Cruise Ships Should Overnight
For anyone who has been on a cruise the aspect of rushing to get back to the ship before it leaves can be unsettling. Not only is there a slight risk of missing the ship’s departure because of a taxi breakdown or other accident but in many instances you are just getting acclimatized to the place. And who wants to leave when the nightlife is just getting going.
When the Queen Mary II was on her maiden voyage she stopped overnight in Halifax and her passengers and crew enjoyed a great night in the Halifax clubs. The local stores and restaurants cashed in on the thousands of people who also got a closer look at Halifax than just the usual 9 to 4 layover.
The cruise ship industry is a finely-balanced aspect of tourism and the schedules are fine-tuned to get the most out of a trip without wasting time or fuel. Staying overnight at every port would cut down on traveling time which is usually reserved for the dark hours so that the passengers can enjoy the sights of the next stop.
A representative from the cruise industry once told me that a cruise is much like a bus tour in one respect: to sample the sights so that the cruiser can come back on his or her own to spend a week or two discovering the island. Still it would be nice if one night on a cruise could be spent in port.
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