Not every destination a cruise ship visits is one that every passenger will actually get off at, and certain ports are definitely more skipped than others.
For first-time cruisers, the idea of staying onboard while docked in port might sound strange. After all, why would you pay for a cruise visiting exciting destinations only to skip getting off the ship?
But after enough cruises, many travelers find themselves revisiting the same ports over and over again, especially in regions like the Caribbean and Bahamas.
At the same time, modern day cruise ships have become destinations themselves. For instance, Royal Caribbean’s newest and biggest vessels are packed with waterslides, zip lines, surf simulators, specialty restaurants, massive pool decks, and adults-only retreats.
On busy sea days, thousands of passengers compete for these same amenities, which can lead to crowded pools, packed bars, and long lines. That’s why many seasoned cruisers say cruising’s best-kept secret is skipping a port day to stay on the ship instead.
Especially on larger vessels, staying onboard can feel like having access to a private resort for the day. The pools are often much quieter, the ship’s main attractions usually have shorter wait times, and there are fewer crowds around the bars and restaurants. In addition, finding a chair on the pool deck becomes much easier when the majority of passengers are ashore.
Because of this, many repeat cruisers intentionally skip certain ports and use the opportunity to enjoy the ship instead. Here are some of the most commonly skipped cruise ports among experienced travelers.
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau might be one of the most visited cruise ports in the world, but it’s also one of the most commonly skipped by repeat cruisers. Because of its close proximity to Florida, Nassau appears on many short Caribbean itineraries, especially for Royal Caribbean sailings.
While Nassau does offer plenty to do with nearby beaches, Atlantis Paradise Island, and historic attractions, many cruisers say the destination has become overwhelmingly crowded over the years. On busy days, multiple mega ships can dock at once, which floods the downtown area with thousands of passengers all trying to explore the same area at the same time.
Many cruisers also complain about aggressive vendors, pushy taxi drivers, and crowded beaches. In addition, the souvenir shops can be expensive around the city and the entire atmosphere is very commercialized. For those who’ve visited Nassau multiple times already, the experience begins to feel very repetitive.
Instead, many frequent cruisers use Nassau as the perfect port day to skip. This is especially true for shorter 3-night and 4-night itineraries that might only have one sea day anyway.
However, Royal Caribbean recognized the port’s notorious reputation among cruisers and opted to invest in a new experience to elevate Nassau’s appeal. The brand-new Royal Beach Club Paradise Island provides an exclusive experience for passengers looking for a more curated and upscale beach day away from Nassau’s crowded downtown areas.
The all-inclusive beach club was designed to combine “the vibrancy and beauty of The Bahamas” with Royal Caribbean’s signature resort-style amenities. Located on Paradise Island, the destination features two beaches, three pools, unlimited dining at three beach grills, 10 bars, live music, local artisan huts, and roundtrip transportation on colorful water ferries from the cruise port.
According to Royal Caribbean, the destination was created after guests said they wanted “more ways to make the most of their vacations in The Bahamas.” The cruise line hopes the new experience will provide cruisers with a more curated and upscale alternative to the traditional Nassau port day experience.
Falmouth, Jamaica
Falmouth, Jamaica is a common stop on Western Caribbean itineraries, although many experienced cruisers say they rarely leave the ship here anymore unless they’ve booked a specific excursion in advance.
The cruise port itself is modern and heavily developed for tourism, with shops, restaurants, bars, and organized transportation located within the secured area. However, many travelers feel the experience changes quickly once you leave the gated port.
For instance, complaints about aggressive vendors, constant pressure to purchase souvenirs or tours, overpriced taxis, and general safety concerns are commonly mentioned by repeat visitors.
One of the biggest complaints from cruisers is the overwhelming amount of “hustling” outside the port gates. Some passengers describe being constantly approached by vendors trying to sell tours, transportation, merchandise, or photos, even when politely declining. Others say they felt unsafe exploring independently because of how persistent the sales pressure could become.
