Staying on the ship while you are in port?

[jac1976]

My family (DH, 6 yo DS and 3 yo DD) and I are going on our first Princess cruise this August. We'll be sailing Alaska's Inside Passage on the Sapphire Princess. The last port we have is Victoria, BC. I believe we are there from (approximately) 7pm-midnight. We are leaning towards staying on the ship as the behavior of our little ones might not be the best that late in the evening if we tried to do an excursion. DH and I have spent time in Victoria before and have done tea at the Empress and Butchart Gardens, so we don't feel like we would be missing out on anything. Are there things to do on the ship while we are in port, or does it pretty much shut down when everyone leaves the ship?

 

Thanks!

[Loonbeam]

There may not be a lot of activities schedule, and the kids program may be reduced a bit, but all of the venues except maybe the casino will be open, pools, etc.

 

 

My family (DH, 6 yo DS and 3 yo DD) and I are going on our first Princess cruise this August. We'll be sailing Alaska's Inside Passage on the Sapphire Princess. The last port we have is Victoria, BC. I believe we are there from (approximately) 7pm-midnight. We are leaning towards staying on the ship as the behavior of our little ones might not be the best that late in the evening if we tried to do an excursion. DH and I have spent time in Victoria before and have done tea at the Empress and Butchart Gardens, so we don't feel like we would be missing out on anything. Are there things to do on the ship while we are in port, or does it pretty much shut down when everyone leaves the ship?

 

Thanks!

[bdjam]

My family (DH, 6 yo DS and 3 yo DD) and I are going on our first Princess cruise this August. We'll be sailing Alaska's Inside Passage on the Sapphire Princess. The last port we have is Victoria, BC. I believe we are there from (approximately) 7pm-midnight. We are leaning towards staying on the ship as the behavior of our little ones might not be the best that late in the evening if we tried to do an excursion. DH and I have spent time in Victoria before and have done tea at the Empress and Butchart Gardens, so we don't feel like we would be missing out on anything. Are there things to do on the ship while we are in port, or does it pretty much shut down when everyone leaves the ship?

 

Thanks!

Don't know about Victoria specifically, but I often stay on board in port if I'm not interested in getting off the ship - very quiet and you get a sense of having it all to yourself. They do offer an abbreviated schedule of activities. Given the hours in port, there will definitely be dinner service and probably some kind of entertainment going on.

[wilfros]

On our first cruise, Caribbean Princess, I was recouperating from cancer surgery. As a result I was only able to disembark for short periods of time, thus spent most of the port times on board.

 

It is quiet and you do have the ship to yourself, but everything was open,except for the casino. Moreover, the service was wonderful, you get special attention as there is minimal for the serving staff to do when everyone is ashore.

 

I don't know about whether or not there would be a show in the theatre or in the bars, you might want to check that out.

 

Have a great cruise.

[robgvic]

I think you will find that many stay on board. They will be enjoying the last day and doing packing. Just enjoy looking out on my city and do come back again for a longer stay.

[DrivesLikeMario]

Staying onboard while in port is one of my very favorite things to do when I've already "been there & done that"!

 

Sometimes, it feels like you have the ship all to yourself. ;)

[compozer]

We also stay aboard and just sit on our balcony and wait the people. We have been to the Caribbean so many times that we usually take a short alk into town for a hour or so and then come back to the ship.

[NJRonbo]

Staying onboard while in port is one of my very favorite things to do when I've already "been there & done that"!

 

Very well said.

 

This won't apply to your Alaskan cruise but perhaps you can appreciate this coming from someone that has sailed the Caribbean many times.

 

I have been at many ports.

 

I hate getting off the ship.

 

When cruising the Caribbean, there is nothing of interest in the ports you are dropped off at other than shopping for trinkets and getting hounded by natives and people that want to sell you something including time shares.

 

Unless you book an excursion, I don't think you gain much by getting off at a port destination.

 

What you gain by staying on the ship is pretty much having it all to yourself. What a great day to take in the pool and relax in your own little oasis.

