question. I find the major cruise lines have excellent accessibility. There’s always a range of staterooms that are wheelchair friendly. These cabins are larger and have a seat in the shower with grab bars. They’re also equipped with an emergency bell in the event of a fall etc. The common areas of the ship are generally all accessible with accessible toilets everywhere. There is usually reserved seating areas in the showrooms. As for getting on and off the ship, the crew will assist when getting on and off the gangway and through security. While I haven’t tried it yet, Celebrity Edge class ships have an accessible platform (know. As the magic carpet) they use when tendering, from what I’ve seen it’s an access game changer. It’s always a good idea to have a look at accessibility options on CZcams, that way you know exactly what to expect. I hope this helps and again, sorry for the delay in responding.
For me ship trumps ports every time.
Rest and relaxation, great food, enrichment and spa deals, it’s great.
I'm the same way. Unfortunately my wife is the opposite. She's constantly dragging me through ports when all I really want to do is stay on board and relax.
@@dougtube9870 - My husband is the same as your wife, busy busy has to go places. Meanwhile I, like yourself, enjoy the quiet and calm.
The reality is we have never been on a cruise because my husband hates the thought of being enclosed on a ship for sailing days. That’s probably why he became an Army officer and not a Navy officer, like his father.
However, the European river cruises are starting to appeal to him. So I might just get him on a cruise ship yet! I’d love to go with all of our children and their spouses. He would definitely go if that were the case.
Fingers crossed!!
I like the time at sea vs port visits. The gentle rocking of the ship putting me to sleep, the salt air, just being out on the water is my favorite part of a cruise. So relaxing.
Me too. But it seems like all the cruises do is take you to cities where you are supposed to shop and spend money.
If I’ve been to the island before, I’ll stay on-board. We book our excursions through the ship so no worries about being left behind.
There's no unwritten rule stating one has to stay ALL day. I'd just go ashore for a few hours, have lunch at a restaurant nearby and make a mad dash back aboard so I can have the pool and dessert section of the buffet to myself. Yes, I'm evil and greedy but it's too good an opportunity to pass up. 😁
Probably half our dozen or so cruises have been the same cruise and itinerary, as most times we cruise for the cruise itself, not the ports of call. The reason we select that specific cruise is it’s the closest cruise port to us, and the easiest to get to, especially as I prefer to drive, when possible, instead of flying. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE flying, and have logged countless hours on small private aircraft buzzing around just for fun, but US airlines and airports, which were never really known as fun nor comfortable places, have become complete nightmares and just aren’t worth it. On top of that, no matter how great, and relaxing, your vacation might have been, ending it dealing with the horrors that are US airports, you end up home from your vacation more annoyed and stressed than you were before you left.
The first time we drove to a cruise, when we got home and were as relaxed and happy as we were while on vacation I noticed almost immediately that something was “off,” and it actually took me a bit to realize that having avoided the stress and annoyances, which are a standard part of air travel in the USA these days, made for a much nicer vacation overall. We were not only more relaxed at the end of our vacation, but we were in a much better mood when we got to the port to start our cruise.
One suggestion I would give to anyone driving to a port for a cruise, at least if it’s further than a couple hours from your home, is to go the day before, and book yourself a room there for the night before the cruise. That way your not racing the clock to get there, and if something happens along the way your not nearly as likely to miss the boat. We usually like to sail out of Baltimore, which is about an eight hour drive from where we live in Western NY, so the day before the cruise, it doesn’t matter what time we leave, be it 6am and 6pm either would see us arrive at the hotel early enough to get a good night’s sleep, wake up, have breakfast and us make it to the port with plenty of time to spare.
One of our last cruises was out of Port Cape Canaveral, which is like an 18 hour drive, and we actually actually drove there as well, but we added another day onto the trip, so we could take our time and weren’t afraid to stop if we passed something that interested us, and it still worked out great. Honestly it reminded me of family vacations when I was a kid in the 60’s and early 70’s, not that we often went all that far back then.
Spa was 1/2 price for a massage with lots of open times
YES! I don't think we have gone ashore on any of our last five Caribbean cruises. We've been there done that syndrome. We treat the ship as our own private yacht.
