First time cruisers

Cruise ports are often bursting with things to see and do – from historic landmarks to local markets and once-in-a-lifetime excursions. But with limited time ashore, it’s important to know how long you’ve got to explore.

Whether you’re planning a jam-packed day or just want to avoid being the person sprinting back to the ship, understanding typical port times will help you make the most of every stop. Here’s what you need to know.

How Long Cruise Ships Stay in Each Port

The time you spend in a port varies. The least amount of time is typically four hours, while the longest may be up to 36 hours for overnight stays. The average visit to a port lasts around 8 hours.

There are a lot of factors that determine how long a ship stays in port. Typically, shorter port visits are where you have a busy itinerary, or your next port of call is a long distance away, and you need to ensure you depart to reach it.

It can also depend on just how interesting the port is. If it’s a beach port, you’ll tend to stay longer as relaxing on the beach can be done all day, but for urban ports, it depends on how much there is to see or do.

Plus, not every port is situated right next to the main attractions. The port for Rome – Civitavecchia – is actually about 80 miles from the capital city, so you need a longer port visit to give you time to get there and back, as well as see the sights.

Itinerary planners for cruise lines take all of this into account and will try to give passengers the most amount of time to explore a destination without compromising the rest of the itinerary.

Overnight Stays

There are some ports that tend to be favoured more for overnight stays. Mediterranean cities like Florence or Ravenna, the beautiful city of Porto, and northern European destinations like Amsterdam and Rotterdam are some examples. 

This gives passengers the opportunity to see both sides of the city, during the day and at night, where the atmosphere is often very different and the nightlife is considered a key attraction.

Other times, it may be beach destinations or cruise line private islands that host overnight stays for cruise ships, giving the cruise line the chance to arrange beach parties and unique experiences while the sun sets on the horizon.

Azamara and Celebrity Cruises are two of the primary cruise lines for arranging overnight stays in ports. Otherwise, it tends to be left to the ultra-luxury cruise lines such as Silversea and Regent Seven Seas.

Two Ports Per Day

Rarely, cruise lines will visit two ports in a single day – one in the morning, and one in the afternoon.

Celestyal Cruises does this often. This Greek-owned cruise line offers cruises around the Greek Islands, and since they’re so close together you can enjoy a packed itinerary.

On my Celestyal cruise, we visited seven ports in a weekend!

Overnight Cruise Ports Explained

Overnight cruise ports work just like a hotel would. You are free to come and go from the ship as much as you want, with no set time that you need to return. You can explore during the day, come back to the ship to get changed, and then head out into the early hours.

When you return to your ship, you’ll just walk on as normal through security and then head to your room. In the morning, if your ship isn’t departing yet, you’re able to disembark again for more exploration.

Typical Times You Can Get Off the Ship in Port

Most of the time, cruise ships arrive at each port in the early hours, as early as 4 am, but there will be a wait until passengers can disembark.

The earliest disembarkation may start at 6 am, but it is usually between 7 am and 9 am. Your ship can arrive later, too, and 10 am or even 11 am disembarkation is not a total rarity.

You will find that with late morning disembarkation, there can be a large queue to get off. I’ve had to wait in line for almost an hour to disembark, with a queue that looped around two decks of the ship!

However, when disembarkation is permitted earlier in the morning, you can usually just walk straight off as people naturally choose different times to get off the ship after breakfast.

When you book a cruise, you’ll be given the details of your itinerary, including the expected arrival times and departure times, so keep those handy and you’ll know when you’re able to leave the ship.

How Long It Takes to Get Off a Cruise Ship at a Port of Call

How long it takes to get off a ship at a port of call depends on whether you’re docked or anchored offshore.

If you are docked, you can usually walk straight off, though sometimes there may be a queue of 10-15 minutes. If you need to tender, it can take longer, as long as 90 minutes in very busy situations.

Usually, if there’s a long wait for tender boats, you will be given a ticket number. You can then go and relax on the ship until your group is called. In this situation, it can be worth getting a ticket before you’re ready to leave, as you know that there will be a wait.

Most of the time, it will take you between 30-45 minutes to get ashore once you head to the tender departure point on your cruise ship. Also, remember that if you do need to tender, then the last tender back will be around 30 minutes earlier than the ship’s departure time, so make sure you get back for it.

If you miss the last tender but the ship hasn’t left, call the ship – they might be able to arrange to get you onboard before the ship departs.

Read more: How Long Does It Take to Disembark a Cruise Ship?

What Time Cruise Ships Leave Port

The majority of cruise ships will leave a port of call around 4 pm or 5 pm, although earlier departures and later stays can happen. 

