What to do in early morning hours (2-5 AM)?

What are some of the things that people can do (outside of their room) during early morning hours, say from about 2 to 5 AM, when all entertainment on the ship is done for the day, and you are just sailing at sea, not at your next port yet? Even the restaurants are closed (except for the international cafe)

On my last cruise, I was so sleep-deprived, with all the time change going from NA to Europe, I was never able to stay past 1 to see what goes on the ship after 1 AM.

Are the swimming pools open? What other amenities or services are open 24 hours? I read that some people wake early in the morning to catch the sunset, which I thought would be amazing to catch.

I read that some people wake early in the morning to catch the sunset, which I thought would be amazing to catch.

You must be sleep deprived-the sun rises in the morning. :D

As for late night on board, I think most people sleep.

I checked a patter from my last cruise-a sea day. Apparently, the casino slots were open "onwards" after midnight, the wheelhouse bar too. On the cruise they also had the explorer's lounge open for late night entertainment, but, the standing joke was than they only about 6 people ever show up....

We did get up early-sometimes around 6 am and we did catch a few sun rises.

On the Panama Canal sail trough day we were up by 4:30 and we did not see much going on until after 5-but there were people up because by the time we got to the buffet a few minutes after 5, there were people already eating breakfast.

But really, I think between 2-5 there is not a whole lot going on for the passengers.

What are some of the things that people can do (outside of their room) during early morning hours, say from about 2 to 5 AM,

Use the internet. Especially closer to five.

I frequently get up very early.

There is nothing going on. Closer to five, there will be people cleaning

the open decks and pool.

There will be one person working at the purser's desk, and if the ship has

an international cafe, that will be open. That's really it.

Sometimes there is a beautiful sail in that starts before 5am. I remember getting up at about 4 to see the sights as we sailed thru the archepeligo as we approached Stockholm.

No pools at that time of the morning.

Ping Pong, Shuffleboard, Disco, Casino, Internet, TV, and Reading are all I can think of. Princess ships are extremely quiet at that time. We played Ping Pong at 12:30 AM one night, and the only people we saw were crew members cleaning a pax sleeping on a lounge chair. Another night, we went to the Disco until 2:00 AM and only passed teenagers and crew members on our way back to our stateroom.

Ping Pong, Shuffleboard, Disco, Casino, Internet, TV, and Reading are all I can think of. Princess ships are extremely quiet at that time. We played Ping Pong at 12:30 AM one night, and the only people we saw were crew members cleaning a pax sleeping on a lounge chair. Another night, we went to the Disco until 2:00 AM and only passed teenagers and crew members on our way back to our stateroom.

So If you fall asleep in a lounge chair, the crew will clean you as well as the deck?

Hi All

The night club is open late, casino stays open late,

crew often about, some times get bridge officers

looking for coffee, food etc, often happy to chat away to passengers

ship is not quite, maintenance being carried out, end less cleaning,

even seen maitre d doing paper work, at 3.00m

always a few foolks around international cafe chatting or internetting

yours Shogun

The best thing to do is to get your body acclimated to the time change. Don't take a nap on the day you arrive. Try to tough it out until after dinner. Take a tour or do something interesting or active. If needed, take something natural such as melatonin to help you get to sleep.

The vast majority of passengers will have acclimated themselves if they have flown in from North America so you won't find many people around in the middle of the night other than the cleaning crew.

You will probably see many passengers heading for the pool area to put books and towels on the lounge chairs before they go back to bed ! :confused:

We usually go to International Cafe to get more food:D

Sit on the balcony and enjoy the sound of the water and the beautiful sky full of stars....definitely don't get this at home.

Ping Pong, Shuffleboard, Disco, Casino, Internet, TV, and Reading are all I can think of. Princess ships are extremely quiet at that time. We played Ping Pong at 12:30 AM one night, and the only people we saw were crew members cleaning a pax sleeping on a lounge chair. Another night, we went to the Disco until 2:00 AM and only passed teenagers and crew members on our way back to our stateroom.

That is real service........cleaning a passenger!

You will probably see many passengers heading for the pool area to put books and towels on the lounge chairs before they go back to bed ! :confused:

HA HA, that's a good one!

I too am an early riser and if the ship has an International Cafe - I love to air in their comfy Chris and read on my iPad ! I always get a coffee card and they have yummy bran muffins to go with! My husband always knows where to find me when he wakes up!

I had to laugh to myself when I read this. On my last TA in Nov on the Grand there was a group of us having trouble sleeping and we were on board the night of the election too. We met up on deck and usually around 5am the crew would put coffee out. We had the best time and what a wonderful group we had.

I was disappointed on the Sapphire a couple of weeks ago, no coffee on the deck :(

Mario, the MD on the Grand, will be on my upcoming CB TA so I'm hoping we have coffee in the early am. He was always up there with us having his coffee.

You might be surprised how short the line is at that time at the Internet Cafe and how fast the Internet is.

QUOTE=ashoor;37869261] I was never able to stay past 1 to see what goes on the ship after 1 AM.

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Most of the rest of us are tired by 1 AM as well! :D

The only thing we're probably missing :rolleyes: is feeling VERY tired the next day!

LuLu

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At least once or twice during a trip I can't sleep and am wide awake around 3 am....

I love walking the lido decks - around 5 the deck crew come out and start putting the chairs out, but prior crew are out washing down the deck. Once the sun starts to rise great picture taking time.

I wander around the ship - usually find a quiet corner and curl up and read.

International cafe is usually open and I grab a tea and chat with the bar staff. I am always surprised at how many people get up early and start their day. It is very enjoyable to be up early and chat with people before it gets crazy.

Vickie

Sleep? I have no idea....

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You will probably see many passengers heading for the pool area to put books and towels on the lounge chairs before they go back to bed ! :confused:

Ohh, here's an idea for the OP: go out on the deck, sit down in a deck chair and wait for the chair hoggs to come by. When someone puts down a book or towel and is about to leave, say out loud, "I wouldn't do that if I was you." If they say why, tell them that any paperback books that are left abandon are donated to the library and any towels will be brought to the passenger services desk to be turned in to housekeeping. If they don't believe you, wait until they leave and gather up the stuff. The items won't be there when they get back.:D:D:D

There's usually a community jigsaw puzzle.

What to do between 2 and 5 AM? That is usually the time that I am going to bed :p Indeed late at night all that are out are the cleaning crews so it is real quiet. No pools are open of course. The deck chairs on the Lido deck are put up so they can clean the deck. Skywalker lounge goes late with the DJ spinning records until the wee hours. IC is open for late night/early morning snacks of course.

Watching the chair hogs show up and putting their books and towels on the chairs to "save" them and going back to bed is fun I suppose. However removing them after they leave or even better moving them around to say the other side of the pool, etc., might also be entertaining. When they come back they will wonder why they made that "mistake".

Good time to identify star formations, check the phase of the moon and then go back to bed.

Sometimes there is a beautiful sail in that starts before 5am. I remember getting up at about 4 to see the sights as we sailed thru the archepeligo as we approached Stockholm.

Isn't it beautiful? And, we were on the bridge for the sail-a-way from Stockholm. A "bucket list" 28 miles. :)