Nothing wrong with that. I sometimes feel nervous in crowds where space is very limited. I'll go ashore if the next stop is Bermuda or the US Virgin Islands but I'll only have a quick lunch at a local restaurant, shop for only an hour and run run run back to the ship. Still gives plenty of time to kick off my shoes and pretend the ship is mine, all mine!
The best days of a cruise are port days when you stay onboard. 90% of cruise ports are tourist traps. If you want to see a destination fly there and hotel it. Book the most intensive port cruise you can find and stay on the ship.
Great advice!😀
I went on a cruise around New Zealand a few years ago. Although it's a spectacular country, because it's so small, there was a port day every day for over a week. My wife and I felt exhausted. We didn't get any sea days until we made our way back to Australia. If I was going to visit again, I'd probably go for a week or so and drive around at my leisure, then get a cruise with less stops, or simple miss a few and stay on board.
We did the same but being a Xmas cruise we had 2 extra sea days. But the itinerary is fairly clear with NZ cruises. No sea days as there is a new port every day, which is the same for Med and Caribbean cruising. Nothing to see here.
Really depends on the port. If we have already been to a particular place, we might leave the ship for only a few hours, then return for lunch. There are also some places where we have already taken tours on prior cruises, so just remain aboard. There are always trivia games and other things going on, or you can just relax by a nearly empty pool and read.
I just thought of another reason to stay onboard while in port.......booking your next cruise or simply getting information on a cruise you may be very interested in. Most people wait until sea days to visit future cruises, but they’re always crowded and appointments become necessary. Not so in port. Usually the ship is empty as you pointed out.
Good one!!! yes
Ghost 👻 and globulin haunting the ship and you have ✌️ and quiet 🤫 by saying ( where is everybody gone to ,I all alone
I Sailed out of NYC on the Norwegian Breakaway to the Bahamas (7 Days) and stayed on the ship during all of her stops.
This may be uninteresting to some, but I did enjoy the ship during these quiet times. The Breakaway had so many wonderful features that I was never bored on board (haha). The views from the upper decks were sensational. It was a fantastic cruise on a beautiful ship.
Staying onboard can save you money. When you buy a lunch or dinner on shore, that means you have not consumed a meal in the ship's dining room for which you have already paid. If you buy drinks on shore instead of using that onboard drinks package you bought, that is also a waste of money. Most ports of call in a region have the same types of tourist goods in each port, so if you want a beach hat, camp shirt, beach bag or kitschy keepsakes from your travel, buy this stuff at an early port in the itinerary and then skip any further shopping -- your feet will thank you. You can ask someone from your travel party who is going ashore to buy you a few postcards or decals of that port/island/country if you want those things. If you have been to one sandy beach, you have basically seen them all. Unless you are into watersports, laying on a beach towel on a beach is not much different than laying on that same towel on your ship's the pool deck except minus that taxi fare or long walk. And when you choose to stay onboard there is no risk of missing your ship's sailing -- go ahead and fall asleep in the poolside lounge chair. Unless a shore excursion will take you to an experience you cannot have anywhere else (ruins of Pompeii, Hawaiian lava flow...) or you know your travel budget will not give you the opportunity for the experience on another cruise (Alaska wildlife sightings, swimming with the dolphins...) you can avoid the crowds and extra expense by just not going on shore excursions.
I might do this. I've seen Virginia Beach, and yes, while Nassau might beat it, I can just take a picture and ask a friend to buy a small souvenir for us.
I've been to Graceland!
(Well, actually, I flew over Tennessee once and then found Graceland postcards really cheaply on eBay. But that counts, right?!)
@@a2mark57 Made me laugh out loud -- Of COURSE "it counts"!!
Reason 11: You avoid getting mugged by the locals.
True story, nearly happened to my father and I once during a cruise in the Caribbean while docked at Nassau. We'd been there before but there was one specific store that we wanted to visit that was near the docks. We went there, made our purchase, but as we were leaving, dad noticed there was a guy standing outside on a cellphone who started following us. We walked towards another store but dad saw a guy ahead pull up a mask and duck into an alley. We turned into another store first, waiting to see what cellphone guy did. He waited outside the store. We instead left the store and headed back to the ship, passing a few local cops along the way. We made it back to the ship fine but that was the last time we would ever get off at Nassau. It seems Nassau's pirate port history lives on.
I don’t get off there either.
Reason 12: Getting mugged by fellow passengers who know they can get away from it in port.
