Ports? Have to let them know ahead?

[mexico5]

Hi, when we are going to go to a port, do we have to let the ship know ahead of time that we want off? Or do we just show up in the morning at anytime?

 

Also, say we are on shore and want to come back to the ship, can we leave the ship again to go back on shore? Or is it a one time thing?

 

Thanks from newbie

[willysgrandma]

Once the ship docks and is cleared, you will hear an announcement that passengers can disembark. You just leave. You will have to swipe your room card when you leave and when you come back to the ship so they know who is on and off the ship at all times.

 

You can get on and off the ship as much as you want as long as you are back before the ship is scheduled to leave the port.

[Spender Nui]

If your ship is not tied up but tendering to shore you'll have to go to a place (they'll tell you where) to get a ticket to get on the tender.

[Iamthesea]

Unless You Want Off First Thing In The A.m., You Will Probably Not Need That Tender Ticket. I Think In Our 10 Cruises, We Have Only Used A Tender Ticket Once.

[mexico5]

Is tendering when the ship stays out at sea and you go to shore in a little boat? I will be going to Ochos Rios, Grand Caymen, Cozumel and I think I have heard this about all of them.

 

Thanks!

[Nitemare]

That is what tendering is.

[miclane001]

Is tendering when the ship stays out at sea and you go to shore in a little boat? I will be going to Ochos Rios, Grand Caymen, Cozumel and I think I have heard this about all of them.

 

Thanks!

 

You will probably be docked in Ocho Rios. You will tender into Grand Cayman and Cozumel.

[Cruisin' Chick]

Those with shore excursions purchased through the cruiseline will get first priority (along with some higher category cabins/Elite cruisers) on the tenders. If you have an early morning excursion in a tender port, you will need to follow the directions on your tickets as to what time and where on the ship to meet so you can be escorted onto the tenders.

 

Of course, you don't need to schedule any excursions (most of the time we just wing it in the ports...it helps to have a good guide book and map). Just remember:

1) bring the Patters with you as it will have the time listed for being back on the ship (at least 1/2 hr before sailaway), whether you're on local time or not -- some ships don't change their clocks, and contact info for the port agent, just in case of emergency

2) if you're on a ship's excursion and there's a mechanical problem or the like, the ship will wait for you to get back; else, if you're late returning to the ship, the captain is under no obligation to wait for you.

3) if you're in a port that requires tendering, don't wait til the last minute to get into the tendering line. It may get rather long.

4) be sure to bring photo ID

5) follow directions about not bringing food back on. There are often laws or regulations about this and your bags, purses will usually be searched before you can get back on the ship

[mexico5]

Thanks Patty, that was very helpful.

 

Clocks? Now that is something I did not think of. My husband wears a watch so when we get on the ship, should we set the time to the ship's time and never change the watch until back in Ft. Lauderdale? The time the ship says it is leaving, is on the ship's clock not the port's clock right?

 

Mexico5

[mexico5]

Patty,

 

Also when you say bring photo I.D. since we are going to places that do not require a passport can we leave our passport in the safe and just bring our driver's license? I know I saw a debate about this somewhere, but I really am in the "keep passport in safe" camp.

 

Thanks

[regnig]

mexico5 - you will be advised by the ship when and if you need to change your watch. It will be posted in the Patter and your room steward will also leave a pre-printed note on your bed when the time will change over night. Untill told to do so, leave your watch alone. The ship docks and sails according to their own time - which is usually the local time of the port, but not always.

 

You do not need to drag your drivers licence or passport with you when going ashore. You must though take your cruise card, in fact they won't let you off the ship without it. The cruise card has a link to your photo id stored in Princess's computer. It gets there the first time you board the ship. From that point on everytime you either get on or off the ship you swipe your card and someone will look at you and the stored picture to make certain they match. That's how they know where you are, kind of like big brother watching, but this time it really is for your own good. When getting ready to leave a port they know at a glance who has not re-boarded the ship. The only time I take anything other than that and cash is when I'm planning on using a Credit Card to make a big purchase :p and then I take my drivers licence with me.

