Why Plan a Pre-Cruise Stay

9/22/2016

You have responsibly saved, carefully planned, and finally ready to embark on your family cruise vacation. Of course, you want to enjoy every moment! That is why I am a fanatic about allowing time and budget for a pre-cruise stay close to your embarkation port.

If you live more than a couple of hours away from the port, don’t use this first day to pack, fly, and rush to the ship. When first researching your cruise, find one that departs from a city you've always wanted to visit. Ideally, plan to arrive one or two nights early. Get excited about exploring a new city and experiencing a new culture. Or take this extra time to unwind from your travel and know that you have an exciting and relaxing cruise vacation ahead. On the day your cruise leaves, you can leisurely decide what time you want to meet the ship. For a typical cruise itinerary that leaves at 4:00 or 5:00 PM, you are usually able to board around noon.

Not Convinced? 4 Best Reasons Why You Should Plan A Pre-Cruise Stay

Take into consideration the amount of families who are also traveling the same time of year. Warm weather destinations are very popular over winter break. This can lead to busy highways or overbooked flights.
Unexpected weather issues are out of your control, so keep in mind the season you are traveling. In the winter months, an unforeseen snowstorm can easily delay flights, and hurricanes are notorious for causing travel chaos in the summer.
When flying long distances, connecting flights are a great way to let little ones stretch their legs or grab a bite to eat. But they can also lead to having your luggage temporarily misplaced (I'm being generous here.) Arriving early ensures even if your luggage is delayed, you’ll have time to retrieve your well-planned out cruise wear before boarding the ship.
This is my favorite! Depending on your time and budget, choose a hotel or resort where you’ve always wanted to stay. Choose a hotel close to the port and start relaxing or exploring right away. Sleep in a bit or enjoy a local breakfast. Then whenever you are ready, it's just a quick taxi or shuttle ride over to the ship.

Before boarding the ship, a day spent in Miami, Florida allows you to start relaxing right away.

If leaving from San Francisco, CA, take time to explore the famous attractions and sample what this wonderful city has to offer.

"One of the best ways to relax on vacation is to not think about anything on vacation."

Everyone can get anxious, stressed, and rushed. But this is vacation...and you are going on a CRUISE! It's your time to slow down and rejuvenate from the busy work, school, and responsibilities you've left behind. Splurge a little and take some extra time to relax without timetables or tight schedules. You have a beautiful ship waiting for you to board.

A Few Suggestions Where To Stay For Pre-Cruise Stays

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: For convenience and to make the most of your time, stay at the Inner Harbor area. Just a short taxi ride away from the Cruise Maryland Terminal, there are a number of luxurious hotels with larger suites for families and you'll be within walking distance from unique shopping. delicious local restaurants and terrific activities.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FLORIDA: This is an easy city to cruise from since the Port Everglades Cruise Port is located practically next to Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport. However, don't miss out on an extended stay here! With numerous beachfront hotels, historic shopping areas, and exceptional fresh seafood, it's perfect for a pre or post cruise stay. We've even stayed in Boca Raton, which is 40 minutes away, but a little quieter and the resorts offer a bit more room for families to spread out.

MIAMI, FLORIDA: Miami has so much to offer, it's obviously it's own vacation destination. But if you are looking to experience Miami's food, nightlife and gorgeous beaches while still staying close to PortMiami, find a hotel in the Miami Beach area. The port is only a 10 to 15 minute taxi or shuttle ride away. You can easily get to South Beach, Miami Seaquarium, shopping at Lincoln Road Mall and more.

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: The Port of San Francisco is a close taxi or shuttle ride from many hotels in the various districts of San Francisco. The Fisherman's Wharf area definitely has the most tourist attractions with Pier 39, memorable restaurants, cable car stops and more. However, I've found that it's just as easy to stay in adjacent Union Square. This area has beautiful upscale hotels (often less costly than touristy Fisherman's Wharf) and world-renowned dining. It's close to the historic Chinatown area and a very safe area for families to explore even late at night.

SEATTLE, WASHINGTON: I am still researching Seattle since my first cruise from here is coming up next summer. From what I've seen, I'm very excited to stay close to Pike Place Market, the Waterfront and see the Space Needle. There are a number of hotels that are within walking distance to these attractions while only being a short ride to the Port of Seattle. I can't wait to review them!