Reason 13: Getting mugged by Disney characters if you visit Orlando and they force you to buy movie tickets to the newest Disney movie.
😮😮
I agree, sometimes you have a port that isn’t the most interesting. The ship is dead when at port, it’s nice to not have to fight even the ship crowds.
Good advice.
Most days I tend to go out early (about 9) stroll around and come back by 12 before it gets too hot. It would take a lot to make me miss lunch on the ship.
First-time cruisers are often pressured into taking too many excursions, missing out on the relaxation on board.
This is about my speed.
After three cruises I couldn’t agree more. Stay on board at least two or three days when most people have left.
Better than following a person with a flag telling you when you must be back to the horrible bus like a herd of cattle.
That is the main reason I don't do organised excursions. I do my own thing.
I've taken over 20 Caribbean cruises, I live in Florida. Here is a tip: Nassau the Bahamas is boring, except if you like Vegas-style casinos. The Atlantis Casino is a cab drive away, and is very cool to see. The key reason to see Cozumel is to buy prescription drug which are far cheaper than the USA. Key West is wonderful, and you should get off the ship to explore it.
I love staying in the ship when we are at a port because I’m the ship is so quiet. It’s almost like a ghost town. We can do pretty much whatever we want without a big crowd.
Folks, it comes down to this: Some ports are dangerous dumps. Others are wonderful places to explore. Remember: You are on VACATION! If you scamper around at each port, hurrying here and there you will soon poop out and could get sick from exhaustion. Pick and choose your excursions and stay on board when you want to relax. Moderation is the key to good living.
“Dangerous dumps?” Says the man who has never left the ship. 🤣
Drug Gillis Very well put. I’ve often said that one thing I love about cruising is it’s one of the very rare occasions in life when you are truly “off the clock.” By that I’m not talking about work, but life itself. I mean, even discounting work, so much of everyone’s life is run by the clock, but on a cruise ship, unless you want to catch a specific performance, or make a reservation for dinner or a spa visit, then time becomes almost meaningless.if your goal is to kick back on your balcony, alone or with a loved one, kick back, relax and read a book, then it doesn’t matter if it’s 3pm or 3am.
But when you get off the ship, your back on the clock, you can get off the ship after X o’clock your excursion is at Y o’clock and you’ve got to be back on the ship by Z o’clock, etc…, but if your planning on staying onboard then of course, the exact time isn’t important.
@@nunurbizness06- I have left the ship many times, and in turn found that some ports are indeed dangerous dumps. How do you think I found out? Not by staying on the ship. I guess you didn't really think about that when you replied.
Going on my first cruise this June. Thank you for all the information you share. Going to Alaska on Cunard Queen Elizabeth 🙋♀️🇨🇦
Re: Monkey Girl: After 27 cruises I have a pretty good handle of some cruise ports we have visited. Yes, I have been off the ship in just about every port and there are just some not worth the trouble or taking a chance on running into a bad situation.
I can totally relax and unwind at home by taking a day off work and it doesn't cost me thousands.
I say the same thing if I'm paying thousands I aint sitting on the ship
@@77stinkyclam That said, whats the point of paying thousands to be on a ship if you're going to get off it all the time though? That's what I never understood.
At one point, the reason for a cruise was to have the majesty of the ocean. You paid for the opportunity to travel the ocean in luxury. I never understood all the extra stuff like all the Port stops and even the waterpark and shows and everything on the ship.
Wouldn't it make more sense just to go to a waterpark or a show, and leave your cruise ship time to, you know, cruise and enjoy the ocean view?
It can actually be a cheaper way for people to visit multiple places.
I have done this on some of my cruises, when I had no desire to go to the "island resort" the ship brought us to. I'm from Florida, I've had enough sand in my shoes to last a lifetime. I noticed the distinct difference in your videos on the River Cruises vs the Ocean ones. Whereas the River cruise ship has nothing for a guest to do but sit around. You can't eat whenever also, that's a huge demerit on staying onboard for the River ships.
If I spend thousands of dollars to be on such a grand cruise ship, I’ll stay on the ship as much as I can.
I could visit destinations without cruise much cheaply and quickly and stay in the city for few days.
kentokyo totally agree. I go for the cruise not the ports. I have never been at a port that I enjoyed more than the ship.
