Staying on ship during ports, what is there to do?

We have been unable to find anything that floats our boat for our upcoming stop in Progresso. (Excursion wise)

Can anyone who has stayed onboard the ship during a port of call tell me if it is super boring? Is there anything to do? Do they have any activities planned? Are the food venues open? Can you use the water slides?

I really want to find something to do but all the reviews I read for different excursions are so mixed....there are some glowing and some saying horrid (about the same excursion) that I don’t know what to believe. I have been to Progresso before and we did a dune buggy, beach trip and I wasn’t impressed. There will be 4 of going so I don’t want to waste a lot of money on something that might not be good. I am also not comfortable going out on our own there so that isn’t an option.

Any opinions on your experience with just staying onboard would be appreciated. Like did you enjoy the peace and quiet? Did you wish you had gotten off the boat after all? Etc.

Thanks in advance.

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We had planned to stay on board during a recent port day, just to enjoy the peace and quiet. Turned out that about half the ship planned to do the same thing. It wasn't so peaceful or quiet. [emoji3]. There's little to do on board, no planned activities, could be a good time for spa visit.

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There's a bar open. That's all I need.

Easier to get a lounger at Serenity or around a pool.

Food lines are much shorter and easy to get any food you want.

Hot tubs are open.

After 21 Carnival cruises, we have been to the same port many times. Have stayed on the ship quite a few times. Never gets old.

I love staying on the ship during port days! Lines are much shorter! Pools are less crowded. And there is still trivia (one of the few things I enjoy doing other than baking in the sun:))

We stayed on the ship last time in Nassau, and we enjoyed the day having a pretty quiet Lido. The food places are open, bars are open, pool,hot tubs and water slides were pretty empty and was able to enjoy them with hardly any others around. It's a good time to explore the ship and take photos without the crowds. We had brought UNO and got playing cards from guest services and played cards in the atrium after we needed some sit in the A/C time, and the bar had a $1 off drinks special to boot! :D

If you've already done the Mayan ruins, just stay on the ship. If not, they are interesting, about a 90min bus ride each way.

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Shops and casino are closed, at least they were the time we stayed on board in Jamaica.

Everything else is much less crowded.

I wouldn't hesitate to do it again but I enjoy quiet time and alone time.

I don't remember specifically about organized activities. I do remember the chocolate extravaganza at the buffet. Everything looked tempting but few things tasted very good.

Depends on your personality. If I ever cruise solo I might be tempted to avoid all ports since the ship and the ocean are the reason I love cruising.

Everything but the casino and shops are up and running. There is food available, and the bars are open for business. The pool will be MUCH less crowded on a port day. It's very relaxing, staying on the ship when everyone else is gone!

We live the nearly empty ship and pool area.

We have been to Progresso maybe 10 times and the last time finally decided to take the free shuttle into town. They do a little tour of the town then bring you to the straw market. Really neat junk but I can not take the hassle so I bought two items and got back on the shuttle.

It was worth the tip we paid to see the town and make our quick trip to the shopping/

Since we have been on so many cruise and going to America ports many times we do stay on the ship a lot.

It is a good chance to eat somewhere where the lines are usually long (like guys burgers) sometimes we just use it as a time to rest/ it is really a boring day so even if it is only for a hour we usually leave the ship.

We had planned to stay on board during a recent port day, just to enjoy the peace and quiet. Turned out that about half the ship planned to do the same thing. It wasn't so peaceful or quiet. [emoji3]. There's little to do on board, no planned activities, could be a good time for spa visit.

 

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There is a full fun times listing of activities on port days. In Grand Turk the Casino stays open, probably because they own the port. If you are bored on a Sea Day, then you will be bored staying on the ship. We love it on a Princess Cay day. The tenders were a complete cluster. Twice we went down to the lower decks and the lines were ridiculous, so we stayed aboard. Rode the slide several times, Serenity deck was empty, bars were empty no lines at pizza or deli. With so few people aboard the wifi almost worked (LOL)

We really enjoyed our day in Progresso. We took the free bus into town and negotiated with a taxi to go see the flamingoes and a small set of ruins where we were the only ones there!

We have stayed on the ship in other ports but there is a lot to explore in that part of Mexico!!

