Your typical Fun Day at Sea?

[LovetheTXsun]

Brand new cruisers here and my hubby likes a "Plan", as in, he'd be thrilled if I gave him an hour by hour itinerary ;). Not my style! ~ but I'm indulging him here by trying to get a feel for what a day at sea is like. We are a family of 5 (2 teens/one 10 yr old) ~ we love a good mix of relaxing (poolside) and having fun! Would love to know what you enjoy ?! :)

[LaCal]

We enjoy getting up and either going to the buffet for Bfast or Brunch in the dining room....Then going back to the cabin and chilling for a bit.....after we get showered n ready we'll go down to the casino and start gambling n have the first drink of the day 😜🍹🍹

 

After many hours of gambling we'll take a break and get some lunch and stop back in the cabin to freshen up

 

After lunch we usually walk around the ship having a few more drinks at diff bars while checking stuff out or go sit by the pool for a hour drinking

 

Then it's back to the casino for more fun n drinking

 

This is usually our first sea day routine.....2nd and other sea days we'll mix it up with some trivia , movies , pool, food etc

[LovetheTXsun]

We enjoy getting up and either going to the buffet for Bfast or Brunch in the dining room....Then going back to the cabin and chilling for a bit.....after we get showered n ready we'll go down to the casino and start gambling n have the first drink of the day 😜🍹🍹

 

After many hours of gambling we'll take a break and get some lunch and stop back in the cabin to freshen up

 

After lunch we usually walk around the ship having a few more drinks at diff bars while checking stuff out or go sit by the pool for a hour drinking

 

Then it's back to the casino for more fun n drinking

 

This is usually our first sea day routine.....2nd and other sea days we'll mix it up with some trivia , movies , pool, food etc

 

LaCal ~ my mom and her hubby are 7 Stars level at Caesar's/Las Vegas. Slot machines beg for mercy when they walk through the door lol! Your day would be her PERFECT day! Wish they could come with us but unfortunately my step-dad is on dialysis and can't be away for more than a couple days😕. From Roll Call, I see our cruise is a Premium(?) Casino cruise so I imagine there will be lots of people having gambling fun that week!

[ladygal4.4]

My husband sounds like you. A quiet corner and a book sums up his sea day :).

 

For me, sleep in a bit, brunch. Then normally a trivia or art function. I enjoy the informational talks. Later lunch, pool time/water slide. shopping. Dress/shower for dinner. Eat. See a show or listen to music in the atrium. Bedtime.

 

Of course, this is all without kids. Our next cruise, we're taking the family. So it will be slightly different.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Hoosierpop]

I highly recommend the sea day brunch. Sure , it's typical breakfast food, with a few twists. But I like the food and ask for a table by a window. It's hard to describe why I like that so much but I do.

 

Look at the Fun Times to see what activities there are during the day. I know some people wonder why anyone would do trivia, but some of the categories are fun. And if the person leading the trivia is good, it's entertaining. Beware though because there will be people who take it seriously. Like, really seriously. As if getting that ship,on a stick will cure disease or something.

 

And, of course, there's hanging out on the lido deck for the sun. Sometimes chairs can be hard to come by, but still fun.

 

But I guess my biggest piece of advice, especially for someone who likes a plan is, don't have a plan. You can have a plan every other day of your life. Enjoy a day where you aren't a slave to the clock or itinerary.

[MisterOJ2]

We're a family of four with two daughters, who will be 11 and 10 on our next cruise in April.

 

A day at sea for us usually starts with me waking up early (around 6-7 a.m.) and going up and getting coffee and sipping it on the Lido deck while watching the waves go by. I usually have a book with me too, and will read a bit. I will then go back to our cabin around 8 or so when the rest of the family is just waking up.

 

We then will head up to the buffet for breakfast together and the girls get dropped off in the kids club. The wife and I will then find a nice spot to sit and relax (usually the adult area if the weather is nice, or maybe an inside lounge) and read. After two or three hours, we will go check on the kiddos (if they haven't checked themselves out and come to us) and make sure they're good. Then we may do an activity like trivia or something. Then lunch together as a family. At some point after lunch, the girls will usually want to try out the water slide and pools, but they usually have enough after an hour and then head back to the kids club. They love the organized activities in there. Especially the scavenger hunts.

 

At some point in the late afternoon, we'll decide what we want to do for dinner. It's usually a toss up if we eat in the buffet or the MDR. And then afterwards, our favorite activity is watching the movies by the pool and snacking on the fresh popcorn. We may catch one of the evening shows together too, or not. A lot of times they will have special planned activities for the kids in the club, and they will go to those.

[Mary Ellen1]

Don't miss the Seaday Brunch in the dining room. It's open approx. 8am-1pm. Sleep in, then hit that.