On one of my cruises, on Anthem of the Seas in Norway, the ship left at 3 pm. Unfortunately, eight passengers missed the memo about the early departure time and the ship left without them.

On another cruise in Northern Europe on Iona, the ship often didn’t leave until as late as 10 pm. It’s important to check, as the time will vary depending on the individual port, and you don’t want to be late.

There is a chance that, if your itinerary is busy, you may be asked to return to the ship by the early afternoon, so always carry around your daily programme so you know when to get back.

And please, make sure that your watch is set to the local time!

Cruise Line Policies on Late Passengers

Cruise ships will typically wait around 30 minutes beyond their scheduled departure time if passengers have not returned to the ship, but otherwise, they will leave people behind. If you are late, you can call the ship to ask them to wait, but it isn’t guaranteed that they will.

If the ship knows that you are on your way in a taxi, they’re much more likely to wait than if they haven’t heard from you.

When you’re on a cruise, you’ll know if guests are late back, because you will hear their names being called over the public address system. This is to check if they have somehow boarded without scanning their cruise cards.

Cruise lines have a strict schedule to adhere to – they need to make sure they leave with enough time to reach the next port. And it’s not fair to other passengers if the cruise is delayed because someone is late back.

How often do cruise ships leave passengers behind? It’s rare, but like I say, I’ve seen it happen!

Pier Runners

Once a cruise ship has made the decision to pull away from the dock, it won’t reverse. So, even if you are standing on the pier shouting and waving, within touching distance of the ship, you won’t be allowed to board.

People who just miss their cruise ships are known as pier runners. Take a look at some of the funniest, saddest, and most embarrassing pier runner moments in this video:

What to Expext if You Miss the Ship

You should always take the daily programme of the ship with you on excursions because it’ll have the ship’s phone number. Call them if you are running late, and they might be able to wait. 

If you do miss the ship, you’ll need to try and find the cruise line’s port agent, and failing that, call the cruise line for help. You’ll have to arrange to meet the ship in the next port, or just fly home. If you fly home, the cruise ship will arrange for your belongings to be delivered to you.

Just so you know, you’ll have to pay for everything if you’re late – your own travel to meet the ship or return home, the cost of shipping your belongings, the cost of replacement documents, etc. – and those costs aren’t cheap. So don’t be late!

The Bottom Line

You should always have enough time to tick off most of the things you want to see in a port of call, but due to time pressures, you may need to prioritise sights.

Cruise lines will always aim to give you as much time as possible, but if you can’t see everything in one day, you’ll just have to book another cruise!

Don’t push your luck with timing – always aim to get back to the ship early, so you don’t risk missing the deadline and being left stranded. That’ll be an expensive mistake you won’t repeat.

Read more: 17 Common Mistakes People Make When Booking a Cruise

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

When it comes to cruise ships, what you don’t see below the waterline is just as important as what’s above it. One of the most critical – and often overlooked – measurements is the draft.

Understanding a ship’s draft can reveal where it can safely sail – and where disaster could strike. But what exactly is it, how is it measured, and why should cruise passengers care?

To get the real story, I spoke to a cruise ship pilot who broke it all down in plain English. Here’s what I discovered.

What Draft Actually Means

The draft measurement for a ship refers to the distance from the waterline to the very bottom of the ship – in other words, a measurement of how much of the ship is underwater at any time. The draft can vary depending on the weight of the ship at the time, due to increased displacement.

As such, if you see any advertised draft figures of a cruise ship (like those I’ve included below), these will be the maximum draft – the largest distance possible for that ship from the waterline to the bottom of the ship when at maximum weight capacity.

Don’t confuse it with a ship draught, which is just where you’ve left your balcony door open!

Ships don’t sit on top of the water. If they did, they would tip over! Instead, they float on the waves with a significant portion of the boat constantly below the waterline – and it’s the depth of this which is measured as the draft.

Read more: How Do Cruise Ships Float And Not Tip Over?

On a cruise ship, the factor which impacts the draft of the ship the most is the fuel weight. Even on the largest ships, the passenger capacity doesn’t have as much of a difference on the draft as the fuel weight.

As a guide, the average American weighs 80kg. So on a cruise ship like the Wonder of the Seas, which might carry 8,000 people, including guests and crew, that’s a weight of 640,000kg or 640 tonnes.

A cruise ship will use between 150 and 250 tonnes of fuel per day and will have a carrying capacity of between 2,500 and 5,000 tonnes of fuel. So, the fuel definitely has more of an impact on the draft of a ship.

