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Finding things to do while in port

tvo7

By tvo7,
in Royal Caribbean International

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Ret MP

Ret MP

Posted
Posted (edited)
20 hours ago, tvo7 said:

I will be heading on Adventure soon and I want to try to stay on the  ship 5 days and never get off once in port.

I really don't care for excursions since I have done majority of them.

Has anyone done a whole cruise without getting off the boat?  

Are there any activities to do onboard  while everyone is off the boat during port days?

I have done very few excursions.  However, we usually just step off of the ship, go into the port's market, or whatever they call it, for an hour or less, and then return to the ship (only a couple exceptions to that, like Grand Cayman and Bermuda, I like those islands).  It is great exploring and experiencing the ship on port days, it's not crowded.  However, many venues on the ship are not available while in port, especially the casino.  So, the ship has its limitations for entertainment value.  We do make sure we get off the ship if it is an island/country that we haven't been to before, just to say we've been there (I feel one must at least put boots on the ground to say they've been there).

 

On port days is when we take advantage of the spa(s)/hot tubs and some of the restaurants, if open, that are usually crowded.  It's nice just walking around the ship and not bumping shoulder-to-shoulder with the masses.  

 

I've only been on one excursion that I thought was outstanding.  It was a tour boat through a few of the locks of the Panama Canal.  Well worth the time, effort, and price.  My grandfather was one of the engineers (engineers loosely defined.  He was more like a specialized laborer but was still called an engineer) that built the canal.  So, I had a connection to the canal.  

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Morecruisesplz

Morecruisesplz

Posted
Posted
30 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

We do make sure we get off the ship if it is an island/country that we haven't been to before, just to say we've been there (I feel one must at least put boots on the ground to say they've been there).

If I look out over the port from the ship rail, I check it off my list. But, seriously, we have been there/done that. (Where have you been? Cruising?)

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lenquixote66

lenquixote66

Posted
Posted
20 hours ago, tvo7 said:

I will be heading on Adventure soon and I want to try to stay on the  ship 5 days and never get off once in port.

I really don't care for excursions since I have done majority of them.

Has anyone done a whole cruise without getting off the boat?  

Are there any activities to do onboard  while everyone is off the boat during port days?

A friend of mine and his wife never get off the ship when cruising to a places that they have been to many times.

On the ship,there is a pool,a library ,a fitness center just to name a few.

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Ret MP

Ret MP

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, fredmdcruisers said:

If I look out over the port from the ship rail, I check it off my list. But, seriously, we have been there/done that. (Where have you been? Cruising?)

I can't think of too many Caribbean Ports of Call we haven't been to already or don't already have booked now.  We have been to Bermuda, Panama, and Alaska.  Don't have any desire to return to Alaskan, not that there is anything wrong with Alaska, just not my thing, and I have no desire to do a European cruise either unless it is a B2B TA.  

 

Would love to go back to Bermuda.  My wife wants to do the eastern Canadian Provinces cruise(s) but I have no desire to go.  But, she wants to so I guess it is in the future plans.  Happy wife, happy life. 

 

 

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Ret MP

Ret MP

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, lenquixote66 said:

A friend of mine and his wife never get off the ship when cruising to a places that they have been to many times.

On the ship,there is a pool,a library ,a fitness center just to name a few.

I'm one of those that would be very happy with no Ports of Call.  Just cruise for 7 or 8 nights.  As long as I don't see land, I don't care where it goes, even if the ship only goes offshore about 20 miles and goes around in slow circles.  

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John&LaLa "Live from...." Rare

John&LaLa

Posted
Posted
22 hours ago, fredmdcruisers said:

We have not left the ship on port days since before covid. After 50 cruises we have seen all the ports. B3B in January... look over the side. Take a pix, but find a shady spot on deck and read. Restaurants are open. Bars are open. What more do you need?

 

Restaurants are limited.

