On Port days, is anything closed onboard ship? - PassPorter - A Community of Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, and General Travel Forums
As of January 1, 2019, we have closed our forums. This is a decision we did not come to lightly, but it is necessary. The software our forums run on is just too out-of-date and it poses a significant security risk. The server software itself must be updated, and it cannot be without removing the forums.
So it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our long-running forums. They came online in 2000 and brought together so many wonderful Disney fans. We had friendships form, careers launch, couples marry, children born ... all because of this amazing community.
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There are other changes as well.
Why? Well, the world has changed. And change with it, we must. The lyrics to "We Go On" for IllumiNations say it best:
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PassPorter is a small business, and for many years it supported our family. But the world changed, print books took a backseat to the Internet, and for a long time now it has been unable to make ends meet. We've had to find new ways to support our family, which means new careers and less and less time available to devote to our first baby, PassPorter.
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If you have stayed aboard ship rather than go into port, did you find any restaurants, activities, pools, etc. closed? If only 50% of the ship's services and facilities are operating on port days, then I need to rethink about booking a shore excursion or two on my next cruise. Thanks for any advice anyone can offer!
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All shops (including Shutters, the photo place) are closed whenever the ship is in port.
The top-floor buffet (Beach Blanket on the Wonder, Topsiders on the Magic) is usually open for lunch, as is either Lumiere's/Triton's or Parrot Cay.
There will be fewer activities happening onboard than while the ship is at sea, but still plenty to keep anyone busy.
We have stayed onboard twice at Nassau, and didn't regret it at all. If/when we do another Western Caribbean cruise, we'll probably stay onboard in Cozumel, which underwhelmed us.
I thought I heard the kids clubs were closed during certain hours when the ship was at CC. Is that true? Are they closed any other time while in a different port?
One thing to remember. All the spa services are open. And frequently "bargain priced" (hahaha). It depends a lot on the stop. Many experienced cruisers don't get off at Nausau.
I thought I heard the kids clubs were closed during certain hours when the ship was at CC. Is that true? Are they closed any other time while in a different port?
The kids' clubs are moved on to Scuttles Cove at Castaway Cay rather than closed. I believe there was about half an hour when they were'nt operating when they were transitioning back to the ship. They were open and operating in all other ports, though.
I second the post above -- there are brief transition periods while the kids' programming moves off ship at Castaway Cay and back aboard (because the cruise staff can't bring kids on or off the ship). Other than that, the kids' programs run from morning till late at night every day, including port days.
It is true, the kids clubs are moved to CC when in port. But the club areas are opened to parents and kids to hang out in together, if you don't want to go onto the island, they cannot stay by themselves. They have games and craft stuff available. Found this out when it was a steady rain on our trip. The kid stuff was still held on the island in a covered area, but I didn't want to be going back and forth in the rain. We hung out for a little in the areas and when the pools opened because there wasn't a threat of lightening, we played in the pool. I will say this, they did add several different things to do on the ship, including an impromptu matinee of the "Dreams" show, because of the steady rain.
We had rain on our December 2005 cruise.....it cancelled our parasailing excursion.
On our cruise last year (in September), the weather was great at CC. Here's hoping for the same in 3 weeks....eeek! Three weeks from today, I will be getting ready to embark! I can't wait!
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