The Average Draft of a Cruise Ship

The average draft of a cruise ship is around 21 feet or 6.4 metres. Larger ships do tend to have a bigger draft, but it’s not directly proportional to the length or the gross tonnage – the biggest cruise ships don’t have the largest draft.

I’ve looked at almost 400 cruise ships sailing the ocean, so this average cruise ship draft depth is pretty solid – in fact, around 55% had a larger draft than 21 feet, and 45% had a smaller draft, so it’s close to the median value as well.

It’s a little skewed because some of the smallest ships have a tiny draft, including the National Geographic Sea Bird, which has the smallest draft of all cruise ships – just 1 foot, or 0.3 metres.

This, of course, makes it an excellent choice for exploring parts of the world where the water isn’t very deep.

The Deepest Cruise Ship Draft

The deepest cruise ship draft is 32.81 feet, or 10 metres, and it belongs to the Queen Mary 2 – one of the classic ocean liners of the Cunard fleet of ships. The Oasis-class ships for Royal Caribbean also have a large draft measuring 30.58 feet or 9.3 metres.

Again, though, it isn’t just the largest ships that have the biggest drafts. Indeed, some smaller Royal Caribbean ships (Voyager of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas) have bigger drafts than some of their more recent and larger sisters, such as Freedom of the Seas or Anthem of the Seas. The Icon of the Seas draft hasn’t been announced, but it’s likely to be pretty big – as soon as it’s confirmed, I’ll add it to this guide.

How Draft Is Measured

Draft is typically measured in feet and is tracked using markers on the ship. You can see them a little above the waterline normally – they’re a series of small lines that will be repeated at the bow, the middle of the ship and the aft.

They’re also repeated on both the port and starboard sides, so whenever you get off the ship, you should be able to see the markers – just look towards the waterline.

Depending on the stage of your cruise, you might notice a couple of different colours towards the waterline. Typically, the part of the ship below the water is painted a different colour to the rest of the ship, but there’s usually a mark left by the water, too, especially on older ships.

So when you’re in the latter stages of your cruise and fuel is running less, and people have left the ship for a port day, you might spot the typical draft on the ship from the dock, in the form of a mark left by the water when she is cruising with her normal weight.

Why Draft Matters

All very interesting so far, if you’re really into the measurements of ships at least. But why is the draft important?

You can probably guess – the draft of a ship determines which ports of call it is able to visit. It’s not the only factor – length and width do come into consideration too.

But the draft is the most important. The draft of the ship will prevent it from reaching some ports that stand in shallower water, and that’s when a ship might need to anchor further out to sea and offer tender boats to the port.

How Shallow a Cruise Ship Can Go

A cruise ship can go into any water that is deeper than its maximum draft. So, for the average cruise ship, with a draft of around 21 feet of water, it can go into waters that are 21 feet deep or more. With cruise ships having varying drafts, some ships can go into shallow waters that others can’t.

There isn’t any need for water to be additionally deep – the draught of the ship is the measurement of how deep the ship can go. But the depth of waters around ports is accessible information, and so cruise itineraries are planned with this in mind – ships will only safely sail into ports that are deep enough.

There may be times when a ship has to take a certain route into port – there may be land masses below the water that are inconsistent or rocks, and ships may need to navigate around them.

Reassuringly, every time a cruise ship arrives in port it is joined by a pilot – an expert in the port itself, who will board the cruise ship from their pilot boat and help the crew to navigate the waters safely.

And, of course, the cruise ships have all the best equipment and technology for detecting water depth, too.

Read more: What Is A Ship Pilot And What Do They Do?

Table of Cruise Ship Drafts

Here’s a look at some cruise ship drafts. I’ve included some of the most popular cruise ships in the world, as well as a handful of smaller ships that might be of interest based on their draft size.

I’ve not included every ship in this table – it’d be giant if I did – so I’ve instead picked out examples of ships within different classes for each cruise line, to help demonstrate the example draft and show how larger ships aren’t always those with a larger draft.

Final Word

It’s pretty easy to see why some cruise ships can’t access certain ports, but now you know the answer in a little more detail.

Especially when you look at that table above and see how some tiny ships have quite large drafts, and some larger ships don’t extend too far into the water. You might now realise that there are some bigger ships which can access ports which might be surprising – and you’ll know why.

At the very least, I bet you’ll be looking for the draft markings on your ship the next time you cruise!

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

Cruise ships are floating cities – so how on earth do they glide through the water with such precision? And what about those massive propellers underneath… are they dangerous?

