What are your expectations?

[temple1]

No, not about Royal Caribbeans ships and cruises, but the ports you visit.

I was reading the = don't bother with this port topic and was wondering what other cruisers want in a port. Me, I can get beach all day long so that is not an issue. If and when we take longer cruises we have one beach day at a really gorgeous beach - that is good, but I don't look at the beaches of every port we visit.

In Belize we did the ships tour with the bikes in the Rain Forest - between the guide on the way to the destination and back and the trip through the rain forest, we learned a lot about Belize's culture and history. In Nassau we have taken about every walking trip and tour of the island.

In Grand Cayman I made the mistake of not making plans and we ended up disappointed walking around a tourist town looking at the same tshirts and bags in 10 different shops with lunch at Margaritaville. That made me realize the importance of knowing something about my destination and having a plan.

I guess I'm puzzled by people who judge the worth of the port by the quality of the beaches.

[PattyG12]

In a new port, we always try to either take a pre-arranged "local tour" or find a cab driver to take us around to the local town. We've been lucky. After that we find somewhere to wander in case there isn't something special we have planned. I like beaches but honestly, I can "beach" anywhere. Stingrays are only in Grand Cayman, Duns River Falls is only in Ocho Rios. We try to do at least one "only in ...." thing at each port if it's our first time.

After we've been to a port, we usually wander a while and then head back to the ship. Walking on the beach is nice. Having a drink on the beach is nice.

[Cruise_Kitten]

I've only done one cruise and from that cruise i figured i will never be darkening Belgiums door again, not that i didn't like it, it was just not for me.
For me it's still a holiday so what do i want out of the ports i visit?
Well i want to learn a bit about the place that I am in. I would like to know a bit of history about the place that i am in and soak up a bit of the culture. I like the unusal gift that will always remind me of the place that we have been to. I always like to do something memorable, something that will stick with me forever. Bruges was climbing up the bell tower and looking at the amazing view. Everywhere i have been i always have the one memory that stands out above all of them.
So do i expectr from a port? The same as i ask from any holiday, a part that gives me the one memory that will last me a life time, be it sitting on a nice beach with a cocktail in my hand or wandering around a historic place.

CK x

[Ocean Boy]

I try to find something unique about each port to go visit. I love seeing interesting topographical features or architechure. We will usually make a trip in the morning to somewhere on an island and then spend the afternoon closer to port. For examples, in Barbados we made a trip to the caves. In Antigua we made a trip to Nelson's Dockyard and Shirley Heights. In Aruba I love the topogaphy on the shore opposite the capitol. On St. Lucia is was a trip to the drive in volcano. I do a lot of reading before we ever get to an island. I always like to arrive with a plan in mind.

We never look for beaches to go to as I can do that all summer long just by walking down the street.

[cb at sea]

I don't care about the history, culture or architecture of a port...I really don't! I LIKE the beaches! We're not into snorkling, but we do like to play in the water!
We always use a guidebook prior to our trips, so we'll know what is available. If there's something other than a beach that interests us, we'll do it...if not, it's a beach day!

[SWACK]

We love the sights and experiences. My Irish heritage makes lengthy beach visits a painful memory. I research everything well beforehand, and know much about where we are going. We try to take a tour in the AM, and then comeback to some of the things that we enjoy..

[MAZANDSTEVE]

We booked the ships tours for convenience but picked the tours that gave us a bit of insight of the country and scenery we were visiting. I can go to the beach anyday, we live right near one.

[marci22]

So far, I can't blame Royal for my experience in any port. I have the choice, from the start, to select my itinerary. This means selecting the type of vacation I want before I make a deposit. It is so important to do your own research and have a plan. Once you have done this, your expectations will be more realistic.

Things are not as successful if you just post, "what is your favorite tour?" If you have done your research, you should have a good idea of what is possible. A quick answer from someone on a forum might give you a lucky break, but in most cases I think it leads to unreasonable expectations.

So google before you go.

[andrzej5914]

We live right on a beautiful beach so the beach thing is not for us. Adventure excursions, such as scuba or jungle/rain forests exploration is preferred. Historic sites are also on top of our list.

[RetireeWannabee]

We like to explore the historic sites, my husband loves architecture, we like to get immersed in some of the culture so any festival going on is of significant interest. We do plenty of research before any trip so know well in advance what our top interests are for the port. Rain doesn't interfere.

The active excursions are probably a ton of fun, but I figure I could do those in places I've already been so I don't miss seeing the sights. I then have to contradict myself because dog sledding on a glacier was awesome fun, but it was also on top of a breath-taking glacier that we had seen from the ground earlier that same day. I imagine ziplining does show you the sights, but I would be terrified and probably have my eyes closed!

I don't cruise for beaches, I can get to those way less expensively and stay much longer.

[Happy ks]

We're a 20 minute drive from the beach, so beaches on a cruise would not be our main interest, but I can completely understand the desire if you don't live close to the ocean. If that is typically all that is available in a port, we enjoy it, how could you not enjoy a gorgeous beach?

I've not cruised the Caribbean (yet), my husband has. To be honest with you after all the years here on CC, I have little interest in visiting the Caribbean ports I read about here. I think we'd have to do a longer Southern Caribbean cruise that doesn't go to the "typical" cruise ports. We're just not into souvenir shopping or massive crowds with 5 ships in port at a time.

