8 Best Ways to Avoid The Crowds In Cruise Ports

[@macumezahn]

Thank you so much for all your tips. One thing i do is to map out the places i wznt to visit. THEN, I VISIT THE FARTHEST LOCATION FIRST and then work my way back to the ship. (usually with a bus pass, etc.) I also visit museums and 'academic' locations first. Then when everyone is tired and returning to ship, i visit the popular sites in the afternoon. (Naples is a good example) the natl museum of archeology sounds boring, but is incredible! You can stand within two feet of some of oldest and rarest statues in italy.

[@DanetteSWhite]

Being from NY, I don't too much trust taxi drivers in unknown places or deserted places. Keep your guard up. Thanks for the tips.

[@samuelcollins1331]

Gary is the best. I learned something or two or three every time I watch one of his videos. Like workshops in the travel industry. Thank you so much Gary and keep up the good work

[@flagwanker6346]

The only way to avoid the crowds in ports is to walk to somewhere where there aren't any. In my years in the navy, I found that so, so easy to do.

[@davidandrew1078]

In Juneau, Alaska, A short walk, I have a walking stick, to the Alaska State Museum. You walk past interesting places, is cheap and really informative on the history of Alaska.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Agree! It is really interesting

[@danielgaskell5490]

Outstanding Gary! No one else presents this material and so much of it enriches our potential experiences! Thank you!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks. Really appreciate you watching :-)

[@pamelahack]

Thanks you for these tips. Friends on their first cruise were put off by all the hourds of people around the ports. They say they won’t cruise again. I’ll forward your tips may make them change their minds.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Fab! Hope it does!!!!!!!

[@jopiaspieder1184]

You say Go Local and I'd like to add to that and say book excursions by independent providers at the port once you get off the ship or book in advance. Their busses, catamarans, submarines ect tend to be far less crowded then the ones booked through the cruise lines booked by mostly everyone on the ship. Even is you go to the same place such as Sting Ray City in Grand Cayman their catamarans are less crowded then the others booked by the cruise ship providers. Also a good source to avoid crowds to ask the crew members who have sailed in that port multiple times. They can tell you were the less crowded places are and even where the good eating places and best wi fi spots. Keep in mind that besides website the on board crew is the best source of information.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Good tip on asking the crew for their insider tips !!

[@c4l977]

Great advice! This is what I do too!

[@reddy2travel492]

Gary the best way to avoid crowds is to do the toughest things like hiking or anything that requires lots of exercising your heart, moral of the story never do what the crowd is doing people tend to be lazy and want to do things that require the least amount of thought. The more effort you put into your shore excursion the fewer people you will bump into.😍

[@chriswilliams6568]

Reddy 2 Travel That is true to some extent, but even more of us have conditions that won’t allow us to be fit.

[@christinagipperich2780]

These are great bits of advice, not just for cruising but all travel and maybe life too.

[@paulr1]

Congratulations 100.000 subscribers !!

[@gerrycorbino2000]

I always look forward to watching one of your videos because they're packed with great useful information. Thanks

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks! Appreciate you watching :-)

[@andrewelie8687]

Do you research in advance: In some locales, businesses close for lunch. This is especially true of mediterranean cities.

[@larryrobinson1256]

Great advice and thanks for all the sites to look at. Already changed plans for a cruise in February to Cozumel - six cruise ships in port the day we are there.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Great to hear! I have been doing same for my Caribbean cruise this month as same situation!

[@kittycat6195]

I love this channel. I could watch it 24/7

[@Leftee54]

The links that Gary cites in this video are worth their weight in gold. If you want ideas on how to utilize your time in port wisely, follow Gary's advice here as well as the information available on the websites he mentions. Fantastic video!

[@jaypaladin-havesmartswilll5508]

I really like this advice video because it open my thinking up to cruising away from the Americas and cruise around Europe and the Mediterranean Sea.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks. Really appreciate you watching :-)

[@chriswilliams6568]

Strange thinking. I am travelling as far from home while I can, as our world narrows as we age. I am already limited to some extent due to my arthritis, but end of Jan we fly to Singapore to do a 14 day cruise on the Celebrity Millennium to 3 places in Vietnam, Taiwan, 2 in southern Japan and Hong Kong. Go for it, you only live once. In June 2021 we are off on a 16 day from Southampton, UK to all Norway ports, right up to the top, Norway is spectacular. Good luck.

