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During, or even before your cruise, a number of circumstances can cause one or more of the ports to be canceled. Now before you become a total Karen, and rush to Guest Services and demand to speak with the Captain (we love that one, and NO, it’s not gonna happen!) do the following. Remain calm and collected, open your mind, and analyze your new and exciting options now open to you.
As much as possible, cruise lines will make an effort to replace the missed port with another one that is available for docking/tendering. Remember that mostly every port has great attractions to enjoy no matter what the dock looks like.
If you prefer exploring ports with a tour guide, taking in all the scenery and the information regarding all the sights and the history behind them, don’t walk, RUN to the Shore Excursions Desk the moment you hear the announcement. You can expect long lines, but be patient, as you won’t be the only person who chooses to go out in port this way. I can tell you from experience that the available spaces in whatever few tours the cruise line was able to secure last-minute will sell out quite quickly.
If you’re more of an on-your-own kind of person, head online and find out what attractions are not to be missed. Crew members, of course, are a valuable source of information. Ask nicely, and you might be let in on the secret beach, the sneaky way up a hill, or, for certain, the best Wi-Fi in town! Maybe Uber is cheap in this new port or Cabify.
On the flip side, should no other port be available or viable to visit, the port day may turn into a day at sea. Again, calm down! Seriously, take a day to calm down on board, and think for a second that, while the plan may have changed, any day on board is better than a day in the office (right?!).
Gone are the days that cruise ships were used only for transportation. We are now talking about floating resorts, with tons of amenities to enjoy, aside from the wealth of additional activities scheduled for your new day at sea. Maybe even treat yourself to a specialty restaurant for your extra sea day.
Look at it this way. If you were looking forward to a nice swim at a beach, with a few drinks and some local flavors, staying on board means having all of those at your fingertips… without the hassle of rushing there, and back.
Bottom line, don’t be too quick to undermine the experiences a new port may offer, even if you’ve been there before. Likewise, an extra sea day could give you more chances to experience things on board you may not have even planned! Remember, it’s not about where you go, but what you do with your day that counts. – TG
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