If you need any specific hotel or dining suggestions around your port area, reach out through my contact link and I'm happy to help. Or feel free to leave a comment below if you have a hint or tip for a pre-cruise stay that has worked well for you. I'd love to hear!

5 Comments

About the Author

Thanks for cruising by!
I'm the creator behind this blog, where I share our family’s love for travel, especially cruising. By day, I work full-time in an office—and all the time, I'm a proud mom to two amazing young men. We took our first cruise when they were energetic little boys, and I’ve included plenty of tips for traveling with kids in tow.

With our packed work and school schedules, we cherish every holiday break and make the most of our time off. We gravitate toward cruises and luxury hotel stays, always on the lookout for family-friendly experiences that offer comfort, elegance, and a touch of indulgence—think spacious suites, gorgeous décor, excellent service, and memorable dining.

When we're not traveling, you’ll find me enjoying local restaurants or getting creative in my own kitchen with cooking and baking.

Start dreaming—and planning—your next luxurious getaway, whether by sea or on land, with My Virtual Vacations. I'm always happy to answer questions or offer personalized recommendations to help you make the most of your travels. Be sure to check back often for new blog posts, travel tips, and inspiration—there are always more family adventures on the horizon!

You'll also find me on Cruise Critic boards as SunnyAJ. Let's connect!

Upcoming Adventures...

I’m beyond excited to share that we’ll be sailing on the Celebrity Beyond again this summer! We'll be staying in The Retreat, enjoying a stunning suite and all the elevated perks that come with it. I can't wait to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the experience—so if you’ve ever considered booking a suite, stay tuned for plenty of insights and tips!

We’re also heading to one of our favorite places--Boca Raton, Florida—for a relaxing land vacation. It’s truly our happy place, and I’ll be sharing highlights from our stay there as well.

If you have any questions about our upcoming or past travels, don’t hesitate to reach out. I love helping others plan their dream getaways!

If you have suggestions of places My Virtual Vacations would love, reach out to us on our Submission Form. We are always looking for new spots to showcase!

My Virtual Vacations - Blog Directory OnToplist.com

Notice fewer pop-ups?

That’s our way of making My Virtual Vacations a more enjoyable place to dream, plan, and explore. While we've recently cut back on ads, the cost to run the site continues to grow. If you love what we do, consider lending your support.
Click Donate Here below to find out more.

Rob Taylor link

10/17/2016 01:13:10 am

Yes! I've done this in Fort Lauderdale and always love it when cruisers do the pre-cruise trip in Seattle. Seattle is for sure one of the greatest places to start a cruise... or chill out in after. And the cruise port (depending on which line you're on) is easily accessible from almost any hotel.

Alyson (My Virtual Vacations)

10/18/2016 06:02:41 am

Thanks for reading, Rob! I'm excited to plan our pre-cruise stay in Seattle next summer. Usually we do one, maybe two nights, but I'm thinking two or three for Seattle. Looks like a great city!

Derek Freal link

10/18/2016 08:03:10 am

Absolutely love cruises and been to all of those cities, but I've never been to any of those ports. However I still *strongly* advocate a pre-cruise stay, regardless of port city. Cruises are already so busy (yes, relaxing poolside getting served food and drinks in between stops is totally work) that you need a pre-stay to ease into -- and if possible a post-stay to easy your way back onto dry land ;)

Julie Wolfe

11/20/2016 08:40:43 am

If you're cruise is leaving from Ft. Lauderdale staying at The Atlantic Hotel & Spa is a must. I only had a day to kill and wasn't staying over night. They offer a day pass for the pool and spa for $40. They treated me like a VIP. Gorgeous pool area overlooking the beach. When I arrived at the spa, I was given a tour of the steam room, sauna and jacuzzi. Then the relaxation lounge followed by the showers and everything I could possibly need to get ready. Oh, and a key to my locker for the day. Unfortunately, my suitcase was too big for the locker. No problem! The manager Jasmine, allowed me to leave it in her office and come in and out as needed in case I needed to retrieve anything from my luggage. I found them by doing a little research online. I enjoyed it so much that next time I might take my vacation there and skip the cruise.

11/20/2016 11:22:11 am

Nice pick, Julie! The Atlantic Hotel & Spa is wonderful! Thanks so much for the information about your day there. Great to know how well the staff treats their guests.You are right...it's definitely a great spot for a pre-cruise stay or to enjoy for a vacation on the beach. Thanks for sharing! :-)