I'll Admit It -- I'd be Scared the Disney Cruise Would Leave Without Me

Haha! I've never, ever had a problem getting back to the ship, but then, all of our cruises have been to Caribbean islands, where we mostly just poke around and shop a bit. We did take a little tour in St. Thomas, and we also went to the beach. I think the best thing to do, if you're worried about it, is to only engage in cruiseline-sponsored excursions. I have a safer feeling about those...like they would hold the boat or something. Maybe not

I could see this being more of an issue with, say, a European port, where I'd really be tempted to stray and explore. Excellent point, though.

When we did the Disney cruise awhile ago we had no problems. Granted it was only a 3 night cruise to the Bahamas and Nassau is just not that interesting to me. We did catch a cab to the Atlantis and hang out there for a few hours but then we went right back to the boat. I think the time you have to be back on board is usually a few hours before the ship actually departs so if you were running a few minutes late I can't imagine it being that big of a deal. Like Lizzy said doing the ship sponsored excursions would be your best bet if you were really that stressed out about it

i really worry about it! we're doing a cruise next year (hubby doesnt know, its his 30th birthday present), and i REALLY want to go to atlantis, we looked at going there for our honeymoon but it was just too expensive so to go for the day would be AMAZING. but its just so much money for the ship excursions i would have to do it ourselves.

Its really easy to do without an actual excursion...When you come off the ship and walk towards the port area there will be a ton of taxi drivers (normally you won't get a whole taxi to yourself but the ride isn't very long) so just find one who seems reasonable (for us it was like $4 a person each way....its probably more now though). To go into the resort you don't have to pay anything and you can spend time just wandering around looking at everything. There is a restaurant off the main lobby that looks into the aquarium which is a cool experience. You can also go into the casino and gamble. There used to be a way to buy a day pass to use their pools and stuff but I'm not sure on the details. There is some higher end shopping (a Tiffanys, Gucci, etc) as well as an Atlantis gift shop at the resort. If you want to eat there I can recommend the buffet restaurant (no idea on the name but go in the main lobby and follow it all the way around to the left)...tons of good food (Bahamian and American cuisine and desserts)...if you had breakfast on the ship and could hold out until 1ish the restaurant wasn't very crowded (of course we went on a Sunday when cruises aren't in port). If you don't want to eat a meal there we found an Edy's Ice Cream shop out by their marina. When we were on the Disney cruise we just went to the Atlantis and walked around and did a little shopping and then took a taxi back to the ship so we made it back well before time. Just make sure someone has a watch and check it regularly and head back to the ship an hour before the time you have to be back on board and you will be fine!

Don't you have to check out and check back in when you leave the boat? I would think if something major would happen the boat would hold for someone. But since I've never been... I could be wrong.

I've never been on a cruise. My parents went for the first time in February. When they left the ship they had to scan their room cards and scan it again when they got back on board. I'm not sure what they do if someone doesn't show up on time.

I can only assume they hold it before everyone is accounted for... but your right. Who knows truly...

You have to go through security to leave/return, and they normally xray your bags and swipe your ship id. So I would imagine that they know if you aren't aboard, but I don't know if they'd actually hold the ship for you. My guess is no.

Oh, oh me!!! Raises hand...raises hand!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would be terrified of that..because I have a tendency to..um..get distracted. Especially if there is shopping involved. I have a good girlfriend who loves to cruise but she NEVER gets off the boat because she's too afraid it would leave her.

Actually, she says that when everyone is off the boat it's actually the best time to be on the boat because the pools and stuff are fairly empty.

If you are on a cruise-sponsored tour, they will hold the ship for you, or at least get you to the next port of call at their expense. If you're non on a sponsored tour, the ship most certainly leave without you and you'll be responsible for meeting up with the ship at the next port of call, or making your own way home.

I read a few years ago or maybe saw it on the Travel Channel, you can get discounts at the spas on cruise ships if you stay onboard while the ship is in port. I don't remember if it was all cruiselines or just certain ones. I'm not sure if it's still true today.

My fear would be not so much having the ship leave without me, but getting on the wrong ship. That would be embarrassing.

Spa discounts and other specials are definitely the rule. They're always trying to entice people to stay on...like Bella said, it's pretty empty when you're in port. On my most recent cruise (a little 3 day jobby to the Bahamas) I WISH I had stayed on, rather than just walking around Nassau's shopping area. I would have much preferred hanging out in a deck chair, reading, at an empty pool. Sounds like bliss, actually.

I would enjoy that period..end of sentence...on a cruise or not.

Pedi tomorrow with my mum
care to join us bella?

I will be to Canada lickety-split.

Exactly! DCL will NOT wait for you if you are late UNLESS you are on an excursion booked directly through Disney Cruise Line and that excursion is late returning. I have witnessed people running back to the ship as we were sailing away. Once when an important crew member was late and we had already left the dock, a small boat brought the crew member to the ship. That doesn't happen with guests. So don't take chances if you don't want to risk having to get to the next port at your own expense (yet another reason to have a valid passport and not use a birth certificate for ID). If you book tours on your own, be sure to have good trip insurance that will cover trip interruption!