We recently asked our Facebook audience whether they would stay on the cruise ship during a port of call, and cruisers had a lot to say. The post received more than 40,000 engagements and over 2,000 comments, with strong opinions on both sides.
When we asked the Life Well Cruised community, 72% of cruisers said they stay onboard while the ship is in port at least once during their cruise.
On one hand, visiting several destinations in a single trip is one of the biggest perks of cruising. Even if you’ve been to a port before, there are usually new places to visit, foods to try, and things to explore.
On the other hand, many experienced cruisers told us they’re perfectly happy to stay onboard, especially in Caribbean ports they’ve visited several times. There’s another big perk too. While everyone else heads off the ship, the cruise can feel almost like your own private resort.
In this post, I’ll share what real cruisers are saying about staying onboard versus getting off the ship in port, including the reasons people feel strongly about both choices. I’ll also share our own thoughts and what we tend to do when we cruise.
Why Cruisers Disembark in Port
For many cruisers, visiting the ports is still a big part of the reason they cruise in the first place. Even if they don’t have a full-day excursion planned, simply getting off the ship for a few hours can make the day feel more interesting.
One Life Well Cruised community member shared, “I always like to get off in port so I can touch land. I know it sounds funny, but I enjoy the change of scenery. Even if it’s just getting off for an hour and checking out some of the local shops in port.”
Other cruisers are more intentional about choosing itineraries based on the destinations. One cruiser told us, “Since we only take one cruise per year, we like to make the most of our days in port. We intentionally choose itineraries that visit ports that we haven’t been to.”
For some couples, port days are also a way to balance different vacation styles. One cruiser explained, “I’m a beach person, but my wife loves to cruise. Our compromise is visiting the beach any time we visit a cruise port that has one.”
This was a common theme among cruisers who prefer to get off the ship. They see port days as part of the overall travel experience, whether that means exploring somewhere new, visiting a favorite beach, trying local food, or simply enjoying a change of scenery for a few hours.
Why Cruisers Stay Onboard in Port
For some cruisers, staying onboard is less about missing the destination and more about deciding they’ve already seen enough of it.
Certain ports came up again and again in our community discussion, especially places cruisers have visited multiple times. One Life Well Cruised community member joked, “Yes, we do if the port is Nassau. But I think everyone else should get off, lol!”
Others said staying onboard can actually turn into one of the most relaxing days of the cruise. One cruiser remembered, “Absolutely. I remember a cruise where we docked and we’d been there a couple times and both decided to stay onboard. It rained. We sat above the Lido deck out of the rain drinking cocktails and watching a movie on the big screen. It was an excellent choice for us.”
For repeat cruisers, especially those who have sailed the same itinerary several times, there may simply be less motivation to get off the ship. One community member shared, “Being in our 80s and this is our eighth cruise to Alaska, we never leave the ship.”
These comments really highlight why staying onboard can be so appealing. Once you’ve visited a port several times, the ship itself can become the destination.
Fewer people onboard can mean quieter pools, easier access to loungers, less crowded dining venues, and a much more relaxed atmosphere.
How Cruise Lines Can Make Port Days More Exciting
With 72% of cruisers saying they stay on the ship at least once during their cruise, I think it’s worth discussing what cruise lines can do to make port days more exciting.
After all, a big part of cruising is getting to see new places and visit multiple destinations in one vacation. However, as cruise lines continue to build larger, nicer, and more impressive ships, the ship itself can sometimes feel more appealing than certain ports of call.
With that being said, I think there could be more variety when it comes to cruise itineraries, particularly in the Caribbean. It can often feel like cruises visit the same handful of ports over and over again, whether it’s Nassau, Cozumel, Costa Maya, Puerto Plata, or even the cruise lines’ private islands and destinations.
For cruisers who sail frequently, visiting the same places multiple times can naturally make staying onboard more appealing. There are only so many times you can visit the same port before you start wondering if a quiet pool deck might be the better option.
I think offering more unique itineraries and adding some less frequently visited ports could go a long way toward making the destination side of cruising exciting again. If cruisers had more opportunities to experience somewhere new, there might be a lot more incentive to get off the ship and explore.
Our Thoughts on Staying on The Ship in Port
At the end of the day, we think cruisers should do whatever makes the most sense for their vacation.
For people who cruise several times a year, it’s completely understandable to stay onboard in a port they’ve visited many times before. On the other hand, if this is your one big vacation of the year, you may want to make the most of every port day and see as much as possible.
Personally, I like a balance of both. In ports like Nassau, Bahamas, and Costa Maya, which I’ve visited many times, I’m perfectly happy staying onboard and enjoying a quieter ship.
However, on a Mediterranean cruise, I feel completely differently. There are so many incredible places to see that I want to make the most of every opportunity I have to get off the ship and explore.
That’s one of the great things about cruising. There’s no rule that says you have to get off the ship in every port, just as there’s no reason to stay onboard if exploring the destination is what you’re most excited about.