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

[PowerMalc]

[quote name='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[/QUOTE]

I would need several sea days to recover from all that activity:D

In 1998 I had just sold my small business and our first holiday for 5 years.
22 days on the Oriana from Southampton to the Caribbean and back.
Although I did not know when we started I found the 6 or 7 consecutive sea days between Ponta Delgada/Madeira and the Caribbean really relaxing.
I lost sense of time and enabled me to unwind and thinking about not thinking about anything:)
Each day blended into the next and did not know or mind what day it was.
I also won a lot of money on the daily 'distance covered' competition.;)

[bjbear]

[quote name='Suite-Life']If you don't like sea days, then do not book a cruise that has them. The literary is not a secret. There are cruises that do not have sea days (just look for them).

We love to relax and hear the ocean... it's kinda like those that go to the beach to hear the ocean. We also read and sometimes do other activities such as go to the sauna, swimming or relax in the hot tub. We also bring binoculars and look for sea life.[/QUOTE]

I totally agree, when I take a land vacation, I go to the beach I stay as close to the ocean as I can get just to hear it! :) Same with cruising, for me the sea, watching it go by, etc. is the main draw. Yes, I enjoy port days but would never book a cruise with only port days. As Suite-Life said, to each his own, if you don't like sea days, don't book them. I've found it's a very personal decision, no two people are the same! :D

[Bookish Angel]

Books!

[mr green]

[quote name='librarygal']

How do you[B] stand[/B] multiple days at sea on your cruise?[/quote]

Easy. Play Bridge!:)

john

[paul929207]

[quote name='mr green']Easy. Play Bridge!:)

john[/QUOTE]
Yes, the afternoon bridge games on sea days are great

[Tyler80]

I love sea days because I don't have to get up and go anywhere!

[lcmslady]

I've been a little apprehensive about an upcoming PC transit that includes 8 sea days (5 in a row).

My cruises have always been a little more port intensive and I was a little worried about finding things to do.

I think I'll be ok.....I'm a little more worried about my travel partner, who doesn't sit well......

By the end of this cruise, I'll either be a sea day lover or hater ;)

[Angelsea57]

[quote name='librarygal']Generally I [B]love[/B] to go on cruises but [B]hate[/B] 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[B] stand[/B] multiple days at sea on your cruise?[/QUOTE]
I'm the same way. The most sea days we've had is 3 days, just this past December.
I thought I was going to go nuts. But I found out that if you go to bed late and get up late, it helps, the time goes faster. Another thing that we noticed was that we ate more at sea days. (not good) We tried to stay as busy as possible with the day to day activities, demonstrations, gym and shows.
Don't think we will be booking any more than 2 sea days any time soon.

[blackpool belle]

I don't do flying...period.

I have done a 7 night Transatlantic. Travelled around the US for 14 days then done a 7 night Transatlantic home. I wondered whatever I would do to fill the time as I do like port intensive cruises as a rule but this was a means to an end. But as a previous op has said there are times when things clash. Because one is at sea 7 days non-stop there is such a lot of choice of activities.

[Davechipp74]

[quote name='librarygal']

How do you[B] stand[/B] multiple days at sea on your cruise?[/quote]

my last cruise had about 10 sea days, it was wonderful, i got to catch up on some drinking and plenty of reading
:)

[calliopecruiser]

Belle, who were you cruising with there and back? I've found most transatlantic directions are seasonal for all but Cunard (not counting freighters).

[mr green]

On Coral Princess on a full Panama Canal Cruise, our 50+++ Cruise Critics had a ''meeting' on each sea day.
Princess held a great party ior us on our last sea day!!!!:)

john

[DonnaK]

There's nothing to "stand" for us - we LOVE sea days.

Sleep late, sit at the adult pool or on our balcony with a good book, participate in some of the activities, unwind and relax!

