Should you stay on the cruise ship when you arrive at a port? Or should you get up and go explore the new location? These are the questions that you need to ask yourself whenever your ship docks. It can sometimes be hard to decide whether you should stay on the ship or not. The fear of missing out can play a big role in disembarking, but there’s nothing wrong with wanting to stay behind. Here’s an honest look at the pros and cons of staying on your cruise ship after it arrives at a port.
The pros
Let’s start this off by saying that there is absolutely no obligation to get off of the ship when it gets to a port. Many people think that you simply aren’t allowed to stay on the ship, but that’s not true at all. Disembarking is always optional, so it’s up to you whether you want to or not. And there are plenty of pros to staying on the ship while everyone else is off exploring. The biggest draw is the ability to simply relax. Most of us go on vacation to get away from the daily grind of life, so if you just want to lay in bed or sit by the pool, so be it! It’s your trip, so do what you think will feel the best. Another major benefit to staying on the ship is the fact that there will be far fewer people to share the amenities with. Wanna enjoy a tanning session without the hustle and bustle that comes with so many people playing in the pool? You’ll have a much calmer time when everyone else is gone. One final pro to consider is the fact that some ships create special incentives for those that stay on board. You can enjoy deals and unique offers if you are one of the few who stays behind.
The cons
The most obvious downside to staying on the ship while it is at a port is that you will not be able to see a new location firsthand. Sure, you can get the gist of it from the deck, but you can’t really experience a new city or country from afar. You may also find that certain locations on the ship (such as bars and restaurants) are closed when the ship is at a port. That means that your options for entertainment and passing the time may be limited. A final thing that you may miss out on is exclusive shore excursions. Most cruise lines offer exciting and interesting shore excursions (for a price, usually), and you won’t be able to check those out if you stay on the ship. You can always come back to the port later, sure, but you may not be able to experience that same excursion that you missed out on.
In the end, it all comes down to personal preference. Staying on the ship while it’s at a port can be really nice, at times. Just make sure that your desire for a calm and relaxing day doesn’t cause you to regret missing out on something!
