New to Cruise Vacations ....help?

Question

Can someone explain how cruises 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 on 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 appreciates!

Answer 1

When you cruise you will have several port of calls where you can get off the ship and explore the island (port).  They will tell you when you need to be back on the ship.  So make sure you come back w/plenty of time so you don't hold up the ship.  While at port, you can rent your own car (if you have enuf port time) or book an excursion to explore the area.  Those are additional costs you have to pay on your own.  Once on the shp, everything is included, like your stateroom, your meals, drinks (nonalcohol).  Some cruises have longer port time that actually stay over night so you really have time to explore the port, some just dock for a few hours, soyou can't really do much exploring except take an excursion that lasts a few hours.  It's great, the food and service are great and it's like a floating hotel where you only unpack once.

Answer 2

Embarkation: You arrive at the ship and you give your bags to the porters to put onto these storage bins or whatever that get loaded onto the ship. Make sure you have everything in your carry on that you might want until night because thats 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 your 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 your not back on the ship at a certain time it will leave without you unless you are with a shore excursion and theirs a group of you then they will wait. It's happened to me before

Answer 3

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 one that are very long and do take you more than an hours 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 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, and 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

Answer 4

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!"

Answer 5

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 like 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.

Answer 6

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 ***. Good luck on being left in a foreign country considering most countries think very little of USA citizens.

Answer 7

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 so 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 with out 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.