[blackpool belle]

[quote name='calliopecruiser']Belle, who were you cruising with there and back? I've found most transatlantic directions are seasonal for all but Cunard (not counting freighters).[/quote]


It was on the QM2. We sailed from Southampton, arrived in NY 7 days later then had to wait 14 days for the ship to go back to Southampton then turn around again to sail to NY.

[mousey]

[quote name='Keith1010']Like many seasoned cursers we love sea days and enjoy taking advantage of all that the ship offers from enrichment to entertainment.

Keith[/QUOTE]

So do we. There is always plenty for us to do and sometimes we just like to sit out on the deck (even in Alaska we did this...with some hot chocolate and a cozy blanket) and just watch the world go by.:D

When we first started cruising we always wanted to be in a different port everyday until one time we booked a cruise that had two sea days (because of price and going somewhere new) and we loved them. There's afternoon teas, the spa, the gym, the pool if its warm, movies, wine and martini tastings, reading a good book, playing games or cards, taking a walk on deck and breathing in the fresh air, or just sitting together and being at peace with the world.

[swimmongotta]

My DW and I love sea days. We enjoy a late wake up, slow breakfast on our balcony, then some book reading, we always attend the art lectures and auctions, usually not to buy anything, but we enjoy seeing others spend their money. We join in the ships activities, do some people watching and just enjoy spending some quiet time with each other, sitting and watching the water go by.

Our up coming cruise has two lots of 3 sea days, plus 6 land days in the middle. Perfect.

[toxicfairy]

We don't stand them :D we lay them ...lay in a lounge chair by the pool. Lay out on the balcony...Lay around in bed...:DMostly just lay around in the sun....ahhhh how I love to lay in the sun with a drink in my hand that has a little umbrella in it:cool:
Have not done a cold weahter cruise yet. My bucket list includes an Alaskan and DH's includes a TA . First have to wait 14 years to retire and then I can have time off in the non- summer months to do them.
For now ...ahhhhh layin around...LOL

[flamomo]

One of the most awesome crusing experiences I had was on a 28 day cruise with 18 sea days!
Four sea days from LA to Hawaii!!
Sailing from Hawaii to the Samoan islands took 4 days, and the whole time there was NOTHING out there but beautiful blue Pacific waters. No other ships, no land anywhere within sight .... I went up on the topmost deck and turned a full 360 degress and saw nothing but ocean ....it felt like we had left the whole world behind.
Then 2 more sea days from Samoa to the South Pacific islands of Bora Bora, Moorea, and Tahiti.
The "frosting on the cake was the 8 heavenly sea days in a row, sailing from Tahiti back to LA. There was the occasional ship off in the distance, and the rest of the time it was nothing blue ocean.

[chipmaster]

I'm lik eyou personally find multiple days getting pretty boring pretty fast. I enjoy the 3 sit down meals and tea, but after that lounging by the pools, bingo, art auctions and other lectures have been less than interesting.

THus for us cruising / boat is only a small part of the xperience, we do it for the varied ports and excursions.

Never look forward to more than a day at sea as that is a day wasted, I guess I'm a A-type personality guy.

[quote name='librarygal']Generally I [B]love[/B] to go on cruises but [B]hate[/B] 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[B] stand[/B] multiple days at sea on your cruise?[/quote]

[Kathie44]

The most sea days I've ever had on a cruise was 6 on a 14 night Aust/NZ cruise. I've had five or less on the others. I love sea days! There is so much to do on the ship, I can't imagine anyone getting bored. I am big into trivia and other games. I mark them on my daily schedule so I remember when everything is. There are also numerous demonstrations throughout the cruise, lectures, dancing lessons, wine, champagne and martini tastings, gym, pool and outdoor sports activities. The list goes on and on. I do the games and between-times read by the pool or in one of the lounges, which are usually quiet during the day. I have also played bridge and euchre.
On the last 4 cruises there has been an extended brunch in the MDR from 10-1 with different food stations of breakfast and lunch food--Wonderful! Sometimes there will be a large lunch buffet at poolside. The casino and shops are open on sea days.
Last Feb. I went on a 7-night S. Carib. cruise with 3 friends who are not veteran cruisers. I liked the 5 ports with 1 sea day--better value for the price of the cruise. They all wished we'd had at least 1 more sea day!