[@sintowndec]

Thank you for the info. I am planning a cruise trip to eastern Caribbean in middle of the January, 2020. The information is definitely useful.

[@jilliandent1256]

Gary thank you. You are a wealth of very useful information

[@debbiekerr3989]

I appreciate your help and advice. I had a difficult time when I went to New Orleans, and I really wish I had this advice then.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks for watching! Hopefully helpful for future cruise :-)

[@debbiekerr3989]

@@tipsfortravellers This will definitely be a great help to me.

[@patrickmooney4135]

Agreed... But, sometimes, crowds just can't be avoided. :-) Thanks, Gary!

[@ats89117]

Fantastic video! Extremely useful!

[@pjs2899]

Very helpful, thank you!

[@tuvia4082]

As always, great content and great ideas, thanks!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks. Really appreciate you watching :-)

[@Andy-hg8dv]

Gary, your videos really are informative. I’m not an experienced cruiser and you’ve guided me well. If I’m going to Europe, i buy a Rick Steves book for the location, for a cruise i watch your videos. Thank you.

[@CP140405]

I'd like to suggest leveraging your professional association or social groups as a way of exploring the less travelled areas. If you are a ham (amateur) radio operator, reach out to a club in the port you are visiting. I did that in Venice and had a wonderful time. (Thanks Martino!) I fly RC airplanes and met with a great bunch in Normandy who plied me with beverages and were only too happy to show me around. Reach out to retired veterans in the area or any organization you might be affiliated with.

[@edf2953]

Always guaranteed to learn something interesting and useful when watching one of your videos Gary. This did not disappoint!...thanks for sharing...Ed

[@tipsfortravellers]

Cool, great too hear!!! Thanks for watching!

[@Nunya_bizness01]

Thank you for your videos

[@Ambientmopar]

That was very interesting, lots of helpful ideas and websites. Thumbs up 👍👍👍

[@craigrogers3864]

Great video as always 👍

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks! Appreciate you watching :-)

[@lizjoyce4846]

Good tips thank you

[@georgeshepherd6431]

You don't mention that you don't get to head out into port the minute the ship docks. There could be an 2-hour wait. You make it sound like you do, indeed, get right off the ship early in the morning.

[@stevebartley8594]

I think the side street in Venice was really Burano

[@Paradise-on-Earth]

such great infos!!!

[@bonitadonaldson]

As always, very informative!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks! Appreciate you watching :-)

[@chriswilliams6568]

I think the Caribbean ports are worse for crowds, 2 nd is probably the Med in summer. I wish there were more Med. cruises in late Fall and winter, and earlier in Spring, I hate the hot weather in summer. Only Costa and MSC seem to do Winter, and I don’t want to go on them. Being European I worry that there is more smoking done on-board. Thanks for the tips Gary, well done.

[@tonil.476]

There is safety in numbers. If I don’t know a city I stay with the ship’s tours.

[@andrewelie8687]

Love the other tips!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Glad you like them!

[@laurap.5804]

yes...but what is the point on going somewhere and not seeing the most important feature and, as You suggest, only the less famous??? I might be there only once in my lifetime!!! Sorry...I really don't get it!!!!

[@wendellcoleman1137]

Ding, Ding, Ding, we have a winner! That's my take as well!

[@kimdaniel4539]

More great and useful tips.

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks. Really appreciate you watching :-)

[@terrykunst3883]

Super. Thank you!!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks! Great to hear you enjoyed

[@jw-mr4vl]

Speaking of timing, is there a way this would work to avoid the crowds during debarkation? For instance, on the Carnival Miracle in San Diego they say they want everyone out of their rooms by 8:30AM, but does that mean you have to leave the ship at that time? I've seen some videos of people waiting until everyone's gone before going to the elevator...and it looked very empty and quiet.

[@tonyhinojosa7710]

My first Caribbean will be in December 2021, so I really bet there won't be many crowds then.