 

Bring a highlighter pen with you, and over brunch your DH can choose his own activities from the program listed in the Fun Times.

 

Or, you can ask Uncle Google for a picture of the Fun Times from your ship, and list some of those activities that you think he'll enjoy (Bingo, Art Auction, visit the Gym, play basketball with the kids, take a nap, join in the dance party on deck...)

 

I love that you're indulging your husband with this. How fun! Very sweet of you. Have a great cruise.

 

And here's one thing for your kids: make sure they go to the kids' activity on the first night -- they'll meet the other kids/teens their age and hopefully make a friend or two to hang out with the rest of the cruise. Even if they don't participate in all the other organized activities, tell them not to miss the first night. :D

[lisajm]

Start my day with some room service coffee and a little reading on my balcony. I peruse the Funtimes to plot out my day. (Learned this tip prior to my first cruise, I use room service as my alarm clock. I just put out the door hanger the night before)

 

When ready head to MDR for Seaday Brunch. After Brunch will head to the Shops and browse. I don't really buy much on the ship, but sometimes I do.

 

Then I put on a suit and try to find a deck chair. I like to be away from the Lido main pool and face the ocean. When I get hungry I'll grab a little nosh from buffet, deli, or pizza.

 

I like bingo and trivia.

 

This cruise going to try my best to get to Tea Time.

 

I may swing by the Casino for a few spins of Roulette or hands of BlackJack.

 

Back to Lido for a bit.

 

Get ready for dinner in MDR. After dinner its usually to the Casino for a bit.

 

First few cruises I loved the shows, but I don't really care for Playlist productions. I do enjoy some of the comedian. Sometimes we will catch a movie on deck.

[LovetheTXsun]

My husband sounds like you. A quiet corner and a book sums up his sea day :).

 

For me, sleep in a bit, brunch. Then normally a trivia or art function. I enjoy the informational talks. Later lunch, pool time/water slide. shopping. Dress/shower for dinner. Eat. See a show or listen to music in the atrium. Bedtime.

 

Of course, this is all without kids. Our next cruise, we're taking the family. So it will be slightly different.

 

 

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Yes ~ you have me pegged! Book and pool.... and a frozen 🍹 Or two 😋! I'll have to look up the info talks and shows. Thanks ladygal4 😊

[LovetheTXsun]

I highly recommend the sea day brunch. Sure , it's typical breakfast food, with a few twists. But I like the food and ask for a table by a window. It's hard to describe why I like that so much but I do.

 

Look at the Fun Times to see what activities there are during the day. I know some people wonder why anyone would do trivia, but some of the categories are fun. And if the person leading the trivia is good, it's entertaining. Beware though because there will be people who take it seriously. Like, really seriously. As if getting that ship,on a stick will cure disease or something.

 

And, of course, there's hanging out on the lido deck for the sun. Sometimes chairs can be hard to come by, but still fun.

 

But I guess my biggest piece of advice, especially for someone who likes a plan is, don't have a plan. You can have a plan every other day of your life. Enjoy a day where you aren't a slave to the clock or itinerary.

 

Lol! Ship on a stick ~ I will have to go to Trivia if nothing else than to see this! I'm terrible at trivia ~ my 3 kids gifted me with permanent "mommy brain" apparently.

I've read the thread about the chairs being hard to come by ~ scary 😱but will attempt to keep things in perspective and guess get out there early...

And yes ~ sage advice you give at the end ~ might just be printing that out for my hubby, bless him. 😉💙. Thanks Hoosierpop!

[Indytraveler83]

Our sea days are about as relaxed as we can make them. We get up, grab breakfast on lido and watch the sea go by for a while. Then we change into swimming gear and dip in and out of the pools and hot tubs while drinking margaritas till lunch.

 

We grab lunch on lido, then usually take a nap. This is followed by more sunbathing and swimming till dinner. After dinner we will take in a show or two, then watch the sea and stars till we start dozing off.

[Wxman0]

Every day is just a little different depending on what is on the ship itinerary. Typically I will get up with the middle child cause she is always the first one up. We sneak out to have breakfast and play on the sports deck then go back and dress for swimming (because by this time, everyone else is up) and laying in the sun. We will look at what is going on in the kids clubs and decide with the kids if there is anything they want to do today and then just sort of plan pool and lunch time around the activity they want to do. If there is nothing they want to do we just play the whole day by ear. If you're hungry, go eat. Bored? Lets go wander and find something to do. It's why I love sea days. It's so relaxing and until dinner, there really is nothing you have to plan for and even then you don't have to go if you don't want to.

 

At nights, usually the kids are in their respective clubs and the adults go to their clubs until we shut everything down.

