Let's Book Your Cruise Blog

Consider a pre- or post-cruise stay to extend your vacation

Short cruise itineraries are becoming more and more common: Royal Caribbean has two of its newest ships, Wonder of the Seas and Utopia of the Seas, doing 3- and 4-night sailings, and Carnival is soon to follow suit with Mardi Gras, the first ship in its Excel class. And while I’ve written previously about my growing love for short cruises, some people want to take a longer trip, especially if they have a long way to travel.

If this is you, a good idea is to extend your usual pre-cruise hotel stay from one night to two or even three in order to explore the city near your port. For my weekend sailing on Utopia of the Seas from Port Canaveral, I flew in early on the day before my cruise and spent the night in nearby Cocoa Beach, Florida.

Having a few nights in your port destination definitely has some advantages. You have a few days to unwind after the stress of car or air travel, and can be in the right frame of mind to enjoy your cruise vacation right from the start. If you realize that you’ve forgotten to pack something, like prescriptions or other vital items, you can procure those before you board the ship, where supplies are limited and much more expensive.

With air travel being unpredictable, having a 2- or 3-day cushion between your arrival flight and the time your ship pulls away from the dock can also help ease your mind if you’re a nervous traveler.

So the next time you book a cruise, give yourself the gift of a few days beforehand at the port. Explore, relax, and start your vacation early — you deserve it!