If you’ve ever wondered how cruise ships stay on course (or you’re worried about getting too close to a propeller), this guide is for you. We’ll uncover the fascinating engineering behind cruise ship propulsion, reveal just how big those propellers really are, and clear up any myths about getting pulled under.

How Big A Cruise Ship Propeller Is

Cruise ship propeller sizes can vary, but the biggest are approximately 20 feet (6 metres) in height. Due to the size of the propellers, the bottom of a ship tends to lift up towards the rear so that the propellers don’t sit below the bottom of the ship.

Here’s what one of the biggest cruise ship propellers looks like…

The shape of the bottom of a cruise ship with the raised rear helps to propel the ship forward. It also ensures that the propeller doesn’t have a huge impact on the ship’s draft. If the propellers protruded from the very bottom of the ship, then it would struggle to get to most ports due to the lack of depth of the water.

Most modern cruise ships use azimuthing pods (azipods). They work by having the propeller at the front of the pod, rather than the back, so they actually pull the ship rather than pushing it. They have a reverse function and can spin 360 degrees to help with steering.

This photo shows the azipods on Radiance of the Seas during drydock.

An azipod is like a propeller and a rudder all in one. If you’re wondering whether cruise ships still have rudders, read this article for the answer from a ship’s pilot.

We know that the biggest propellers are 20 feet in height, but that can be quite hard to picture. But if it helps, a typical two-storey house is around 19 feet tall, while a giraffe will average at around 18 feet tall (but can sometimes grow to 20 feet tall).

That should make it a little easier to understand just how large these propellers are!

They’re not the biggest in the world, though. Those tend to belong to container ships – just imagine how much power is needed to push a giant ship full of heavy containers. The MSC Oscar has propellers that are 10.5 metres or approximately 35 feet in diameter.

That’s almost 43% bigger than those on the Oasis-class ships for Royal Caribbean, despite the ship only being 9% longer.

How Many Propellers Cruise Ships Have

Most cruise ships have three propellers, while generally, ships will have between one and four. Cruise ships use three propellers due to the balance they offer between fuel consumption, thrust, and manoeuvrability.

The number of propellers a ship has will determine how fast the ship is, how much fuel it needs to use to move, and how easy it is for the ship to turn.

The largest freighter ships in the world may only have one propeller. They tend to take long journeys in a relatively simple direction, they are built to withstand storms, so don’t necessarily need to move around them, and there isn’t a massive rush to get to the destination.

Cruise ships need more manoeuvrability. It’s not good to power through a storm when you have guests onboard who are trying to enjoy a relaxing cruise, and ships tend to weave in and out of the coastline as they visit different ports, so it’s important that the ships can steer effectively.

They also need to move relatively quickly. Not super-fast speeds, but fast enough to be able to reach a selection of ports within an itinerary. Otherwise, most cruises would have two sea days in between every port you visited!

Three azipod propellers are generally the accepted number for most modern cruise ships. Four isn’t really necessary, and three helps to keep the fuel consumption in check while providing plenty of power and steering to make cruises comfortable.

Also, they typically have four blades – propellers typically have between three and five, but the azipods used on most cruise ships have four. More propellers can improve performance, but for a cruise ship, it’s not necessary.

How Fast A Cruise Ship Propeller Spins

Cruise ship propellers typically spin at a speed of 250 revolutions per minute (RPM). This isn’t extremely fast when compared to some other propellers – there is more of a focus on torque and power in order to push a massive ship through the water.

Remember that these propellers are in the ocean, not in the open air. That means there is a lot more resistance. If you put the same propellers, with the same engine power, in an open-air space, they would be capable of spinning a lot faster.

Again, it’s hard to visualise how fast 250 revolutions per minute is. But if you can picture it, it means that the fan blades of the propeller are completing a full revolution around four times every second.

Still need help? Well, a ceiling fan will typically have an RPM of between 200 and 350. So, if you live somewhere that has ceiling fans, try putting it on the slowest setting, and you’ll be able to get an idea of how fast a cruise ship propeller spins.

Or you can use this cool tool just to visualise it – just enter 250 in the box to see how it looks in action.

What Cruise Ship Propellers Are Made Of

Cruise ship propellers, just like any propeller used on a modern ship, are made from an alloy of stainless steel and aluminium. This provides the necessary strength to be able to move through the water, and it is resistant to rust, too. It’s also light enough not to increase the drag on the ship.

The propellers of a cruise ship spend their life in the water – unless they go into a dry dock for cruise ship repairs or renovations. So it’s vital they can stand up to corrosion and the other forms of degradation that water can impose.

An alloy of stainless steel and aluminium won’t rust, and will be durable enough to withstand the constant demands of a giant cruise ship at cruising speed.

