One of the biggest reasons I prefer cruising over a land-based vacation is the unmatched convenience. Cruising makes it easy to see multiple countries, cities, and regions with ease. You can see so much in a shorter amount of time without needing to repack your suitcase or figure out logistics.
In this way, I am always looking for unique itineraries to visit new destinations. For years, the idea of staying on the ship while in port never even crossed my mind. Why wouldn’t I want to make the most of my time exploring new places?
However, after sailing on more than 50 cruises, I’ve found myself often visiting the same ports of call. This is especially true when cruising to Mexico or the Caribbean, where most itineraries visit the same popular destinations, such as Cozumel or Nassau.
If you cruise often, like me, you might find yourself visiting the same ports of call time and time again. For some, this presents the perfect opportunity to enjoy the ship’s amenities without battling the crowds.
On my recent 4-night cruise aboard Utopia of the Seas, we visited two ports of call in the Bahamas, including Nassau and Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay. I’ve visited Nassau more times than I can count, so my husband and I decided to stay onboard and enjoy the ship instead.
This was an easy decision for us, as Utopia of the Seas is Royal Caribbean’s newest cruise ship with state-of-the-art amenities. As the latest Oasis Class ship, Utopia of the Seas has so much to offer for dining, entertainment, onboard thrills, and relaxation. But the massive ship holds upwards of 6,000 passengers, which can lead to long lines and crowded venues.
While I hadn’t considered skipping a port before, I loved the low-key day on the ship more than I expected. I see why veteran cruisers say it’s the best-kept secret - and here’s why.
Read more: Can you stay on the cruise ship at port?
A relaxing morning
Although cruising allows you to see multiple destinations during your time at sea, this can often lead to busy mornings and long days ashore. Most cruise ships are only docked in port during the day, typically from 8am to 5pm. This limits the time you have to explore the city or take a tour, as you must adhere to the cruise ship’s strict schedule.
When you want to see as much as possible during your time ashore, it’s not uncommon to get off the ship as early as possible. For example, if your ship arrives at 8am, you will probably want to get out of bed by 7am to get ready and have breakfast. Those taking excursions might need to meet even earlier, depending on their tour.
By opting to stay on the ship in port, we were able to enjoy a slower morning on Utopia of the Seas. There was nowhere to be — what a relaxing feeling!
Around 9am, we decided to visit Johnny Rockets for complimentary breakfast. Normally, this restaurant is busy in the mornings, as it's the only time you can dine here for free. Because most guests were already ashore, we were able to grab a table quickly and received hot coffee within minutes.
No chair hogs
Following our lovely breakfast on the Boardwalk, my husband and I decided to visit the adults-only Solarium. This is one of my favorite places to relax while cruising, and Utopia of the Seas has one of the most expansive Solariums I have ever seen! The multi-level oasis was located at the front of the ship, offering sweeping views of Nassau. We had stunning views of the turquoise ocean — the perfect backdrop for our afternoon relaxation session!
While the Solarium is typically busy with adults looking to escape the noise and commotion from the main pool deck, it was extremely quiet when we arrived at 11am. We had no issue finding chairs in the Solarium with views of the ocean, a welcomed change from battling the typical chair hogs!
Because we were traveling with my parents, grandparents, and extended family, it was easy for us to find a row of chairs together. During busier times, you might only be able to find one or two chairs together, making it difficult to be near each other. My grandma uses a walker to get around too, so we appreciated being able to find chairs close to the entrance so she didn’t need to walk far.
Quick bar service
Another perk of staying on the ship while docked in port is having quicker access to the bars onboard. With so many passengers sailing on the same ship, you might normally find a small congregation around the bars at any one time.
After finding chairs in the Solarium, it didn’t take long for one of the bar servers to take our order for a drink. I couldn’t wait to have my favorite cruise drink: a coconut mojito. The bar server quickly brought my mojito directly to my chair in the Solarium, so I didn’t even need to lift a finger. It was almost too easy!
Other bars on the pool deck were quiet as well. The nearby Vue Bar, located right outside of the Solarium, had a fully staffed bar with very few eager drinkers. You could walk right up, order a drink, and snag a prime seat overlooking the Bahamian coastline - something that would be nearly impossible during peak hours but was a breeze while the ship was in port.
Read more: I tried the drink package on four different cruise lines
Virtually no lines
By lunchtime, my husband and I decided to visit El Loco Fresh for a little snack. In my opinion, this is one of the best quick dining options on Royal Caribbean’s newest ships! My husband had never tried El Loco Fresh before, so this seemed like the perfect opportunity.