[sleepless]

I love sea days. I love having time to do, well, nothing. I get up early most mornings, around 7 am. First thing I do is go on to our balcony, and take in the beautiful vastness of ocean. Then I get dressed, find the closest cup of hot coffee, walk around the ship while all is quiet. I locate a second cup of coffee, an ocean view and a chair just waiting for me, that has an ocean view. I [I]head back to our stateroom, hubby is starting to wake up about this time. He gets dressed, we head out to breakfast. After breakfast, we search out a location on the pool deck, and sit for a spell;. If there is a class I am interested in, I go to that; I will find hubby in the same chair I left him in. Now it is time for lunch. After eating, I change into my swim suit and grab a book. We again head to the pool deck, locating a place to sit/lounge with a view of the ocean and a little shade. I read my book for a bit, jump into a hot tub for about 20 minuets, go back to my [/I]lounge chair, read my book (maybe take a 15 minute cat nap, jump into the hot tub, go back to my lounge and read some more. (During this time, hubby naps or searches the ocean for creatures or people watches.) It is usually about 3 pm by this time. I head to our stateroom, take a shower, then take a walk around the ship, then find hubby. We may grab a snack or beverage, then go back to our stateroom to change for dinner and prepare for the night time activities. If there is a pre-dinner parade, we try to attend those. We always have early dining and see the show of the evening. After the show, we stroll along one of the outside decks enjoying the ocean, searching for other ships at a distance, and star gazing. We then go find a bar for a drink and some music( or attend the late night entertainment such as the Love and Marriage Show or Quest) or make a deposit in the casino. It is now after midnight, we look for a late night snack, then head back to the stateroom. We spend some time on the balcony, then hubby goes to bed. I stay on the balcony for a while longer, jump into bed - keeping the balcony door open :eek:, and read for awhile. Some time between 1:30 and 2:00 am, I close the balcony door, turn off the light, set the alarm for 7:00 am.

If it is another sea day, the whole process is repeated. If it a port day, I still get up early, walk around the ship with coffee etc. We try to get off of the ship early ( if we are getting off). Depending on the port, we may be back on the ship in time for lunch. The afternoon schedule is repeated - reading, hot tub, reading, hot tub, reading.

What a glorious way to spend the day.

We are doing a B2B on the Allure beginning June 30, 2013. I will have 6 sea days, and 1 turn around day - plus, we may not get off in Nassau. Heaven.

I don't usually sleep in while on a cruise; one morning I will get up extra early to see a sunrise- before 6:00 am. I may counter that by staying in bed on a port day till 8:00 am (maybe).

[Cruiser1717]

Sea Days are actually my favorite. It's an opportunity to sleep in and go to the pool. Also, the itinerary for the day is usually very full.

[bbwex]

IMHO the fact that some love sea days, simply telling someone who hates them what they can do on those days in unlikely to change their opinion. For instance, I have a sailboat, and I don't want to race it, I enjoy simply sailing in one direction until it is time to come about and go back home. DW is not a fan of sailing! DW can sit on the beach endlessly, I last maybe five minutes (on a good day). But for some of us, sitting and reading or relaxing while watching the ocean go by is as good as it gets. It is not for everyone, but for those that dislike sea days, there are lots of port-intensive cruises -- I think more of those than cruises with lots of sea days. As someone has posted, if you are going between two somewhat distant points, ships don't move all that fast, and it takes time. It is the nature of cruising.

[monkeyluis]

Old thread, but saw it when searching for something else.

I love sea days. And to me they are great to enjoy the ship, because I did pay for traveling on a ship. So we do the different activities, or just relax by the pool, or whatever. It's fun. Nice time to relax & wind down in between ports.

[Keith1010]

We love sea days and port days. Both are very special.

Keith