Myth Or Fact: Cruise Ship Propellers Can Pull You Under

It is possible for a cruise ship propeller to pull you under, but the odds are very low. You would have to be swimming directly alongside the ship, towards the aft where the propellers are located, or directly behind it, and even then, the depth is usually enough to protect you.

You have to remember that cruise ship propellers don’t sit on the waterline – they are submerged, and are typically at least 10 feet under the water. Therefore, the drag at the water level is lessened, but not completely removed.

If you were to jump off a cruise ship and dive a few feet under the water due to your momentum, you could get caught in the slipstream. But remember how unlikely that is.

And if you stay at the surface, treading water, you would need to be almost touching the ship to be at risk of being pulled under.

While people do go missing on cruise ships, the odds of falling overboard on a cruise ship are around one in a million, based on the number of incidents and the number of cruise passengers (source). And many of the incidents recorded are due to people jumping rather than falling.

These facts about cruise ship propeller drag don’t mean it’s safe to swim over to a cruise ship if you see one in a dock, though. You never know when the engines could kick in and cause a sudden current shift, and that would increase your risk.

In summary, if you are sensible on or near a cruise ship, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about. But don’t take risks if you see a cruise ship in port and fancy getting a closer, water-level view.

Final Word

Cruise ship propellers are absolutely massive, but they, of course, have to be in order to propel these mammoth cruise ships through the water.

They’re incredible pieces of engineering, with the latest Azipods being much more efficient too, which contributes to the way that ships are being designed to be better for the planet, with changes to cruise ship engines and fuel types too.

Don’t panic about going overboard either – the odds of that happening are extremely low, and even then, the odds of being sucked under by the propellers are minuscule. Cruises are very, very safe!

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

There’s nothing quite like that feeling of excitement when you arrive at the port, suitcase in hand, ready to set sail. But for some unfortunate travellers, the dream ends right there at the terminal.

Every year, hundreds (if not thousands) are denied boarding a cruise – and not always for reasons you’d expect.

You need to check whether you’re at risk of being denied because, if you are, you’re usually out of pocket too…

1. Missing or Incorrect Travel Documents

The number one reason people are turned away is not having the right documents.

That could mean a passport that’s expired (or too close to expiry – most cruise lines require six months’ validity beyond the cruise end date), not having the right visas for ports on your itinerary, or bringing photocopies instead of originals.

Some cruises from the US allow US citizens to travel with a birth certificate and photo ID, but it must be an original, state-issued certificate – no hospital versions or copies.

And if your cruise visits a country that requires a visa and you haven’t got it? Sorry, no boarding.

Also, some countries are very strict on damage to passports, as this couple found out. You want to make sure your passport is in good condition before you travel!

2. Arriving Too Late

Cruise ships have strict cut-off times for check-in and boarding, often at least an hour before departure.

And no, they don’t make exceptions for traffic, delayed flights, or a quick stop for coffee.

If you miss the cut-off, you’ll be watching your ship sail off into the sunset without you – and you won’t get a refund.

The only exception to this is where you’ve booked travel through the cruise line, and then there’s traffic problems or flight delays. In that case, the ship will try to hold off departure where possible.

Otherwise they may try to get you connecting flights or other transport to the next port, so you can board there instead.

3. Outstanding Balances or Unpaid Charges

Believe it or not, passengers have been turned away at the terminal because of an unpaid balance – sometimes from the current trip, sometimes leftover from a previous one.

Even if your booking looks confirmed, if your account shows any unpaid charges, that can halt check-in.

Double check your payment status and ensure any onboard credits or vouchers are properly applied before you arrive.

I recently forgot to pay the balance for my Disney cruise and they cancelled my cruise! Luckily, I spotted the email and was able to rebook it. But if I hadn’t, I could have arrived at the terminal and been turned away.

4. Incorrect Names or Mismatched Booking Info

If your name on your booking doesn’t exactly match your passport or ID, you could run into issues.

Married recently? Changed your name? Bring legal documents to prove the change – like a marriage certificate or name change deed.

Also, if you’re travelling with a child who isn’t your own, or who has a different surname from everyone in your travel party, you’ll need notarised permission from their parents or guardians. No letter? No cruise.

5. Missing or Incorrect Visas

Some cruisers are caught off guard by visa requirements – especially when itineraries involve multiple countries.

For example, if your cruise starts in the US and ends in Canada (or vice versa), you may need both a US ESTA and a Canadian eTA.

Don’t assume your cruise line will warn you – they might send an email or two, but otherwise they expect you to check.

