Carnival Explains What Happens if You Try to Leave After Boarding
Does the embarkation port for a cruise vacation count as someplace guests can explore before their cruise sets sail? With the chaos that first day can be, not all guests may want to leave the ship after boarding, but it isn’t explicitly forbidden.
The question comes from a guest who reached out to John Heald, Carnival Cruise Line’s brand ambassador, about options for exploring certain homeports.
“Why does Carnival have a rule that if a passenger checks in and goes on the ship that they cannot get off again to spend time in a ports like Norfolk?” the guest asked.
The guest goes on to explain that their husband is a retired Navy veteran and would like to visit the famous Fran’s Ready Room bar in Virginia Beach, 16 miles from the Port of Norfolk. The bar was featured in the 1990 film “Navy Seals.”
“We want to check in, drop our bags off in the room because we can being Platinum,” the guest explained. “We want to get off and go to the bar. I am told on that this is not possible. Why should we be trapped on board?! I wager I am not the only one who wants to do this.”
Yes, guests who have reached the Platinum tier in Carnival Cruise Line’s VIFP loyalty program do have the perk of visiting their staterooms as soon as they board the ship to drop off their luggage.
Nowhere, however, is there any restriction that keeps guests “trapped on board” even at the embarkation port.
“Honestly, I do not think we do refuse you and if you need to go back ashore you can,” Heald confirmed. “Just make sure you have your Sail and Sign card and your photo ID with you as this will need to be shown as you get off the ship and then coming back through the terminal.”
Heald does caution the guest that they would still need to be back to the ship by the all-aboard time, just as in any port of call.
“Make sure you ask what time the doors of the terminal will be closed as you not want to be late back so do check that time,” he urged.
The guest does not specify what ship or sailing date they are departing from Norfolk, but Carnival Sunshine is currently the only Carnival cruise ship homeported from the Old Dominion. Depending on the departure date, she is offering Bahamas, Caribbean, and Bermuda sailings.
Of course, with so much to do onboard Carnival cruise ships on a busy embarkation day – safety drill check-in, spa tours and massage tasters, live music, that first Guy’s burger, welcome aboard trivia, the treat of funfetti cheesecake only available at embarkation lunch – guests may not want to leave.
“I do not think many will wish to do this because once on board you can relax and allow the crew to serve and entertain you,” Heald noted.
Do Other Guests Leave the Port on Embarkation Day?
The question was an unusual one and while Heald doesn’t think many guests do leave the ship after embarking at the beginning of their sailings, he asked his more than 610,000 followers about their experiences.
Very few take advantage of that opportunity, though some guests on back-to-back cruises may enjoy leaving the ship for a few hours before their next sailing begins.
Most travelers note that it is safer and more relaxed to simply arrive at the embarkation city a day or two early and enjoy plenty of time for exploration without any risk of being late to return to the ship.
Read Also: Here’s How You Can Make Cruise Embarkation a Breeze
Another option, of course, is to stay an extra day or two after the cruise for more time to enjoy all a homeport city has to offer.
Many guests note that unless someone has a very early (before noon) arrival time at the cruise terminal, they may not have enough time to enjoy even a quick trip to local sites before the terminal closes. Local traffic, road closures, and other delays could be devastating for a tight schedule.
Some travelers also point out that no one is “trapped” onboard, as they have had to quickly leave the ship to retrieve forgotten items from a vehicle, for a quick trip to the store for missing essentials, or even for brief medical issues or other concerns.
Carnival Explains What Happens if You Try to Leave After Boarding