I'm going on a cruise in a week and i just had a port question?

Question

what do they do at the port?? how long should i be there before my boat leaves?? do they have high security there? can i sneak alcohol on with me? help!!!

Answer 1

You shouldn't sneak any alcohol in, there's plenty of port about, just take  lemonade to go with the port.

On a serious note, it will most likely be the same as an airport, but I still wouldn't take alcohol.

Answer 2

Well, it would help me to answer the question if you gave more details-where is the port, what cruiseline, what s the timing of when the ship leaves on that night of your cruise.  All that said,  I would come back to the ship about an hour to an hour and a half EARLY(before the ship leaves) to be sure. The Ship DOES Not wait for a passenger and its the passengers financial responsibility to get back to the ship and or fly home.  I ' m really not sure  about alcohol question.  (there are other questions out there on Y Answers, and many people have their own ideas.  Have a great time when you go.

Answer 3

I went on a Carnival cruise in March 07' out of New Orleans and we thought we they would not find our alcohol but they have some new tech and they found ours. When they called us down to remove it from our luggage you have to be escorted by a port patrol person they probably had over 60 or move pieces of luggage that had alcohol in them. They even found it in Mouth wash bottles. If you purchase alcohol at the different ports they will take it away from you when you come back on the ship and will deliver to your quarters the last evening of the cruise. Other cruise lines may be different but not Carnival. Other than that it was a wonderful cruise and I will never take alcohol in my luggage again. We were not scheduled to leave out of New Orleans until 4:00 and we were able to board and eat at 12:00PM we were in our rooms by 1:30. The earleir you get there the quicker the lines will be to board.

Answer 4

They NEVER stay overnight. They will tell you the latest you can come back aboard.

You can bring booze back with you, but DON'T SNEAK...They will check it in and bring it to you the last night of the cruise.

Ships normally stay in port 6 to 9 hours.

Answer 5

It really depends on what port and cruise line.  I have been on several and it is really not hard to get through.  Just make sure3 you have everything(paper work, passport etc.).  

Get to the port early so you can be on the ship when they start boarding.  You could be on the ship anywhere from 1-6 hour before they leave port.  That will give you time to eat and look over the ship and find out where things are.  Sometimes you even will have your bags before you leave and you could unpack and that will all be done and you can enjoy the rest of the trip.  When you get to the port you will be visiting make sure you know what time the ship will leave and be back when they tell you, they will leave you there and you have to find your own way back.  Have fun.

Answer 6

I have been on 6 Cruises...Its the best Vacations i have ever had. You cannot beat it, with Entertainment included, Your Room and All the Food you can possibly eat.. They will check your Luggage at the Port, so be carefull what you take onboard. Be sure and keep up with your Passport and any other ID you may need. You will have to show them each time you leave the Ship. The Cruise Ship will also issue you a Card that you will use Onboard to shop or buy Alcohol.. Have Fun Girl!!!!!

Answer 7

You are usually allowed onto the ship about an hour before they say you can board. For example, from Miami, a cruise that says you can board at noon, usually starts at 11:00 a.m.

After you board, there is a luncheon buffet on deck. They don't advertise this, but I have never not seen it done.

I like to get there as early as possible, get the "lay of the boat", and stake out my location for sailing.  There is very high security in cruise ports now, which is a good thing.  You don't want to be on the high seas with a wacko or worse.  You can bring alcohol on if it's packed in your luggage.  You just can't board with a bottle in your hand. Have fun!

Answer 8

You Will receive a daily itinerary of what times you need to be on board and as to security on the cruise I just took they had airport type security with baggage x-ray and medal detector. I don't think you would have a problem bringing alcohol on board.

Have a great trip!

Answer 9

I think you can bring alcohol on the boat from port, unless they check your bags. It depends on the cruise line.

Don't get left at port...it happens all the time. So be on the boat a half hour or so before the boat leaves.

When the boat is at port you get to explore the area or go on excursions that the cruise line arranges.

Have fun!

Answer 10

1. Your cruise line will have a list of all the stuff you can do at a port. Or I advise you to go online and search the port yourself. This way you can find more traditional things to do besides all the "touristy" stuff.

2. Your ship will make you well aware of when you have to be back. They will announce it overhead and they will also tell you at the meetings about each port.

3. I am sure they do. The last cruise I went on required a passport so security was very tight.

4. You don't have to sneak alcohol on board. Typically they allow you to bring a certain amount back on board. They may make you check it in to the baggage area for retrieval at the end of the trip but you are allowed to bring quite a bit back home with you.

I am not sure what you do, if you want to take it on board to drink. I think they allowed one bottle but that was 10 years ago. Things could have changed.

I have only been on 2 cruises. Carnival 10yrs ago, Norwegian 4yrs ago.

