Due to timing, crowds and activity restrictions, travelers may remain on board in places such as Victoria.
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- Some repeat cruisers choose to stay on the ship in a particular port they have previously visited.
- Travel experts note that first-time visitors typically find it worthwhile to disembark and explore a new destination.
Just because a cruise ship is docked at a destination doesn’t mean passengers have to disembark there. Among repeaters, some ports may be skipped over others.
Cruise experts, with help from USA TODAY, have compiled five ports where some cruisers tend not to disembark for a variety of reasons. However, the decision comes down to guest preference and may be more enjoyable on other cruise ships.
“If you’ve never been to these places before, it’s usually worth getting off at least once, especially if you’re truly new to the destination, not just on a cruise, because that ‘seeing this place for the first time’ experience is what transforms a port from, say, an abstract itinerary box to something more memorable, something you decide to skip later on,” said Jared Feldman, owner of travel agency Jafferdoma Travel.
Nassau
Feldman said the Bahamas’ capital is “a great place to visit for the first time, especially if you take a short trip to a resort like Atlantis or Baha Mar.” Royal Caribbean also recently opened Royal Beach Club Paradise Island, just a short ferry ride away.
“But on subsequent trips, passengers often choose to stay on board, because even if they leave the ship and go to the downtown strip around the cruise terminal, it’s only the predictable stores that (feel like) the same thing over and over again.”
Many Caribbean itineraries also stop here, so there’s often overlap even for guests trying out a new cruise line.
But Joy Jibril, CEO of the Nassau & Paradise Island Promotion Committee, said, “The area around the cruise terminal is just a glimpse of everything Nassau and Paradise Island has to offer, from world-class cuisine to a vibrant arts and culture scene.”
“By engaging with our people and traditions, visitors are able to experience the destination differently each time they visit and rediscover Nassau and Paradise Island in a deeper, more personal way each time they return,” she told USA TODAY in an emailed statement. Jibril recommended visiting tourist attractions such as the Bahamas National Museum and Clifton Heritage National Park, and sampling local cuisine such as conch salad and cracked lobster.
CruiseTipsTV founder Sheri Griffith said criminal activity could be a concern in Nassau. The U.S. State Department has currently issued a Level 2 advisory for the Bahamas, warning travelers to “exercise caution” due to crime.
“Most of the crimes occur in Nassau and Freeport on New Providence Island and Grand Bahama Island,” the advisory states. “Please remain vigilant as gangs are killing residents in the ‘Over the Hill’ area south of Shirley Street in Nassau.”
Jibril said the advisory “has been in place for some time and is not a recent change. We are confident that there will be no increased risk to visitors as our tourism partners are keen to adhere to the highest standards.”
Many other popular destinations, such as the UK and Mexico, are also designated as Level 2 (although some areas of Mexico have higher and lower levels).
mayan coast
Although the port on the Yucatan Peninsula is a frequent stop on Western Caribbean itineraries, Feldman said there’s “not much going on there” compared to other ports.
“I would describe it primarily as a resort-style beach zone with chain stores and beach clubs,” he said. “However, once visited, customers typically tend to skip it in favor of a port with more scenic character, like Cozumel.”
But Royal Caribbean’s Perfect Day Mexico destination, scheduled to open in 2027, could change that.
Mexican tourism officials did not immediately comment before publication.
Ketchikan
Known as the “Totem Pole Capital of the World,” Ketchikan is one of the most popular ports for Alaska cruises, offering shopping and activities like ziplining and hiking. However, Feldman said tour options are limited compared to other destinations such as Juneau.
“If you’ve been to Alaska many times, and there are definitely seasoned Alaska cruisers who sail seasonally, they prefer to treat it as a one-time port of call rather than going back to Alaska again,” he said. “So they prefer to stay on board because they’ve already done their shopping in the kitschy stores.”
Visit Ketchikan did not respond to requests for comment.
victoria
Griffiths said some cruise passengers don’t go through Vancouver Island ports, but it usually depends on timing. Many ships dock in the evening, meeting U.S. regulations that require ships registered in other countries to call at foreign ports.
“So they pick us up at the port from 7 p.m. to midnight, and by that time people are exhausted and don’t want to disembark,” she said. “But this is actually quite sad because Victoria is a beautiful, clean, walkable city with lots of things to do.”
This includes enjoying afternoon tea and visiting Butchart Gardens.
However, most passengers explore. The Greater Victoria Port Authority (GVHA) told USA TODAY that 73% of all cruise passengers who called at the Port of Victoria in 2025 disembarked, and more than 60% of those “arrived after 5 p.m. or stayed for less than five hours.”
“While we are seeing a broad shift across the industry towards slower sailing speeds and delayed arrival times, primarily due to environmental considerations, the clear majority of passengers are still choosing to travel ashore,” the group said in an emailed statement.
The port is also the busiest in the country, with approximately 335 ships expected to call this year. “Victoria is a premium port of call that passengers actively choose to experience and has consistently high satisfaction ratings,” GVHA said.
port canaveral
Port Canaveral is a major departure point for cruise ships, but it also serves as a stop on many itineraries that depart from cities such as New York, Bayonne, and Baltimore. Feldman claimed there isn’t much activity near the port, other than the Kennedy Space Center.
“Once you’ve been to Cape Canaveral, there’s little reason to do it again unless you’re a space enthusiast or something,” he said.
It’s about an hour drive to Orlando, but it depends on traffic. Theme parks can be difficult to visit in one day, depending on when your ship is docked (though day visits are possible).
“We regularly receive positive feedback from guests visiting Port Canaveral that they enjoy visiting the beaches at Jetty Park, which are within walking distance of the cruise terminal, as well as nearby Cocoa Beach and the Kennedy Space Center,” the port told USA TODAY in an emailed statement.
At the end of the day, travelers must make their own decisions about which ports they want to revisit and which ports to skip next time. “For those who have never been to Orlando, the Space Coast, or any of Florida’s other gateways, a quick stop can help you see the environment, get a feel for the city, and decide for yourself whether it’s worth coming back to,” Feldman said.
This article has been updated to update the headline.
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. Please contact us at ndiller@usatoday.com.