[kendon]

Good choice to stay on the ship considering the short time in port and the age of your children. We got off and felt rushed. Enjoy your first cruise! Nice itinerary.

[wilfros]

I think you will find that many stay on board. They will be enjoying the last day and doing packing. Just enjoy looking out on my city and do come back again for a longer stay.

From one Canadian to another.... You have the most beautiful city in our country. You are lucky to be living there, it must be like being on a continuous holiday!

[Cruisin' Chick]

The kids' area should be open. It's been years since our Alaskan cruise, but in Victoria, our 7-yr-old stayed behind and we went off the ship for a few hours. You may need to sign up at least a day ahead of time if you want the kids participating while in port (it may be just watching a video, playing video games for slightly older kids, and perhaps arts and crafts for port and late night kidsitting). The only charge will be if they stay after 10pm.

 

You'll find that some passengers will stay on board. There may be less planned activities, but often movies are shown in the Princess theater. Some people will take advantage of port day specials in the spa. At least one dining room is open for meals. Some people do their laundry. Just the casino will be closed.

[robgvic]

From one Canadian to another.... You have the most beautiful city in our country. You are lucky to be living there, it must be like being on a continuous holiday!

 

Thanks. It is lovely but we tend to take it for granted too much. That is why I travel so that when I get back I can appreciate it again. Well, that is an excuse I use anyway.

[ncovert]

There will be things to do aboard. There have been several different times that my wife and I have stayed aboard and enjoyed the things on the ship. We find that it is also nice to have a few less people aboard to enjoy the things on the ship.

 

Sorry I cannot say anything about that specific ship.

 

Happy sailing.

[jac1976]

Thank you all very much for your replies. Robgvic- Your city is beautiful and is one of my favorites as well. My husband and I spent some time there when we lived in Washington state.

 

I think our plan is to play it by ear, and depending on how the kids are doing and what schedule they have adopted, maybe get off for a bit just to walk around, but not do any sort of excursion where we are married to a specific timeline.

 

Thanks again!

[BosoxI]

Staying onboard while in port is one of my very favorite things to do when I've already "been there & done that"!

 

Sometimes, it feels like you have the ship all to yourself. ;)

 

 

Absolutely. DW and I have a little list where we are perfectly happy to stay onboard. But my favorite "stay on board" was in Civitavecchia. We had come within 10 minutes of missing the departure from Venezia and followed it up with almost missing the departure from Messina. The gang plank had been pulled and had to be replaced to allow us aboard. People lining the decks applauded wildly. I clasped my hands over my head like a champion boxer in my false state of bravado, for my heart was still in my mouth. No way were we leaving that ship in Civitavecchia:p

[TuxedoMan]

Thank you all very much for your replies. Robgvic- Your city is beautiful and is one of my favorites as well. My husband and I spent some time there when we lived in Washington state.

 

I think our plan is to play it by ear, and depending on how the kids are doing and what schedule they have adopted, maybe get off for a bit just to walk around, but not do any sort of excursion where we are married to a specific timeline.

 

Thanks again!

 

Good stuff. DW and I (no kids) did our first Alaska cruise in 2009 and we were a bit strapped for cash, so we got off in each port and did a walk about for as long as we wanted, and then got back on the ship. It was fun.

[Kellie in Texas]

Jac, my kids are not as young as yours (18 and 9, both boys) but they would have absolutely ZERO interest in the gardens. So, I think we're going to get off the ship and just walk around a bit, and maybe take one of the horsedrawn carriage rides. Maybe your little ones would like that. But we will probably be back to the ship early too.

[topspot]

Last year we stayed aboard when our port was Victoria. There was a movie in the main show room. Shrek IV, family oriented.

[cb at sea]

It's lovely being on the ship when the majority of others are gone! It's like your own, private yacht! Yes...there will be plenty to do!

[stoneharborlady]

I may be wrong, but thought the shops onboard closed while in port?

[GBeret]

I may be wrong, but thought the shops onboard closed while in port?

 

Yes, normally they are. :D