Answer 11

It depends on your port what there is to do and how long you have.  It should be in your itinerary from the cruiseline.  Many have this info online, so check their website for where you're going and what they offer.  Then check out a website like cruisecritic.com for stuff you can do on your own.  One advantage of ship's excursions is if the trip is running late, the ship will wait for you.  If you're on your own, better watch the clock because you WILL BE left behind, and have to catch up on your own.  Some itineraries DO include an overnight stop, so do check your itinerary!

You don't need to sneak alcohol on if you're buying some at a port, but they may take it from you and give it back the last night of the cruise.  It just depends on luck whether you bring it during embarkation and get "caught".  The exception is wine, most cruise ships allow you to bring as much as your luggage can hold.  

Bon voyage!

Answer 12

basicly at the port you will check in simular to airport style it has high security and you cant bring any alcohol except wine with ur carry-on. they will scan u and ur bags and then u basicly check in and get ur keys and set up ur account.(we sometimes put a few bottles in check in though) we usually get to the port around few hours early to avoid long lines and to eat lunch on the ship. they advise u to be there at least an hour early but we like to be there and explore the ship and relax.

Answer 13

Here is the correct answer to your questions.  I have been on over 15 cruises and to about every port in the Caribbean, Alaska, and the Mediterranean.

The actual information about port stops that you receive will vary by cruise line just a little, but the cruise director and staff will provide you the exact times that the ship docks in a port and the time that you can get off the ship. There will also be a public address announcement when its time.  They will also give you the time that you must be back on ship, generally 30 minutes before the ship leaves the port.  They give this information in a written newsletter type booklet/pamphlet that is placed in your cabin each night by your room steward.  If you miss getting on or lose the one left for you just go to the purser's desk and there will be many other available.  

The day before you get to a port the cruise director or staff will hold a talk for those who want to shop telling you where to go for best prices and they will give you maps of the city/port to help you get around.

Many people who cruise will sign up for the many tours that are available in each port stop.  A big variety of activities, like horseback riding, snorkeling, scuba diving, visiting ruins and/or historic sites, or sailing to a deserted beach to sun and swim.  You can look at the tour activities available and their cost on your cruise line's web site.  You may also be able to reserve tours and pay for them.  If you do not have time to reserve you can also do that once you get on ship.

The time spent in each port will vary but you will be told exactly what time to be back on ship.  When you get off the ship you will need your "CRUISE CARD" which is something that will be given to you when you check in at the port.  It will serve as your room key, charge card for any and everything that you buy on ship, and also your pass to get off and back on the ship.  Some ports you may also need a picture ID like a driver's license or passport, but in most cases all you need is the cruise card.

When you board the ship your main luggage will be taken by a  porter, scanned like at the airport and then delivered to your cabin (some times it may not get there until you have sailed).  You will have luggage tags to tell them where your cabin is.  Your carry on bags will go through a scanner belt just like at the airport and you will be walked through a metal detector, just like at the airport.

No you cannot bring liquor on ship and the cruise ticket for all cruise lines specify that you cannot bring liquor on board.  When you stop at ports, if you buy liquor they will take it for safekeeping until the last day of the cruise.  All that you bring back on board in a port also goes through a scanner and you through a metal detector.  The best way to take alcohol on ship is to pack a small bottle, like a pint, in with your toiletries and checked bags, or buy mini-bottles and also pack them with toiletries.  DO not try to take a fifth or gallon on board, they will confiscate it and have the right to deny you boarding (its right in the cruise contract).

Answer 14

They won't let you bring Alcohol on and every bag will be

x-rayed.

Personally I like to get there 3  hours before the ship leaves so I can wander and explore the boat. Plus you get welcome cocktails and food at dock with live music.

Answer 15

put in a mineral water bottle

Answer 16

Half an hour like the other answer but maybe sooner (45 minutes to an hour) so you can find your room.

Important when you find your room is to leave heavy stuff behind for a while because before the ship leaves the dock everyone is required to go through a "sinking drill" so everyone knows what to do if something goes wrong. **They WILL make you wear life vests during the drill and alot of the time they smell funny so don't wear anything too nice, it might rub off on you**

Alcohol? These cruise ships are totally awesome! if you want to sneak in some alcohol i suggest you wrap it in some clothes then hide it in your luggage... It works. But why bother bringing your own? Cruise ships are like bottomless alocohol pits! Oh, well... to each his own, i guess.

Anyways there isn't much to say. I've been on 3 cruises and if you keep these in mind you'll be just fine =)

Hope you have fun!

Answer 17

haha i can help you. there are many things you can do at the port. if you go to your cruise website they will have websites of things to do on the island. i'm not sure where you are going but when i went to costa rica i did the zip lines through the forest. You will know how much time you have on the island because the people on the boat will tell you when the boat will leave. They have security its pretty safe. they take you to high tourists areas so you should be safe. if you are sneaky you can sneak alcohol!!!!!

Answer 18

No limits to alchohol. Being there 30 minutes in advance will do just fine