There’s no argument that you’ll the most time on your cruise aboard the ship. It’s where you’ll eat, sleep, relax, watch shows, and so much more. On a typical cruise, more than 80% of your vacation is spent on the ship.
But the highlight of any cruise is without a doubt the ports of call. While you spend a much smaller amount of time here, ports are what you’ll arguably remember the most.
Ports of call give you the chance to visit new and unique places, do things you simply can do back home, and enjoy some of the most beautiful spots on the planet.
If you’ve never taken a cruise, however, you might be a little unsure of what to expect in port. That’s why we’re covering some of the biggest questions you might have about visiting ports of call during your cruise.
How Long Does the Ship Spend in Port?
First things first, your time in port is limited. Now, each port you visit will be a little different. We’ve been on cruises that have spent just about 4-5 hours in a port and others that have stayed overnight.
Typically, however, the time in port is around eight hours. You often arrive at 7-8 a.m. stay the day, and then depart around 4-5 p.m.
In other words, you get most of the daytime to go enjoy the port, but are back onboard and sailing out by dinner time.
What Should I Bring to Shore?
We’ve written extensively about what to bring in port with you before. The simplest terms are that you should bring in anything with you that you’ll need while off the ship. If you need something back in your room, it will be at least 20 minutes round trip to walk back down the pier, go through security, get back to your cabin and then return to shore.
For that reason, you want to think about what your day will look like. You might want to bring things like a change of clothes, towels, sunscreen, something to drink, and more.
But the only things you have to bring with you are your room keycard and a photo ID if you’re an adult. Your keycard is scanned when you get off and on the ship so the cruise line knows who is aboard. You can’t easily get back on the ship without it.
If you have booked an excursion in port, you’ll also want to remember to bring the tickets that were delivered to your stateroom.
What’s the Process for Actually Getting Off the Ship?
Think the ships docks and you just walk off into port? It’s not quite that simple.
First, your ship will likely dock first thing in the morning (often while some guests are still asleep or eating breakfast). However, once it is docked, then the ship must be cleared by authorities before passengers can be let off. This can take anywhere from 30-60 minutes. There will be an announcement once passengers can go ashore.
When you’re ready to head to port, you’ll exit the ship through the gangway. The security team will scan your room key and then you exit the ship. You can leave at any time during the day that you like. If leaving first thing, there may be longer lines to exit, but they go quickly.
If at a port that uses a tender boat (meaning the ship sits offshore and a smaller boat ferries passengers to shore), the process will likely be slower. Here, you’ll have to wait until a boat arrives to board and take you in.
What’s the Process for Getting Back on the Ship?
Similar to getting off the ship, you can return back to your cabin whenever you like. And just like getting off the ship, it’s not as simple as just walking back to your cabin.
First, there is often a guard booth or security stop at the base of the pier. Some ports have full security checks with x-rays for your bags while others simply have a person checking your keycard to just make sure you are with the ship.
As you get back to the ship, you will have to scan your card as you enter. If you didn’t already go through security on shore, you will need to walk through a metal detector and have your bags x-rayed, similar to when you got on the ship the first day.
Can You Leave and Come Back Onboard Multiple Times?
Forget something back in the cabin? Or maybe you just wanted to come back for siesta before heading back out again later in the day?
No matter the reason, you are more than welcome to come and go as you please including multiple times a day. Just know you’ll have to go through the same process to get off and on each time, so in reality few passengers get off more than once.
What Are the Ports Like?
Each port will have its own personality, so it’s impossible to say definitively what your port will be. That said, in the Caribbean there are a number of similarities. Ports generally have a welcome area that’s built up with tons of souvenir shops, photo opportunities, shore excursion booths, and transportation. Often these areas can actually be set up in a bit of a maze that can be difficult to find the exit as a way to keep your attention.
We will say that these welcome areas at the port are made to cater to cruise passengers. If you’re looking for “authentic,” then this isn’t it. Instead, you’ll need to get out of the port area to see the more real culture of a place. Just keep in mind that in the Caribbean it often still revolves around tourism more than culture.
What’s the Atmosphere on the Ship During a Port Stop?
One thing that many people don’t think about in port is simply staying on the ship. For those that take advantage, it can be a pleasurable experience.
When the ship is in port, there are fewer scheduled activities happening onboard, but most venues are still open. Meanwhile, there are far fewer people on the ship. The result is that it can feel like you have the place to yourself. You can enjoy the pool without literally hundreds of other people around or go eat in a restaurant without tons of others.
There are many people — especially those that cruise often — that have visited a port several times before and choose instead to stay on the ship with a quieter atmosphere. We’d suggest that if it’s your first time visiting a port of call, then it’s worth it to get off the ship and explore. If you’ve been before then staying on the ship might be more fun for you.
Tips & Things to Know About Visiting Port on a Cruise
While you should now have an idea of how visiting ports of call work based on the answers above, there are some tips and things to know that can help you make the most of your day in port.
All aboard time is NOT a suggestion
Whenever you reach a port and exit the ship, the ship will tell passengers again and again about the all aboard time. This time is not a suggestion. Cruise ships have schedules to keep and delaying thousands of passengers isn’t an option. Ships try to leave shortly after the all aboard time, but you should make sure you are definitely back well before. Yes, if you aren’t back in time the ship can leave you.
Take an excursion in at least one port
One suggestion we always make is for passengers to book an excursion for at least one port of call during your trip. Shore excursions can be pricey, but we find they offer the ability to do things you simply can’t do back home. We’ve swam in cenotes, panned for gold, driven jet boats, and tons more. Well after the cruise is over, it’s the excursions that we remember the most.
Factor in transportation costs in activities
When you get to a port, there are a few options for getting around. You can walk if you like, but most people choose to catch a cab to get where they want to go. Often the cab rates in the Caribbean are fixed in advance with a sign posted showing the rates to popular tourist spots. What we find, however, is that these fixed rates can be outrageous. Often when you consider that transportation is included in the cost of a shore excursion, the price of that tour can be a great deal.
Don’t bring food from the sip into port
It’s tempting to grab a banana or an apple from the buffet to take with you into port as a snack. After all, anything off the ship you have to pay for out of pocket. Don’t do this. Due to customs rules many food items — especially fruits and vegetables — are specifically barred. In fact, some ports even have dogs to sniff out agricultural items.
Comfy shoes are a must… skip the flip flops
Headed to the Caribbean, you’re likely thinking about dressing for warm and sunny weather. And you should be except for one item — your shoes. It’s tempting to wear flip-flops into port. We’d suggest bringing them with you in your bag but wearing comfy walking shoes instead. There’s a lot more walking than many people realize (the pier alone can measure nearly 1/5 of a mile). Your feet will thank you for wearing decent walking shoes.
Trouble walking? Shuttles are available
Have mobility issues to where you can’t walk long distances? You’re not alone. To help you out, you’ll almost always find there are shuttles that can take you down the length of the pier. These shuttles are free and if you don’t see a stop, just ask a crew member if there is one available. They won’t take you around the port area, but they can at least keep you from having the walk the lengthy distance of the pier.
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