staying on boat while docked

Anyone just LOVE or HATE staying on the ship while docked? We will have our kids, and i have been to cozumel, and only plan to do minimal shopping in Hondoruas. Mainly looking for thoughts of those who stay on the ship.

If it's a port that doesn't interest us, staying on the ship is great! Virtually no crowds...it's almost like your own private yacht!

Some folks never leave the ship! So, don't feel you have to get off in every port!

We stay on the ship quite often in Caribbean ports, given that we've been to most all islands numerous times by both land and sea, and we live in the Caribbean! Another beach day is not high on our list. There are some places we always disembark, usually for some local eats and some things we can't do at home - but others we simply don't bother, and just enjoy the ship with less crowds....some examples where we don't even disembark include Labadee, St Thomas, etc..... sometimes, the ship is the destination.

In other parts of the world (AK, Europe, etc), we definitely disembark in every port - that's what we're there for!

Anyone just LOVE or HATE staying on the ship while docked? We will have our kids, and i have been to cozumel, and only plan to do minimal shopping in Hondoruas. Mainly looking for thoughts of those who stay on the ship.

We stayed on the ship in Nassau because we had sailed to the port several times. It was great, Most of the guest were gone, so we had a whirlpool to ourselves for awhile. You're on vacation. You can do whatever you like. Relax and enjoy.

There are a few ports where we no longer get off the ship. You can hang out in the pools (kid appropriate:D) and pretty much have the run of the ship!

We stay on the ship quite often in Caribbean ports, given that we've been to most all islands numerous times by both land and sea, and we live in the Caribbean! Another beach day is not high on our list. There are some places we always disembark, usually for some local eats and some things we can't do at home - but others we simply don't bother, and just enjoy the ship with less crowds....some examples where we don't even disembark include Labadee, St Thomas, etc..... sometimes, the ship is the destination.

In other parts of the world (AK, Europe, etc), we definitely disembark in every port - that's what we're there for!

Too funny, since Labadee and St. Thomas are two ports that we do disembark!!!

We usually stay on the ship in Jamaica and Labadee....a near empty ship is a wonderful thing.

We often stay on the ship if it is a port we have been to multiple times or don't care for just to be able to enjoy things that are normally too crowded. It is wonderful............

We really enjoy staying on the ship when in ports we have been in previously. It's a chance to enjoy areas with out the crowds or just enjoy the view.

Wife almost never leaves the ship anymore. Ship is quiet, but no activities, reduced food choices and no breeze at all

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For us, the ship is our destination. Because of repeat ports, we stay on board where the ship is calm. We also enjoy sitting on our balcony without it being

windy. If our side of the ship faces the port, we enjoy watching things in port,

and, of course, the drunk runners trying to run back to the ship.

Cruzin Lady

As time goes by and especially on port intensive cruises we will pick a port to just stay on the ship. :)

LuLu

It all depends on the ship I'm on. The port. Who I'm with and how long I am cruising. Ie a 60 night cruise I may stay on to recoup or rest

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I like staying onboard at the more frequently visited ports. The ship empties out, the pools and hot tubs are open, the Windjammer is deserted (about the only time I'll go in there), and the gym equipment is all available. Truly, it is a paradise.

Now sea days on the other hand......

We seldom book shore excursions through the ship anymore. It gives us the freedom to decide if we want to get off the ship or not. My wife doesn't like taking tenders into port. Some of the spas will offer discounts while the ship is in port. Some ports, like Belize, we believe are too dangerous to just get off and wander around. Maybe the weather will be bad. It is really nice on the ship when the majority of other passengers get off. Many times we get off the ship briefly to take a walk and then get back on in time for lunch! The beauty of cruising is that you can do whatever you want!

Staying on board while in port is one of my favorite things to do. Often the ship IS my destination and not the port.

It's a chance to enjoy areas with out the crowds or just enjoy the view.

