Planning a cruise adventure is exciting but sometimes the best choice is staying right on board. Some popular ports get very busy or require heavy planning. Here is a look at nine famous cruise stops where staying on the ship might actually give you a much more relaxing and enjoyable day.
Nassau, Bahamas Can Get Very Crowded
The famous pink sands of Cable Beach and the Atlantis Resort waterparks attract thousands of tourists every single day during the busy cruise season. Staying on the ship lets you enjoy the empty pools and quiet decks while everyone else rushes out to beat the crazy morning crowds.
Cozumel, Mexico Requires Long Travel Times
Visiting the stunning Mayan ruins of Tulum sitting on high ocean cliffs is amazing but it takes a long ferry and bus ride just to get there. You might find it way more relaxing to just grab a nice cold drink on the top deck and look at the clear blue waters from afar.
St. Thomas Duty Free Shops Are Busy
This beautiful island is a famous place for shopping with higher limits for buyers from the US but the stores get packed with people very fast. If you do not feel like shopping or kayaking at Magen’s Bay you can just treat yourself to a peaceful spa day on your quiet ship instead.
Barcelona, Spain Has Long Ticket Lines
You need to book tickets way in advance to see Gaudí’s great work the Sagrada Familia and the narrow cobblestone streets of the Gothic Quarter get super tight. Enjoying a quiet breakfast on your balcony gives you a great view of the busy city without dealing with all those huge walking tours.
Santorini, Greece Involves Steep Cable Cars
The beautiful white cliff side villages with blue domes are famous for sunsets but getting up there means waiting in long lines for a steep cable car ride. Watching the whole island from the ship is totally free and honestly it gives you the best background for your vacation photos anyway.
Valletta, Malta Can Be a Lot of Walking
This historic capital has amazing ancient underground burial sites and grand cathedrals to visit if you have the energy to walk around the small city all day. Sometimes skipping the hot afternoon walk to just eat a quiet lunch on the cool ship is the best choice you can make for your tired feet.
Juneau, Alaska Weather Changes Very Fast
Taking a guided tour to the Mendenhall Glacier means you have to dress in lots of layers because the weather changes so quickly even in the middle of summer. You can still see the high ice fields and maybe even spot some bald eagles or whales right from the warm observation lounge on your cruise ship.
Ketchikan, Alaska Is Famous for Heavy Rain
This beautiful spot is known as the salmon capital and has great green rainforest trails but it also gets a whole lot of rain during the year. Staying dry on the ship while looking out at the gorgeous carved totem poles from your window sounds pretty good when the skies get really dark and stormy.
Singapore Requires Hopping on Busy Tour Buses
Exploring the modern skyscrapers and the amazing Supertree Grove at Gardens by the Bay usually means buying tickets for a busy hop on hop off bus. The city skyline is absolutely incredible to look at right from the top deck of the ship without spending any extra money or waiting in city traffic.
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