Just sitting having my morning coffe and I Started wondering why dont the cruise lines offer longer port of calls? I see that Princess is spending More time in Cabo arriving at 12:00 pm and leaving at 2:00 pm a day later instead of going to Mazatlan. I think I would be interested in longer porttime you could arrive at Hawaii or someplace spend a couple of days then move on. The cruise line could save fuel also.Or is that the appeal of cruising to wake up in a diffrent port? I think it might even be fun to cruise to some ports and spend 3 or 4 nights there.Or have they tried this in the past? What do you think ?
The vast majority of passengers want the most bang for their buck.
Most people cannot afford many cruises. When they do get onboard, they want to see as many places as possible.
Cruises that stop in more ports are more popular than cruises that stop in only a few ports.
More popular cruises are easier to fill to 100% or more.
Full ships means higher profits.
Cruise ships do not make any money selling cruise tickets.
All the profit is from onboard spending.
When a ship is in port, the big money makers - Casino and Shops must be closed.
The other money-makers, Bars and Spa - are empty, because the passengers a spending their money ashore.
In most ports, the ship still has engines running to produce electricity. The difference in fuel consumption between slow cruising and sitting at the pier is minimal.
Ships must pay port charges. The charges are based on how long the ship stays at the pier. The longer the ship stays, the higher the charges.
Ships must spend quite a bit of time at sea to produce inexpensive fresh water, and dump treated grey and black water. If they stay in port more than about 18 hours, they must purchase expensive fresh water from the port, and pay waste handling companies big money to haul away grey and black water.
The longer you stay in port, the faster you need to go to get to the next port in a reasonable time. Ship's engines are notoriously inefficient on fuel consumption at high speeds. Fuel is VERY expensive these days.
D, you might like to cruise to Bermuda. I know it's on my to do list.
Just looked at the Bermuda cruises I think that would be nice 3 days in port. Why can the cruise ships spend 3 days in Bermuda and not very many other places? I wonder if you found a port you wanted to vist more if you could stay behind then get back on board when the ship came thru again? We just returned from a cruise to Hawaii and are planning on flying back to Mauai to spend a week there.Did a little research on cost comparing a week in Mauai and a 10 day cruise out of San Fransico to Mexico (which we are also considering)The cruise was cheaper $1,300 pp on Princce cruises compared to $1,600 pp flying to Mauai thats a weeks stay in a hotel air and car rental no food.But then we would have to fly to San Fran to catch the ship more $.
We are planning on doing both the 10 day San Fran to Mexico and the flying to Mauai for a week just not sure in which order. We would also like to go to New York city some day. We have alot we want to do and see and now that the girls have moved out and on their own its time to start doing them.
I hear you. My teen is a junior in high school. I managed my first two cruises last year and was thinking I was going to get to travel some. Then I became my dad's guardian and primary caregiver. He has dementia and has other illnesses too. I've already changed the booking on a cruise I had planned for this May until November of 2012. I say, if you get the chance to travel, then you should.
You know, Mexico is really hot, so maybe you could think about being there in like say, November.
Thats funny you mentioned it being hot in Mexico.We live in the Pacific Nortwest where the sun comes out about once a year. While we were in Hawaii I put on sunblock rented an umbrella and then sat on the beach most of the day and I still got sun burned! Sorry to hear about your dad. Family first everything else is trivial I would cheris every minute you have with him.
When you dock in Bermuda, remember that many services and entertainmentt are at a minimum...No casino, no shops...to my mind, its like you are using the ship as a hotel. I would love Bermuda as a port day, but not to dock there...jmho
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When you dock in Bermuda, remember that many services and entertainmentt are at a minimum...No casino, no shops...to my mind, its like you are using the ship as a hotel. I would love Bermuda as a port day, but not to dock there...jmho
Is there a lot to do on shore in Bermuda? If so then you could use the ship as a hotel just go back on board eat, shower, swim, sleep then head back to town.
DH,someone who has visited, will have to post to let you know all there is to do....I know the pink sand beaches are famous, and, beautiful.
For us, we want to go on a cruise for the enjoyment of all the ship can offer, not to minimze my options onboard, while we are parked. If I wanted to enjoy Bermuda, I would book a land trip,and not feel I was missing part of my cruise.
Bermuda cruises are very popular from my home, Boston..no air is great, here,and it's not far.I know I am in the minority, with my opinion, and it's just an opinion
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Last edited by Trip; April 16th, 2011 at 06:07 PM.
D, I would deffo do Mexico in the winter. I've been there in March and October and it's hot. The tour guide for Tulum told the OH that it never gets cool, but I bet it's worse in the summer. You'll have to get some super duper sun block when you go there.
Myself and DW prefer less port intensive cruises. The more sea days the better . If I could find a 14 day cruise with 10 sea days I would feel that I died and went to heaven.
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Myself and DW prefer less port intensive cruises. The more sea days the better . If I could find a 14 day cruise with 10 sea days I would feel that I died and went to heaven.
Us, too! We LOVE sea days! I think I would be happy with a 14 day "cruise to nowhere" if it was offered!
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I like extra ports also. Even the ones i see over and over. Then i can stay on ship in port when most are off so i can enjoy the pools and hottubs and food without all the crowds and long lines..
Henry, a cruise with 4-1/2 days in Bermuda, how wonderful. I love, love, love Bermuda have you been there before?
Dhill to answer your question about Bermuda, Bermuda is an ahhh what a nice place to relax island. It is beautiful, clean, people are friendly, and yes there is plenty to do on the island. Public transportation is the way to go, cheap,safe and very efficient. When you do go a must do is spend a day at Horseshoe Beach, gorgeous, good snorkeling. There are also beautiful botanical gardens to wander around, underground caverns that are really neat, golfing, history and shopping
Bruce gave a reasonable economic argument about why ships get under sail ASAP, but it is disappointing to rush out of port and then cruise at 12 knots to your next destination.
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I see that this is a rather old thread, but I just had to say that I love the Bermuda itinerary. I have booked this cruise just because I find island hopping to be very exhausting.
Bruce gave a reasonable economic argument about why ships get under sail ASAP, but it is disappointing to rush out of port and then cruise at 12 knots to your next destination.
green,
It's also disappointing to see you rush to get into your car to go to a meeting, and then you only drive 50mph to get to your destination.
Why don't you drive 100mph?
It's also disappointing to see you rush to get into your car to go to a meeting, and then you only drive 50mph to get to your destination.
Why don't you drive 100mph?
well thats a silly statement for one thing there are speed limits on the roads last time I checked there wasnt a speed limit on the ocean.And why leave port 10 hours early for a 5 hour run?
Our longest port visits have been three days in Bermuda, three days in St Petersburg, and three days in Venice; all wonderful stops. We have also had many two day stops including, Hong Kong, Beijing, Saigon, Bangkok, Singapore, Manila, Taipei, Bora Bora, Moorea, and an earlier trip to Venice. I know casinos and shops are closed but the tradeoff is worth it for extra time in port; especially chance to experience the nightlife.
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Myself and DW prefer less port intensive cruises. The more sea days the better . If I could find a 14 day cruise with 10 sea days I would feel that I died and went to heaven.
The best I found was was 18 sea days on a 28 day cruise .
Still looking for a cruise where the sea days exceed 90% of the cruise.
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