Transportation is another reason some cruisers choose to skip the port altogether. Cruisers have reported frustration with expensive taxi fares, difficulty finding reliable transportation back to the ship, and confusion surrounding transportation pricing outside the port area.
For cruisers who don’t have an excursion booked, Falmouth often becomes an ideal day to stay on the ship instead.
Victoria, British Columbia
While Victoria is a beautiful city to visit, many Alaska cruisers end up skipping the port entirely because of timing rather than the destination itself.
Most Alaska cruise ships only stop in Victoria for a few hours in the evening before departing again later that same night. These short visits are scheduled primarily because foreign-flagged cruise ships are required to make at least one stop in Canada before returning to the United States under maritime law.
As a result, Victoria is often considered more of a technical stop than an actual port day.
By the time ships arrive, many passengers are already exhausted after several busy days exploring Alaska’s glaciers, wildlife, and outdoor excursions. Others don’t necessarily feel motivated to rush ashore for just a couple of hours in the evening. Because the stop is usually so short, many cruisers don't feel like they can fully experience Victoria anyway.
Additionally, many itineraries visit Victoria on the final night of the cruise. By this point during the cruise, most cruisers are already focused on packing their luggage, preparing for disembarkation the following morning, and getting ready for a long travel day back home. Instead of trying to cram sightseeing into just a few hours at night, many passengers choose to stay onboard.
Santorini, Greece
Santorini is one of the most famous cruise ports in the Mediterranean, known for its dramatic cliffside villages, whitewashed buildings, and blue-domed churches. However, despite its postcard-worthy scenery, many repeat cruisers say the actual port experience can be exhausting.
The biggest issue with Santorini is overcrowding. During the summer season, multiple cruise ships often arrive at the same time, bringing thousands of passengers to a relatively small island with limited infrastructure.
Since Santorini is a tender port, passengers must first take small boats ashore before dealing with long cable car lines to reach the main town of Fira. Others choose to walk the steep staircase or ride donkeys up the cliffs, both of which come with their own challenges.
Many cruisers say the crowds can quickly overshadow the beauty of the island, especially during peak summer months. Personally, I’ve seen cruisers wait over an hour just to return back down to the tender dock later in the day!
Because of this, many experienced Mediterranean cruisers choose to stay onboard in Santorini, particularly if they’ve visited before. Also, staying onboard still allows passengers to enjoy views of Santorini’s iconic whitewashed villages and dramatic cliffsides since cruise ships anchor directly in the island’s scenic caldera harbor.
For some cruisers, admiring the famous scenery from a quieter pool deck or balcony without dealing with crowds and long cable car lines is a more relaxing way to experience the destination.
Similar to Nassau, Royal Caribbean is also attempting to improve the Santorini experience with its brand-new Royal Beach Club Santorini.
The beach club is designed to provide a more curated beach experience away from some of the island’s busiest tourist zones while helping reduce congestion across Santorini. Instead of sending thousands of passengers directly into crowded areas like Fira and Oia at the same time, Royal Caribbean’s “Ultimate Santorini Day” excursion spreads guests across multiple locations throughout the day.
The experience includes access to Royal Beach Club Santorini along a volcanic black sand beach with loungers, umbrellas, towels, Wi-Fi, Greek food, draft beer, house wine, and transportation included. The excursion also incorporates visits to Santorini’s most popular towns, including Oia and Fira, allowing guests to experience the island in a more structured and less chaotic way.
Costa Maya, Mexico
Costa Maya, Mexico is one of the most divisive cruise ports in the Caribbean. Unlike other destinations, Costa Maya was developed specifically for cruise tourism. The port complex was designed entirely for cruise passengers, as it's filled with souvenir shops, restaurants, bars, pools, and entertainment venues.
While some travelers enjoy the convenience and party-like atmosphere, many repeat cruisers say the destination is overly manufactured and lacks authenticity compared to other Mexican ports.
Leaving the port area can also be inconvenient, as many beaches and attractions require either transportation or an organized excursion. Many cruisers also complain about the port's confusing layout, which is intentionally designed to bring passengers through the shopping area before exiting.
