How do you stand mulitiple days at sea on your cruise?

[librarygal]

Generally I love to go on cruises but hate certain aspects of the experience. (Which I have discussed in some of my earlier posts)

 

One thing I hate is the days at sea. I don't understand the appeal, especially multiple days at sea if the weather is cold.

 

Cruise brochures are full of cruises that spend the majority of their time at sea with no shore excursions- or land to look at for days at a time, moving across cold places where it would be too chilly to enjoy the deck or the walking path on top of the ship.

 

Generally I feel disorientated and bored on the days at sea and pick cruises that have as few days at sea as possible.

 

How do you stand multiple days at sea on your cruise?

[Keith1010]

Like many seasoned cursers we love sea days and enjoy taking advantage of all that the ship offers from enrichment to entertainment.

 

Keith

[trish1c]

Some people love sea days. I don't get the appeal either.

I have found that if I have to endure them, I'd rather have them at the begining. That way I enjoy with gusto my 1st night aboard but then can spend the next day recouperating from the adrenaline rush of anticipation & traveling. When they come at the end I'm just bored & restless.

If you pick a vessel with a lot of on board sports -- rock walls, skating. flow riders etc. it eases the boredom a bit. Ice carving demonstrations & bingo just don't do it for me.

We do sail from NYC more than anything & that has 4 sea days, which are a necessary evil. Again, the 1st two aren't bad. On the cold one we usually sleep in, go the M&G then I find a comfy chair near a window & read book. By the 2nd day I can go outside & I'm still in unwind mood. Coming home is a different story; midway through the 2nd to last day I'm restless & the last day when it's cold I'm cranky & just want to get off the ship. When very desperate I have resorted to playing in the casino which can be an expensive way to pass the time.

If you really hate sea days, just try to pick a cruise that has plenty of on board activities & the fewest #

[paul929207]

We go on longer cruises, most 30 days or longer. These tend to have multiple sea days. However, there are always many activities scheduled. We often have to choose between two things we would like to do that are scheduled at the same time.

[navybankerteacher]

One of the things about cruising is that you have to be on an ocean - if you want to go to distant places, you will have to be on the ocean for several days. Maybe a land resort is better for you if you do not like oceans.

[Krazy Kruizers]

Tre is so many activities to do on sea days.

 

And we are also avid readers.

[susie8862]

Our favorite part of a cruise are the sea days..:)

Sometimes we do not even get off the ship...(especially if we are anywhere in the Bahamas)...:o

[Suzieanna]

I have a very late night, and then have a lovely lie in! A nice slow breakfast, read for an hour and then sit on my balcony and play "nature watch" I have seen countless dolphins, even a whale once which was dead exciting! Maybe have a little siesta and late afternoon get out the cards and have a friendly poker game. I might attend a dance lesson if there is one happening, but it depends. I can already dance and these little sessions are more for total beginners.

 

I quite like the whole relaxing thing, so long as it is only a day or two!! but it is the main thing that puts me off doing a Transatlantic crossing if I am honest.

[cb at sea]

I have no desire to be on a ship while wearing a coat....so I won't cruise to "cold weather" destinations!

 

Hubby, too, hates sea days....he likes to be DOING something, like golf, or exploring! I, on the other hand, can sit by the pool, reading, for days!

[calliopecruiser]

I do more than tolerate sea days, I enjoy them.......my upcoming 10 day cruise has 8 sea days ;) What caught my attention is you said you feel "disoriented" and that's probably the most important reason why you won't enjoy them, no matter how many activities you have to do. That spacey feeling of being in the middle of nowhere is one of the things I love - I find it very relaxing on a deep level; I love being able to walk around or look up from whatever I'm doing and see endless ocean out the window or across the railing.

 

That being said, I've never done a cruise with this many sea days, especially in a row, so I'll see how I feel at the end of it. I think I'll like it, though.

[FawnRiver]

I always loose track of days on cruise, regardless of whether we're in port or not :p. We love sea days, sometimes we'll go out for the ship's activities or just sit on our balcony and read. Of course, I'm also a spa junkie, so I save some cash to spend in the ship's spa which is a very nice way to spend a morning (or two :D). On our last cruise, we did the ship's tour which took about four hours on a sea day and was great.

[BillB48]

Ports, a good cruise spoiled;)! Polar opposite here, enjoy sea days and tend to avoid cruises that are port intensive. Guess it is good we don't all like the same stuff:D.