Anyone just LOVE or HATE staying on the ship while docked? We will have our kids, and i have been to cozumel, and only plan to do minimal shopping in Hondoruas. Mainly looking for thoughts of those who stay on the ship.

I love to stay on the ship when its docked/tendered. You can explore all those areas you might not have otherwise had time to see. Get a meal and drinks and not feel like you're in a cattle call, and you get to enjoy the whirlpools and main pool any way you choose. :p

We're going on our 1st cruise in October so at the moment we feel like we SHOULD get off at each port! We have 5 ports days in a row at one point though so may well skip one or just go off for a short time at one or two.

Does anyone go off for a bit and then go back for lunch on board and then go off again? Or is that a lot of effort?

What about on a tender port? Can you go off and on as much as you please? Or it once you've gone off once that's it?

So much to learn about this cruising malarky!

Usually if I happen to stay on the ship, when I get home I am sorry I did.:eek:

We're going on our 1st cruise in October so at the moment we feel like we SHOULD get off at each port! We have 5 ports days in a row at one point though so may well skip one or just go off for a short time at one or two.

 

Does anyone go off for a bit and then go back for lunch on board and then go off again? Or is that a lot of effort?

 

What about on a tender port? Can you go off and on as much as you please? Or it once you've gone off once that's it?

 

 

So much to learn about this cruising malarky!

We've gotten off the ship in Nassau, returned to the ship for lunch, and gotten back off again. All depends on how close the ship is.

You can also do the same with a tender, though you are burning a lot more time because there is more waiting involved with a tender situation.

When we began to cruise 11 years ago, we started by doing 1/2 day excursions, or those that returned to the ship in the early afternoon. At that time we did not know how 'exhausting' excursions would be, and it gave us some time back on the ship, when many others were still onshore.

We loved the quiet of the time, while the ship was less crowded and use of the facilities when their were fewer crowds.

As we now have many more cruises under our belt, there are ports we have been to many times, and have no interest in going ashore for, so it is a 'ship day'.

On our last cruise on Allure, the ship actually was the destination, although we did get off at Cozumel, because there was an excursion of great interest -- Snorkeling with Turtles.

Now we look over the excursions carefully, even before we book a cruise -- just to get an idea of what we may want to do onshore -- but if nothing really hits us; we can just walk off the ship for awhile, for a different type of leisure exercise and then return onboard....or just not leave the ship.

We have a great time, either way.

This is truly a personal decision on what you want your vacation to be. We usually cruise for the ports, so do try to get off the ships for at least an hour or so to see the local culture and taste some of the local cuisine.

Having said that, sometimes there is a port on the itinerary we want that we have been to many times. Depending on which it is we may stay onboard or we if it is one we really like we will do something different. Nassau, we have been, have no desire to go again so stay onboard. Cozumel, we have been to many times, but always find something new and different to do so usually get off and do at least one excursion (private, not ship sponsored).

If you have your kids with you and they have never been why not take them off the ship for a little bit to let them experience the ports? I think it is a great learning experience if you do it right!

We're going on our 1st cruise in October so at the moment we feel like we SHOULD get off at each port! We have 5 ports days in a row at one point though so may well skip one or just go off for a short time at one or two.

 

Does anyone go off for a bit and then go back for lunch on board and then go off again? Or is that a lot of effort?

 

What about on a tender port? Can you go off and on as much as you please? Or it once you've gone off once that's it?

 

 

So much to learn about this cruising malarky!

It can be done, but the effort of off and on and off will depend on the port because of things to do near the ship. In the middle of the day, you can pretty much walk on and off with little delay. The lines can get quite long as sailing time approachees.

Sometimes, we will complete our planned activity and come back for a meal or snack. Afterward, DW and daughters may disembark and check out some shops near the ship while I relax onboard.

You can usually go back and forth on tenders as much as you want, but that's too much of a time consuming hassle for me.

You can usually go back and forth on tenders as much as you want, but that's too much of a time consuming hassle for me.