“Can someone explain how cruise vacations work? When the cruises stop at certain destinations do you get out and roam around until it’s time to go? Are there set times you have to be back or the ship will leave without you? I’m thinking about taking a cruise but I need to learn a few things first. Any help will be greatly appreciated!”
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When you go on a cruise they will let you know when and if you can get off for awhile and sight see. You must be back on the cruise at the appointed time or they will leave your ass. Good luck on being left in a foreign country considering most countries think very little of USA citizens.
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I’ve been on a cruise.
I just went on a cruise less than a month ago. I went throught Carnival Cruise Line, and what happened was we were at sea for day 1. The next day we went to the private island in the Bahamas, and we got on a smaller boat and were transported to the island. From 8 am to 5:30 pm we were on the island. That is pretty much how the rest of the cruise went.
We would arrive at the destination at some time in the A.M. and then we had all day to do whatever we want, but you have to be back by about 5:30 P.M. or they will leave you. They actually left a 4 person family at one of our stops because they didn’t make it to the boat on time. But don’t worry, you have plenty of time to do whatever you want, you aren’t really rushed. I would definitely recommend going on a cruise. It was a great experience.
You can either stay on the ship or get off. They have shore excursions you can take for an extra fee. Or you can go ashore and explore on your own. All beaches in the Caribbean are open to the public.
The ship will have a departure time from the island, and you must be on the ship at that time – it will not wait for you!! And you will be responsible for getting to the next stop to re-board the ship at your own expense. So don’t "miss the boat!".
I live in Florida and Carnival is the way we take our family vacations. It is great, all food is included, as well as room service.
If you do not book the excursion through the ship, yes they will leave you if you are late. However I have not book any excursions with the ship. The only ones I would book would be the Mayan ruin tour that is very long and takes you more than an hour’s drive away from the port, and when I do this I will book through them. As I generally stay in the port town, I just get a tour there or wander on my own (usually do this first, the tour guides will always be there). You don’t have to even leave the ship, you can come and go as you wish. We come back for lunch and go back out.
For your first cruise, most pick a 4 day to the Bahamas, we did this too and found out it was too short, a 5 day would be good. If price is a concern book in advance and the months that have the lowest prices are Sept – Dec. I prefer Cozumel over the Bahamas, but that is up to you in the end there is no bad port, but each has it differences.
Be aware of passport law if you don’t already have one, it would be best to do so.
Embarking: You arrive at the ship and you give your bags to the porters to put onto these storage bins that get loaded onto the ship. Make sure you have everything in your carry-on that you might want until night because that’s when you get your luggage. Then you fill out these Norovirus forms and then you wait in line to get checked in. Then you present all the information that you are required to have, and then your IDs, birth certificates, etc. Then you wait some more, and then you go through security screenings and then you get on the ship. That’s basically all of it. Then you are free to go to your room and then hang out on the pool deck or whatever and then go to the buffet and get something to eat.
You can do shore excursions on the islands and destinations and you have to be back on the ship at a certain time. You can roam around and do whatever but you have to have your ship ID card to get back on, and they take a digital picture of you to know what you look like. Don’t lose your card, and those lanyards come in really handy. Yes, if you’re not back on the ship at a certain time it will leave without you unless you are with a shore excursion and there’s a group of you, then they will wait. It’s happened to me before.
Cruises are very well organized events and quite easy to participate in. If you have a passport, great – if not you will need a picture ID and an original (or certified copy) birth certificate.
The ship will stop at various ports for you to visit. They will let you know when you get your tickets and multiple times on board when you will be able to get off the ship and when the ship will be leaving. If you decide to roam around the port on your own be sure to be back on time. They know if you have not re-boarded the ship – they will wait some but they have to leave and WILL LEAVE you behind.
If you take a shore excursion offered by the cruise line they will never leave without you so don’t panic if they run late.
While you are on board the ship there is constant activities for you to participate in. The ship will let you know through a ship newsletter what is going on and when. And then there is the food. Do a little research to pick the cruise line that is best for you and then go have yourself a great time.