[@chriswilliams6568]

Tony Hinojosa Actually a lot of ships have returned to the Caribbean from Europe then. Some cruise lines do this all year, some only in Winter.

[@6yjjk]

Yes, but what if all the crowds have watched this video? :)

[@michaelvoisey8458]

We were in Norway in May this year on the Britannia and the Hop on Hop of Bus was about £30 each so £60 before we had done anything . Is the Barcelona one cheaper ? We are off to Spain with P&O next year on the Iona and Barcelona is an overnight stop

[@tipsfortravellers]

Norway prices are crazy high for everything fo sure. Yes will be!

[@mwbgaming28]

Tips: because free isn't really free

[@brucelaird9335]

Update: Global Greeter Network is now known as International Greeter Association.

[@nancya.2289]

I always like to eat local, so we eat lunch at the local restaurants instead of eating on the ship. I enjoy eating the local cuisine.

[@enceladusfox2247]

Yes it's always a great idea to do your homework , to avoid all the crowds and congestion at port .. great tips Gary yet again , Thank you so very much.

[@karlahart_AK]

By booking cruises on these giant cruise liners you are creating the crowds. When you explore further into our neighborhoods, you just increase the animosity against over tourism from cruise ships. Don't be the problem. Don't book on large cruise ships and expect to be welcomed into the community by anyone other than those waiting to take your money.

[@nanemoon9968]

Rome would be my advise to stay on board. Does this sound crazy? You spend a lot of time to get from the port to the City, the you are stuck in the insane traffic jam. You will end up rushing through the old ruins in the hottest hours of the day and then hurry back to your ship. And if you are unlucky you fell victim to a pickpocket. They are not locals! They are recruited by criminals in poorer countries. We have social security and health insurance Same with beggars and people trying to sell you things on the street.

[@johnnyrambo1414]

Does anyone know where the location is at 5:17?

[@tipsfortravellers]

There is Istanbul and then Cinque Terre in Italy

[@RobMedellin]

@@tipsfortravellers You are very helpful and I enjoy your videos! A way to be even better (although it's a little more work) it's too put into those images a small caption "Istanbul" or "Cinque Terre", or "Celebrity Eclipse". Maybe not in all, but those that you think "people are going to wonder which ship/port this is" :) Again thanks for the great videos!

[@RobMedellin]

Never mind, I continued watching the video and that would be like 80% of the images XD

[@chriswilliams6568]

Tips For Travellers maybe, i wonder which village it is in Cinque Terra.

[@Rc2Go]

I’ve been to grand cayman... it’s a nice place if you have a car. GO TO SEVEN MILE BEACH! There is nothing else to do within the 10 hours at port

[@fbthebear]

Next time check out cemetary beach, more secluded and gorgeous

[@glenhodson4800]

why does his husband put the camera so close to his face

[@Use.ur.noggin]

Tip number 1. Dont go on a cruise. Its like disneyland in a sardine can.

[@carbonusa]

Stay on the ship - what stupid advice, people spend tons of money and have opportunity to see beautiful places, and you advice them to stay in sardine can and eat hamburgers

[@stevebee5840]

Martin Derby Good point.....his tips must be aimed at deadheads....all so obvious.

[@Love2Cruise]

I can think of a couple places where I’d rather stay onboard...

[@Travel_queenCirca2009]

Out of the 8 tips... that is what you took away from it?

[@tipsfortravellers]

:-)

[@roxannelyson7715]

Wow, you're awesome. Maybe you should actually listen to what he really said. He was just informing people that the ships provided full schedules of activities on port days, in case there was a particular port someone did not have an interest in visiting or may have already been to, but were worried that there might not be much to do onboard those days thinking the ship would not do much with all the people ashore. His tip was very helpful. Unlike your comment.

[@BTheTrue]

Very great tips! Thank you!

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks for watching! Great to hear you found it interesting.

[@cruisingthroughlifewithalj5606]

Some great ideas Gary. Thanks!

[@edschermer]

Great tips! Thank you

[@tipsfortravellers]

Thanks. Really appreciate you watching :-)