Shortened Time in Ports....

[sail7seas]

We had not read the itinerary very carefully either when we booked our recent Westerdam Collectors Cruise(s) nor did we pay much attention to the actual time scheduling as we've been to all those ports many times so it surprised us a few days when we saw what a short time the ship was actually in port.

 

We've traveled all these itineraries for years and know the ships have traveled between the same ports in shorter amounts of time allowing for longer visits and we wonder if anyone has paid attention to when they started cruising slower thus arriving later/leaving earlier?

 

We are almost always aboard far before departure so it really didn't impact us particularly but definitely was remarkable and we noticed.

 

We can only guess the reason must be fuel conservation? Travel slower, use less fuel? Is that likely the reason?

[Crusing Bob]

That was the case this November when we were in Hawaii and left Maui at 1PM instead of 3PM in the same time period as 2010. When you tender in Maui, it doesn't leave much time to even consider going ashore so we didn't.

 

May also be their solution not to add fuel surcharges and make some reconsider cruising.

[KirkNC]

I do think some ships cruise a little faster then others (not much, maybe 1-2 knots) but I would think it must be so the ship can go a little slower which would save fuel.

[jaguarstyper]

We were just discussing this subject a week ago. We were wondering if HAL is spending less time in the ports to allow them to run at a lower speed to make the itinerary, thus saving fuel. Any thoughts?

[LasseKjus]

We have 5 hours in San Juan on Christmas Day on the Eurodam. Not a lot of time to do much, but I'm not expecting much to be open on Christmas Day anyway. Hopefully the fort is open.

[Richjoxyz]

I wonder if they pay for the pier by the hour? I noticed many HAL cruises with 3:00 PM departures. I will not book them. I always look for 5 and 6 PM departures when I book. I like HAL and Celebrity equally well. Celebrity often has full days in port. My next cruise is the Noordam on the 17th of this month, it had good port times and good pricing. We even stay in Curacao until 11:00 PM.

[JRT5000]

a lot of the cruise lines are starting to do this....HAL seems to have taken it a little bit further.

That's why we didn't book the Westerdam.......it's a cost cutting measure for sure!

[Krazy Kruizers]

I started to notice that many port times have gotten shorter the last couple of years.

The ship is not my destination and I want a longer time in the ports.

[vicocala]

But then again...the Westerdam is staying till 11:00pm in Cozumel which is the latest I have been there. HMC is only till 3:00 which I think is downright silly.

 

The Monarch of the Seas was sailing very slowly I noticed on my Bahama run. I certainly believe fuel savings is the reason for many of the shortened shore days.

[Richjoxyz]

The more time you are on the ship, the greater the opportunity you will spend money with them.

 

Have you ever had that one last beer in the port before getting back on board? If the ship leaves at 3:00, that last beer will be by the pool on deck as the ship pulls out.

 

Maybe 300 of 400 people have that late afternoon drink. Times $5 or $6 bucks, could be as much as $2,000 per day, per ship.

[Krazy Kruizers]

It is about saving fuel.

Not happy with shorter port times -- thus it is one of the reasons we are not cruising any line at this time.

[jaguarstyper]

The more time you are on the ship, the greater the opportunity you will spend money with them.

Yeah, there is that, too.

[Krazy Kruizers]

The more time you are on the ship, the greater the opportunity you will spend money with them.

 

Have you ever had that one last beer in the port before getting back on board? If the ship leaves at 3:00, that last beer will be by the pool on deck as the ship pulls out.

 

Maybe 300 of 400 people have that late afternoon drink. Times $5 or $6 bucks, could be as much as $2,000 per day, per ship.

 

Maybe for you -- but our spending habits on the ship won't change.

No casino -- don't buy anything from the shops -- no bingo.

Will stick to our pre-dinner cocktail. A drink at dinner and one after dinner. That's what we do on all our cruises.

[twinkletoes4445]

Interesting topic. I've noticed that time in ports are also shorter. We experienced that on our last cruise, but I really didn't give it much thought. I guess HAL benefits by saved fuel costs and probably does make more money (when passengers are back on the ship earlier).

[cruz chic]

Yes, I'm sure it's about saving fuel and IIRC I've heard this from the personnel on the ship. This was really evident on my last cruise (Nov 18 - Dec 2).

[localady]

Shorter port times are a win-win for the cruise lines. More money spent onboard and less money spent on fuel and port charges. Increased revenue with decreased fuel cost. Until we say "enough" they will keep lessening port times.

[sail7seas]

Has anyone here either mentioned, on their end of cruise surveys, displeasure about shortened port time or commented to anyone in Seattle Office about it?

 

Any responses or comments from HAL in this regard?

[HALrunner]

Our Caribbean Collectors cruise last January had shorter time in ports than were advertised when we booked. I noted this on my end of cruise survey, but didn't hear anything from HAL about it.

[gentlemancruiser]

save on fuel, port charges and increase onboard sales. It's happening on other cruise lines as well. Cunard just changed our trip and now we're docking in St. Maarten instead of Barbados. We're spending three days sailing to St Kitts instead of two done in previous years.

 

I believe this is the 'new' way of cruising. Charge more for onboard services and spend less time in port.

 

Shareholders (pension funds) want to see profits grow......

[cruz chic]

Has anyone here either mentioned, on their end of cruise surveys, displeasure about shortened port time or commented to anyone in Seattle Office about it?

 

Any responses or comments from HAL in this regard?

I did put it on my comment card on my recent NA cruise.

[the2ofus]

We were surprised to find that all aboard time in most of our Western & Eastern Caribbean ports was 2:30 p.m. Earlier than I remember from previous cruises.

 

I did not think to include it on my comment card.

[Cruising-along]

I started to notice that many port times have gotten shorter the last couple of years.

 

The ship is not my destination and I want a longer time in the ports.

 

I agree. We sail primarily for the ports, and really don't like 3pm (or earlier) departures. Hardly enough time to go very far and see very much. :(

[lvz2cruz]

Both our Bermuda cruises on Veendam last year showed leaving Bermuda at 2 but on both sailings all aboard was 12:30 and we left about then.

I noticed our time in Half Moon Cay was supposed to be till 4. The last tender left about an hour earlier for the short ride to the ship.

I do wish they would give us the time they advertise.

[bcd2010]

OTOH - there have been no fuel surcharges - perhaps this is one of the ways to avoid implementing them?

 

Also, on the bigger/newer ships, the ship is becoming the destination (Oasis, Allure, etc.) - current trend?

[shandryl]

This is true!! good point!! :)

 

The more time you are on the ship, the greater the opportunity you will spend money with them.

 

Have you ever had that one last beer in the port before getting back on board? If the ship leaves at 3:00, that last beer will be by the pool on deck as the ship pulls out.

 

Maybe 300 of 400 people have that late afternoon drink. Times $5 or $6 bucks, could be as much as $2,000 per day, per ship.