I have never been on a cruise and my almost 14 year old daughter and I have talked about going on one. I think that I would rather not leave the ship. After this video and these comments, now I don't feel so strange about not going on shore. Thank you.
It’s staycation on the ship!
Really good point!
Sometimes it's lovely to stay on board when everyone else leaves. I did that 2x and have no regrets. 😊
Me & mine love a private cruise in a public setting, because of the convenience of accessibility of all things. We pick a REALLY nice ship because of this.
I’ve done both and prefer staying on board when there are fewer people.
Thank you Gary! I like Gary's style, his matter-of-fact approach to providing information. There is no feeling that he is padding out the time with irrelevancies, it is crisp and to the point.
Well done!
Once you’ve seen Nassau you never need to go back. That’s the day we stay on board.
For sure. "The port of call is Nassau" should be the number 1 reason in this list.
May i ask why? i am looking at a cruise that includes Nassau
Orcas Waling The last time we went we found it dirty and unappealing. The only nice beach available was on a private hotel’s site. You could pay $350 a person to use their beach but we laughed and went back on board.
@@midwestkatie4 I went to a beach 20 min walk away. It was very nice and didnt cost us a cent.
100%
First time was cool...going to Atlantis.
Second time....went to the shops at the port.
3rd time stayed on the ship.
There will never be a 4th time.....lol.
Will not book any cruise that stops at Nassau ever.
Thanks, Gary! Your videos are not only informative; they also answer questions I would have not thought to ask! I am researching a possible solo cruise, and your info is always welcome.
I am seriously thinking of taking a cruise and I have really appreciated and enjoyed your tips on taking a cruise & I subscribed, Thank you. 😊
Take a cruise if you drink like a fish. You will meet lots of drunks. Go if you like really average food Go if you like really small rooms and long narrow hall ways. Talks are to get you to buy things. Took one cruise and learned fly to your vacation and go somewhere interesting walk explore eat local. I will never cruise again It was a waste of money and time.
@@kerrymadgett9852 I don't drink at all
I do try to make it a point to go off shore and spend a bit of money at local stores or restaurants, even a little bit. One criticism of cruising is that they don’t always generate a ton of money for the port communities because cruise goers don’t spend like a normal tourist would, so I try to make sure I spend a little bit at least.
Nice thought.
@@maryherje7120 thanks.
Totally Agree, stayed on boarded while docked in Victoria Canada. Was in the evening and I live 16 miles from Canada . Had the ship to our self's and also the dinning room. best decision ever.
I feel sorry for those passengers who arrived in Sydney Australia recently when it was blanketed in choking haze from nearby wildfires. Even the locals were being warned to stay indoors to avoid a wide range of respiratory problems.
lorrane oh is it that bad?
As a local, it sucks
Great advice. I think we all need a reminder now and then that vacation are about relaxation
I haven't read all the comments maybe someone's mention this. But one of the things I like to do on a port day when there's fewer people on the ship is go to the game room or the library. It's a great time to pull out one of the jigsaw puzzles and work away on it slowly and relax or maybe there's a game you can play if you can find someone else to play with you. In the library of course you can sit in one of the comfortable chairs and just read and plans out the window.
My wife and I did a cruise around New Zealand. Because its such a small country and lots of ports, there were no sea days until we sailed back to Australia. My wife and I did excursions at every port and were exhausted once we set sail back home. If I went back on the same cruise, I think I'd stay on board at some of the stops.
I have been looking at cruises and not taking any for years. I would like the relaxing voyage, the views, and the nice meals, but all the amusement attractions, drinking, dancing, shopping, sports, workouts and shows seem like additional stress to me.
I agree, especially if you’ve visited the ports before or if there really isn’t that much to see in a particular port. No need to rush off the ship on an expensive excursion to see similar sights you’ve already seen many times in the same or other comparable ports. It’s very relaxing to stay on board and read a good book by the pool.
Like having a semi private yacht. You and crew and only a handful of passengers. Heaven
One reason as well is and this happened on my repositioning cruise from San Pedro, California to Vancouver, BC is when we arrived in Victoria, BC we all noticed that at night there was no nightlife in Victoria. A lot of us decided to stay on board and the cruise line had the disco open and we had fun then. So in synopsis it also depends on the port you are in that can determine if you go on an excursion or stay on board. BTW- During the day when my ship arrived in Victoria, I took the excursion to Butchard Gardens and had a fantastic time. My repositioning cruise originated in Tampa Florida and there were people all the way from Tampa already on my cruise who continued with us to Vancouver and even did the Alaska cruise portion as well.
