In short
Plan backwards from «all aboard» — the time you must be on the ship, usually 30–60 minutes before departure. Leave a buffer of at least 30 minutes, and more in tender ports, where you queue for the boat back. The ship does not wait for passengers on independent tours.
Updated: October 2026
From the daily programme: usually 30–60 min before departure
What do you want to see?
Choose a port to see its places.
How it works
- Choose the port: the list of places and the cruise pier come from our «A day in port» guides.
- Enter the arrival time and the all-aboard time from the ship's daily programme, and the buffer you want to keep.
- Tick the places. Time on site has a sensible default by type (a church ~25 min, a museum ~75 min) — change it with − and +.
- Walking times are calculated from the distance with a detour factor; far places get a rough transfer time by taxi, bus or train.
- The plan updates as you go. Save the link or print the plan: it fits on one page.
Rules that save the day
- Ship time and local time can differ: check which one the daily programme uses, and set your phone accordingly.
- Take your cruise card and an ID ashore; note the port agent's phone number from the daily programme.
- Ship excursions are waited for if they run late; independent tours are not. Leave a bigger buffer if you go far.
- In tender ports the last boats are crowded: be at the tender pier 30–45 minutes before all aboard.
- If something goes wrong, call the port agent at once — not when the ship is already gone.
Common questions
What is «all aboard»?
The time by which every passenger must be back on the ship. It is printed in the daily programme and is usually 30–60 minutes before departure.
How accurate are the walking times?
We take the straight-line distance, add about a third for streets and turns, and divide by your walking pace. Hills, stairs and crowds can make it slower — that is what the buffer is for.
Why is the transfer time only a rough estimate?
Trains, buses and traffic differ by day and hour. For far places — Rome from Civitavecchia, Florence from Livorno, Berlin from Warnemünde — check the timetable for your date before you go.
What happens if I miss the ship?
You travel to the next port at your own expense. What to do and whom to call is in our guide on port changes and missed ships.
Why does a tender port need a bigger buffer?
Going ashore and coming back are by boat, with queues at both ends, and the last tenders are the busiest.
Does the planner know opening hours?
No. Check opening hours and closing days of museums on the places' own websites before your trip.
Also useful
This is an information tool. Times are estimates; opening hours, traffic and the ship's schedule can change. The ship's daily programme and the crew's announcements always take priority.