Did you know that passengers are welcome to stay on a cruise ship while it’s in port? It’s fun to get off the ship and explore every port of call on the itinerary, but you can also take a break from shoreside adventures and simply stay on the ship. Here’s a quick look at what to do if you stay aboard while your ship is in port.
You can sleep
in and have a later, more leisurely breakfast – or, just wake up in time for lunch.
If your ship has specialty restaurants, you may be able to walk in for lunch
without a reservation.
While most of
your fellow passengers are on shore, you’ll have great access to onboard
amenities. If you’re on a big ship with things like water slides, zip lines, laser
tag, or surf simulators, any lines should be small, with only a short wait
before you unleash your inner daredevil.
Fitness
centers, pools, and spas will be quieter as well. You could hop on your favorite
fitness machine or get help learning to use a new one; score a lounge chair at
poolside; and possibly get a discount on a spa treatment.
Some ships
offer special activities for passengers who remain on board during a port call.
There might be a trivia contest, deck games, first-run movies, or ship tours.
If you like
to record your travels in photos, you can take better onboard photos when fewer
passengers are around. You can write in your travel journal, or take a
marvelous afternoon nap. You’ll be refreshed for the evening when you can talk
with cruise friends about what they did on shore.
If you wake
up one cruise morning wanting to stay aboard rather than take a shore excursion
you reserved, you can do that. But, be aware that excursion cancellation
policies vary. Check with the passenger service desk to find out if you might
be eligible for a full refund, partial refund, or on-board credit.
On the other
hand, it’s possible to select a port where you’ll stay onboard before you sail;
perhaps the itinerary includes a port you’ve been to before. In that case, you
can avoid reserving a shore excursion for that day (if you change your mind,
you can book an excursion on the ship).
For more
about the joys of staying onboard on a port day, talk with Anita, your
professional travel advisor.
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