Early Departures on Carribean Cruises

[Indiana Jones]

Why is it that many times the cruise ships will leave a carribean island at 3pm or 4pm and go off to the next stop, even though sailing time might be only several hours?? We just finished a Southern route on Celebrity, and wasn't thrilled about leaving early on a couple islands.

Seems to me a good way for a cruiseline to try to be different from all the others would go for later departures, and give customers a few more hours in port. I'd even love to see an overnight stop on selected islands.

[keyguide]

Why is it that many times the cruise ships will leave a carribean island at 3pm or 4pm and go off to the next stop, even though sailing time might be only several hours?? We just finished a Southern route on Celebrity, and wasn't thrilled about leaving early on a couple islands.

Seems to me a good way for a cruiseline to try to be different from all the others would go for later departures, and give customers a few more hours in port. I'd even love to see an overnight stop on selected islands.

Extra hours at the dock dips into the profits pretty deep pier time is not cheap.

[ancldaca]

Passengers on land are not spending money in your casino (which can only open up after casting off), shops (ditto), specialty restaurants and bars.

 

A while back I checked some Carnival stuff and I think it was the Destiny that in 2008 has an overnight in La Romana (Dominican Republic).

[tnsail]

If you ask the cruise line they say that its the pier and the "longshoremen" that the ship needs to cast off... But it is also my understanding that the cruise lines "book" timeslots for their ships and the more time slots booked the more the bill is....

 

But the bottom line is more on the line of ancldaca's post..... They would rather you spend your tourist dollars on the ship than in the ports....

 

Joey

[lady_cruiser]

Two weeks ago we were on the Voyager and when we got to Progresso (Friday) we were suppose to be there until 8:00 PM but left at 5:00 PM. A cold front was coming through and Captain Gerry wanted to make as much head way, ahead of the front, as he could.

 

I am glad he left early because Saturday morning we woke up to 10 foot seas and winds up to 35 mph. I would have hated to see what the day would have been like if he had left the port at the usual 8:00 PM.

[marcopaulo]

I was told it was because the tenders won't run the passengers in the dark, too much liability.

I know in the past ships left Cozumel very late at night, now that the piers have been destroyed and tenders are being used, they leave at 4 or 5.

[LHT28]

I know in the past ships left Cozumel very late at night, now that the piers have been destroyed and tenders are being used, they leave at 4 or 5.

I am pretty sure both piers are up and running again ..the one in town was last Jan when we docked there.

http://www.cozumelinsider.com/Webcam

[BILLP1]

We were in St Barts on Regent Mariner last year till 400AM and the tenders ran all night. Doubt that is a reason to leave early...

[6rugrats]

I believe keyguide's explanation is correct. The cruise line has dock time only for so long, and it is very expensive. I've been on cruises where we left at 4:00 p.m. to go to an island just a few miles away. Just cruised in a circle all night.

[MIZZ_K]

I was told it was because the tenders won't run the passengers in the dark, too much liability.

I know in the past ships left Cozumel very late at night, now that the piers have been destroyed and tenders are being used, they leave at 4 or 5.

I was in Cozumel in September and we left at 10pm

[Philip217]

There are two more issues to consider:

 

1. Crime on many of the islands is growing fast. They are pretty safe during the day - but can be rather dangerous at night.

 

2. Cost of fuel. Even if the next port is close by, leaving earlier means sailing slower to the next port. One hour early departure can translate into $10,000 to $20,000 fuel savings.

[fllady]

Also some islands like to close shop and go home at a reasonable hour to their familes.

[JPNROB]

Also some islands like to close shop and go home at a reasonable hour to their familes.

 

And miss out on all that money?!? Doubt that. Believe me, it's all about the money.

[ehfl]

They are charged by the hour for dockage....the longer the stay, the more expensive it gets. Also, any money you are spending on shore, instead of in the casino or on board bars, is less money for the cruise line.

[cruiserbryce]

the cost of extended docking time seems to be the most sensible...

[BruceMuzz]

Cruise Lines almost never pay docking fees by the hour.Typically it is in 6 hour, 12 hour, or 24 hour segments. But if they exceed a segment by even one minute, they are then charged for an additional one. For most ports outside the USA, docking fees are not that high.

 

You must remember that sitting at the pier or cruising very slowly both burn about the same amount of fuel. But sitting at the pier means that the passengers are spending their money on shore - and the ship's casino, many bars, and duty free shops are closed.

 

A 3,000 passenger ship that sits at a pier for 12 hours generates about $30,000 in onboard revenue. That same ship at sea for 12 hours generates about $200,000 onboard revenue.