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Arrival, Departure, and All-Aboard Time

A port call has several time references that describe different events. ETA (estimated time of arrival) is the estimated arrival time, while ETD (estimated time of departure) is the estimated departure time. The port stay is the scheduled time in between. “All aboard” means the latest return time set by the ship for its guests. It is not the same as the departure time.

Distinguishing scheduled times from onboard time

ETA and ETD are planning estimates for the port call and may change during the voyage. The all-aboard time, by contrast, is a separate deadline for guests. Royal Caribbean explains that at port calls it is usually about 30 minutes before departure; the specific time is announced onboard and posted near the gangway. This 30-minute interval is information provided by that cruise line and is not a universal rule for all cruises.

For planning your day, therefore, read three points separately: the scheduled arrival, the scheduled departure, and the specific return deadline. An extended port stay or a later ETD does not automatically move the all-aboard time. The current onboard notice for the relevant port call is what matters.

Understanding times in the itinerary

Port information and onboard documents may use different time zones. The time and return deadline shown in the ship’s current daily information are the ones to follow. If you are unsure which time zone is being used, ask onboard before going ashore. Information in an older excursion description may refer to a different departure or an earlier version of the schedule. An arrival time at a port listed on an external website is not automatically your personal return time to the ship.

The port stay cannot be treated entirely as free time ashore: the time to disembark, the return journey to the port, and reboarding all take place within the stay. If you go ashore independently, allow a time buffer in your plans. Royal Caribbean explicitly notes that guests exploring the port on their own must be back onboard in good time before departure, and that the ship will not wait for them.

When going ashore independently, the onboard deadline matters

An independently booked tour is not automatically coordinated with the ship’s schedule. The tour’s confirmed times apply in addition to the onboard return deadline; what matters is that guests return to the ship in good time. A shore excursion organized by the cruise operator may have separate terms, as set out in the specific booking.

The key distinction is simple: ETA describes the scheduled arrival, ETD the planned departure, and “all aboard” the previously announced deadline for guests to return. When going ashore, this onboard time is what matters—not ETA or ETD alone.

Photo: Alesia Belaya