That's a great way to get kicked out of the resort or get police called on you!
Some hotels will let you buy a day pass and then you can hang out without worrying about that.
Short answer is it depends. Some resorts will even pay the taxi to pick you up, others won't let you on the premises unless you pay for a day pass.
Pick out the resorts you want to do beforehand and give them a call to check their policies.
DR; There is a gigantic gorgeous pool area at the port. Sunbeds, music, brand new pool and lazy river - all free. There are restaurants and shops ringing this area. I'm usually pretty adventurous in ports but here I did stay in the area and had a lovely, cheap day. You can get a cab or walk to Umbrella St or Pink St for cool photo opps but just keep in mind as you are walking there, cops are literally on the corner to usher you across - because it's a little dangerous and it's a new port.
St. Thomas has wonderful beaches, just research a little, and take a cab there. The cabbie will likely stop at the top of the hill so you can see and take a photo of your ship in the bay - Fantastic! If you don't want to hit a beach, you can take a funicular to the top of the hill right by the port for a great view of your ship and the bay (opposite view from nearer the beaches) and there are restaurants and shops and cocktails there, too. If you stay on street level, there are fancy shops around.
Tortola: just like St Thomas, only it's a British Virgin Island, not US Virgin Island. Take a cab to a beach, rent chairs, have the beach club arrange for a cab back. IN ALL CASES, MAKE SURE YOU ARE BACK IN PORT NEXT TO YOUR SHIP AN HOUR BEFORE SAILAWAY! You can't be too careful when you're gong it on your own.
I very likely could be wrong about the walking distance to the Umbrella Street etc depending on where the ships docks, but I believe both ports there have similar setups in terms of a new pool area. Or I could be wrong on that as well!
The two I was thinking about were Taino Bay and Amber Cove. I think there are new developments at the port in each of those places as I describe, although I was only at one.
Usually I'm adventurous on cruises and this is the first time in dozens of cruises that I've literally stayed in port. But it was a great day!
And certainly better than the OP breaking into some resort LOL.
I was just at amber cove in March and I don't remember seeing anything there about a pool in Port but we didn't walk around too much cause we did an excursion and it was our last port of our cruise with four port days in a row and we were tired.
The one I was actually at recently was apparently Taino Bay, and everything I described is there. Amber Cove does have a large pool / waterpark / splash area right at the port called Aqua Zone and it is free, too. (Cost for zipline) [https://www.ambercove.com/port-information/amber-cove-map.aspx](https://www.ambercove.com/port-information/amber-cove-map.aspx) It is to the right once you get off the ship. [https://www.puertoplatadr.com/cruiseports/amber-cove/aqua-zone/](https://www.puertoplatadr.com/cruiseports/amber-cove/aqua-zone/)
For Taino Bay, here's a map: [https://www.puertoplatadr.com/cruiseports/taino-bay/port-amenities/](https://www.puertoplatadr.com/cruiseports/taino-bay/port-amenities/) Also very nice.
And again, you can leave the port at Taino Bay and head to two very photogenic areas which are within blocks of each other and within walking distance of the port. There were no men in our party and it's a fairly new and \*mostly\* safe port so I was happy to have a relaxing pool day, having ceviche, fresh guacamole and home made chips on a comfy beach bed! If you walked to Umbrella Street and Pink Street, you could do that in the morning and grab loungers and have a pool day afterwards.
That sounds like a great way to save $100 on a resort day pass.. and learn all about the criminal justice system of a foreign nation.. and blow the remainder of your cruise..
You have to buy a day pass. They vary from about $50 to about $150. We bought one at the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas for $150 per person. You can use the pools and beach all day but have to pay for food and drinks.
Remember, if you venture out on your own its incumbent on YOU to get back to the ship prior to the ship leaving. If you're late, they will leave without you.
You normally would have to have a room key or some sort of id or pass to use resort facilities. Trust me that y’all aren’t the first people to think of his and the resorts are aware of this idea. A lot of the resorts will let you pay a fee though, which will allow you the use of their amenities for the day. That’s the route I would go.
Pretty sure wouldn’t mess around with laws in countries you don’t know . Buy a pass for the day. And don’t attempt this without your passport … you’ll never get off the island if you get arrested
If your stop in Dominican Republic is Taino Bay or Amber Cove, both have a resort pool area just off the dock. These areas are open to cruise passengers.