Read more: Visa Requirements For Cruise Ship Passengers (UK Citizens)

6. Banned Items in Your Luggage

Cruise lines scan your luggage just like airlines do.

 If you’ve packed banned items like weapons, illegal drugs, CBD products, irons, kettles, or booze that exceeds the allowed limit, you might be denied boarding.

In some cases, especially where the infractions are minor – a sneaky extra bottle of wine, or a kettle where you can claim ignorance – the items will just be confiscated.

But with more serious contraband, expect to be turned away (and possibly meet port security).

Read more: 17 Things You Should Never Bring On A Cruise (and What to Bring Instead!)

7. Pregnancy or Infant Age Restrictions

If you’ll be 24 weeks pregnant (or more) at any point during the cruise, you won’t be allowed to sail.

If you look pregnant at all, you should bring letter from your doctor stating your due date and confirming that you’re fit to travel.

I cruised at 13 weeks pregnant and so I didn’t need to show anything, but if you have a bump, you can expect to be asked to prove how far along your pregnancy is.

Cruising with a baby? Most lines require infants to be at least 6 months old (12 months for long or exotic cruises). If your little one is too young, you’ll be denied boarding, no matter how cute they are.

Incidents where people are denied boarding at port with an infant are rare because it should’ve been flagged when you booked the cruise. But pregnancy is a big one – a lot of people book far in advance, subsequently fall pregnant, and then are told they can’t board.

Read more: No Boarding, No Refund – Guest Denied Sailing Due To Pregnancy

8. No Travel Insurance (Where Required)

Some cruise lines – especially those sailing from or to the UK, or visiting remote destinations – require you to show proof of valid travel insurance before boarding.

This typically includes coverage for medical treatment and repatriation. They do this because they want to make sure you’re covered and there’s no liability on them to financially dig you out of a hole if something goes wrong.

No proof? No cruise.

9. Health Concerns or Illness at Check-In

If you arrive at the terminal coughing, feverish, or looking visibly unwell, you may be flagged for additional screening – and potentially denied boarding.

Most lines also ask you to fill out a health declaration. Lying on that form can lead to big problems if they find out.

Cruise lines won’t risk an outbreak onboard. If you’re not well, it’s better to be upfront – they may let you rebook instead.

10. Disruptive or Drunk Behaviour

Arriving at the terminal drunk or acting aggressively toward staff can result in instant denial of boarding.

Cruise lines have a strict zero-tolerance policy for disruptive behaviour – both onboard and at the port.

Whether it’s pre-cruise partying gone too far or a heated argument with staff, poor behaviour can ruin your holiday before it starts.

11. Criminal Records

Certain destinations (like Canada) have strict entry rules regarding past criminal convictions.

If your cruise itinerary includes one of these ports and you don’t meet the entry requirements, the cruise line may deny boarding – even if you planned to stay on the ship.

Even if you’ve cruised before with a conviction, new rules or routes can change your eligibility. Do your research.

Read more: When You Can And Cannot Book Cruises As A Convicted Felon

12. Failing to Consent to Security Screening

Everyone must go through security screening. Refuse to have your bag searched, your photo taken, or your ID checked? You won’t be getting on board. Simple as that.

The security check is easy – just like at an airport. So don’t worry about it, and let it happen. It’s not worth throwing away your cruise. And if you’re panicking because you’ve packed banned items, then I already told you not to.

Suggested read: Carnival Adds Biometric Scanners To Nine Ports

13. Health or Vaccination Requirements

Some itineraries – especially those visiting South America or Africa – require proof of specific vaccinations like yellow fever.

If you don’t have the required jabs or can’t show proof, you might not be allowed to board.

Even cruises closer to home may require you to complete a health form depending on current protocols. Here’s hoping we don’t see another 2020 again, but you never know…

14. Negative Behaviour Before You Cruise

Cruise lines have started denying boarding based on pre-cruise communications – including aggressive phone calls, threats on social media or even stirring up controversy in reviews.

If you’ve been flagged before you even arrive, you may be stopped at check-in. You should be able to exercise free speech but if you look like you’re going to cause problems, you might be refused boarding.

Also, posting “jokes” about sneaking drugs on board or causing trouble can have very real consequences. Cruise lines do monitor public posts.

15. Overbooked Cruises

Rare, but it happens. Some cruise lines overbook – and if nobody cancels, someone gets bumped.

If you’re one of the unlucky few, the line will usually compensate you (sometimes generously), but it doesn’t soften the blow of a missed holiday.

This one is a real kicker, because you’ve not done anything wrong beyond book a Guarantee cabin, and even then you should’ve been ‘guaranteed’ a cabin. Clue’s in the name.

