Getting off the ship in time for excursion?

[jandn]

What's it like getting off the ship at each port? What do you need to do to get off in time for a non cruise ship excursion?

[erntrish]

THat will largely depend on if you're docked or tendered to the pier.

 

If docked, an announcement is made that pax are cleared to disembark the ship. You simply take your cruise card to the gangway, swipe it, and off you go.

 

If tendered, you'll have to go to a designated spot on the ship with all of your party, once you're ready. You'll be directed to the ship's tender, swipe your card, board the tender, and be whisked ashore. Note: at busy times you might have to wait a bit, depending on how many tenders are running.

[VaBeachcruiser897]

generally speaking its very easy.... We will often still be eating at 8:15 when we have an excursion planned for 8:30... It really depends on a couple things that may be best answered in the "port of call" threads and that is.....

 

Which port are you specifically talking about?

Is a tender required to get you to the port?

Once you get on dry land, do you know where your non-cruiseship excursion's meeting point is located.

[Pam in CA]

If you are docked, keep in mind that there can be delays as people line up to get off the ship. The delays can be because each person has to stop and put their cruise card in the machine and check out. Some people take longer than others.

 

If you are tendered, the Princess excursions have priority on the tenders. You would need to go wherever the Patter says to get tender tickets as soon as you can. For a tender port, it's best to not schedule an independent excursion for at least an hour after the scheduled anchor time to give yourself time to get on the tender and to the shore. Even then, that can be cutting it close.

[gooch47]

There is no guarantee the ship will arrive when it's scheduled to arrive, or even arrive at all. Make sure you have the ability to cancel the excursion and get your money back.

[Quilting_Cruiser]

What's it like getting off the ship at each port? What do you need to do to get off in time for a non cruise ship excursion?

 

I had the same concern on our Caribbean Princess cruise a few weeks ago. We had non-ship excursions for Ocho Rios, Grand Caymen, and Cozumel, with the latter two being tender ports. In our case, there was no need to worry. We went to the appointed lounge to get our tender tickets and didn't even sit down for one and sat down to wait for less than a minute the other time. The tendering went quickly and we had plenty of time to make it to our excursions.

 

Good luck!

Jayne

 

:)

[S&M in Pgh]

Check you itinerary, it should list what time the ship is scheduled to dock. It will usually be a half hour until you can disembark (when docked). And remember, when in a tender port, ship's excursions usually get tender priority. I try not to schedule my private excursions until at least an hour after the ship arrives. And ask the excursion company what time other people from your ship have arrived in the past.

 

Mike