What time do you have to be back on the boat at the stop ports?

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Tivogal

the daily activities sheet will tell you when. Like others said, it will vary from port to port. enjoy your cruise.

cruisecritic.com
is a good site for info
also
carnival.com

wellmaintained

if you look at this cruise site you can read itineraries for cruises and it tells you all about port stops

Patrick S

I've only been on 1 Royal Caribbean cruise, but it's pretty standard that they tell you to be back at the port about a half-hour before the boat is scheduled to leave.

Hope that helps. I looked at Carnival's website but couldn't find their specifics, but that is Royal Caribbean's policy.

UPDATE: Yes, port times can vary from location to location, so while many are during daylight hours, some may be after dark. Make sure to check your cruise's itinerary, it should tell you what dates and times your ship will come and go from the various ports.

Charlotte

i've been on a carinival cruise, but the times vary with the places. they will have signs posted as youre getting off as to when you need to be back by. make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get back.. have fun!

MomSezNo

Mary L is correct about the ship leaving without you. However, in her friend's case, if she had had trip insurance that covers a late flight, she would not have lost her money. The cost of trip insurance would have been a bargain in her case.

Mary L

The time you MUST be back on board will vary with each port and each ship, and will be posted at the gangway and on the daily program. Do NOT be late, because the ship will leave without you! If that happens you will have to find your own way to the next port, and at your own expense. Sometimes the return time will be late afternoon, sometimes early evening, and occasionally midnight. You will probably note that they may say to be on board at 4 pm and the ship will leave at 5 pm. They really DO mean the "be on board" time, and showing up at 4:15 is too late! There are only 3 times I have known from personal experience of a ship waiting for somebody, and in those instances the people were late because they were already "in the hands of the ship". Once, the QE2 was delayed more than an hour waiting on a lady whose flight was late, but she had the flight booked and paid through Cunard. (If you make your own flight reservations and are late you are on your own and the ship will leave without you! One friend decided to save the extra fee and book her own flight, and when her flight was late she literally watched from the airplane window as the QE2 pulled out en route to Southampton -- she missed the entire week on board and got 0 refund, had to pay to fly to London, and had to pay hotel, etc for the entire week before class began at Oxford -- a VERY expensive "savings".) The second time I know of when a ship was held was Holland America's Maasdam, and that was on Half Moon Cay, when my sister and I were on a kayak tour that ran very late. However, it was a ship-sponsored tour, so they held the ship for us. Had we been out there on our own the ship would have left rather than wait. Finally, they held the QE2 for more than two hours for just over 200 of us in Alexandria when we were delayed in returning from our 2-day excursion to Cairo. However, we were on a ship-sponsored excursion. The key here is that if you go on an excusion, it is worth the money to take a ship-sponsored excursion (they hold the boat), or be absolutely sure that you return to the ship in plenty of time as posted (they don't hold the boat). With Cunard, have Cunard book and pay for your flight and transfer -- it's well worth the extra money!

Time travler

The time varies from cruise to cruise. They always announce the day before what time you have to be back on the ship. It is probably one of the most important things to keep in mind when you are in port. I have seen people miss the boat on every cruise I have been on (8 cruises). That is a costly mistake. This is one time when you can not be late.

Dan

The time varies on trips and places. You will be given a scheduled time to be back on board before you leave the ship. Be back before then.
Most cruise lines give you a daily schedule with all of the times on it, and play the schedule on the TV, too.

Regards,
Dan

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