We ventured out of the Solarium to visit El Loco Fresh on the ship’s aft. There were hardly any people dining, so we breezed through the buffet line and quickly found a shaded table. To accompany our fresh Mexican food, we also grabbed a drink at Cantina Fresca.
There were only two other people at the bar during lunch, making it easy to order and get our drinks right away!
Many of the onboard thrills, like the zip-line and waterslides, were also open during this time. With fewer passengers onboard, this is the best time to try the most popular attractions without crowds. Some people were able to do the zip line multiple times because there was no one else in line. The water slides were nearly empty as well!
Staying onboard while the ship is docked means you can take advantage of these exciting attractions without the usual crowds. If you wait until a sea day, you might find yourself spending much more time in line.
A quieter pool deck
Along with the onboard attractions, being able to utilize the ship’s amenities without the usual crowds is a major advantage of staying onboard while docked in port. Even with multiple pools and whirlpools available, they still tend to stay busy with thousands of guests trying to use the same facilities.
With only a few days on the ship, we looked forward to taking a dip in the pool and hopefully avoiding the crowds. By this time, it was late afternoon, and the other passengers were beginning to return from their day in Nassau. The pool deck was slightly busier, but we could still find two in-pool loungers.
Had we waited another hour or so, the pool would have been too busy for our liking. We enjoyed cooling off in the water for about an hour before eventually heading back to our cabin. If you’re planning to enjoy the pool while staying onboard, make sure you visit earlier in the day for a quieter environment.
No need to spend money
By staying on the ship while in port, I also noticed how much easier it was to avoid spending extra money! The cost of shore excursions, independent tours, and taxis can add up quickly, especially when visiting multiple ports of call during your itinerary.
I also love to shop while traveling, so I find it’s easy to spend money when I’m ashore. Whether it’s a souvenir, a specialty coffee, or a quick bite to eat, these little indulgences are all part of the travel experience for me.
Additionally, we had already spent $179 to reserve access to the adults-only Hideaway Beach for our next stop at Perfect Day at CocoCay. Because of this, I was happy to stay onboard the ship to enjoy the many top-of-the-line amenities that I had already paid for with my cruise fare. I didn't feel tempted to shop and spend extra money with so much already included.
There are some downsides to consider
While staying on the ship can be a relaxing and crowd-free experience, there were a few downsides. Of course, staying on the ship means you’ll miss out on exploring the port of call. For instance, if you decide at the last minute to book an excursion, you might have limited options to choose from.
Personally, I didn’t feel like I was missing anything in Nassau. Often regarded as one of the least appealing cruise ports by many travelers, it’s far from my favorite destination. With only four days aboard Utopia of the Seas, I would have felt like I was missing out more by not taking full advantage of everything the ship had to offer.
In addition, there were quite a few announcements throughout the day. Cruise ships often use port days for safety drills and emergency preparedness exercises to minimize disruptions during sea days.
By 9:30am, the intercom was already blasting announcements across the ship. We were already awake, but others trying to sleep in would have struggled with all of the noise.
Announcements continued throughout the day as the crew members practiced their emergency drills. Although this didn’t disrupt my day, it could distract others looking to nap or sleep in.
Read more: What I like and I'd change about Royal Caribbean's Utopia of the Seas
I’d do it again in a heartbeat!
Many seasoned cruisers consider staying onboard during port days one of the best-kept secrets. Despite having sailed on 51 cruises, I had never chosen to stay on the ship while in port until my sailing on Utopia of the Seas. This felt like the perfect opportunity to try out this best-kept secret!
Being able to experience the ship’s amenities without needing to fight the crowds was well worth it. Sailing on an Oasis Class ship with thousands of other passengers means you’ll find yourself waiting in line more often than not. Reservations for onboard thrills or experiences can be hard to come by during peak times as well.
Our day onboard was incredibly relaxing, and I felt like I made the most of my time by enjoying the amenities I had already paid for with my cruise fare. I wouldn’t hesitate to do it again, especially while docked at ports of call that I’ve already visited many times.
Allie Hubers
Allie Hubers has been cruising since she was a tiny toddler. What started as a yearly vacation with family quickly turned into a passion for travel, cruising and adventure. Allie's been on over 45 cruises all over the world. She even studied abroad on Semester at Sea, sailing the world on a ship while taking courses for college and visiting 4 continents.