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John&LaLa "Live from...." Rare

John&LaLa

Posted
Posted
22 hours ago, mets123 said:

There usually have trivia every hour or so. But they are doing away with the prizes. On the Anthem they were giving out tickets for a raffle drawing on the last sea day.

 

Way less activities on port days compared to sea days

 

FWIW, the raffled prizes (around 10) were quite impressive

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Morecruisesplz

Morecruisesplz

Posted
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28 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

I can't think of too many Caribbean Ports of Call we haven't been to already or don't already have booked now.  We have been to Bermuda, Panama, and Alaska.  Don't have any desire to return to Alaskan, not that there is anything wrong with Alaska, just not my thing, and I have no desire to do a European cruise either unless it is a B2B TA.  

 

Would love to go back to Bermuda.  My wife wants to do the eastern Canadian Provinces cruise(s) but I have no desire to go.  But, she wants to so I guess it is in the future plans.  Happy wife, happy life. 

 

 

We found a great TA deal. Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale. 2 ports/14 sea days. Perfect and cheap too. On Symphony. 

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Ret MP

Ret MP

Posted
Posted
Just now, fredmdcruisers said:

We found a great TA deal. Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale. 2 ports/14 sea days. Perfect and cheap too. On Symphony. 

Dates?

Symphony my Favorite!  Hoping for a TA from the U.S. and back though.  And can't do it until no sooner than mid-2024.

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John&LaLa "Live from...." Rare

John&LaLa

Posted
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6 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

Dates?

Symphony my Favorite!  Hoping for a TA from the U.S. and back though.  And can't do it until no sooner than mid-2024.

 

A round trip TA 😱

 

Pretty much only done by Cunard

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Ret MP

Ret MP

Posted
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Just now, John&LaLa said:

 

A round trip TA 😱

 

Pretty much only done by Cunard

Ya, I know.  Was hoping someone found something unusual and up my alley.  Not doing Cunard.

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John&LaLa "Live from...." Rare

John&LaLa

Posted
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6 minutes ago, Ret MP said:

Ya, I know.  Was hoping someone found something unusual and up my alley.  Not doing Cunard.

 

Seems like there is a quick turnaround TA available. But it requires a couple weeks in Europe. Don't recall details.

 

I'm guessing you don't like flying🤔

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Ret MP

Ret MP

Posted
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1 minute ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Seems like there is a quick turnaround TA available. But it requires a couple weeks in Europe. Don't recall details.

 

I'm guessing you don't like flying🤔

100% right-on!  Not really flying, but maybe a little bit.  I don't like what the airlines have turned into and I can't stand TSA. 

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lenquixote66

lenquixote66

Posted
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1 hour ago, Ret MP said:

I'm one of those that would be very happy with no Ports of Call.  Just cruise for 7 or 8 nights.  As long as I don't see land, I don't care where it goes, even if the ship only goes offshore about 20 miles and goes around in slow circles.  

 

1 hour ago, Ret MP said:

I'm one of those that would be very happy with no Ports of Call.  Just cruise for 7 or 8 nights.  As long as I don't see land, I don't care where it goes, even if the ship only goes offshore about 20 miles and goes around in slow circles.  

You are likely in the minority 😀

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mets123

mets123

Posted
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7 hours ago, John&LaLa said:

 

Way less activities on port days compared to sea days

 

FWIW, the raffled prizes (around 10) were quite impressive

Ten baskets, or one basket with ten items? On the Anthem it was just one basket.

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Giantfan13

Giantfan13

Posted
Posted

I would think most experienced cruisers have been to most of the ports in the Caribbean many times. We usually don't get off in Nassau, but if we even stroll thru the marketplace and see what's up, we will get off, for a couple of hours.

That said, we do many TAs, and even if we have been to certain places many times, Barcelona, Civi whatever, we ALWAYS get off and just wander about the towns./cities. We love that experience.

As I said, we do many TAs so we have enough being on the ship crossing, so when we hit land, it's good to get off, even for a bit.

Besides Nassau, I think the one port we never get off is Port Canaveral. 

 

Cheers

Len

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