Because of this, Costa Maya has become another popular port to skip for experienced cruisers.
However, this will soon change when Royal Caribbean opens Perfect Day Mexico. Set to open in 2027, Perfect Day Mexico will be a massive private destination development located in the Mahahual and Costa Maya region.
Similar to Perfect Day at CocoCay, the destination is being designed specifically for cruise passengers with large-scale attractions, beaches, pools, dining, entertainment, and exclusive experiences.
According to Royal Caribbean, Perfect Day Mexico will feature the world’s tallest waterslide tower, the world’s longest lazy river, more than 30 waterslides, multiple beach neighborhoods, pools, restaurants, bars, and adults-only areas.
The project is intended to transform the Costa Maya experience into a resort-style destination that gives cruisers additional options beyond the existing port area. Royal Caribbean has also emphasized that the destination will incorporate Mexican culture, regional food, music, and local art throughout the experience.
Freeport, Bahamas
Freeport is another port in the Bahamas that many frequent cruisers choose to skip, especially on shorter itineraries.
Although the island offers beaches and excursions, many of the most popular attractions are located far from the cruise port itself. Without booking transportation or an excursion, the immediate port area is very industrial and underwhelming compared to other Caribbean destinations.
For some passengers, the effort of organizing transportation isn’t worth it during a shorter port visit. Moreover, taxis can be expensive to visit anywhere worthwhile from the terminal area. Others feel Freeport lacks the atmosphere and walkability they prefer when visiting a cruise destination.
As a result, many cruisers choose to remain onboard when visiting Freeport and take advantage of the quieter atmosphere on the ship.
Colon, Panama
Colon, Panama is another port many experienced cruisers say they would skip on future sailings unless they specifically wanted to visit the Panama Canal.
Located at the Caribbean entrance to the Panama Canal, Colon is often included on itineraries because of its proximity to one of the world’s most famous engineering landmarks.
However, the city itself receives consistently negative reviews from repeat cruisers. Many travelers describe Colon as rundown, unsafe, and lacking tourist-friendly infrastructure outside the port area. Multiple cruisers say they felt uncomfortable walking around independently, while others noted that even locals and tour guides warned them not to venture far from the main tourist areas.
The cruise terminal area includes a shopping complex, but many passengers describe it as quiet, underdeveloped, or lacking much to do. Because of this, many cruisers feel there’s little reason to visit Colon itself.
For many passengers, the Panama Canal excursions are still considered worthwhile and even bucket-list experiences. Wildlife tours through Gatun Lake, visits to the locks, and eco tours featuring monkeys and sloths are often viewed much more positively than the port city itself. However, if cruisers don’t have a specific excursion booked, Colon often becomes a skipped port day.
Why I personally love skipping a port day
I didn’t fully understand the appeal of staying onboard until last year while sailing aboard Utopia of the Seas. During our stop in Nassau, Bahamas, my husband and I decided to remain on the ship instead of heading ashore yet again.
Since we’d already visited Nassau multiple times, we figured we’d rather enjoy Royal Caribbean’s newest Oasis Class ship without the usual crowds. Ultimately, it was one of the most relaxing days of the cruise!
We started the morning with breakfast at Johnny Rockets, where we had no trouble finding a table right away. Normally, the complimentary breakfast there is much busier on sea days. Afterward, we headed to the adults-only Solarium, which was very quiet and peaceful for a ship carrying more than 6,000 passengers. My family had no issue finding lounge chairs together overlooking Nassau’s turquoise waters, something that’s almost impossible during crowded sea days.
Throughout the afternoon, we enjoyed Utopia of the Seas’ many amenities without lines or crowds. We were able to get drinks immediately with quick bar service and eat lunch at El Loco Fresh without issue. Even the pools were noticeably calmer and more manageable with fewer people vying for space
This experience completely changed my perspective on skipping ports. Now, I am convinced that staying onboard during a port day can be one of the best ways to enjoy a massive cruise ship.