[lisiamc]

I love having nothing to do and all day to do it. And it's astonishing how much time it takes to do not very much. By the time we've had breakfast, gone to a lecture, worked out in the gym, had lunch, played trivia, walked some laps around the deck, had tea, gone for a cocktail, had dinner and seen the show, we're exhausted and need a rest! :D

[Carolin]

I love sea days. I get to party late the night before and sleep in. Have a slow breakfast. Hang out on my balcony and watch for flying fish and other beasties. Play trivia, putt-putt, go on the slide....

[bluehenfan]

Even before illness slowed me down, I loved sea days. I'd been to most of the ports in the caribbean so I seldom would get off ship. Now I take the money I would spend on excursions and treat myself to a cabin with a premium balcony. I know I can sleep as late as I want and never have to worry about chair hogs - my lounge chairs will be waiting on my balcony. A cold drink, a good book and my binoculars and I'm good for the day.

[chipq]

I love having nothing to do and all day to do it. And it's astonishing how much time it takes to do not very much. By the time we've had breakfast, gone to a lecture, worked out in the gym, had lunch, played trivia, walked some laps around the deck, had tea, gone for a cocktail, had dinner and seen the show, we're exhausted and need a rest! :D

 

That's the truth! I love sea days. Late breakfast, hanging out by the pool enjoying a couple adult beverages, snack on lunch whenever I feel hungry then snooze more by the pool. Strange how it is more tiring to relax that to explore the ports. I will gladly trade a few ports for more sea days.

 

 

http://luv2cruise.blogspot.com

[paul929207]

To me, I am not on vacation until I reach the point where I do not know the date or the day of the week and I don't care.

[spunkyhungry]

I don't love or hate sea days. I don't really look forward to them, but they're ok. I've never cruised to a cold destination, so it's always really hot, and I spend the day by the pool.

[Mary Ellen]

Ports, a good cruise spoiled;)! Polar opposite here, enjoy sea days and tend to avoid cruises that are port intensive. Guess it is good we don't all like the same stuff:D.

Excellent response. I would never dream of starting a thread being critical of other peoples choices or asking that they explain themselves. I also don't get why some feel the need to defend their choices to others. Unless the other party is paying for the cruise, it is none of their business.

 

To each their own.

[swsfrail]

How do you stand multiple days at sea on your cruise?

 

Some people have evolved to the point that they don't need constant stimulation to enjoy themselves. I sleep in late, have a relaxing breakfast, read a book (some people still know what those are), stroll around the ship for fresh air and exercise, and generally take it easy. If I want to be entertained, there is always plenty to do. Sea days are a perfect cure to recover from busy shore days.

 

Sea days are appreciated by this veteran cruiser.

[weltek]

As the person above me said, I look at them as an opportunity to store up energy or recover from busy port days. I love the first sea day, as it's a chance to unwind, read a book, people watch, have cocktails served to me, munch on snacks, stare at the ocean, talk a walk, work out in the gym, maybe have a spa treatment, maybe participate in an organized activity, throw away $20 at the casino if I feel like it, take a nap..all with no set schedule. The next day, I'm ready to have a great port day, full of physical activity and mental stimulation.

[indigosails]

I too love the sea days. I love the feeling of having nothing but time on my hands. Sleep in, catch a movie in the afternoon, play some bridge, walk endless circles around the promenade deck, read a book, take in a lecture, it's all good.

[tak81288]

I'm not a fan of sea days, but don't mind having one at the beginning of the cruise and the end. I look for the most port intensive itineraries possible and if there are multiple sea days, I look for ones that are spread out and not bunched together. There are some itineraries that I would absolutely love doing, but the thought of having several sea days in a row is making me hesitate to get there by cruise ship.

 

However, I can tolerate a sea day. I love reading so bring several books along with me. I also love doing puzzles, so bring a large supply of crosswords, word searches, brain teasers...etc...I take advantage of as many ship activities as possible and read or do puzzles during down times to get through the day.

[Heidils]

First door sign...room service...second, do not disturb, then some sun and cocktail or two, lunch, back to do not disturb, Neutrogena, and big bunch of leave us alone. ;) Maybe we'll see you for dinner with a big smile.

[Treven]

Count me in with the love sea days group. Many times I've forgotten the day of the week like Paul, and not care. Unfortunately I've never "forgotten" to get off the ship at the end of a cruise.:o