 

I suspect the best thing for your husband is to try to find the daily itineraries in Fun Times so he can sort of plan his day.

[trvlgirlmq]

Full disclosure: I can't sleep in even on vacation and youngest DS is the same!

 

Youngest DS and I get up and go the sports deck where I walk my 2 miles and he plays basketball. Then we head to the buffet for breakfast.

 

Go back to the room to change into swimsuits and grandma and cousin are waking up. They go eat and then we spend until lunch poolside.

 

I head to trivia or some indoor activity while the kids go back basketball or mini-golf, etc.

 

Grandma takes a nap!

 

Early evening we all shower and get ready for dinner.

 

After dinner it's either family comedy, the main show or a movie on Lido.

 

A perfect sea day for us!

[LovetheTXsun]

We're a family of four with two daughters, who will be 11 and 10 on our next cruise in April.

 

A day at sea for us usually starts with me waking up early (around 6-7 a.m.) and going up and getting coffee and sipping it on the Lido deck while watching the waves go by. I usually have a book with me too, and will read a bit. I will then go back to our cabin around 8 or so when the rest of the family is just waking up.

 

We then will head up to the buffet for breakfast together and the girls get dropped off in the kids club. The wife and I will then find a nice spot to sit and relax (usually the adult area if the weather is nice, or maybe an inside lounge) and read. After two or three hours, we will go check on the kiddos (if they haven't checked themselves out and come to us) and make sure they're good. Then we may do an activity like trivia or something. Then lunch together as a family. At some point after lunch, the girls will usually want to try out the water slide and pools, but they usually have enough after an hour and then head back to the kids club. They love the organized activities in there. Especially the scavenger hunts.

 

At some point in the late afternoon, we'll decide what we want to do for dinner. It's usually a toss up if we eat in the buffet or the MDR. And then afterwards, our favorite activity is watching the movies by the pool and snacking on the fresh popcorn. We may catch one of the evening shows together too, or not. A lot of times they will have special planned activities for the kids in the club, and they will go to those.

 

What a Perfect laid back day! This sounds like "Us"! Have been wondering if my 10 yr old will enjoy the kids club? Your girls are lucky to be close in age so they have a built-in friend for added courage going into a new "thing". He'd love a scavenger hunt too ~ will have to let him know. Thanks MisterOJ2!

[Taters]

My typical day at sea starts with coffee on my balcony followed by some time near the pool to catch up with friends. Then it's brunch!

 

I love spernding these lazy days in the casino, then swimming and cocktails in the afternoon, which is usually followed by a nap.

 

Then it's dinner in the MDR and a show, comedy club or casino.

 

I get to do this again in just 2 1/2 weeks and cannot wait!

[mickiemac]

Don't miss the afternoon tea! We love it and some men DO attend!

[crusinpsychRN]

I usually wake early, get coffee and a croissant on Lido and find a spot on Serenity where I am for a few hours reading and refilling my magic mug--turns into lemonade then bourbon! I go to trivia and have over 27 ships and a bunch of medals from 25 Carnival cruises.

[KatieCharlotte]

Our typical sea day with kids:

DH can't sleep in and usually has a couple quiet hours somewhere with his book after breakfast. Or sometimes surfing the internet if he has purchased access. I have breakfast around 8 a.m., usually with my hungry teen. My kids tend to wake up at different times, with the preteen girl sleeping to 10 a.m.

 

I generally spend the morning with the kids or just the youngest. The older two end up going off together. The youngest always wants to go with them, but she's seven and tends to wander away and then we're all searching. :rolleyes: They've tried Camp Carnival and Circle C but are not thrilled meeting new people or participating in group activities. I know many other kids love it.

 

We play mini-golf, pool, shuffleboard, giant chess, and whatever outdoor games are on that ship. Sometimes we swim but usually not for long unless it's really hot. If it's rainy or chilly, we may play the indoor foosball and table shuffleboard at the Red Frog or borrow a board game from the library. DH and sometimes the older kids like to play trivia in the late morning or in the afternoon. DH always keeps the printed hourly schedule in his pocket because he likes to have plans to attend trivia at certain times. A totally open schedule would bother him. :rolleyes:

 

We all meet for lunch at a certain time and choose whatever we want to eat. At some point after lunch, I get some time to relax and read my book. The youngest sometimes watches cartoons in the room for an hour in the middle of the afternoon to rest up for a late evening. She enjoys tea time (eating cakes and fruit while I drink tea) at 3 p.m.

