Did you ever dream about having your personal cruise liner? This thought has crossed my mind, particularly following trips where the ships were overly packed. There’s an extraordinary feeling when you’re among just a handful of guests onboard—something you can fully enjoy by remaining on the vessel throughout the stopover days at ports.
It might sound counterintuitive, especially if you cruise to see new places. After all, you don't have to take a voyage to lie in the sun, read a book or sleep in; you can do that at home for free. However, if you find yourself in a port you've already visited, and you're craving some relaxation, I highly recommend hanging back while most of your fellow passengers head ashore.
If you're skeptical, here are eight things, both good and bad, that happen when you skip port days and have a cruise ship almost all to yourself.
There are no lines
During a recent voyage, I had to wait for about 20 minutes one afternoon at sea just to get a piece of pizza. pizza next to the pool. The food was delightful and completely justified the time I spent waiting in queue, though I certainly wouldn’t mind if the wait had been less lengthy.
The following day, I stayed on the ship when it docked in a port I had been to several times before, and I was able to walk right up to the counter at lunchtime and snag a pie without any wait time at all.
I saw no lines for the usually popular waterslides, and trivia wasn't standing room only as it had been the day before.
You can find quiet spaces
Since numerous modern vessels do not include libraries, it has become progressively challenging to locate peaceful areas for activities like reading, solving puzzles, or just enjoying the view—this is particularly true aboard large cruise ships and during calm sailing days when they are more crowded.
Once most guests have disembarked and gone ashore, numerous communal zones morph into tranquil havens by default. The reduced noise levels create an ambiance conducive to unwinding and finding peace. Even though some bars may be shut down, their adjacent lounges provide solace away from the typical bustling activity aboard the vessel.
You will never battle over a deckchair.
Any seasoned cruiser understands how challenging it can be to find a lounge chair close to the pool during crowded sailing days. Every morning, some passengers get up at dawn, sneak out of their rooms, and secure premium seating spots by reserving deck chairs with their possessions. They then head back to sleep.
These passengers, known as chair hogs This has led cruise lines to implement time restrictions. Should a seat not be used by someone within a specified period, staff members are permitted to take away any belongings left on it to make room for others who might want to sit down.
You'll never encounter this issue when a ship is docked, even on the most beautiful days. Typically, many passengers depart the vessel looking for beaches where they can occupy lounge chairs; this often leaves the pool area almost empty for those who choose to remain onboard to relax.
Spa appointments abound
You have to reserve specific activities and experiences. before you board If you're keen on them, then consider sailing. However, spa treatments typically aren't included in such packages.
However, if you find that you're having trouble with the availability of certain treatments after you board or you're looking to score a discount, schedule something on a port day. With fewer people on the ship, more appointments are available; onboard spas and salons Frequently reduces a portion of the fee for services to attract customers when business is sluggish.
You can peek behind the curtain
One of the most interesting aspects of staying on board when most other cruisers don't is the chance to see some of what the average passenger misses when they're ashore.
Although you won't be able to directly participate in crew drills, you'll likely hear them announced during port days. If you're in the right place at the right time, you might be able to watch from your cabin balcony or an upper deck as lifeboats are launched and tested.
If you listen carefully, you may catch announcements guiding the staff to a specific eatery, pub, or communal area for simulated medical or fire emergencies. Should you decide to check out this location following the alert—always ensuring not to get in the way—you might witness pretend CPR procedures or firefighting drills; such training exercises often involve mannequins similar to Ryan, shown here before being part of a rescue scenario. Norwegian Encore .
On some vessels, you may have the chance to glimpse members of the entertainment staff preparing for their evening performance. Typically, theaters are off-limits to guests during these practice sessions; however, occasionally, you can discreetly slip into the upper level and take a seat at the rear to observe.
On certain vessels, like those in Carnival Cruise Line 's new Excel Class The secondary theater is accessible, with rehearsals visible to passengers and not segregated from their sight. Royal Caribbean 's AquaTheater (on Oasis and Icon Class Ships also have these spaces accessible to guests around the clock. Pour yourself a coffee or mix up a cocktail, take a seat, and catch a glimpse of the performance.
You'll miss a day in port
Obviously, if you stay on the ship in port, you won't be ashore, which means you'll miss one of the places on your itinerary. That's why I only recommend skipping port days in places you've already visited.
It surely can feel disappointing when you remain onboard just to find out that your traveling buddies came back to the vessel at nightfall full of praise for the amazing experience they had off the ship. shore excursion or venturing out independently.
Certainly, you could allocate some time onboard prior to going ashore. Maybe you linger in bed, opt for room service, or join others for brunch in the dining area before working out at the gym or indulging in a spa session. Later, you might choose to go ashore for some sand-and-surf relaxation or an early supper. This approach makes sense when your vessel remains docked long enough; it’s a balanced choice that ensures you do not miss anything valuable. Additionally, this plan helps prevent your schedule from feeling overly strenuous.
Your food choices will be restricted.
On port days, you'll notice fewer dining options available during the day compared to sea days. This occurs because numerous passengers tend to participate in full-day tours or choose to eat at local restaurants rather than onboard, which means the ship does not require as many eating establishments to serve lunch.
On port days, you're likely to be limited to the buffet and a handful of other casual choices like grill fare or pizza. The main dining rooms and specialty restaurants are likely to be closed; if you're hoping for a nicer sit-down lunch, you'll want to plan that for a day at sea.
You'll have fewer choices of onboard activities
A port day is a fantastic time to stay on board and avoid crowds in places like the gym, minigolf course, basketball court, pools and waterslides; these tend to be open regardless of the day. However, you can't avoid lines for every activity — largely because many onboard experiences aren't open on port days (or have limited hours starting in the afternoon).
Closed attractions or ones with reduced hours might include the go-kart track , aerial rope course, climbing wall, roller coaster or surf simulator Moreover, you could be out of luck if you were counting on securing a same-day spot for a difficult-to-reserve escape room or trying out a virtual reality attraction.
The selection of crew-organized events will be reduced, featuring less on your daily itinerary. Trivia sessions could decrease from five or six per week down to just two, and you can forget about finding daytime workshops such as those focused on jewelry making or spa treatments, along with art auction gatherings. Live musical performances near the swimming pools and within the bar areas by the ship’s band will cease, and spontaneous activities at the pool deck—like belly-flopping competitions—are improbable due to insufficient participation numbers.
This also holds true for the onboard kids club Even though it may appear accessible, the planned activities could probably be more informal. (Consider things like movie screenings, video gaming sessions, and arts and crafts.) Keep this in mind if you’re sailing with children and intending not to go ashore.
Bottom line
If you find yourself feeling tired or overwhelmed by the crowds during your cruise, it’s perfectly fine to opt out of visiting a port and instead use the day for rest, relaxation, and enjoying the ship as though you have nearly the entire place to yourself. This is particularly advisable if you’re returning to a destination you’ve previously explored.
If you remain onboard while others leave the ship when docking at ports, you will enjoy a less noisy environment with smaller groups around. This gives you better chances to partake in various offerings like massages at the spa, joining trivia games, or enjoying water slides—activities which tend to get fully booked during peak maritime travel days.
Have cruise questions? TPG has answers:
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- What exactly is the Jones Act and what effect does it have on cruise ships?
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- What's a cruise cabin guarantee and will it save you money?
- How does the role of a cruise ship concierge differ from that of a butler?
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.
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