I love staying on board. When we bring the grandkids it is really nice time for them to get to the pool and other activities without a million people!
Spent about 2 hrs at the port in Freeport Bahamas. We were the 3rd Carnival Ship to go after the massive hurricane in 2019. Loved being on what seemed like an empty ship for the entire afternoon.
To each his own. I know it is just a glimpse of a foreign culture but I prefer to walk around and see how the locals live and sample the local food.
You have put me off going on a cruise ......the thought of being trapped on an over crowded ship I’d be looking forward to port days .....and stay on board every time
Then you clearly didn't understand the video ....if you don't want to go on a cruise that's fine but don't use his videos for you not wanting to go ...I mean things happen outside your home all the time ..do you stay indoors ??? No... Your car breaks down...so you never drive again ...NO.... come on now ...
This is why it's wise to research Cruise lines that fit your interests. For my wife and I, we couldn't imagine not exploring interesting port excursions so long as we don't overbook ourselves. For us, it's mainly about the places we are visiting or otherwise we wouldn't have chosen that cruise. That is why we love Viking who immerses you in educational excursion opportunities while also having great food and amenities. This particularly applies to river cruises. Otherwise, one is paying a lot for a floating resort hotel, but to each their own.
I remember going on a cruise with my grandparents years ago (early 2000s) and we stayed aboard one time while we were in port, and it was a lot better since a lot of the ppl got off
Unless of course numerous fellow travelers see this video and stay on board too
#11 - Active volcanoes.
It depends on the port of call. I've only been on one European cruise and I wouldn't dream of not getting off and doing excursions for those. For the Bahamas or Caribbean, I'll usually at least get off the ship to stretch my legs. It's a matter of perspective. When I was flying down the last time to FLL for a cruise, I chatted with a couple who were going for a week long stay in Cozumel at a beach hotel. They loved Cozumel-which surprised me. So I thought, maybe I should try harder to find enjoyable things to do there.
At 72 my stamina and mobility are not great. Lucky to have cruised and traveled a lot in my life. My heart is still wanting and willing to wander around corners and go on exciting excursions but my body not so much. I went on tour to India and just sat out what I felt I couldn't keep up with. Rarely went out to dinner at night with group but spent my time resting up for the next day. The last day I did not go to a fort that I knew would be difficult but had the hotel book a massage for me that included pick up and drop off. Then I got my own moped taxi and went around town to see sights and did some shopping. I was by far the oldest person and just did my own pace in a way that did not affect the group. I am now planning a cruise and I plan to spend a lot of time on ship while in port. It seems the easiest way for me to travel now.
Great info! I’d prefer to stay in the ship when I’ve been to the same port before!
Thanks!!I will be on a Mediterranean cruise in August.I really need to relax on board too.🌷
b1itsjustme Hey!Well..I was there before.I really love traveling and as a doctor,I need to relax ...It will be special this time;Romantic cruise with my German boyfriend.So..land and on board! I wish you a fantastic 2020!!🌷🌷
We do a mix. At some ports we might go ashore in the morning, come back for lunch and then enjoy the ship. We freshen up before dinner and take in the night’s entertainment. If it’s a port we really enjoy, we might not be back until dinner. We enjoy the Eastern Caribbean but how many previous governor’s
mansions or 200 hundred year old churches and forts do you want to see?
I’ve never been on a cruise, nor do I want to, but for some reason I love your videos. I just like your voice I guess. I like looking at the ships but it’s not my style of vacation. I’m not a big eater for one thing. I like staying in one area and exploring it rather than short stops here and there. I’m not an all inclusive person either….I rent houses. But….I LOVE your videos. Thank you!
We usually just get off the ship for first hour in port, able say been there. Then back on the ship.
We did this once on Seabourn Odyssey while docked at Troy. The excursions there just weren’t that appealing to us, we were tired from daily excursions for all six days prior, and we had a great day relaxing by the pool and getting great service.
