Stay on ship While in Port?

[Johnboy1]

My wife and I are going on our first cruise on the Oosterdam - 1 Mar. We have scheduled one excursion while in PV but are thinking about just relaxing on the ship while in Cabo and/or Matzatlan. Can we do this? Also, if you went into town for a short period could you still get your meals on board? Any advice would be most helpful.:confused:

[kitty9]

After doing more than 30 cruises in Mexico and the Caribbean, we hardly go into port anymore. Of course you can stay on board. They won't kick you off the ship. It's probably the best and quietest time to enjoy the pool. And yes, you're allowed to come and go as you please on the ship. If it's a tender port, a port where you can't dock and you have to take a smaller boat to the pier, you should schedule a little extra time, but you can leave and come back to the ship as many times as you want.

[PennyAgain]

Certainly you can stay on board. Your cruise schedule printed out and delivered to you daily will list the open places to eat on the ship.

 

You can also be away part of the day.

 

Sometimes we prefer to stay on board and enjoy a quiet day in a great resort.....the ship!

[jeanlyon]

Sorry to ask a possibly stupid question, but why do you go to the same places if you aren't going tobother going ashore? Isn't that the whole point of the cruise?

[San Diego Ellie]

I am going to jump in here and say for many of us, no. We prefer the sea days and just general shipboard life to the port days, unless we are somewhere unusual and exotic. As ar as doing the same ports many times, for me it is a matter of convenience. Flying is such a pain in the neck today. We live in San Diego, and it is so easy to do the Mexican Riviera round trip from our home port. Another easy one from the West Coast that does not involve flying is RT Hawaii from LA or SD.

 

That being said, I am willing to fly for something special. We are going on the STar Princess South America/Antarctica cruise on the 17th of this month, and that is RT from Buenos Aires, so we have a LOT of flying to get there. Obviously for that cruise, the port days and viewing the wonders of Antarctica from the deck are the key factors.

[sail7seas]

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Sorry to ask a possibly stupid question, but why do you go to the same places if you aren't going tobother going ashore? Isn't that the whole point of the cruise?

__________________

Jean

 

We cruise far more for the ship than the ports when in the Caribbean. The whole point of a Caribbean cruise on HAL for us is to enjoy the lovely ships, the great service and crew, visit friends we have aboard and bask in the glorious Caribbean weather. We have been so many times that many days we don't leave the ship in port or if we do, we are back aboard after a brief hour or two.

 

Everything aboard the ship is open and functioning normally except for shops and casino which must be closed when in port. On some ships, some cruises, the dining room may not be open for lunch.

[cb at sea]

Staying on the ship is great! If the port is something that really interests you, then of course you should go and explore. I've found many of the warm weather ports are all pretty similar. You paid to use the ship--may as well use it without the crowds!

You won't go hungry on the ship, and you'll find you will have plenty of others who will be onboard with you!

For me, the SHIP is the destination--not the ports! As long as the weather is good and hot, I'm happy--I don't need to shop for a t-shirt or do a zip-line to make me happy!

[eandj]

I agree. We have hit every Carib Island offered by cruiselines, at least once. Finally got to Grand Turk and St. Barts last month. So until they "open" something new to us, we are happy pretty much hanging out on the ship. Might hit a favorite beach or go to a store to pick up some trinket, but pretty much enjoy our leisure time on board. Get lots of sun, quiet reading, leisurely meals etc. HEAVEN!

[petel]

Staying on the ship is great! If the port is something that really interests you, then of course you should go and explore. I've found many of the warm weather ports are all pretty similar. You paid to use the ship--may as well use it without the crowds!

You won't go hungry on the ship, and you'll find you will have plenty of others who will be onboard with you!

For me, the SHIP is the destination--not the ports! As long as the weather is good and hot, I'm happy--I don't need to shop for a t-shirt or do a zip-line to make me happy!

