Traveling to your embarkation port can be time-consuming and exhausting, even when everything goes as planned. 

Starting several days early allows you to decompress from your flights, adjust to the time zone changes and recharge for your cruise.

It also serves as a buffer in case you encounter bumps along the way, such as cancelled or delayed flights. 

You can board your vessel fully refreshed and ready for your cruise with peace of mind.

This also applies to the end of your cruise. Instead of rushing to the airport, why not take your time?

Arriving early or departing later provides an opportunity to explore the destination in-depth. Cities such as Barcelona and Osaka come alive at night when you can join in the late-night dining scene, from tapas to street food to elegant beachside bistros.

Venice’s illuminated canals transform it into a romantic oasis in the evenings after the day trippers disperse. Cities like Rome and Athens are further inland than their ports (Civitavecchia and Piraeus, respectively); arriving early or staying later gives you more time for unhurried exploration. Instead of deciding between attractions, take the time to see everything on your checklist.

While a cruise can transport you to many exotic countries and islands, you may want to travel beyond the coastline or river. Visit landlocked capitals, like Madrid, Paris or Berlin, or wonders such as Machu Picchu, the Taj Mahal or Uluru (Ayers Rock).

Cruises serve as inspirational launch pads to keep traveling and discovering the region’s cultural heritage and surrounding landscape. Besides iconic sites, you can spend more time discovering hidden gems and lesser known landmarks. For example, visit a quiet “pueblo blanco” in Spain’s hilly Andalucia or try on traditional Geisha clothing in Kyoto’s historic Gion neighborhood. Alternatively, you can begin your travels with a hike in the Swiss Alps before embarking on a Rhine River cruise.

If you’re looking at options within your cruise itinerary, you may want to look for cruises that feature overnight stays in port, late-night departures or overland programs. There are cruise lines that offer “country intensive” or “immersive” itineraries that focus on a specific place. Here you will find fewer sea days and more time in port.

Some cruise lines offer exclusive events on shore that showcase the local culture, for example, a private concert in a Greek amphitheater. You can personalize your cruise with an overland program, during which you join a small group tour for one or two nights and rejoin your ship at its next port of call or later date.