Think of a cruise and you likely picture sailing from exotic port to exotic port as you make your way around the Caribbean or other parts of the world.
Truth is, however, that your time in port is actually pretty limited. On a typical 7-day cruise with three ports of call, you have only about 24 hours in port.
You may think that given the limited time in port that passengers are scrambling to make the most of their time. And for the most part that is the case.
There are some people, however, that would rather just stay on the ship than go explore ashore. So is that allowed? We have all the details for you right now.
Can you stay on the ship?
First and foremost, if you have the idea that you have to get off the ship in port, then you’re mistaken. It’s not like the cruise ship closes and everybody is forced off. If you want to leave later… or not at all, then you are absolutely welcome to do so.
Yes, most people leave the ship while in port. However, it’s not required.
What’s it like onboard if you stay on the ship?
There’s a definite shift in the atmosphere on the ship if you stay aboard while everyone else goes into port.
First and foremost, it’s simply much calmer. There are far fewer people around, so the areas that are normally crowded are much more thinned out. Think of it as driving during rush hour versus driving on a Sunday morning.
There’s also simply much less going on around the ship. On a normal day the crew puts on all sorts of entertainment, there are activities, and the entire ship is buzzing. With most people off the ship, that’s not always the case.
Yes, most places are still open and a few things are going on aboard, but there is far less on the schedule until later in the evening. After all, it doesn’t make sense to put a lot of effort into packing the schedule if most passengers won’t be on the ship.
Are restaurants still open when the ship is in port?
You might picture that when the ship is in port everything closes down. That’s not the case. Yes, some spots — namely the casino — will be closed. But most of the ship is still operating as normal. That includes restaurants.
During the day there will still be plenty of places to eat around the ship, including the buffet. Bars are also open. So there is no danger of going hungry.
Why would you want to stay aboard?
There are plenty of reasons to stay on the ship during a port of call. Maybe it’s a port you simply don’t care about seeing. Or maybe you’re an avid cruiser and you’ve visited the port plenty of times before. These are both reasons why some people don’t leave the cruise ship.
But perhaps the biggest reason is the ability to enjoy the ship with only a fraction of the passengers onboard. Most notably the pool deck is much better during a port day.
Head down to the pool during a day at sea and it will be completely packed. You will likely have trouble finding a seat, much less finding space to take a dip.
During the ports of call, it’s completely reversed. The pool is largely empty meaning you can go down, relax, and enjoy some time without a million other people around.
One more reason to like staying on the ship? Some cruise lines offer discounts for services during the port days. You can often find cheaper spa prices or cheaper prices on entertainment onboard if you buy them while in port.
Are you missing anything by not getting off the ship?
Of course! The time you get in port is highly limited. As we said, you might get a total of 24 hours off the ship on a typical week cruise. That’s not much.
At the very least, you’re missing out on the chance for a change of scenery. No matter how big the ship you’re sailing, it can start to feel a little small when you spend every hour of every day on it.
More than that, however, there is plenty to see in port. Excursions can allow you to see and explore these places easily if you don’t want to go out on your own. They can also give you a chance to experience things you simply can’t do anywhere else, such as swimming in cenotes in Mexico.
That said, having the ship largely to yourself for a few hours really is a treat. In our opinion, if you want to spend the day aboard, we think getting off the ship for a short amount of time in the morning to stretch your legs and have a change of scenery is smart. Then you can come back aboard still early in the day and enjoy the rest of the time on the ship without so many other passengers.
