what do they do at the port?? how long should i be there before my boat leaves?? do they have high security there? can i sneak alcohol on with me? help!!!
2007-08-24 02:52:23 · 18 answers · asked by JACKIE 3 in Travel ➔ Cruise Travel
1. Your cruise line will have a list of all the stuff you can do at a port. Or I advise you to go online and search the port yourself. This way you can find more traditional things to do besides all the "touristy" stuff.
2. Your ship will make you well aware of when you have to be back. They will announce it overhead and they will also tell you at the meetings about each port.
3. I am sure they do. The last cruise I went on required a passport so security was very tight.
4. You don't have to sneak alcohol on board. Typically they allow you to bring a certain amount back on board. They may make you check it in to the baggage area for retrieval at the end of the trip but you are allowed to bring quite a bit back home with you.
I am not sure what you do, if you want to take it on board to drink. I think they allowed one bottle but that was 10 years ago. Things could have changed.
I have only been on 2 cruises. Carnival 10yrs ago, Norwegian 4yrs ago.
2007-08-24 03:04:59 · answer #1 · answered by momof2 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It depends on your port what there is to do and how long you have. It should be in your itinerary from the cruiseline. Many have this info online, so check their website for where you're going and what they offer. Then check out a website like cruisecritic.com for stuff you can do on your own. One advantage of ship's excursions is if the trip is running late, the ship will wait for you. If you're on your own, better watch the clock because you WILL BE left behind, and have to catch up on your own. Some itineraries DO include an overnight stop, so do check your itinerary!
You don't need to sneak alcohol on if you're buying some at a port, but they may take it from you and give it back the last night of the cruise. It just depends on luck whether you bring it during embarkation and get "caught". The exception is wine, most cruise ships allow you to bring as much as your luggage can hold.
Bon voyage!
2007-08-25 16:54:21 · answer #2 · answered by X 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It really depends on what port and cruise line. I have been on several and it is really not hard to get through. Just make sure3 you have everything(paper work, passport etc.).
Get to the port early so you can be on the ship when they start boarding. You could be on the ship anywhere from 1-6 hour before they leave port. That will give you time to eat and look over the ship and find out where things are. Sometimes you even will have your bags before you leave and you could unpack and that will all be done and you can enjoy the rest of the trip. When you get to the port you will be visiting make sure you know what time the ship will leave and be back when they tell you, they will leave you there and you have to find your own way back. Have fun.
2007-08-25 00:11:16 · answer #3 · answered by kmbethell 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are usually allowed onto the ship about an hour before they say you can board. For example, from Miami, a cruise that says you can board at noon, usually starts at 11:00 a.m.
After you board, there is a luncheon buffet on deck. They don't advertise this, but I have never not seen it done.
I like to get there as early as possible, get the "lay of the boat", and stake out my location for sailing. There is very high security in cruise ports now, which is a good thing. You don't want to be on the high seas with a wacko or worse. You can bring alcohol on if it's packed in your luggage. You just can't board with a bottle in your hand. Have fun!
2007-08-24 21:00:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I went on a Carnival cruise in March 07' out of New Orleans and we thought we they would not find our alcohol but they have some new tech and they found ours. When they called us down to remove it from our luggage you have to be escorted by a port patrol person they probably had over 60 or move pieces of luggage that had alcohol in them. They even found it in Mouth wash bottles. If you purchase alcohol at the different ports they will take it away from you when you come back on the ship and will deliver to your quarters the last evening of the cruise. Other cruise lines may be different but not Carnival. Other than that it was a wonderful cruise and I will never take alcohol in my luggage again. We were not scheduled to leave out of New Orleans until 4:00 and we were able to board and eat at 12:00PM we were in our rooms by 1:30. The earleir you get there the quicker the lines will be to board.
2007-08-24 10:31:43 · answer #5 · answered by waterfan09 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Half an hour like the other answer but maybe sooner (45 minutes to an hour) so you can find your room.
Important when you find your room is to leave heavy stuff behind for a while because before the ship leaves the dock everyone is required to go through a "sinking drill" so everyone knows what to do if something goes wrong. **They WILL make you wear life vests during the drill and alot of the time they smell funny so don't wear anything too nice, it might rub off on you**
Alcohol? These cruise ships are totally awesome! if you want to sneak in some alcohol i suggest you wrap it in some clothes then hide it in your luggage... It works. But why bother bringing your own? Cruise ships are like bottomless alocohol pits! Oh, well... to each his own, i guess.
Anyways there isn't much to say. I've been on 3 cruises and if you keep these in mind you'll be just fine =)
Hope you have fun!
2007-08-24 10:08:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
Well, it would help me to answer the question if you gave more details-where is the port, what cruiseline, what s the timing of when the ship leaves on that night of your cruise. All that said, I would come back to the ship about an hour to an hour and a half EARLY(before the ship leaves) to be sure. The Ship DOES Not wait for a passenger and its the passengers financial responsibility to get back to the ship and or fly home. I ' m really not sure about alcohol question. (there are other questions out there on Y Answers, and many people have their own ideas. Have a great time when you go.
2007-08-24 10:02:29 · answer #7 · answered by Tivogal 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
I have been on 6 Cruises...Its the best Vacations i have ever had. You cannot beat it, with Entertainment included, Your Room and All the Food you can possibly eat.. They will check your Luggage at the Port, so be carefull what you take onboard. Be sure and keep up with your Passport and any other ID you may need. You will have to show them each time you leave the Ship. The Cruise Ship will also issue you a Card that you will use Onboard to shop or buy Alcohol.. Have Fun Girl!!!!!
2007-08-24 10:08:28 · answer #8 · answered by donna_honeycutt47 6 · 0⤊ 3⤋
haha i can help you. there are many things you can do at the port. if you go to your cruise website they will have websites of things to do on the island. i'm not sure where you are going but when i went to costa rica i did the zip lines through the forest. You will know how much time you have on the island because the people on the boat will tell you when the boat will leave. They have security its pretty safe. they take you to high tourists areas so you should be safe. if you are sneaky you can sneak alcohol!!!!!
2007-08-24 10:04:20 · answer #9 · answered by marcopolo 3 · 0⤊ 3⤋
basicly at the port you will check in simular to airport style it has high security and you cant bring any alcohol except wine with ur carry-on. they will scan u and ur bags and then u basicly check in and get ur keys and set up ur account.(we sometimes put a few bottles in check in though) we usually get to the port around few hours early to avoid long lines and to eat lunch on the ship. they advise u to be there at least an hour early but we like to be there and explore the ship and relax.
2007-08-24 17:11:55 · answer #10 · answered by stephanie s 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