Am i the only one who goes on a cruise mainly for the ship? I mean the excursions are ok, but i just love exporing and maybe sitting in the library or the pool.
I LOVE just sitting in the ship's library. Those rooms are always so beautiful and relaxing. It's a different world from the rest of the ship.
I agree!! I love sitting in the ship’s library and reading a good book. I don’t enjoy joining in on the sillier ship activities. I’m more of a trivia quiz, lecture, cooking demo type person. I generally seek out quieter areas of the ship.
When I worked, my coworkers would ask me if I relaxed. My answer was generally, I don't go on vacation to relas. Retired now I do. And as you said, we don't get off unless there's something we haven't done before.
I think it depends on how often you vacation and how often you cruise. It is no big deal to not get off at a port if you know you have the time and means to go back if you want to. Limited time and limited budget means I will be checking out every port possible on my first cruise.
Hey Gary. Great video! Unless we have an excursion booked, we generally stay on board. Discovered quickly that walking around the port is a waste of time unless of course you enjoy being harassed to buy things and looking at stall after stall of t-shirts, fridge magnets and pooka shell necklaces.
I’ve been on a bunch of Alaska cruises, always solo, since I live between Seattle and Vancouver. So, I’ve seen most of the ports multiple times.I go to relax, so the last cruise, on the NCL Encore, I got on the ship in Seattle…and got off the ship…in Seattle. Most relaxing cruise I’ve been on.
Sorry, I meant to say Vila. We got on a boat and crossed over to Iririki: we had a blast!
Gary,
You give fabulous presentations. Excellent! Thank you.
2022: I consider the Ship to be the vacation and the destination. I'll stay on board, and have. Thank You as Always
My husband and I really enjoyed our first cruise, though (as it often happens) there are things we'll do differently on the next one. It was a shorter cruise- only three nights with one port of call. I won't state which port it was, but the vendors (many of whom were children) came up aggressively, two at a time with the exact same item, so we felt badly enough to buy from both or neither so as not to make them feel one was favored over the other. We passed up the expensive excursions- nothing we wanted to see- and visited some shops and bought a few lovely handcrafted items. Everyone was either doing the same or getting totally sloshed and screaming in jam-packed bars with other tourists. I know that's how poorer communities earn their livelihood, but we've had better experiences in other cities where we didn't feel the need to stick to a time limit so as not to miss the ship departure. Then we could take our time, talk with vendors and shop owners, and not feel like we were kissing our money goodbye out of a sense of guilt on stuff we didn't really need. And we don't enjoy bars; we'd rather drink in a relaxed setting. Many comments offered the good advice to compromise: disembark early and enjoy the port before it gets too hot or crowded and then head back. Which we did after a few hours, too. Our favorite day was the third one, spent entirely at sea.
Thank you, your advice I appreciate, I have not cruised yet and a bit nervous about the excursions/ports. I like comments from people who have actually experienced these. It will help me plan my first boating experience!
That sounds terrible! I’ve cruised European rivers once and the Adriatic Sea once, neither of which were like that. Not sure, but that sounds like a Caribbean cruise; I’ve never been interested in those.
Aggressive vendors have put me off from ever returning to several places, even though I'd like to go back otherwise. They aren't concerned about turning people off because there's is always another ship or bus about to disengorge thousands more tourists. Being in a small tour group can help since the guides provide a buffer.
As an experienced cruiser who has done several Caribbean itineraries, you are much more likely to encounter aggressive vendors if you wander around outside the immediate vicinity of the port, or if you're not there on a crowded port day with tons of other tourists milling about. This is one reason to stick to an excursion offered by the cruise line, where you have a driver or guides to keep your group away from known problem areas. It helps also to remember that many of these people are impoverished, and a few dollars goes a long way in providing for their families...so they will generally expect & be willing to bargain as long as you are polite but firm, and not rude or demeaning (example, $10 per t-shirt, offer $12 for 2 tshirts). Giving a firm "No thank you" or 'No, not today, thanks" while continuing to walk past will usually be enough for all but the pushiest vendors. Also, use common sense and don't wear designer clothes, carry an expensive bag, or flash jewelry or money around that marks you as a target, and don't wander off by yourself.
Our next cruise calls in to Melbourne. That in itself is a fantastic reason to stay on the ship.
We were in Jamaica and I woke up not feeling well so I stayed on the ship and it turned out to be a nice relaxing day.
