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Ashore in Cruise ships


Ashore in Cruise ships

You must use your cabin key card every time you leave and re-board the ship. It's how they determine if you're aboard...and how ship's security staff recognize you. Otherwise, they might leave you behind.
  • You'll regularly be instructed to return to the ship at least 15-30 minutes before its scheduled departure.
  • Near departure time, based on computer tracking of who's not back, you may hear shipboard announcements for passengers to contact the Pursor's desk...they're "missing".
  • Research in-advance each place you'll visit. That can greatly enhance your cruise experience...at little or no cost. Many ports and nearby sights are covered by Wikitravel pages, travel web sites and books. The ship will usually dock at a pier. If none is available, it will anchor or moor off-shore, and ship's lifeboats or commercial boats will tender you to a convenient place on-shore. Your detailed itinerary will indicate how your ship will visit each port.
  • If you're on a large ship, this tendering may take some time. Ship's tour members usually go first, then "early-birds" who've obtained first-come-first-served tender tickets or numbers. Unless you've purchased a ship's tour, plan your time ashore accordingly.
  • If weather generates rough seas at any port where it anchors/moors, tenders to shore may be canceled. This rarely happens at ports where the ship is to dock. In either case, the line may offer reimbursement for the disappointment, but will refund the cost of ship's tours purchased but unavailable.
  • Ship port visit times usually allow passengers to go ashore by 7-8 AM, with ship departure often at 5-6 PM. Earlier or later departure times can be affected by tides, distance to next port or special tour needs, while disembarkation may be delayed slightly by port customs clearance of the ship or passengers. At special stops, some ships may stay later, perhaps overnight. The shore excursions office will offer a variety of sightseeing tours, cultural visits and organized activities (e.g., scuba, snorkeling, kayaking, bicycling)...offerings dictated by the nature of each port, its climate, time of year and time in port.
  • Ship's tours at major ports often employ large air-conditioned buses for 30-50 people. Popular ports will also have large numbers of air-conditioned taxis...sedans able to carry 3-4 adults, and vans for 6 or more.
  • All-day tours can fill virtually all your time in port. You'll usually find half-day tours offered as well, morning and afternoon...worth considering if a walk-about or shopping before or after lunch also appeals.
  • If a confident traveler or you've visited the port before and want to tour, you may do well hiring a car with driver-guide to take a tour of your choice and design. It can involve just your family or 2-4 fellow passengers or so.
  • Ship's tours often cost substantially more than equivalent tours well-negotiated directly with locals, e.g., you may hire a taxi or van with driver/guide at $40-50 per hour for 4-6 people. A half-day ship's tour can range from $50-100 per person, with whole-days $125-200+. But for that extra cost, ship's tours provide:
  • Great convenience compared to finding things to do and making arrangements yourself after you go ashore in a strange place.
  • Some confidence if you will venture far from port.
  • Some assurance in especially "entrepreneurial" locations that you won't be scammed by a taxi driver.
  • Greater assurance that the ship will wait if your tour is not back on time.
  • Very popular ship's shore excursions may fill-up days before you reach port ? some even before you set sail. You may be wise to research them and alternatives and sign-up online well in-advance as justified, e.g., if...
  • You have your heart set on swimming with dolphins or stingrays, or climbing a glacier.
  • You're focused on a full-day tour at a truly special locale some distance from the port.
  • At some ports, the ship may have to dock among commercial freight operations. Walking from the ship to things worthwhile may be through unpredictably dangerous activity. Look at the ship's newsletter for port conditions and listen for port adviser announcements. At such docks, most ships will arrange a shuttle from the ship, to a terminal with taxis, etc., or even to a shopping area or downtown. If so, look for details about a return shuttle. Lacking any shuttle, you should firmly request transport that avoids danger, even if at your expense. The UV content of the sun can be very high on any tour, especially on or near water at any latitude during the Summer. See "Stay healthy" below..

    The Most Frequently Asked Travel Questions about Cruise ships


    Where To Stay & Best Hotels in Cruise ships - updated Mar 2024

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    Cruise ships Travel Guide from Wikitravel. Many thanks to all Wikitravel contributors. Text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0, images are available under various licenses, see each image for details.

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