 

 

:D Ditto ! :D

[WEELYNCRUZER]

I got off the ship when I went to Alaska the first time. The second time I went to Alaska 10 years later I did it the right way.7 days inland then 7 days on the ship.I got off again because there was so much to see that I missed the first time. 20 Carribean cruises and I spend most of the time on board. I do get off and and spend about an hour or two in my favorite ports. I'm confined to a power wheelchair and none of the ports are w/c friendly in the Carribean. St Martin is the best and St Thomas is one of the worst.It's hard to believe it is the U.S Virgin Islands. We are so fortunate to live in America. I got off track. We are going to Scandanavia - Russia in Aug. I will get off in every country. We will take tours in every port . We never thought we would have this opportunity.We leave on a 9 day Carribean Mar.7 and I will stay on board most of the time. Why. It is snowing in Boston today and I have 85 degree weather to look forward to.I have a great time meeting people on the ship and it gives my wife a break from her responsibilities and can be waited on hand and foot. She also gets to scuba dive in the carribean. It took 4 or 5 cruises for her to get certified and now she is having a blast. This is my way of saying thank you for taking such good care of me. I hope you enjoy your cruise and have many more.:)

[jeanlyon]

There must be something wrong with me. I did a Caribbean trip out of Southampton. After 6 days at sea, I couldn't wait to get off and see all the islands, even having been to som eof them before.

 

We sail out of the UK, so there is always somewhere new to go, the Med, The Baltic, Iceland. I couldn't do the same cruise twice, would be bored to death.

[caviargal]

My wife and I are going on our first cruise on the Oosterdam - 1 Mar. We have scheduled one excursion while in PV but are thinking about just relaxing on the ship while in Cabo and/or Matzatlan. Can we do this? Also, if you went into town for a short period could you still get your meals on board? Any advice would be most helpful.:confused:

 

We were on this trip on the Oosterdam. Loved the ship but the ports were nothing special. We would gladly have forfeited our time in Mazatlan especially to enjoy the ship.

 

Food is available most times on the ship and HAL has a great room service menu as well.

[BILLP1]

We enjoy staying on the ship. Always quiet and relaxing which is the main reason that we cruise. Relax and rest.

 

Standing in line to board a some crowded tour bus is not my way of relaxing....

[Andee]

For us, the cruise is about the ports. Even at an island we've visited more than once, we always find something new to see.

 

The ship is primarily a floating hotel, but I do I like a sea day after three or four ports so we can rest and relax.

[Jimsgirl]

jeanlyon,

 

The plus of cruising is that each passenger can find something to please her.

 

I have been fortunate to have been able to travel a great deal, now I hardly ever go ashore, certainly not to certain Caribbean islands.My interest lies more in archaeology than T shirts, rum or hair braiding. but that is just my opinion.

 

Staying on board means I can enjoy the hot tub without the crowding, swim in the pool without the water sloshing about. visit the spa without the crowds. Sometimes the main dining room is closed but there is always an alternative open.

 

As for ship shore tours, well I do not want to pay $$, to walk the length of the dockside to get onto a very old crowded bus, to listen to a guide whose sole purpose is to herd us into his "cousins" shop, we get 20 mins to see a cathedral and 45 mins to shop at said relatives store or factory. Best of all there are NO ART AUCTIONS on port days.

[Jimsgirl]

jeanlyon,

 

The plus of cruising is that each passenger can find something to please her.

 

I have been fortunate to have been able to travel a great deal, now I hardly ever go ashore, certainly not to certain Caribbean islands.My interest lies more in archaeology than T shirts, rum or hair braiding. but that is just my opinion.

 

Staying on board means I can enjoy the hot tub without the crowding, swim in the pool without the water sloshing about. visit the spa without the crowds. Sometimes the main dining room is closed but there is always an alternative open.

 

As for ship shore tours, well I do not want to pay $$, to walk the length of the dockside to get onto a very old crowded bus, to listen to a guide whose sole purpose is to herd us into his "cousins" shop, we get 20 mins to see a cathedral and 45 mins to shop at said relatives store or factory. Best of all there are NO ART AUCTIONS on port days.

