Staying on the Ship While in Port
Sometimes we cruise for the destinations, like the beautiful sights in Alaska or the clear waters of the Caribbean - other times we cruise for the onboard experiences available on mega-ships, or the unparalleled service offered on luxury lines. No matter why you're taking a particular cruise though, there may be ports of call that are less interesting to you than others, and if that happens, you have options. We'll address some common questions below, but make sure to check out some examples of cruise activity schedules at the bottom of this post.
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Packing is an important step when preparing for your cruise, but of course all your stuff needs to actually make it onto the ship. There are several options for this, as similar to when you fly, bags can be carrier on or checked. There are advantages and disadvantages to each – both at the start and end of your cruise...
The Cayman Islands are gorgeous with a lot to offer, including the famous Seven Mile Beach. Getting around any new town can be intimidating, but luckily, Georgetown Grand Cayman has a public bus system that is quick, inexpensive, and easy to use. We've been to Grand Cayman many times over the years, and in addition to it's gorgeous beaches, great diving, and peaceful atmosphere, it also offers high prices on many things, including cabs and tours. If you know where you want to go through, such as Seven Mile Beach, Hell (mail a post card, leave, tell your friends), West Bay Beach, or maybe one of the great restaurants in town, you can be there as quick as any private car, and for only $2.50...
If you're enjoying your cruise and want it to last just a little bit longer, we found a new (to us at least) option that let's you stay onboard in Ft Lauderdale at the end of your sailing, have lunch, enjoy the pool, and yes, your drink package...
On our January 2020 Brilliance of the Seas cruise to Cozumel, Mexico, we purchased day passes to El Cozuemeleño resort. For about $50 you get great pool area, a beach, top-notch service, and quality food and drinks. Towels do cost $5 extra - which we found a bit odd. Below is a video walk through as we describe just some of the amenities. Matt over at Royal Caribbean Blog has more information on this property, and we discussed our entire cruise on a recent episode of the Royal Caribbean Blog Podcast.
The US State Department issues advisories to inform travelers about potential risks in different places in the world. This could be because of crime, political unrest, or other concerns. Safety is important, but so is context and common sense. Let's go over what you should keep in mind when looking at travel advisories and in general, thinking about safety and security during your travels... 