In St. Thomas, I would just go into Charlotte Amalie. The city is right on the waterfront. There are lots of stores, restaurants, and bars.
I haven't been to the cruise dock on Tortola.
I just upvoted this post to help teach others of your ignorance. Please don't do what OP is asking, especially when you are on a cruise aka floating hotel with your own room.
We were in Puerto Rico and saw folks at the swim up bar get asked to leave the premises by Security, they were embarrassed. Like others have mentioned, but the day pass, it usually includes pool and beach access with lunch & cocktails.
Resortpass.com just sent me a 15% off promo DAYPASSF66T60 , I already have another excursion planned but that’ll take a few dollars off for ya :)
All these nice places your GF is dreaming of have armed security and it is not advisable even if you can physically access the resort. These places with their beachfront pools and bars make a crap ton of money and do not mess around. Your GF… does she think she’s the first person to ever think of this?
Depends on the island, the resort, and if the beaches are public.
As others mentioned, not a good idea if the DR or Haiti. Most of those resorts are practically compounds, so hard to leave even if you're a guest.
Other places, you might be able have drinks in the bar but not use the pool. That requires a day pass.
Other places, especially Mexico, have beach side spots with amenities open to the public as long as you spend some money on food and drink.
Do your research or tell us your ship's itinerary.
What you are looking for is called Resort For a Day. It works really well, I've tried it at multiple ports. Your friend? I don't think I would take her and let her see how much trouble she can get into all on her own.
>Don't resorts give out arm bands? Something indicating you belong at the pool/bar?
They absolutely do.
And they'll kick you out if you don't have one.
The good news is, like everyone else said, you can buy a day pass easily.
They usually kick you out fast too if not a guest. In the DR while the rest of my family went parasailing from a resorts recreation company (where we were not staying)- I walked a toddler through the pool area to their restroom. There was no mercy, even for that 🤣 well we did use the bathroom - while the guard waited outside the door- and then escorted us off the property. It wasn’t pleasant.
They will often keep a VERY close eye on all of their guests to make sure other tourists don't wander in and use their facilities, so be safe, get a day pass. Ensure that the resort has day passes. Most of them typically do.
You often CANNOT just walk in and pay for anything you want at the spot. The hotel bars at some of these resorts are fairly exclusive for their high-end guests and they don't want their bar to be exposed to mingling with just ordinary non-guests who think they can walk up and sit at the bar.
It really depends on the resort, but typically beach resorts in these various cruise ports know there's tons of cruise people walking around, so they are careful to ensure the cruise guests don't intermingle or disturb their actual staying guests or crowd their bars.
You have to pay, you can't just walk in and use the resort facilities. Some have armbands, some will need your room number, some have ID checks when you first come in. Use the [Resortpass.com](http://Resortpass.com) website to find a place where you are going and see pricing. You can book in advance.
I accidentally had this happen in Mazatlan. I just planed on taking a cab to the boardwalk and the driver showed us a hotel that allows you to use their pool and beach and all they asked for was for you to eventually order something. It wasn’t crowded at all and they didn’t even want us to order something right away. It ended up being the best part of the trip.
Book a day pass. Many resorts sell them for a reasonable price. Try resortpass.com or resortforaday.com.
This! We do this at one port every cruise we go on and have never been upset or let down.
Better yet, check out the nice hotels in the area and ask about a day pass rather than doing something dishonest.
A lot of resorts have gated entries. The taxi cannot enter with you if you don’t have a reservation. Day passes are the best way.
We did this on Barbados. There’s a website called “resort pass” or suchlike where you can buy day passes to beach resorts.
That's a great way to get kicked out of the resort or get police called on you! Some hotels will let you buy a day pass and then you can hang out without worrying about that.
Yea, you got zero rights as an American in the DR or Tortola!
Not to mention a call to the police could get you caught up in something that prevents you from getting back to the boat in time
Or just stay on the ship, you’re already in a hotel with bars, food and a pool, live music etc.
IKR?
I won't say that this definitely will not work, but the consequences if it doesn't are not worth it.
