The vast majority of passengers simply sail their normal cruise itinerary. But can you just get off the ship and return home on your own terms? The answer is yes, but there are some major complications (and laws) that should be considered.
Generally, mid-ship is most favorable on lower decks, especially if you are prone to motion sickness. There is more noticeable movement in the more forward areas of the vessel, or on higher decks. One of the most often overlooked issues in the selection of your cabin is whether it is on Port or Starboard side.
You absolutely do not have to do shore excursions on a cruise. You are free to come and go at will from most cruise ships while they are in ports of call. Shore excursions are simply one means to explore the areas visited by the ship and to participate in available activities off the ship.
Can I come and go as I please between my ship and land? Yes, you can go back and forth between the ship and shore as often as you'd like, but if your ship is tendering passengers ashore, you might have to wait in line to catch a ride back to your vessel.
Mosts guests choose to get off in most cases, but they may do so at different times, for different amounts of time, and some won't get off at all. This means that you'll not be alone on the ship, but there will certainly be fewer people around than on a sea day.
In most cases, you don't need to book a shore excursion in order to explore a port of call. You can simply walk off the ship and stroll into town or catch a cab to take you wherever you want to go.
After you return home from a cruise, it's normal to feel like you're still at sea for a short time. You may lay down to sleep or stand in the shower and feel like the floor is moving and your body is swaying, rocking and bobbing. Within a day or so, your land legs likely will return and the symptoms will disappear.
If you miss the ship, you'll have to either meet it in a subsequent port of call or call it a wash and head home. Your cruise line, travel agent or travel insurance provider might be able to help you make the plans; otherwise, you'll have to make arrangements on your own.
Approximately 400 people have gone missing from cruise ships in the past 20 years. While this is no cause for general alarm, given that approximately 30 million people take cruise ship vacations each year, it is still a dangerous and concerning statistic.
So what happens when a guest doesn't turn up? “When a guest does not arrive for check in, our Customer Service Team will contact the guests to confirm if they are cancelling altogether or planning to join the ship at another port.
At a Port of Call. When cruise passengers enter a foreign cruise port, it will not take long to exit the ship once everything is in place. Most ships allow you to leave once the ship docks, everything is secured, and the ship has permission from local authorities. Guests just need to scan their key cards while exiting.
Cruise cabins near the elevator or stair access points are some of the noisiest staterooms at sea and their location will lead to a lot of noise during most parts of the night and therefore, should be avoided.
You want to be as close to the pivot point as possible to feel the least movement. Avoid cabins near the front (bow) or back (stern) and on decks higher than the middle deck of the ship. So, on a ship with fourteen passenger decks, your best options are below deck seven.
Since you most likely will be doing a lot of walking and standing in line, comfortable shoes are key. Dress casually, and don't be surprised to see tropical wear on Caribbean cruises or even groups in matching T-shirts. Also make sure you check the weather beforehand.
Cruise ships very rarely sink, and when they do it is often when they don't have passengers on board. Just over one cruise ship every 5 years has sunk in the last 100 years. Regarding sinking with casualties, that's only one every 7 years.
Find the port agent if the cruise ship leaves you stranded in port. A cruise ship will leave passengers behind on shore if they arrive back at the ship too late. But ship staff have procedures in place to help you out.
Most cruises leave and return from the same port. There are a handful of itineraries that don't work that way, but it's very easy to spot them when you are planning to sail on one of the stunning Disney Cruise Line ships.
People very rarely disappear on a cruise ship. On average it's around 19 people that go missing each year. This is out of the many millions of cruise ship passengers that travel aboard one of the 314 cruise ships that sail the world's oceans each year.
It is possible to live on a cruise ship and there are several cruise lines that allow you to purchase an apartment onboard. Alternatively, you could book a series of short cruises on a mainstream cruise line. It's better to choose a cruise ship designed for long-term living than one from a mainstream cruise line.
If you've ever spent some time at sea, you may have noticed that you felt a little wobbly once you were back on land. This wobbliness is “mal de debarquement.” This condition makes people feel like they're still standing on the deck of a ship despite the fact that they're safely ashore.
Mal de Debarquement syndrome (MdDS), also known as disembarkment syndrome, is a benign neurological condition characterized by a feeling of rocking, bobbing, or swaying, usually presenting after an individual has been exposed to passive motion as from being on a cruise, long drive, turbulent air travel, or train.
How long does MdDS last? In most cases, MdDS goes away within the first 24 hours. Even without treatment, most people improve within one year. However, in rare instances, people may experience symptoms for months or even years.
Water, tea and coffee are free from the buffet all day. You'll also find fruit juice during breakfast and tea and coffee in the Freedom and Club restaurants during mealtimes. We also offer competitive bar prices and Drinks Packages for alcoholic drinks, soft drinks, Costa Coffee and more.