[geoherb]

Clocks? Now that is something I did not think of. My husband wears a watch so when we get on the ship, should we set the time to the ship's time and never change the watch until back in Ft. Lauderdale? The time the ship says it is leaving, is on the ship's clock not the port's clock right?

Right. The ship will leave according to its clock.

 

I've read that most Princess ships change time to match local time. When we did a western Caribbean cruise on the Grand Princess, however, the ship stayed on Eastern Standard Time. It was an hour ahead of the Mexican ports. There will be a notice in the Patter to let you know. It pays to doublecheck with someone if there is not a notice.

[mexico5]

That's good to know about the time change.

 

Also, good news about not taking I.D. with us to port. I have done a day trip to Havana before and brought no I.D. with me, now that was probably silly, since a passport is required to be there.

 

I usually would take any important phone numbers, my medical insurance card, drugs(tylenol, etc..), bandaids, money, camera.

 

I do like to keep valuables(passport, etc..) in the safe at all times. I am so paranoid about losing things, I am even going to keep my diamond engagement ring at home and only wear my band!

 

Thanks!

[Andee]

I always carry my passport with me. What if I become ill or get injured and have to stay in a foreign port--how do I get home without my passport?

[mexico5]

Andee,

 

You also have a good point. I guess it's not like I could walk back to my hotel safe and get my I.D. to get back home. Since a passport is not required in my ports, I think I will take my D.L. and B.C. and keep my passport in the safe. It is alot harder to replace a passport in my opinion.

 

But then again, what are the odds? I gues if I became sick during a port day and had to go to a hospital, I could send hubby back to the ship to get everything I need.

 

We'll see!

 

Thanks

[Seagarr]

I would never go ashore without my Passport and Drivers License. I leave a copy of my passport in my safe in the room. If you are, heavan forbid injured or stranded having your passport on the ship will be of no help.

 

When at the Beach we usually end up sitting near someone from our Cruise that will keep an eye on our bag while we swim... if no locker is available.

 

Seagarr

[FredS]

I always change my watch to ships time. this way I know the correct time for the ship and sailing. What time it is locally does not matter to me.

[Layla]

You do not need to drag your drivers licence or passport with you when going ashore.

 

We always bring our driver's license when leaving the ship as the ship always advises to have picture ID when going ashore. We leave our passports in the safe.

[Cruisin' Chick]

On my last cruise, we were told to take a photo ID with us I (either DL or passport), even though four of the ports were US ones. When we were returning to the ship in Honolulu, Kauai, Maui and Hilo, our photo IDs were checked. Hubby and I used our DL as they were smaller than the passports and we took our little one's passport (at age 8, she's not allowed behind the wheel;) ).

[LeeW]

Despite the announcements onboard and in the Patter there are always some folks that don't listen. Saw a few on St Thomas (a US port) that could not get back on the dock because they did not have a photo ID. One of the local port officials had to go to the gangway and bring a ship security person back to the gate for them to get in. Always take your cruise card, photo ID on shore. Only exception might be Princess Cay, where you really are in an extension of the ship when on shore.

[dresch25]

If you don't want to bring your passport on shore with you then maybe you should make a photo copy and bring it with you. DH and I always bring our DL and color copy of our passports. Thankfully we have never needed them.

 

 

Vicki

[mexico5]

Yes, I think we will be bring photo I.D. with us to the ports. For our first cruise I am really following the old "better safe than sorry" thing...

 

I do have a photocopy of my passport. Is it necessary to have it in color though? I have a black and white.

 

The card that you get from Princess, does that have a hole in it to attach to something?

 

Thanks!

[chrysalis]

 

The card that you get from Princess, does that have a hole in it to attach to something?

 

Thanks!

 

that "card" is your room key/charge card/ID card...and you can get a hole punched in it just by asking at the purser's desk, as some people like to wear it aroung their necks on a lanyard.