With 18 years of cruises under my belt, I always advocate for a week-long cruise whenever possible. I find they offer substantial time to unwind, experience the ship fully, and visit multiple ports.
But when an opportunity came up to sail round-trip out of Miami on Oceania Allura, Oceania Cruises’ newest ship, for only three nights, my husband and I decided to give a shorter trip a shot.
From the beginning, I approached this cruise differently than any other sailing I’d taken to ensure I’d get the most out of those three nights. And it worked. In fact, I nearly forgot it was only three nights, purely because of the strategic decisions we made, even before arriving in Miami for embarkation day.
Plus, shorter cruises are usually less expensive per night, offering the best value.
If time is limited, don’t shrug off a shorter cruise without considering these time-maxxing strategies for your next sailing.
In this article
Extend Your Trip with a Hotel Stay Near the Port
Remember: a cruise trip doesn’t have to be confined to just the sailing dates.
You can easily extend any short cruise into a proper seven-night vacation by tacking on hotel stays near the port either before, after, or both.
This can be a great tactic when a short cruise fare is too good to pass up, but you want more time away than the itinerary allows.
For my Miami cruise, I arrived just before lunch the day prior to embarkation. Doing so added 24 hours to the trip, with ample time to stroll around nearby Bayfront Park and break for lunch at a Cuban eatery overlooking the water.
The next time I sail a short cruise, I’ll definitely add on two nights after as well, to give me that week-long vacation I crave.
Board Early and Disembark Late
While you can board the ship up until just before ‘sailaway’ time on embarkation day (usually that’s around 3 p.m. or 4 p.m.), why not hop on as soon as you can, typically around noon?
Even if your cabin’s not yet ready, you’ll be able to slip into a swimsuit and enjoy the pool. I did this just after boarding a Viking ocean cruise in Warnemünde (near Berlin), and had the pool to myself, while other passengers hurried to the buffet.
Then, on disembarkation day, snag a later flight for a leisurely morning on the ship, instead of rushing off to hail an Uber to the airport at the crack of dawn.
Choose Half-Day Shore Excursions
Another way to get the most out of the amenities is to not spend every single minute off the ship while in port. Choose a half-day shore excursion instead.
Shorter cruises of three or four nights will likely only include one or two ports of call. The trip will be over before you know it, and part of what makes a cruise so leisurely is not feeling rushed. But overbooking port activities thinking you’re maximizing your time can actually have the opposite effect.
On my recent Miami cruise, I bought a day pass to Graycliff Restaurant and sat down to a three-course lunch, followed by a tour of the wine cellar and lounging around the hotel’s pool. This side trip only took up a few hours, putting me back on the ship in time for a late-afternoon cappuccino at Baristas, well before we sailed away again.
And that same morning, I didn’t jump off right after breakfast, either. I took my time, and departed just before lunch.
Stay with the Cruise Longer
Most people lock in their trip dates in sync with the sailing dates. But if you still want that “one-stop shop” booking method, opt for a pre- or post-cruise shore excursion on land through the cruise line.
Yes, shore excursions aren’t limited to just ports of call, and they can last anywhere from a couple hours to a full day.
With Miami cruises, for instance, you can spot alligators and other wildlife on an airboat ride through Everglades National Park and when sailing in or out of the Port of Los Angeles, there are guided tours available of beach cities and iconic sites in Beverly Hills and Hollywood.
In Alaska, multiday land packages to Denali National Park and other inland destinations are a great way to go beyond the coasts and travel by train, also including accommodations at lodges owned by the cruise line.
Other options exist in popular ports like Fort Lauderdale, Seattle, and Anchorage through cruise lines. They always hold onto your luggage and drop you off at the airport after.
Of course, you can also take a DIY full-day tour of the city or destination once you disembark, or before you start the cruise, but this works best if you book a hotel overnight to store your bags.
Splurge on Your Cabin
Since you’re only on the ship for a few nights, I highly recommend testing out a splurge that would normally not be in your budget for a longer sailing.
This includes upgrading to a suite or cabin with a balcony, since you’re only paying for three or four nights instead of seven.
On a short cruise, there is typically only one or two ports of call so there will be more time to enjoy the cabin. On my short Oceania Allura sailing, I loved starting my day with coffee and a good book on the balcony, then catching the sunset before dinner with a glass of wine in hand.
This upgrade made the cruise feel like more of an indulgence, even if it was only for three nights.
The Shortcut
Cruise lines offer pre- and post-cruise excursions on land that last anywhere from a half day to a full day, as an easy way to extend your trip while also showing you more of the port.
Check into a hotel near the port the day before the cruise embarks and also don’t book the first flight home on the day of disembarkation, adding as much as two or three days onto your vacation.
A short cruise is an opportunity to splurge and try out the amenities you could normally not afford on a seven-night sailing, such as a cabin upgrade.