There are many people who have taken so many cruises that they've been to all the ports so many times that they've had enough. Maybe there should just be "cruises" that don't even leave the port. Get on the boat, enjoy it for several days, and just get off. This will save a lot of energy as the boat doesn't have to move, no need to have a captain or have any lifeboat safety drill, plus you'll never get sea-sick.
The casino operations occur in international waters.
@@charlesrichards1419 I forgot about that. Then the boat has to move a few miles offshore, drop anchor, then come back to port in a few days. :/
roachtoasties, I've been on one of those short casino boat "cruises" where the ship just goes a few miles out, drops anchor, and you spend a few hours on board before returning to port and disembarking. It was fun even if it wasn't a real cruise.
It's like when a TV host or radio host says don't turn that dial or stay tuned, the first thing I do is move away from that channel or station and likewise I would watch another of your videos right away!
one thing I've found is drinks in port are a lot cheaper than on board. i know lots of people get off and head to the nearest tiki bar, usually very near the ship. Beach bars like Myetts in Tortolla are cheap too. Some go ashore for their cocktails, grab a fridge magnet hop back aboard for lunch.
Our first day on the Oasis, my younger sister and I decided to stay on board in the Bahamas. Whe I wish I had maybe gotten off for an hour, my older sister had been there and said "Unless you want to swim, there isn't much to do. We thought staying on would give us a good chance to explore the ship.
Thanks for the tips, these are great ideas. We're cruising in mid Dec with 3 ports. My plan is to do an excursion at the first port only. Hoping to schedule spa day and do window shopping (or a teeny bit of real shopping) for the 2nd and 3rd ports. I love cruising but sometimes the crowds on these larger ships can be overwhelming...the idea of time away from them seems wonderful.
Doesn't that mean you were on a cruise right at the time that covid 19 was surreptitiously finding its way onto cruise ships all over the world?
@@hooliganbubsy7298 Yes, indeedy! By April of 2020, my doctor and I were convinced that I had covid in Dec 2019. Arrived home on 12/20 and had sniffles on 12/23. On Christmas Eve, had a 101 temp and the sniffles I thought was allergies turned into a dry cough bronchitis-like illness that lasted 5 weeks. Eventually was tested for antibodies which were negative. So, weirdly, looks like I had my first bout of bronchitis-like illness ever at 66. No one else in my group of 11 got sick and I'm usually very healthy (no colds or flu since 2003).
Gary you make the best cruise videos! They fuel the cruise dream during hard times.
Thanks!!
I was just on a cruise that stopped in Puerto Vallarta. The first thing I saw when we pulled into port was a giant Walmart. I felt no need to get off the ship.
Skipped the port that was "all about shopping"! I didn't spend $ for a cruise when i can shop at home. The spa, hot tubs and pools were sparsely populated, no lines for drinks - lots of fun.
If we go to Cozumel one more time I swear I will just stay on board!
You are so right. Cozumel is about as exciting and interesting as watching paint dry. Once is enough. We believe that if you live cruising the ports of call are not always the best attraction.
Find a cruise where there is no Mexico I highly recommend is southern Carribean where is Aruba
@@pouponcrazycat5987 Totally agree!!!!!!
No more Cozumel, Nassau, or Freeport. Definitely spa days.
@@pouponcrazycat5987 Aruba is beautiful, can't recommend it enough,
Me and my sister stay at the port all the time.We get up ,have a nice slow breakfast then do the port straw market.Then we come back have a nice quiet lunch and not fight the crowds. I get sea sickness,found the best time to do the Steak House is first slot before ship leaves.Water is usually quiet.
I actually live on St. Thomas, so I never get off the boat if we dock there…”y’all go struggle with Magen’s Bay…imma get a massage!”
Right? They can check out Nassau, I'll just hang out at the hot tub with the hubs."
I think you have all the time to relax and enjoy the ship while cruising but when in port please yourself. On or off. The tenders are fun.
