Did you realize that cruises leave from ports other than those in Florida? Yes it’s true! There are ports close to most major cities that allow you the luxury of traveling from close to home. If you pick one of these ports, you can drive to the port, park your car, and jump on board. No need to book a flight since you are so close to the port. Last November we boarded Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas from Bayonne, NJ.
It was nice to not have to fly to the cruise port and this was certainly different. We took a shuttle from the Boston area down to New Jersey and that took about three hours because of stops. As a control freak, it definitely messed with my head because I had no control over the driving and the other people on the bus. I tried to sleep, but couldn’t get comfortable in the seat. When we arrived, I didn’t feel as relaxed as I have when I have flown to my cruise port the day before my cruise. In fact, I felt stressed — something I don’t like feeling before vacation.
Here are a few pros and cons about cruising from a port near you to get you thinking.
Pros:
- It’s convenient
- Save time and money by driving to a port near you. Some US ports other than Miami and Fort Lauderdale include Boston, Bayonne, New York, Baltimore, Charleston, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Seattle.
- For those with a fear of flying, cruising from a port near you where you can drive seems like the obvious choice.
- The view of your home port from a ship is like no other you have ever seen before.
Cons:
- Especially on cruises during the winter months leaving from northern ports, the ride down to the warmer climate can be a cold one. We were completely unprepared for how cold and windy it was so bring a sweater and/or warm jacket to keep you warm.
- The ride to the Caribbean and back was bumpy once we left the warm waters of the Caribbean. I get car sick and completely expected to be seasick seeing how many people on the ship were getting ill, but I didn’t. Plan ahead and pack Dramamine or Bonine or use an all natural remedy like ginger.
- Sometimes the price of an airplane ticket and a cruise out of Florida is less expensive than a cruise close to home. Work with your travel agent and let him or her know that you might be interested in sailing from a port near you, but that you also want to find the best cruise for you.
What do you think? Have you cruised from a port near you and want to share your story? I’m listening…