Read more: Outraged Guests Left At Shore As Major Cruise Line Overbooks A Ship

16. Undeclared Mobility Equipment

Some cruise lines require passengers to declare mobility aids like scooters or electric wheelchairs in advance – and failure to do so could see you turned away.

One passenger booked with P&O Cruises was denied boarding when staff discovered he hadn’t declared his electric wheelchair ahead of time, even though he had a wheelchair-accessible room.

Cruise lines need to plan ahead to ensure mobility equipment meets safety and space requirements, and that there’s sufficient crew trained to assist in emergencies.

If you’re bringing a mobility aid, always check your cruise line’s policy and make the necessary declarations through their online portal well before embarkation day.

A Warning on Insurance

The vast majority of the problems on this list are considered the fault of the passenger, not the cruise line. Even where you feel it’s out of your hands. A delayed flight? You should’ve travelled the day before, etc.

And so, if a cruise line denies you boarding, the odds are that they’re also going to keep your money. It’s in the contract you signed, after all.

Don’t assume that travel insurance has you covered, either. It might cover you for some things that the cruise line won’t reimburse for, where it isn’t fully your fault.

But turning up with contraband, or drunk? Your insurance will give you a pretty blunt “no” and you’ll be the one left to regret your decisions and the hole in your bank account with no holiday to show for it.

Final Word

Being denied boarding is a nightmare – and often one that could’ve been avoided with a little extra preparation.

Cruise lines rarely offer refunds in these situations, and travel insurance may not cover you either. So, take the time to triple-check your documents, your luggage, your health, and the rules.

Because no one wants their cruise to end before it even begins.

Related Posts

Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me

There’s nothing worse than looking at a cruise price, planning your budget, then going through the booking process and seeing a lump sum added on the end for fees and taxes. Ugh.

It doesn’t always happen, but if it does, don’t be alarmed. These are perfectly normal, but they do sometimes sting you a little as they’re often not included in the per-person rate as you’re choosing your date and stateroom type.

It’s just a bit annoying to see that price jump on certain cruise lines…

Port Fees and Taxes Explained

Port fees and taxes on a cruise are extra charges levied against the cruise ship by the port, which the cruise line then passes onto the passengers. These fees and taxes cover a wide range of services at the port, and include fees from the ship’s home port too.

All cruise ships are charged port fees, and all cruise lines then pass these fees onto the passengers. Fees vary but can be quite expensive, so cruise lines have to pass them onto the guests of the ship or they may stand to make no money.

This means they’re mandatory for guests too – you have to pay them. Cruise lines won’t hide them from you completely, but they might not advertise them as part of the fare you see when browsing their website to find a cruise.

Here’s what the port fees can look like on a cruise website…

Some cruise lines will show the fees upfront, and others add it onto the final total once you’ve selected your date, ship and stateroom. Sometimes it’s included in the fare already, so while you’re still paying the fees, you don’t have it separated out and everything looks included.

UK-based cruise lines and travel agents usually include port fees in the advertised price. But US-based cruise lines and agents often do not. So the price may appear higher than what you initially thought.

So, if you’re deciding between cruises with different cruise lines, be sure that what you’re comparing is actually like-for-like.

Different Types of Port Charges

Port charges cover many different fees, and will vary depending on the ship, port, and point of the itinerary.

Port fees can include:

• Docking tolls
• Costs for ship inspections
• Payment for harbour pilots
• Security services
• Baggage handling costs

The primary port charge is a port of call fee, and this is the fee charged to allow ships to dock at any port of call. This fee covers a range of costs associated with the ship docking, and will vary from port to port. Some ports are much more expensive than others!

Port Miami is one of the busiest, and also most expensive ports for a ship to call at, with a docking toll of $12.74 per guest. Great Lakes cruises are very expensive and the high port fees are one of the reasons why.

Then there’s the pilot fee. Every time a cruise ship docks, it’ll be boarded by a local harbour pilot to help direct it to the right place – even if the cruise ship’s captain is super-experienced and has sailed to this port thousands of times. That pilot needs paying.

The pilot fee depends on the size of the ship and some other factors, but it usually costs several thousand dollars.

Cruise lines will also pay a head tax, which is a per-person tax to cover the costs associated with passengers heading to shore. So they might cover the costs of security shoreside, or maintaining the dock, that sort of thing. 

The cruise line is charged for every passenger on the ship, even those that don’t head ashore. The costs will be higher for embarkation and disembarkation ports, to cover baggage handling and extra security.

