An overnight cruise is a fun way to fully experience the best a destination has to offer. By removing the worry of having to make it back to the ship at the end of the day, you can take your time exploring your favorite ports and discovering the vibrant nightlife of a city.
Whether you’re hoping to see the sunset in the Mediterranean, have dinner in a Michelin-starred restaurant in Asia, or dance all night in the Caribbean after the moon rises, here’s everything you need to know about cruises with overnight stays.
What’s it like being on overnight cruises?
On a cruise with an overnight stay, you’ll feel as if you’re spending the night in a floating hotel since you can come and go as you please throughout the evening. At your overnight port stops, you can go sightseeing during the day, come back to the ship to change, and then head back out and enjoy the city’s restaurants and nightlife.
Main Dining Room
You can also spend the day exploring the port, come back for dinner in one of the onboard restaurants, and head back out into the city to enjoy a night excursion or a cocktail or two.
Are shore excursions available during overnights in port?
Church of the Resurrection in St. Petersburg, Russia
Evening shore excursions are an interesting and fun way of getting to know a city’s nightlife culture. These evening activities and tours are focused on showing a destination’s sights and culture after the sun goes down.
Evening shore excursions for overnight cruise ports operate similarly to daytime shore excursions, so you’ll be picked up from the ship and escorted to each new site or activity by a guide. If you aren’t spending the whole night in port (some ships depart at 2:00 a.m., for example) you are guaranteed to be back to the ship before it sails to the next port.
What cruises stay in port overnight?
Celebrity Reflection
Cruises with overnight stays are available in over 40 ports of call on Celebrity. Sometimes, overnights will occur during the middle of a cruise. Other times, overnight stays are offered at a cruise’s embarkation port just after you board, or at a ship’s last port before you disembark the following day.
Here are some of the cruises on Celebrity with overnight stays:
Overnight Bermuda Cruises
Harbour Nights in Kings Wharf, Bermuda
During a cruise to Bermuda, spend a few nights in Kings Wharf and experience the nightlife in downtown Hamilton, where you’ll enjoy live music at their weekly Harbour Nights festival. If you’re looking to sample the local bar scene, sign up for a guided pub crawl.
Overnight Caribbean Cruises
Caribbean
While most of our Caribbean cruises stop in ports during the day, you’ll be able to sample Caribbean nightlife with an overnight in Aruba’s Oranjestad.
After spending the day lounging on one of the island’s white sand beaches, cap off the day by boarding a catamaran and sipping a cocktail as you enjoy a breathtaking view of the sunset.
Cruises to Asia That Stay Overnight
Southeast Asia cruises include plenty of overnight stops that allow travelers to fully immerse themselves in the food, culture, and nightlife of each destination. Get extra time to discover Bangkok’s palaces, shop for gems and jewelry in markets, and visit museums and temples.
Ha Long Bay in Hanoi, Vietnam
In Vietnam, enjoy the natural wonders of Hanoi’s Ha Long Bay on a multi-day tour that includes a visit to Cua Van Floating Village and a sunset dinner and cooking demonstration.
In Hong Kong, take in the iconic skyline and enjoy a primetime view of its famous Symphony of Lights show in Victoria Harbor, one of the city’s highest viewing platforms.
On an overnight cruise to Singapore, board a bumboat and wade along the Singapore River, where you can see the city’s skyscrapers and marvel at its many architectural landmarks including the Marina Bay Sands and the Helix Bridge.
Temple of Heaven in Beijing, China
If you’re sailing on a cruise around China, South Korea, and Japan, sample traditional Japanese food and enjoy a traditional Shabu Shabu dinner followed by a Marko performance in Kyoto. In Beijing, discover the wonders of the city with an overnight tour that’ll take you around landmarks including Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, the Great Wall of China, and the Forbidden City.
Overnight Cruises to Europe
A cruise around Europe is full of cultural treasures and Old World history. At an overnight stop in Lisbon, Portugal, board a funicular to the top of Bairro Alto, where you’ll enjoy unparalleled views of the city’s landmarks and enjoy traditional Fado music and local port wine.
Lisbon, Portugal
Couples will want to make sure to take a romantic gondola ride on a cruise with an overnight stay in Venice. If you have an overnight in Bilbao, try Basque cuisine with an evening tapas tour around the culinary city.
Overnight Cruises in Canada & the U.S.
Frontenac Castle in Quebec City, Canada
Popular overnight stops in North America include stays in Quebec City, Canada, which is known as the “Paris of America” for its five star French-infused restaurants, European architecture, and state-of-the-art museums.
Further south, you might feel like you stepped back in time when your ship docks for the night in either Charleston, South Carolina, where you can enjoy a horse-drawn carriage around the city’s historic district, or New Orleans, Louisiana, where a stroll through its famous French Quarter includes plenty of Creole cuisine and jazz to keep you entertained all evening.
Hula dance, Hawaii
Meanwhile, cruises around Hawaii include overnight stays in Honolulu and Maui’s Lahaina, where you can hike or lounge on the beach by day and enjoy traditional island cuisine or a hula ceremony at night.
Overnight South America Cruises
On cruises sailing through South America, you might spend a night or two in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where you can sign up for a tango class and dine at one of their world-famous steakhouses.
Machu Picchu, Peru
In Cartagena, Colombia, take a horse-drawn carriage around the walled city center and finish off your night at a salsa bar. If you’re cruising to Peru, sign up for a multi-day expedition of Peru’s historical landmarks including stops in Cusco and a visit to the majestic Incan ruins of Machu Picchu, a once-in-a-lifetime experience you won’t forget.
Overnight Cruises to Australia, New Zealand, & the South Pacific
On cruises through the land Down Under, you’ll experience urban city centers, sandy beaches, striking fjords, and rugged wilderness.
Harbour Bridge in Sydney, Australia
Australia cruises include overnights stop in Sydney, where you can hop on a dinner cruise and enjoy a meal while admiring the stunning Sydney Harbor; and in Cairns, where you’ll have the incredible opportunity to sleep under the stars while camping on a stable pontoon in the middle of the Great Barrier Reef.
Kaituna River, New Zealand
Meanwhile, New Zealand cruises make overnight stops in Tauranga, where you can spend the day whitewater rafting along the Kaituna River, followed by a gentle kayak excursion at night, where you can spot magical glow-worms lighting up the sky.
Book your next cruise with an overnight stay and reserve your evening shore excursions today. To start planning your dream cruise that includes an overnight in port, browse our cruise itineraries and book online, or give us a call at 888-751-7804 and one of our knowledgeable cruise experts can assist you in booking your cruise vacation.
