Checklist before going ashore at a cruise port

A short check before you leave the ship prevents many of the problems that spoil a port day. The list covers the papers you need to get off and back on the ship, the money and payment methods you will use ashore, the time you must return, the contact details that help if you are separated or delayed, and the basics of water, sun and power that keep the day comfortable.

These points apply in almost every port, but the details change with the country and the cruise line. Treat this list as a starting point, and read the port information in the daily program for anything specific to that stop, such as entry rules or the location of the pier.

Papers and cards to carry

Carry the ship card, which you use to re-board, and the photo identification that the ship and the port require. Many cruise lines ask guests to keep their ship card with them when going ashore, and some ports check identification on the way off or back on. Whether you need the original passport ashore depends on the port and the ship's rules, and some ports check it when you leave the ship. Check the port information first. If you leave the original on board, keep a photocopy and a digital copy with you.

• Ship card and cabin number
• Passport, or the photo identification the ship and port require
• Photocopy or digital copy of your passport
• Tour vouchers showing the operator's name and meeting point
• Payment card and a small amount of local currency

Local money and payments

Ports use a range of currencies and payment systems, and many small shops, taxis and market stalls accept only cash. Before you go ashore, find out which currency the port uses and whether cards are widely accepted. Carry enough of the local currency for taxis, drinks and small purchases, and keep the rest of your cash in the cabin safe. Exchange kiosks near the pier can offer weaker rates, so compare the rate and any fee before you change money.

Check whether your card works abroad and what foreign transaction fees your bank charges. Keep a second payment method separate from your wallet, so that a lost wallet does not leave you without any way to pay. Keep receipts for anything you buy ashore, and note whether an excursion booked through the ship will be added to your onboard account or paid separately.

Timing and the all-aboard time

The all-aboard time in the daily program is the latest time the ship expects guests to be back on board, and missing it can leave you behind when the ship departs. Set your own return time earlier than that, and allow for the walk from the pier, any security checks and the time it takes to reach the ship from where you finish. The all-aboard time is given in ship time, and ship time may differ from the local time at the port. Before you leave the ship, set a watch to ship time, and do not rely on a phone that may have switched to local time.

Work backward from the all-aboard time to the moment you must leave where you are. A reminder set for thirty minutes before all-aboard is too late if you are far from the pier. Set it for the time you need to start the journey back, with a margin for queues and transport. If a tour is running late, tell the operator or the ship's guest services desk early, rather than waiting until you are close to the pier. Many ships also post the all-aboard time in public areas, so check the screens or notices before you leave. If you return by tender or by a shuttle from the pier, note the last departure from that point too, since it can be earlier than the all-aboard time.

Contact details and the next port

Write down the ship's emergency contact number as listed in the daily program, the name and number of any tour operator and the address of the meeting point. Note the next port of call and its arrival time as well. If you miss the ship, the cruise line's port agent or emergency number is the first place to call, and rejoining arrangements are often made at the next port, so that information matters. Save these details in your phone and keep a paper copy in your bag, since a phone with a dead battery is no help when you need to make a call. Share your cabin number with your travel companions and agree on where to meet if you become separated.

• Ship emergency and guest services contact from the daily program
• Cruise line port agent or emergency number, if the cruise line lists one
• Next port of call and its arrival time
• Tour operator name, phone number and meeting point
• Cabin number and deck
• Agreed meeting place for travel companions

Leave valuables such as spare cards, extra cash and jewelry in the cabin safe, and carry only what you need for the day.

Water, sun and power

Heat and walking drain energy quickly on a port day. Carry a refillable water bottle, and apply sunscreen before you go ashore and again after long periods in the water or in strong sun. A hat and sunglasses cut glare on bright piers and streets. Plan to rest in shade during the hours around midday, when the sun is at its strongest and many streets offer little shade. Pack any medication you need during the day in a small carry bag, so that it goes ashore with you rather than staying in the cabin.

Charge your phone before you leave the ship and carry a power bank or the charger for the day. The phone holds the daily program, a port map and the ship's contact number, so a dead battery late in the afternoon can leave you without the all-aboard time you need. A power bank covers the gaps when no socket is nearby, such as on a bus or during a long walk back to the pier.

Keeping the same routine each time, with the list in the same pocket or pouch, turns this check into a habit. After a few ports it takes only a minute, and the time you save at the gangway is time you can spend ashore.