To Ship on Time

[jelcora40]

Just wondering how long before departure time one should get back to the ship when off on an excursion.

 

Sharon:)

[KC_fn]

They will tell you, both by PA announcements and in the daily letter, for each individual excursion. In my experience, it's generally 30 minutes before the ship sails.

 

Have fun!

[10splyr]

B4 the ship sails! You are given a time to be back on ship, and if you aren't, well, oh well, you missed your boat - unless a crew member is also late and you happen to catch the same cab/jitney/whatever means of transportation to the ship he/she is taking! Ships have to arrive and leave port on a specific schedule, so there is virtually no leeway unless you decide to have a heart attack or some other life-threatening incident (which I sincerely you don't have).

 

And if this answer offends you, I am sorry as I didn't mean it to be offensive or sarcastic:cool:

[0ldog]

Make sure you are on SHIP time and not PORT time if there is a difference. One group on our last cruise sat drinking and looking at the bar clock which was an hour behind SHIPS time. Lots of passengers cheered them on as the were running down the pier to catch the ship.

[kitty9]

And it's different if you're in a tender port. Generally the last tender leave the dock 30 to 45 minutes before the ship pulls anchor. You DO NOT want to wait until the last tender, so be there earlier for the tender before the last one. Generally, that last tender is very overcrowded.

[KC_fn]

And it's different if you're in a tender port. Generally the last tender leave the dock 30 to 45 minutes before the ship pulls anchor. You DO NOT want to wait until the last tender, so be there earlier for the tender before the last one. Generally, that last tender is very overcrowded.

 

Yes! We waited till the end of the day to catch the tender from Cococay, and stood in the hot sun for almost half an hour. Never again.

[trish1c]

From a ship's own island, they will send another tender if they have to. They can't leave you there.

 

Other places, you may be SOL.

 

I always try to be back 1/2 hour before they tell me to. Just in case.

[eh2zed]

Just wondering how long before departure time one should get back to the ship when off on an excursion.

 

Sharon:)

Sharon, as others have said "all Aboard" is normally 30 minutes before departure. This is the latest you should plan to be back. However, the further your shore excursion goes away from the ship the more contingency you should allow for a problem. If you are just in the downtown area where the pier is you can cut it pretty close. But if your independent tour is a 30 minute cab ride to a beach on the other side of the island. I would plan to be back at least an hour ahead of departure.

[Keith1010]

But, when you are on an independent excursion do not time this for the last minute. So, if you are not tendering and you are supposed to be back on the ship say at 4:30 PM as the ship is leaving at 5:00 PM do not plan for you to be back at 4:30 PM. Depending upon distances, etc. you could end up missing the ship if your vehicle breaks down or there is a major traffic jam.

 

Keith

[Sandytoes]

Give yourself plenty of time, just in case of taxi breaking down....accident....Traffic tie-up.....etc.

 

If the ship leaves, it's a loooooong swim home.....;).......:D

[LadyRose]

This is most likely a stupid question >_< (1st timer, here).

 

But if the excursion is booked via the company (RCI, in this case) the company handles the transportation to and from the excusion, right?

 

So, if that is late, do they wait the ship?

[eh2zed]

This is most likely a stupid question >_< (1st timer, here).

 

But if the excursion is booked via the company (RCI, in this case) the company handles the transportation to and from the excusion, right?

 

So, if that is late, do they wait the ship?

Yes, excursions put on by the ship are always waited for if they go a bit overtime. Not so for independent tours.

[LadyRose]

Yes, excursions put on by the ship are always waited for if they go a bit overtime. Not so for independent tours.

 

Thanks ^_^

 

All this new info is a bit daunting... I'm going through a TA (AAA) but there is still a lot to learn!