Staying on Oasis at ports???

[Project-College]

I was wondering from anyone going to the Caribbean... or at least a 7 day or more to Bahamas…

Is it better to stay on the ship at Ports, and take advantage of the lower population on the ship then or get off at the ports.  In other words, are the ports recovered and offer more to do than the RCL ships (as I keep seeing Restaurant and activity closures being reported on Oasis).

How is Labadee?  San Juan?  St Marteen?

 

[BND]

17 minutes ago, Project-College said:

I was wondering from anyone going to the Caribbean... or at least a 7 day or more to Bahamas…

Is it better to stay on the ship at Ports, and take advantage of the lower population on the ship then or get off at the ports.  In other words, are the ports recovered and offer more to do than the RCL ships (as I keep seeing Restaurant and activity closures being reported on Oasis).

How is Labadee?  San Juan?  St Marteen?

 

Most people who stay onboard do it for one of several reasons.  1. They've been to the port so many times, they just decide to not do it again 2.  Weather-raining a lot  3. Mobility issues and it's easier to just stay onboard.  I will say, we always get off the ship in San Juan and St. Maarten and we've been to both many times. Labadee depends on whether you are "beach" people.    Things are opening up onboard now btw.  Also, the ports are fine.  We were in St. Maarten in Dec and again in April.  Everything is open and has been.  Staying onboard is purely an individual decision, but if these are ports you've never been to, I would go ashore.  BTW, ships are sailing at almost full capacity now and close enough you won't think it's lower.

Edited May 31, 2022 by BND

[long4acruise]

Agree with @BND above! Currently on Oasis 7N Bahamas - got a great rate pre-Covid. Will get off in CocoCay for awhile as we enjoy the private island. Wish RC stayed longer or even overnight in Port Canaveral to make it worthwhile!  We did the KSC escorted tour years ago. This is mainly a relaxing 7N cruise followed by the 5N Canada sailing for our first time.

[loman]

We find it too hot most of the time and go back to the ship not long after we got off. We get off late and get back early , but we mostly cruise for the ship and we have been to the islands several times . Oasis class is our preferred type of ship.

[Big_G]

3 hours ago, Project-College said:

 

How is Labadee?  San Juan?  St Marteen?

 

 

 We almost always get off in those 3 stops. We purchase bungalow on Labadee , head to Old San Juan for lunch and sightseeing, and it's been so long since the last time we were in St. Marteen we would definitely want to see it again. We usually reserve staying on the ship for the western itinerary.

[tallnthensome]

I would never consider not getting off the ship in those ports especially if you've never been there. Do some activities like excursions in these ports. Not getting off the ship and exploring is like landing in an airport connector city for a flight and staying in the airport and saying you've been to that city on vacation. Go and find something to do .... 

[Another_Critic]

4 hours ago, Project-College said:

Is it better to stay on the ship at Ports, and take advantage of the lower population on the ship then or get off at the ports.

Nassau is basically a "sea day" ... the ship's pools are usually crowded.

[Irish110]

We were in San Juan and St. Maarten in April and were able to sightsee, shop and have lunch with no restrictions except in certain places masks were required to enter but not many.  Both ports are really easy to do on your own if you don't want to do an excursion. San Juan is a little hilly so if you have mobility issues you need to keep this in mind if you are walking around Old San Juan. St, Maarten has a really nice cruise port with a nice selection of shops so if you don't want to venture into town you can just get off the ship and walk around the port area. It is a short walk into town but you can get a water taxi at the port which will drop you off at the center of town. I would recommend getting off the ship at both of these ports just to walk around close to the cruise port if nothing else.

[Project-College]

Wow... great info from everybody.  Thanks so much!!!!

I was really getting worried about it being dead when we got off the ship but 9it sounds like the isles are almost back to normal.

Only stop still on my 'do not get off the ship' list is St Thomas!  Not because the stop, as I lovvved the beaches there, but last time my wife kept me in Jewelry shops for 7 hours!!  

 

Thanks again all!

[Homebody]

We just got home from 7 night Oasis. Stayed on board, along with A LOT of other at Port Canaveral, we spent the entire day at Coco Cay, first time there since they “fixed it up”.  They did an outstanding job IMO. We got off in Nassau only to get souvenirs for our grandkids, otherwise we would have stayed on board.  This itinerary was perfect for us because we were looking for a nice, relaxing vacation without running around “sightseeing”

[jalves]

As several of the PP's have said, it depends on the port and the individual.  

 

We never get off the ship in Nassau because we've been there many times and the excursions aren't of interest to us.

 

OTOH, we've also been to St Thomas, San Juan & St Martin and pretty much always get off the ship there.  The ports seem to be fully recovered and there is much to do there.  

 

Coco Cay for us is a place to get off the ship, shop, get a bite to eat and then go back to enjoy the ship.  Labadee is similar but not as attractive to us.  We probably won't get off there the next time.

 

[Project-College]

Was Labadee fixed up too?

[Biker19]

Just now, Project-College said:

Was Labadee fixed up too?

Like CocoCay, no.

[PTC DAWG]

3 minutes ago, Project-College said:

Was Labadee fixed up too?

I was just at Labadee, I loved the laid back beach vibe….no issues with facilities..we also went to Cococay, they don’t really compare, very different to me.  

Edited June 1, 2022 by PTC DAWG

[Project-College]

Just now, PTC DAWG said:

I was just at Labadee, I loved the laid back beach vibe….no issues with facilities..

Thanks!!!