Never got off the ship...anyone else do this?

[Figee17]

We just returned from our 7-night Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Fantasy and we never got off the ship at any of the ports. We enjoyed a QUIET ship (especially on Castaway Cay day) and absolutely loved it. Does anybody else do this?

We've been to Saint Thomas before, and I've been to San Juan and Castaway Cay before. Our son had only been to CC before but just wanted to play in the pool, Mickey slide, splash areas, etc. We had a blast!!!!

 

[GatorMomInNC]

Almost -- we did a 7 night Carribbean on the Fantasy and only got off at Castaway Cay. We love CC and didn't want to miss that. I don't recall if it was Eastern or Western. I do recall having the pool practically to ourselves for several hours, the kids loved it.

 

[DCL4LIFE]

I was on your cruise also. On this I got off the ship at all three ports, but because we had first-timers with us. I would have rather stayed on board, and have done that on several cruises before. If anything I get off at CC for a few hours and am back on the ship by lunch. That days is my favorite for Cabanas lunch.

 

[Drusilla99]

I love cc, so I'll always get off there! I have stayed on at other ports & it does make for a lovely day. One day, my girls were the only two in the family pool for a couple of hours, it was quite nice.

 

[bumbershoot]

The idea of being docked in San Juan and not getting off the ship makes me sad.

I'll stay onboard at Nassau, but I wouldn't book a cruise that had stops that were so uninteresting to me. Why pay the port fees?

 

[RebelHawk]

We have never had a cruise that we didn't at least get off the ship at least once. We have hit many ports where we waited for the rush to disembark to die down and casually stroll off the ship. Walk into the port/city and stand there for a couple of minutes and then re-board immediately and relaxed in the quiet that is the ship on a port day.

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

We have every once in a while, skipped a.port but never all of them.

To each their own!

AKK

 

[Figee17]

The idea of being docked in San Juan and not getting off the ship makes me sad.

I'll stay onboard at Nassau, but I wouldn't book a cruise that had stops that were so uninteresting to me. Why pay the port fees?

Why does it make you sad? I've enjoyed San Juan on previous trips (land and sea) but this time, staying on the ship made for a more relaxing day for us with a 4 year old (who doesn't like to walk for long while shopping or touring) and no stroller.

We like the weather in the Caribbean, especially being "Northerners", the length of the trip, and the timing and price worked for us.

Thats the great thing about cruising - everyone can have a great time without all doing the same thing

 

[Cruisin]

We cruise often and lots of times we never get off the ship.

We just love being on the cruise ship and enjoying what the ship has to offer, even if that just means relaxing in a deck chair and reading a book.

That's the wonderful thing about cruising, you can do as little or as much as you want to.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

The only port we have stayed on the ship is while in Nassau. We have been been there several times in the past and decided to enjoy the ship while most are off and helping the Bahama economy. It was nice having a much quieter ship, having never stood in line longer than five minute for the AquaDuck, getting through the line faster for the buffets, etc. But while at other ports of call we have not been to; we do like to pick at least one excursion. Zip-lining, bike tour, swimming with the dolphins, sail boat regatta, full day at a resort with food and drinks included, and while we have been on CC many times we will continue to get off the ship and enjoy Disney Cruise Line's island paradise.

 

[lorimay]

Nassau is the only one we skipped so far.
But I completely understand staying on board the entire 7 days, The Fantasy is an amazing ship and I would be very happy staying on board for 14 days straight!!!!

 

[phinz]

Our first cruise we didn't bother going ashore in St. Thomas. BTDT. We only went ashore at CC for an hour and a half on our last cruise, and we almost didn't even bother getting off. We're doing another Eastern in December to Sint Maarten and St. Thomas and may not bother going ashore ever.

 

[saintrob]

We get off at every port even when we've been many times. We probably only walk around Nassau very briefly but as we've travelled so far (from the UK) I sort of feel obliged to put feet on dry land!

 

[ashley0139]

I've been on many cruises where I didn't get off the ship at all, including my most recent. I've been to all the places before, and I love love love a quiet ship. Empty pool areas, smaller activities, I just love it.

 

[Ofinn]

Nope never. I want to swim in the ocean not a pool. I have a pool in my backyard. I also get bored on the ship.

 

[seacruise]

No, never not gotten off the ship at all. On Disney we do try to skip at least one port since we pretty much do Disney cruise for the ship itself.

 

[anna08]

We have spent one Castaway Cay day onboard- didn't plan it that way, but we ended up sleeping in and loved how empty the ship was so we just enjoyed that. We had our best excursion to date in St. Thomas - chartered a catamaran for the day and it was amazing. We would look to do this again in a heartbeat! Here is our itinerary for the day - Itinerary option 1:
OYSTER POND - TINTAMARRE - PINEL ISLAND - OYSTER POND :
9.00 AM : Oyster Pond marina. After the skipper hoists the sails, the wind powers the boat towards Tintamarre island. (40 minutes).
10.00 AM : The boat is anchored in Tintamarre, a very remote island. You can swim, snorkel, take a walk ashore or relax in the shaded cockpit or tan on the trampoline.
12.00 AM : We depart to Pinel island. (30 minutes)
12.30 AM : Lunch at the restaurant karibuni: lobsters, grilled fish, bbq ribs, sea-food. This place is a must-do on Saint Martin.
2.30 PM : Afternoon snorkeling in Green Cay onto the coral garden.
4.00 PM : Sailing time towards Oyster pond marina.
5.00 PM : We arrive on the dock

The lunch spot you had to come onshore by boat and sat under a tiki umbrella to eat. The fresh seafood was amazing. Because we had the boat to ourselves, we just asked them to come back a little early so that we had plenty of time to reboard. So relaxing and fun!

 

[Deck6crew]

My inlaws did this. They were sick.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

We get off at every port even when we've been many times. We probably only walk around Nassau very briefly but as we've travelled so far (from the UK) I sort of feel obliged to put feet on dry land!

yeah I kind of feel the same. I feel like I payed the port fee I shopped see what the place is like and not just take others word for it.