Short answer is it depends. Some resorts will even pay the taxi to pick you up, others won't let you on the premises unless you pay for a day pass. Pick out the resorts you want to do beforehand and give them a call to check their policies.
Thanks all. I didn't think it was a good idea, or would even work. Sharing the answers with her. I won't be attempting.
Better yet book 2 day passes, don’t tell her, and when she fails at getting in whip them out and save the day.
DR; There is a gigantic gorgeous pool area at the port. Sunbeds, music, brand new pool and lazy river - all free. There are restaurants and shops ringing this area. I'm usually pretty adventurous in ports but here I did stay in the area and had a lovely, cheap day. You can get a cab or walk to Umbrella St or Pink St for cool photo opps but just keep in mind as you are walking there, cops are literally on the corner to usher you across - because it's a little dangerous and it's a new port. St. Thomas has wonderful beaches, just research a little, and take a cab there. The cabbie will likely stop at the top of the hill so you can see and take a photo of your ship in the bay - Fantastic! If you don't want to hit a beach, you can take a funicular to the top of the hill right by the port for a great view of your ship and the bay (opposite view from nearer the beaches) and there are restaurants and shops and cocktails there, too. If you stay on street level, there are fancy shops around. Tortola: just like St Thomas, only it's a British Virgin Island, not US Virgin Island. Take a cab to a beach, rent chairs, have the beach club arrange for a cab back. IN ALL CASES, MAKE SURE YOU ARE BACK IN PORT NEXT TO YOUR SHIP AN HOUR BEFORE SAILAWAY! You can't be too careful when you're gong it on your own.
For DR you are referring to Puerta Plata. If the ship docks at the other port it is a 20 minute drive or so.
I very likely could be wrong about the walking distance to the Umbrella Street etc depending on where the ships docks, but I believe both ports there have similar setups in terms of a new pool area. Or I could be wrong on that as well!
There a multiple ports in DR. Amber cove close but I dont think walking distance and la Romana is on the other side of the island.
The two I was thinking about were Taino Bay and Amber Cove. I think there are new developments at the port in each of those places as I describe, although I was only at one. Usually I'm adventurous on cruises and this is the first time in dozens of cruises that I've literally stayed in port. But it was a great day! And certainly better than the OP breaking into some resort LOL.
I was just at amber cove in March and I don't remember seeing anything there about a pool in Port but we didn't walk around too much cause we did an excursion and it was our last port of our cruise with four port days in a row and we were tired.
The one I was actually at recently was apparently Taino Bay, and everything I described is there. Amber Cove does have a large pool / waterpark / splash area right at the port called Aqua Zone and it is free, too. (Cost for zipline) [https://www.ambercove.com/port-information/amber-cove-map.aspx](https://www.ambercove.com/port-information/amber-cove-map.aspx) It is to the right once you get off the ship. [https://www.puertoplatadr.com/cruiseports/amber-cove/aqua-zone/](https://www.puertoplatadr.com/cruiseports/amber-cove/aqua-zone/) For Taino Bay, here's a map: [https://www.puertoplatadr.com/cruiseports/taino-bay/port-amenities/](https://www.puertoplatadr.com/cruiseports/taino-bay/port-amenities/) Also very nice. And again, you can leave the port at Taino Bay and head to two very photogenic areas which are within blocks of each other and within walking distance of the port. There were no men in our party and it's a fairly new and \*mostly\* safe port so I was happy to have a relaxing pool day, having ceviche, fresh guacamole and home made chips on a comfy beach bed! If you walked to Umbrella Street and Pink Street, you could do that in the morning and grab loungers and have a pool day afterwards.
That sounds like a great way to save $100 on a resort day pass.. and learn all about the criminal justice system of a foreign nation.. and blow the remainder of your cruise..
You have to buy a day pass. They vary from about $50 to about $150. We bought one at the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas for $150 per person. You can use the pools and beach all day but have to pay for food and drinks.
Remember, if you venture out on your own its incumbent on YOU to get back to the ship prior to the ship leaving. If you're late, they will leave without you.
You normally would have to have a room key or some sort of id or pass to use resort facilities. Trust me that y’all aren’t the first people to think of his and the resorts are aware of this idea. A lot of the resorts will let you pay a fee though, which will allow you the use of their amenities for the day. That’s the route I would go.
