David KrisoOn any cruise vacation, there is nothing more exciting than visiting the ports-of-call. Whether visiting sunny Nassau, tranquil San Jan, PR, exotic Ocho Rios, Jamaica, or vibrant Cozumel, Mexico, there is so much to see, do, and experience. From shopping, to snorkeling, to visiting pristine beaches, it’s all waiting. However, there is one matter that guests continue not to understand. Upon tying up at the pier, the ship’s staff announces the “all on board” time. When the “all on board” time is announced, that time is the time. Unfortunately for some guests, it never registers. Once the time has come and gone, the gangway is pulled in. Guests are left behind. At ports-of-call, how can guests better comply with these three magic words? Here are the three simple golden rules.
3) Shore excursions: When going on any shore excursions, shore adventures, or tours, it’s paramount that guests only go on the shore excursions offered by the cruise line. The tour guides are guaranteed to get guests back to the ship within the allotted time frame.
2) Budgeting time: When cruise guests decide to step off the ship to explore any port-of-call, they should have with them the following items. Not only should they have with them their stateroom key card, photo ID, and their wallets, but A WATCH. Sure, it’s easy to get completely consumed by all the excitement, the duty-free shopping deals on shore, the friendly locals, and the sights around them. Guests do get heavily consumed by it all. It happens to everybody. In the light of all the excitement, time is of the essence. With the “all on board time” looming about, it’s time to put down those little trinkets, thingamabobs, priceless glass sculptures, and the fine tantalizing necklace that’s just calling a customer’s name. Guests have been seen running down the pier, lucky to board the ship. Some are left behind to catch the next flight back to the ship’s home port. Guests should not be on board ninety minutes prior to sailing; not when the ship is pulling in its lines. Being on time is the right time.
1) Don’t go far!: Is it ok for guests to venture out on their own? “Yes”, and “No”. Yes, as along as guests know where they are going, they know the roads, and are familiar with their surroundings. No, because guests tend to get too adventurous. They forget how far they’ve ventured from the ship. Not every port-of-call has a glorious side. Some ports-of-call are known to have high volumes of automobile traffic, seedy neighborhoods, and are extremely crowded with people. Once far enough away from the ship, it’s important to know how to return to the ship. Each and every cruise line preaches the importance of the two words-safety first. Therefore, it’s best to remain as close to the ship as possible.