 

After dinner, we go to a show and/or watch a movie outside. The kids stay up much later than normal, and sometimes we leave them watching a movie together on the deck while we relax. :D

 

Now I want to go back....:(

[IslandCurls]

DH and I sleep in on sea days, then head to the MDR around 11 or so for the Sea Day Brunch, which is a real treat (we're usually on very port intensive cruises, so it's the only time we don't have early room service:) )

 

Afterward, it's back to the cabin to watch the Love and Marriage show and snooze for a bit before we head on up to Lido to watch the Hairy Chest competition:D

 

The rest of the day we just play it by ear:)

 

Your husband would probably feel better with the copy of the Fun Times so he can plan his day, though. :)

 

Happy Cruising!

[crusinpsychRN]

Don't miss the afternoon tea! We love it and some men DO attend!

 

On one trip we had a great roll call. One lady organized a tiara making event using pipe cleaners. The men came as well and I was so surprised they participated making tiaras and crowns. We did look kind of funny going in for tea but everyone got a good laugh.

[terri-eddie]

I finally have my husband "trained" to allow me to enjoy sea days in my own fashion. He's an early riser, and always used to wake me up as soon as he opened his eyes.

 

Now, he gets up quietly on his own and heads out. He eats breakfast at the buffet, and wanders around doing who knows what. He'll come back to the cabin to see if I'm up yet, and if I am, he'll join me at the buffet for his second breakfast!

 

Then, I like to sit somewhere with my e-reader and "people watch". My husband doesn't enjoy this, so he wanders again. If there's a trivia challenge on, he'll get me to join him. I usually do, unless it's a subject I have no interest in. We have agreed that I will help him win one ship on a stick at trivia, then I'm off the hook if I want to skip a trivia challenge.

 

I sometimes use the hot tubs in the gym [usually less crowded than the ones on deck, and I don't like to spend too much time in the sun anyway]. And sometimes I return to the cabin mid-afternoon for a short nap.

 

Sea days are all about relaxing and reading and just indulging myself in down time.

[countrygirlcruiser1234]

I am an early riser on a cruise, generally by 5am, I grab my book and go up to deck 11 smoking side (the last 2 cruises were on the breeze) and grab one of those nice comfortable chairs with the foot stool and set my stuff down, get coffee and read for hours. then go change wake up the family and have breakfast, then read some more while enjoying endless beverages! enjoy lunch and probably dinner at the buffet and catch the sea side movie.

[Djptcp]

Room service breakfast, casino, room service lunch, casino, couple hours relaxation/reading on balcony, early dinner, casino.

[LovetheTXsun]

I finally have my husband "trained" to allow me to enjoy sea days in my own fashion. He's an early riser, and always used to wake me up as soon as he opened his eyes.

 

Sea days are all about relaxing and reading and just indulging myself in down time.

 

How did you do that? I need lessons 😂!

Y'all have me looking forward to Sea Days more than the Port/Excursion days I was so dang excited about!!! Somehow they are looking more like "work"!

While other gals are planning their outfits ~ I'm planning what BOOKS I'm going to take. Then the outfits ~ because shopping is fun. 😉 Now I've got to at least see what trivia is all about. But no casino ~ Not unless I win the 1.5 BILLION tonight.

[Shih-tzu]

I am an early riser on a cruise, generally by 5am, I grab my book and go up to deck 11 smoking side (the last 2 cruises were on the breeze) and grab one of those nice comfortable chairs with the foot stool and set my stuff down, get coffee and read for hours. then go change wake up the family and have breakfast, then read some more while enjoying endless beverages! enjoy lunch and probably dinner at the buffet and catch the sea side movie.

 

I have an "idea" of what I will do on the Sea Day on upcoming cruise. Depending on what the time zone/ship time is (which I suspect might be Atlantinc time?? not sure) I will either wake up at my normal time (6:00am) or it will be 5:00am if on ET.

 

Then my day will start about the same as countrygirlcruise1234 with a Suduko puzzle book. About 7:30 I'll move down to one of the pools and wait for the 8:00am opening. I plan on doing most of my pool/deck time in the morning as I don't like it really hot and don't want to sunburn (I do some even with sunscreen). Once hubby comes and finds me, one of us will get "something breakfast" and we'll probably eat outside enjoying the sights and spend time

relaxing, etc.

 

Probably a small lunch on the lido (maybe a Guy's burger?) - then hubby will probably either want to have an afternoon nap or read on the balcony. That's when I'll probably check out the shops (he hates shopping). Maybe another dip in the pool or hot tubs around 3-3:30.... then get ready for dinner at 6:00 (this is the dress up night).

 

Once supper is over, back as fast as we can get to the cabin to get into more comfortable clothing - maybe one more pool dip and then hoping to do the Dive-In movie (depending on what's playing), perhaps manage to drag hubby to a shop if there's something specific that I've seen....or a game of mini-golf (depending on what time it's open).

 

Ohhhh, and our group has a meet'n'greet at some point that day....forgot about that.