PC Cruises

Guide

Ports and shore excursions

Port days are short, and the ship keeps to a timetable. A little planning lets you make the most of a few hours ashore and get back with time to spare.

Small tender boats crossing calm water toward a harbor town, with a cruise ship anchored in the distance
At tender ports, small boats carry guests between the ship and the shore.

How a port day runs

Every ship prints its arrival time, departure time and all-aboard time in the daily program or app. All-aboard is the time you must be back on the ship, which is usually 30 to 60 minutes before it sails.

  1. ArrivalThe ship docks or anchors. Times are in the daily program and can shift with weather.
  2. Going ashoreOrganized tours usually leave first. On tender days you may need a numbered ticket.
  3. ExploringKeep the ship's phone number and the port address with you. Set a phone alarm in ship time.
  4. BufferAim to be back about an hour before all-aboard, more if you travel by road or need a tender.
  5. All aboardUsually 30 to 60 minutes before departure. The ship will not wait for late independent travelers.

Docked ports and tender ports

In a docked port, the ship ties up at a pier and you walk off down the gangway. In a tender port, the ship anchors offshore and small boats carry guests to land. Tendering takes longer, especially in the first hour when everyone wants to go ashore. Ships often hand out numbered tickets to manage the queue, and guests on ship tours usually go first. Rough water can delay or cancel tenders, so a tender port is never certain until the day.

Ship tours or your own plans

You can book organized tours through the ship, book with a local operator yourself, or simply walk off and explore. Each has a place.

  • Tours sold by the ship handle the timing and transport for you. Lines commonly say that if one of their tours runs late, the ship will wait or help you rejoin. Read the terms to see exactly what they promise.
  • Tours you book yourself can be smaller or more flexible. The ship has no duty to wait for you, so build in a large buffer, choose operators who know the ship schedule, and keep the ship's port agent details with you.
  • Exploring on foot works well where the pier is close to town. Check the walking distance before you set off, and carry water.

If you miss the ship

If you are late, the ship may sail without you. You would then have to reach the next port at your own cost, and you will need your passport to fly or cross borders. This is the main reason to carry your passport or a copy, as your line advises, and to keep a buffer of about an hour. If you are running late, call the ship's port agent, whose number is usually in the daily program.

Staying safe and respectful ashore

  • Read the government travel advice for every country on the route, including each port of call.
  • Carry a little local cash, and keep cards and phone in a bag that zips closed.
  • Drink bottled or treated water where tap water is not safe, and use sunscreen and repellent in the tropics.
  • Dress modestly for religious sites, and ask before you photograph people.
  • Check mobile roaming charges, or set your phone to airplane mode on the ship to avoid costly marine network fees.

Sea days

Days with no port are a chance to rest, try onboard activities and catch up on sleep. On a busy itinerary, many guests skip a port or two on purpose and stay on a quiet ship.