The cruises we've enjoyed the most are the ones where we do a historical or cultural tour. We've done this in the Med, Alaska and Hawaii and a bit in Mexico, although Mexico is last on our list. We've got one on the books for a wine cruise up the Pacific Coast and would love to cruise Canada/New England if we can board or disembark in Quebec.

[printingchick]

As an obsessive/compulsive planner type, I do a lot of research before my cruises to determine what are considered the highlights of each port. I also look over all the possible excursions and read the boards here for advice.

In Curacao, we grabbed a cab and visited Hato Caves. It was such a different thing to do on a cruise vacation - to go underground and tour caves!

In Barbados this year, we'll be doing the cheesy Pirate Party Boat excursion. It won't give us the ability to see much of the island, but sometimes it is fun to do these really hokey activities and it seemed appropriate for our last port of call.

I'm not a shopper and I couldn't sit on a beach at every port. I like to vary my activities so that I'm doing really active things some days and more leisurely things on other days. I tend to prefer the more active excursions - hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, etc. However, I've learned that port-intensive southern Caribbean itineraries can be too exhausting if you try things like that at every port. We missed most of the nightlife on our first southern Caribbean cruise for that reason. So now, I try to schedule some beach days or late-in-the-day excursions so we have some time to rest up!!

I've never booked a bus tour at any island because the idea of sitting in a bus and just driving around sounds too tedious. However, on upcoming cruise (#9), I actually booked such a tour on St. Kitts. Taxi's are costly there and there were a few highlights I really wanted to see. A tour provided the best bang for the buck!

I tend to prefer the lesser developed islands to the really touristy ones. St. John, a short ferry ride from the more touristy St. Thomas, is my favorite port. Dominica, with rain forests and amazing waterfalls, is my second favorite port.

Variety...I guess that's what it boils down to. That's probably why I enjoy cruise vacations. I can visit so many different places on one trip and see so many different things. I just love it!!

[Desert Cruizers]

I research each Port, and my DH & I prefer seeing the Villages, & takeing tours that show how the people live, wildlife and the countryside. One of our favorite tours was on St Lucia, a Catamaran & Lunch, with a private Beach swim. Granted that was off our normal path but friends were doing it so joined them.

[cruzeluver]

I research every port we are scheduled to visit to find out the "must do's".

If its history or geography, we'll do a tour.

If its water-related, we'll snorkel.

If its some kind of adventure thing (ziplining, rafting etc.) we'll do that.

And we always manage to sample some kind of local food. Wouldn't catch me dead at a Margaritaville, Carlos and Charlie's or ANY chain food place.

Our approach has worked so far. We have yet to be disappointed in ANY port we have been to.

[alphakitty]

I cruise in winter to get away from the snow and cold. I love to hit the beach to do some snorkeling and just gaze out at the beautiful blue water and tickle my toes in the soft sand. The beach, turquoise water and snorkeling are highlights of my port days.

I do enjoy island tours too. I love architecture and history, so will seek those noteworthy places in a port also.

[Ocean Boy]

Originally Posted by cb at sea

I don't care about the history, culture or architecture of a port...I really don't! I LIKE the beaches! We're not into snorkling, but we do like to play in the water!
We always use a guidebook prior to our trips, so we'll know what is available. If there's something other than a beach that interests us, we'll do it...if not, it's a beach day!

I guess that explains a post that you made a long time ago, which I have never been able to forget, that once you have seen one island you have seen them all. Of course, that couldn't be more wrong but at least I now understand it.

[TEXASMUNK]

You read so many threads about what a dirty little port town it was or how it was high tide and the beach was no fun.....
If you put on blinders, you ain't gonna see nuttin!!
It truly is up to the individual to seek out points of interest, focus on your likes, avoid assumptions....
We are beach folks and snorkeling is a key for us...so we have made sure we do things that are different. One example...go to the other side of the island in Cozumel...empty beaches, beautiful water, great fresh fish, cold beer and a totally different world than the dock side of the island..
Great Thread OP!!!

[Islandbear]

I always try and get as far away from the Port as I can. Grab a taxi and head to a quiet beach, historical site, natural wonder, charter a sailboat, or just find a great fish shack and hang with the locals. Each Island is so different once you get away from the T Shirt shops and Hard Rock Cafés.

But there are some "Must See" sites, but even those are best seen by Taxi so you can be incharge of your time and itenary. I hate going on a rainforest tour that spends 2 hours at some shopping mall, 30 minutes at the rainforest gift shop, and an hour at some mountainside restaurant for a "free" painkiller.

[Shooraq]

I think it depends on where you are going. First time on an island, I want to do some cultural, historical, or sightseeing excursion. Especially since over the last couple of years, my husband and I have gotten into photography, I want to discover the lush landscapes of wherever I go. Alaska was all about the sightseeing. Next week, I go back to the southern caribbean (my husband's first time) and wanted to do shorter scenic tours.

We are not beach people, nor drunken party people, so locations that primarily cater to those are not of great interest to me. I already saw Antigua a few years ago, for instance, so I will jsut stay on the ship that day and hang by the pool.

I have also learned to do excursion mainly in 3-4 hours. I want to be able to relax and not feel like I need another vacation to rest from my cruise!

[temple1]

Thanks for the thoughtful responses. Sometimes when reading the boards I thought I was the only one who didn't automatically seek out the local beaches.