Inspection charges are a feed charged by some ports when your ship undergoes, well, an inspection. Any ships that dock in the US need an inspection by the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) twice a year. If your cruise is scheduled when there’s an inspection, expect those charges to be added to your cruise too.

Port Fee Costs

Port fees and taxes vary depending on the destination of your cruise and the size of the ship. They typically start at around £10 per person, per night ($13) and go up to £35 per person, per night ($41) for the more expensive destinations and larger ships.

The cruise line isn’t much of a factor when it comes to port fees and taxes, it tends to be more about the size of the ship (both in terms of gross tonnage and passenger capacity), and the destination.

Alaska is renowned as one of the more expensive destinations, while Europe tends to be cheaper. Caribbean ports will vary, as will those in the rest of the world.

As a rule of thumb, the larger a ship you’re on, the more you can expect to pay. While some fees are split between the passengers on board, that doesn’t mean you have to pay less of a share – because those fees will be higher since there are more people on board and the ship is larger anyway.

Here’s a look at some example cruises and the costs you’ll be asked to pay as taxes:

Again, this shouldn’t be seen as a direct comparison of the cruise lines. The actual ports in question, and the ship sizes, are what matters more.

But this clearly illustrates just how much more expensive a cruise calling at ports in Alaska is. In fact, the Carnival Alaska cruise has fees that are almost 50% of your actual cruise fare.

One good thing is that, if there is ever a time when your cruise ship is unable to dock at a port, typically because of bad weather, the cruise line won’t be charged for those port fees and so they will normally refund you to your cruise account.

Don’t expect a lot though, because some fees may still apply, so you may not get the full “per night” amount back. It’ll likely be a few pounds/dollars at most. At least you can buy a drink to commiserate the missed port.

Per Person or Per Room – Fees Broken Down

Port fees are charged to the cruise ship based on a number of factors, including the per-person occupancy (not per room) and the gross tonnage of the ship. Cruise lines will pass this on as a per-person charge to passengers.

Here’s an example of how Royal Caribbean displays port fees…

It’s an important distinction to make, between how the cruise lines are charged, and then how they pass that charge onto you – the person sailing with them. Because there are some taxes that the cruise line is charged by occupancy, and those are easy for the cruise line to pass on.

But other charges are by gross tonnage, and so the cruise line will take that and divide it up by the occupancy of the ship. 

They likely don’t divide it by the maximum occupancy, since that means the cruise line is losing out every time they don’t fill the ship, so instead, they probably divide it by their expected occupancy for that cruise, based on past sailing data.

Passengers are charged on a per-person basis. If you’re sailing alone, you’ll likely know about single supplements – where you pay for the full cost of a stateroom on many cruises, meaning your per-person rate is double that of a couple in the same room.

But that’s not the case with port fees and taxes – there aren’t single supplements on those, generally. You’ll pay the same fees and taxes as one person sharing a double room would be.

Fees – Included or Separate?

Some cruise lines include port fees in their cruise fares, while others add it as a separate charge. You’ll always be told about the fees and taxes at the point of booking if you are being charged separately, but at different stages of the booking journey.

Here’s a look at some of the major cruise lines and their position on port fees – whether they include them in the fare or add them separately, and when you’re told about them.

How To Calculate Port Charges

There’s no simple way to calculate port charges, because they vary by each port, the ship, and then by how the cruise line decides to break that down across each passenger.

You don’t need to though, because your port charges will always either be included in your fare, or it’ll be calculated for you.

If you want to know a detailed breakdown of what your port fees and taxes are paying for, you could ask the cruise line but don’t expect the standard customer service rep to be able to give you an answer. If the cruise line is happy to break it down, they may take some time to provide an itemised list.

They’ll all be legitimate fees that need to be paid though, and you can’t decline some of them (say you didn’t plan on leaving the ship in certain ports), so if you want to book the cruise you’ll just have to pay up.

The Bottom Line

Anyone who is new to cruising might be a little confused or saddened to see extra fees added on when you go to book your holiday, but they’re not a new thing and they aren’t going away – it’s just part of cruising.

It’s even more disappointing when you see that your fees are a high percentage of your overall fare, but in those cases, you’ll be paying for a really cheap cruise anyway. Taxes rarely go above £35/$40 a night, and are usually much lower.

Just make sure you factor all of these costs in when you budget before planning your cruise, and you won’t be disappointed or surprised when it’s time to book.

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Jenni Fielding is the founder of Cruise Mummy. She has worked in the cruise industry since 2015 and has taken over 30 cruises. Now, she helps over 1 million people per month to plan their perfect cruise holidays.

Read more about me