How to calculate port arrival/departure times?

[anonmom]

I am booked on my first cruise in January 2016 (NCL Jade) and I am unsure how to calculate how long we will have at each port and when we have to be aboard.

 

Our itinerary shows the following:

 

Day Port Arrive Depart

Sat Houston ---- 4:00 pm

Sun At Sea ---- ----

Mon Cozumel 10:00 am 6:00 pm

Tue Belize City 9:00 am 6:00 pm

Wed Roatan 8:00 am 4:00 pm

Thu At Sea ---- ----

Fri At Sea ---- ----

Sat Houston 8:00 am ----

 

But then it says:

 

"Due to security reasons, all guests must be on board 2 hours before sailing. Disembarkation usually begins 2 hours after docking. Itineraries are subject to change at any time without notice."

 

So, how do I interpret that? For example, on Monday, does the ship dock at 10 am and we can't get off to see Cozumel until noon? And then we have to be on board by 4 pm, leaving us 4 hours to explore?

 

Or do they mean that we actually get in around 8 am, but can get off the ship at 10 am, and then have to be back on the ship at 6 pm, so that the ship can actually pull out of port around 8 pm, which would give us 8 hours on shore?

 

Thanks in advance!

[fishywood]

The "2 hours" clause only refers to embarkation and disembarkation at the start and end of the cruise. This is just one of many notorious confusing clauses on NCL's website discussed daily on their board.

 

In ports "all aboard" is usually 30 minutes before the listed sailing time, though at tender ports you want to be at the dock at least an hour before. As for arrival in ports, much of the time the ship will be alongside earlier than the listed time aiming to be cleared to let passengers off at said time. But with the crowds of fellow passengers all wanting to be the first off realistically you can plan 15 to 30 minutes after arrival time as the earliest (assuming you are trying to plan a private tour or activity).

Edited August 26, 2015 by fishywood

[runner15km]

All port times published before departure is subject to change. Once on the ship the daily cruise newspaper will be up to date.

[Krazy Kruizers]

That 2 hour time frame refers to embarkation day.

 

For each port you need to be back on the ship 1/2 hour before the ship sails. Those times will be listed in your daily program which you get the evening before.

 

If you are on the ship's excursion and something happens on the bus, etc., the ship will wait for you.

 

But if you are doing an independent excursion and run late -- the ship will not wait for you.

[kitty9]

Also be aware that if your port is a tender port, meaning that it's a port where your ship can't dock and you need to take a small boat to the shore, you'll have to be on the last tender, or even one earlier, so you're back on the ship 45 minutes before sailing.

[Keith1010]

On Monday you will arrive by 10:00 AM and will likely be off ship by 10:15 and need to be back on board 5:30 PM, 30 minutes prior to sailing.

 

Keith

[anonmom]

Thanks everybody! This makes total sense now. I wish they'd explain it more clearly on their site, but I'm glad I can come here and get a good explanation. :)

[cb at sea]

Yeah...I don't know why they make things as confusing as possible....maybe they're ex-government employees or something.

[Talisker92]

Also be aware that if your port is a tender port, meaning that it's a port where your ship can't dock and you need to take a small boat to the shore, you'll have to be on the last tender, or even one earlier, so you're back on the ship 45 minutes before sailing.

If it is a tender post, plan to be on the next to last tender. That way, if you miss it, there is another one.