On the ship we read, swim,maybe book a massage,go to the gym, play trivia, .It's all up to you!

You won't be disappointed too much by staying onboard. The casino and shops will usually be closed while the ship is in port (but not always: at Grand Turk the casino stays open), but almost everything else except "big" events like deck parties will be running: hot tubs, pools, spa, Lido buffet and most eateries (but not usually MDR lunch), etc. will all be open and with little or no waiting.

Enjoy!

Thank you for all the responses. Personally I love sea days and have no problem just sitting around but will have 2 teens along. This shuttle that runs into town, can you just ride into town and ride back without getting off? I’d be afraid I’d miss a shuttle back. Or get lost if we got off. I would hate to be stranded in Progresso. Lol Cozumel that would be almost great!! Not so much Progresso!

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I get that some people prefer staying on the ship at ports they've visited multiple times and that is certainly their business. But it has always seemed to me that even at a port you've been to a few times, it is still easier to find something new and interesting there than on the ship, where you've already spent perhaps a day or two or three and will perhaps be spending another day or two or three. It doesn't compute for me. But again, that is their business and I'm not being critical of them. I just don't understand the logic behind it.

On our upcoming cruise, for example, we will be visiting Grand Turk for the umpteenth time (since Carnival sticks it on what seems like 90% of their itineraries) and it is NOT my favorite port by any stretch of the imagination. But we will get off the ship and visit it once again. Currently we are planning on doing a beach day there, something we rarely do. That will hopefully make the visit interesting and fresh. Unless one has literally been to an island or port a few dozen times, taken every excursion, and explored every corner, it seems a waste to me to stay on the ship. JMHO.

Trivia and perhaps a movie on deck and no lines for food

It depends on the ED what’s happening onboard during a port day. Several times it’s been—

12:00 Trivia

1:00 Trivia

2:00 Trivia

3:00 Trivia

4:00 Trivia

5:00 Trivia

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It depends on the ED what’s happening onboard during a port day. Several times it’s been—

12:00 Trivia

1:00 Trivia

2:00 Trivia

3:00 Trivia

4:00 Trivia

5:00 Trivia

 

 

 

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And usually games not very crowded so better chance of winning:)

It depends on the ED what’s happening onboard during a port day. Several times it’s been—

12:00 Trivia

1:00 Trivia

2:00 Trivia

3:00 Trivia

4:00 Trivia

5:00 Trivia

 

 

 

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That is my favorite type of day!!!!!!

Trivia and perhaps a movie on deck and no lines for food

We live in Florida. So no airline tickets needed' date=' no motel expenses unless we choose to drive a day early......we have been most fortunate. We have been places and seen places I never dreamed I would. BUT..we stay on the ship at ports we have visited many times.

Some like Aruba....I think their duty free shops and trinket booths at the Port are always worth visiting. And the Trolley ride on Curacao...a must. The Mall of the Caribbean (? forget the name) in St. Marten....inexpensive perfumes and such, From France.

Staying on ship...................[left']I buy the cheapest WiFi package. I go check news sites on Stay on ship days. Very Quiet there. I am a bit of a political junkie but old enough to know to keep it to myself. [/left]...Reading with no interruptions. Watching movie on demand. Trivia. Eating lunch with less people. I am 71. Sitting and drinking a skim milk latte and watching people go by..............knowing I am not cooking or cleaning for 8 days........................Delightful

Happy Sails to all!

You could always take a nap or go to spa, lounge on the deck

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I look to Shore Excursioneer for alternative excursions. A lot of them are similar to what the cruise lines offer but sometimes they have something different. Maybe take a look at them in case they have something that appeals to you?

Go to Uxmal. Best excursion ever (except for submarine in Grand Cayman). There is a small "shopping" area right off the ship, but in reality you are 5 miles from town, and town is rather nasty. I would love to go back to Progresso, there are so many Mayan ruins to see, a way to see the country side, and unique foods to try. I only stay on the ship when the weather is bad, and I'm in Nassau. And yet there is more to see there too.

Have a good cruise!

Even if you do not do an excursion, it is often interesting to just walk around the port area. There's usually shops and bars right near the ship. If nothing else, it is good to go for a walk and see the activity around the harbor.