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Overnight Stays In Port A Popular Cruise Option
Cruise ship overnight stays in port are becoming more popular all the time. Breaking away from port-intensive itineraries, long-time cruise ship travelers appreciate the extra time at iconic destinations. Those new to cruise vacations like being able to explore strange, new worlds but have the convenience and security of that cruise ship waiting for them at the end of the day.
Azamara Club Cruises features voyages with overnight stays at events such as Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, the Monaco Grand Prix and the British Open. The focus towards events brings what Azamara calls a "destination-immersive" travel experience.
"We continue to offer more late-night and overnight stays in ports than any cruise operator to offer guests the chance to savor a destination's nightlife, oftentimes after the other cruise ships have departed," said Larry Pimentel, president and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises in a Breaking Travel News report.
Azamara is not alone. Overnight stays are fairly common among luxury cruise lines. Dialing back the price a bit, mainstream cruise lines are getting into overnights as well.
But other ships, going to areas where they could easily sail to a different port each day and keep moving, are stopping to allow more time in dream destinations.
Disney Cruise Lines will sail Disney Wonder from Los Angeles round trip with an overnight in San Francisco. Costa Cruises has Costa Favolosa with an overnight stay at Dubai.
It's all part of a focus on delivering what travelers want, a game cruise lines have had nailed for decades. Today, a maturing cruise industry is seeing a different kind of prospective passenger. Travelers now want more time in port, less touristy experiences and more destination immersion.
Cruise lines are setting up to deliver.
[Flickr photo by joiseyshowaa]
Filed under: Festivals and Events, Europe, North America, United States, Cruises
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
John Jul 24th 2012 5:22AM
I think overnight stays are a great idea, i know when i have been on a cruise holiday at were at a port, the time in the day just wasn't enough, we would of loved to have more time and seen the destination at night as well.
Dick Jul 24th 2012 6:51PM
Absolutely wonderful idea. We have cruised so many times and I am always disappointed when we have to leave some of the islands. I would have love to see them at night and their night life.
donna manz Jul 24th 2012 7:30PM
Actually, the brief time in ports in one of the reasons I usually do not sell deep-water cruises. To appreciate a destination, to explore local culture, a tourist needs more than just a few hours. Evenings, particularly, will show a destination's soul. It's when locals dine out .... when familes take an evening stroll ... when kids are playing outdoors as kids do. River cruises dock in the heart of a destination and usually spend an evening there. For anyone who has ever longed for a more "authentic" experience, consider a river cruise along Europe's great waterways.