Generally yes. You need to be very clear on when to be back on board. They are unlikely to hold the ship for you if you're late back.
When you begin your cruise they will issue you a key card that is both your room key and security info. You have to swipe the card leaving the ship and returning.
You can't get off until the crew gets the gangplank(s) in place. They won't let you leave until it is safe.
Sometimes the ship is docked next to 1 or 2 other ships (called rafting) to save dock space. If you ship isn't the one closest to the dock you'll have to either go thru the reception area of the adjoining ship(s) or sometimes up to the sundeck level then across by a series of gangplanks.
Due to some ship operations - example you're rafted up and the ship between you and the dock is getting underway - you won't be able to leave or get on board until gangplanks are back in place.
One of the best times on river cruises is when the ship is docked close enough to walk to sightseeing and/or has a nice walking path along the river.
I will add to wildcat03's comment.....many times, the ship is docked in an industrial area and, as such, may not be conducive to exploring the area. I have never left the ship alone at dusk/night unless the security individual has assured me the surrounding area is okay for a walk. Hope this helps.
We have been on the Blue Danube, Savoring France, Rendezvous on the Siene, and the Rhine and Moselle. My wife would run alone most mornings and I would walk around the area when we were docked and we never felt unsafe. At most docking sites there are usually multiple ships. Depending on the cruise your time spent docked is variable. On the Blue Danube with the exception of Vienna, most docking location were very close to the c\ity centers. On the Savoring France all were adjacent to the city centers. Same with the Siene with the exception of La Havre which is commercial /industrial area and adjacent to the sea cruise port and a marina (which you can use as a 1.25 mile loop for a run. ) The Rhine tends to be the most industrial of the rivers. Nijmegen, Basel, Kolbenz, Amsterdam, and the Moselle docking areas were great. Karlshude was industrial but clean. We did not spend very much time docked on the Rhine ports during the Rhine Moselle cruise. We did spend two days tied up at Bernkastel and even went into town for dinner. Take time to get of the ship when docked in the morning or evening. Several time we were able to take bikes and ride along the river between the morning tour and the evening events/dinner/sailing.
Comments
Generally yes. You need to be very clear on when to be back on board. They are unlikely to hold the ship for you if you're late back.
When you begin your cruise they will issue you a key card that is both your room key and security info. You have to swipe the card leaving the ship and returning.
You can't get off until the crew gets the gangplank(s) in place. They won't let you leave until it is safe.
Sometimes the ship is docked next to 1 or 2 other ships (called rafting) to save dock space. If you ship isn't the one closest to the dock you'll have to either go thru the reception area of the adjoining ship(s) or sometimes up to the sundeck level then across by a series of gangplanks.
Due to some ship operations - example you're rafted up and the ship between you and the dock is getting underway - you won't be able to leave or get on board until gangplanks are back in place.
One of the best times on river cruises is when the ship is docked close enough to walk to sightseeing and/or has a nice walking path along the river.
I have gotten off by 05:30, the gangway was up. just bring your room card, scan out and be on your way. Oh yes, be back before sailing!! LOL
I will add to wildcat03's comment.....many times, the ship is docked in an industrial area and, as such, may not be conducive to exploring the area. I have never left the ship alone at dusk/night unless the security individual has assured me the surrounding area is okay for a walk. Hope this helps.
We have been on the Blue Danube, Savoring France, Rendezvous on the Siene, and the Rhine and Moselle. My wife would run alone most mornings and I would walk around the area when we were docked and we never felt unsafe. At most docking sites there are usually multiple ships. Depending on the cruise your time spent docked is variable. On the Blue Danube with the exception of Vienna, most docking location were very close to the c\ity centers. On the Savoring France all were adjacent to the city centers. Same with the Siene with the exception of La Havre which is commercial /industrial area and adjacent to the sea cruise port and a marina (which you can use as a 1.25 mile loop for a run. ) The Rhine tends to be the most industrial of the rivers. Nijmegen, Basel, Kolbenz, Amsterdam, and the Moselle docking areas were great. Karlshude was industrial but clean. We did not spend very much time docked on the Rhine ports during the Rhine Moselle cruise. We did spend two days tied up at Bernkastel and even went into town for dinner. Take time to get of the ship when docked in the morning or evening. Several time we were able to take bikes and ride along the river between the morning tour and the evening events/dinner/sailing.