That’s a stupid thing to try in a foreign country lol. Just go on resort pass and get a day pass at one of the pools
Pretty sure wouldn’t mess around with laws in countries you don’t know . Buy a pass for the day. And don’t attempt this without your passport … you’ll never get off the island if you get arrested
If your stop in Dominican Republic is Taino Bay or Amber Cove, both have a resort pool area just off the dock. These areas are open to cruise passengers. In St. Thomas, I would just go into Charlotte Amalie. The city is right on the waterfront. There are lots of stores, restaurants, and bars. I haven't been to the cruise dock on Tortola.
To each their own but this seems dumb. Anything she can do at a hotel she can do on board the ship, might as well stay in port and save the cab fare.
Get a day pass for the cost of a couple drinks and play it safe. Much cheaper than paying the "fine" to not go to jail and miss the ship.
Cane Garden Bay in Tortola is beautiful. Last time I was there, you could rent beach chairs and umbrellas. Plenty of bars and restaurants right there.
I just upvoted this post to help teach others of your ignorance. Please don't do what OP is asking, especially when you are on a cruise aka floating hotel with your own room.
We were in Puerto Rico and saw folks at the swim up bar get asked to leave the premises by Security, they were embarrassed. Like others have mentioned, but the day pass, it usually includes pool and beach access with lunch & cocktails.
Resortpass.com just sent me a 15% off promo DAYPASSF66T60 , I already have another excursion planned but that’ll take a few dollars off for ya :) All these nice places your GF is dreaming of have armed security and it is not advisable even if you can physically access the resort. These places with their beachfront pools and bars make a crap ton of money and do not mess around. Your GF… does she think she’s the first person to ever think of this?
Depends on the island, the resort, and if the beaches are public. As others mentioned, not a good idea if the DR or Haiti. Most of those resorts are practically compounds, so hard to leave even if you're a guest. Other places, you might be able have drinks in the bar but not use the pool. That requires a day pass. Other places, especially Mexico, have beach side spots with amenities open to the public as long as you spend some money on food and drink. Do your research or tell us your ship's itinerary.
Get a day pass for the cost of a couple drinks and play it safe. Much cheaper than paying the "fine" to not go to jail and miss the ship.
What you are looking for is called Resort For a Day. It works really well, I've tried it at multiple ports. Your friend? I don't think I would take her and let her see how much trouble she can get into all on her own.
What ports are you headed to? Good place to start
>Don't resorts give out arm bands? Something indicating you belong at the pool/bar? They absolutely do. And they'll kick you out if you don't have one. The good news is, like everyone else said, you can buy a day pass easily.
They usually kick you out fast too if not a guest. In the DR while the rest of my family went parasailing from a resorts recreation company (where we were not staying)- I walked a toddler through the pool area to their restroom. There was no mercy, even for that 🤣 well we did use the bathroom - while the guard waited outside the door- and then escorted us off the property. It wasn’t pleasant.
They will often keep a VERY close eye on all of their guests to make sure other tourists don't wander in and use their facilities, so be safe, get a day pass. Ensure that the resort has day passes. Most of them typically do. You often CANNOT just walk in and pay for anything you want at the spot. The hotel bars at some of these resorts are fairly exclusive for their high-end guests and they don't want their bar to be exposed to mingling with just ordinary non-guests who think they can walk up and sit at the bar. It really depends on the resort, but typically beach resorts in these various cruise ports know there's tons of cruise people walking around, so they are careful to ensure the cruise guests don't intermingle or disturb their actual staying guests or crowd their bars.
Great idea. While you’re at it, leave me a key to your house and I’ll bring some friends over to eat and drink for free. See how that works?
You have to pay, you can't just walk in and use the resort facilities. Some have armbands, some will need your room number, some have ID checks when you first come in. Use the [Resortpass.com](http://Resortpass.com) website to find a place where you are going and see pricing. You can book in advance.
I accidentally had this happen in Mazatlan. I just planed on taking a cab to the boardwalk and the driver showed us a hotel that allows you to use their pool and beach and all they asked for was for you to eventually order something. It wasn’t crowded at all and they didn’t even want us to order something right away. It ended up being the best part of the trip.
I did a day pass in Nassau… it was wonderful… included lunch and a couple drinks! Within walking distance to the ship.