[Johnboy1]

Obviously lots of heartfelt thoughts. It does seem to be about individual hopes and expectations. Having travelled and lived all over the world over the last 30 years with the military we just sort of wanted to enjoy a relaxed pace and if there were things available on-board thought we might enjoy the lower stress of just sitting in the hot tub without crowds or room service. Thanks for all the input. :-)

[hi2you]

It is nice to see ports, new and old. This coming trip I get to stop in St. Thomas again, an island I fell in love with. At the same time, this cruise will have no days at sea, and since I have been here once before I am wondering if we should forgo and excursion, perhaps walk around a bit on our own, and then spend relaxing time on board, minus the crowds. With the constant daily stops we would need a vacation for the vacation. As you all know, there is always so much to see and do onboard.:)

[CC Help Michell]

Sorry to ask a possibly stupid question, but why do you go to the same places if you aren't going tobother going ashore? Isn't that the whole point of the cruise?

 

Not a stupid question, it just depends on your perspective. For experienced cruisers, often the ship IS the destination. What's unusual about this thread is a first time cruiser thinking of staying on the ship in port. I'm not sure I've encountered that question before!

 

The OP's most recent post clarifies that for them, at their time in life, they just want a relaxing vacation and are thinking a cruise ship might furnish it. Indeed it might. All you can do is try it and see if it suits you.

[WinnieinWA]

Count me in as being one who looks at the ship as the destination more so than the ports. Relaxing and being waited on and being pampered for a week with no time tables is my idea of vacation for me. If I were younger or had kids with me I'd probably do more ports and excursions. My kids are all adults.

 

Whatever way you do it.. enjoy!!:)

 

Winnie

[cruise kitty]

Sorry to ask a possibly stupid question, but why do you go to the same places if you aren't going tobother going ashore? Isn't that the whole point of the cruise?

 

For me the ship IS the destination, the ports are there to enjoy if we wish but the ship, the pool, spa and balcony are the real reasons that I cruise, but I know many people completely disagree and choose based on itinerary, that's what's great about cruising, there is an option for everyone!

[kitty9]

Sorry to ask a possibly stupid question, but why do you go to the same places if you aren't going tobother going ashore? Isn't that the whole point of the cruise?

 

No not really. For us, the ship is the destination, and the ports are just an added extra. It's the same when people go and rent the same cabin in the woods year after year. They just like going to the cabin. I've been on a total of 52 cruises, all over the world, so it makes sense to see the ship as the destination. After a while, the Caribbean islands all begin to look alike, a beach is a beach and you can only have so many t-shirts.

[dobiemom]

To me, vacationing on a ship is like being at an all-inclusive resort--that moves. If I choose to go outside of the resort (go off the ship at a port) it’s my choice. This upcoming cruise will be my third time for this itinerary, the last time just 2 1/2 months ago! I hope one day I will have cruised there often enough that I will not leave the ship and just enjoy her.

 

[Krazy Kruizers]

You can certainly stay on the ship when in port. We have done it many times.

 

There were times when we had the ship almost to ourselves -- that was fun.

 

Meals are served all day long -- no problem there.

 

On the Oosterdam -- sailed her a few years ago -- nice ship.

 

You may find that on some port days the main dining room will be closed -- gives the staff there a chance to get off for a couple of hours. But the Lido will still be open and so will the Grill for hamburgers, hot dogs, pizza. Just check your daily program.

 

Go and enjoy!!

[NCTribeFan]

I'm all about the ports, too. I can't imagine sailing so often that I think I've seen all there is to see at any given port. Even Nassau! Been there the past 4 cruises and have only seen a fraction of the island and done a fraction of the excursions.

 

Sea days are nice for relaxing. It's HOT sitting at the pool when the ship is docked! Even in December!

 

But I honestly think that if all I wanted to do was sit and drink, eat, relax, and be entertained, I'd just do an all-inclusive land vacation and never leave the resort.

 

But that's just me. I hope to cruise often enough that I get to the point that staying on board makes sense to me.