A cruise vacation is destinated to take you to far off places. Until you get there, you’ll have plenty to see and do on board. The question then becomes, “Should you leave the ship at a port call?” It depends on your vacation goals and that port. It might be that there is a particular point of interest that you want to take into the city. Nothing wrong with that. However, there is a compelling argument to be made for staying on board. Here are all the reasons why:
More Room at the Pool
The swimming pool is always a popular hub on a cruise ship. So popular, in fact, that it might be hard to enjoy going for a swim with the crowds of boisterous folks splashing about. One port day, you could have enough room in the pool to actually swim laps. As for the hot tub, it will be all yours!
More Water Slide Rides
Suppose you’ve been eager to try the water slide, but every time you glance over there is a long, snaking line. When the majority of the passengers are of sightseeing, you’ll be able to go up and down that water slide as many times as you want. No waiting!
Spa Service Discounts
What you might not know on a cruise ship is that most of the spas are independent of the cruise line. This means everyone works on commission. Those folks know on port call days their chances of filling up their schedules will be limited. That is why they will often offer discounts for spa treatments. They also will be a lot more flexible with scheduling. Getting pampered at a discount is what a vacation should be all about.
No Gym Crowds
If you want to get in a little cardio at the gym, then you’ll find that the machines have suddenly become available on port call day. Not only can you get your pick of a machine, but you won’t have to feel rushed with someone hovering around waiting for you to finish.
No Wait for Laundry
Cruise lines understand that families need to do occasional loads of laundry. Now imagine a thousand people all wanting to do laundry at the same time. When everyone is off the ship, you can probably work in a load or two of the laundry. Time it while you’re getting your spa treatment and you’ll be ahead of the game.
No Lines for Lunch
By the second day of your cruise, you will have figured out when the long lines are for meals. The most popular is lunchtime at the buffet. On the port days, those lines will diminish like every other line on the ship. The same will be said for all the specialty restaurants. Perfect.
When it comes to deciding whether to get to go ashore on your cruise vacation, choose wisely.