If I wanted a restaurant, pool, bar, spa and to enjoy my room I would just stay at the hotel three blocks from my house. 🤔
Does the hotel three blocks from you have a regularly changing beautiful ocean view? 😀
Seriously though, I understand what you are saying, but I’d have to counter that if I wanted to truly explore and experience a destination, I’d fly there and spend a couple weeks in the region. Everyone is different, but in my case I mostly cruise for the cruise itself, not the destinations it stops at. I’ve only been on around a dozen cruises, but half of them have been the same cruise, with the same itinerary, simply because it’s the closest cruise port to us, and is the most convenient, although it is an eight hour drive to get there.
When we started cruising I always booked inside cabins, thinking “we’re going to spend our time on deck anyways, so why pay extra just to have a slightly better room to sleep in. And during those cruises we did spend all our waking hours up on deck. But then one year, for our anniversary I decided to get us a nicer room, with an extended balcony, and I’ve never book any other type of room since, as it changed to trip from a cruise were we spent our time surrounded by a ton of people, to almost like our own private little cruise, we rarely left the room and balcony other than meals and an occasional show or some such.
I’ve often said that my idea of a perfect cruise would be a 7-10 day cruise to nowhere, that just headed down into the Caribbean and sailed around the various island chains. As I said above, I love the cruise itself, but the scenery of islands as we pass by areas is very welcome but most times I would prefer that we don’t actually stop in a port
@@johnpatz8395 You just described my perfect idea for a cruise as well. In my opinion the best part of going on a cruise is the oceanview. Wether dining by it, viewing it from your balcony, or from on top of the ship.
You take that away, and aside from the tropical setting, you could basically just go to Vegas instead. I don't think people appreciate the sailing part enough, with all the other things they have crammed in the itinerary a lot of the time.
the ship being mostly empty is probably the best time
Because half the reason for cruising is to go different place and seeing different things without having to pack and unpack every time... at sea days are enough to stay on board...
In 2009 my husband and I spent two days in Venice. The first day we wondered around freely taking it all in and had an enjoyable day. On the second day we were gobsmacked by the hoards of people. Two cruise ships had come into port and it’s no exaggeration to say we just simply couldn’t move. We couldn’t enter stores or eat in restaurants, and couldn’t view the buildings. The difference was chalk and cheese. We were grateful for having seen the place the previous day but we pitied the people from the ships. They’d come all this way to see Venice and their experience of it would have been just awful. I remember thinking they’d have had more fun had they stayed on the ship and looked over the side! Lol
The downside to staying on the ship and it's your 50th birthday is not much is open. The Red Frog Pub was closed and didn't open until 230. I had to wait for my birthday fishbowl until then. Otherwise, yes, it is great to have an empty ship
THIS is my thing with cruising. Unless I never been to the port before and/or don't have a spacific thing to do or see there, I LOVE to stay onboard in port: less crowded, jacuzzi to myself, great offers in the Spa and (dare I say) I feel that the buffet food taste fresher?!? I've done cruises where I only been off in one single port!
At one time, I thought about taking a cruise to Alaska, but after watching numerous videos, I realized that I DO NOT want to be surrounded by thousands of others, whom I have absolutely NO interest in mingling with, that there is NOTHING on these cruises that interest me as far as 'entertainment', that I do NOT want to be in the same space with screaming kids, running wild as they ruin the experience, and being charged for such BS, as part of the 'cruise experience'.
ALL I wanted was to stand/sit on deck, and watch the sea and the coastline, read, sleep, and eat at the buffet.
I would be perfectly happy to have a 'room' as what the crew is assigned to, but ALL these cruise lines want to do, is to promote their cruises as one big social gathering, the very idea of which makes me want to puke.
Stay on board and you have the whole cruise ship to yourself and no pushing and shoving to the washrooms or the dinner table
I haven't been on a ship yet, your videos help me so much to get an idea of what to do aboard, and all the pitfalls to avoid. I'm in Montreal, planning for my future initial cruise, even my mother would like to tag along, we will see! But if she is covering the vacation, I can't say no =)
I hope you took your Mother! One day she won’t be there.
When RCCL stops on coco xay which is hot no shade I dont like the sun. It's too hot the foid it's only hot dogs and burgers. And I only eat. Fruits and veggies
Safety! If you’re not sure of yourself, and you want to avoid becoming victim of crime.
These are all great tips and we have stayed on board the ship for all those reasons!
I have never really skipped a port, but my husband and I have gotten up late, gotten off as our time, had lunch and a little shopping and back on the ship in a couple hours. There are some many times you can see Cozumel
.