What is the appeal of sea days?

[Gamecock_Cruiser]

I love hanging out on t he deck watching the horizon, blue water, ships wake while not having a worry in the world!

[Angua]

There was a study a few years that left people in a mostly empty room for 15 minutes with nothing to do except entertain themselves with their own thoughts, or give themselves mildly unpleasant electrical shocks. 50% of the subjects shocked themselves just to have something to do.

 

While this study is a little controversial, to me it means that some people like to relax, contemplate, and enjoy sea days, while some people need things to occupy themselves and don't really being left to their own devices on sea days. There is no right or wrong, and luckily cruise lines have cruises to cater to each type of person.

 

Personally I love sea days. I have a intellectually challenging job, switching off my analytical brain and relaxing sea days are one of the reasons I love cruising. We are taking a 13 day cruise in Jan with only 4 ports, we are both looking forward to all of those sea days!

[mdsgu]

Sleep late, wander around the ship, enjoy a slow Seaday Brunch, see how many bars I can go through.......

[ricew001]

My sea day wasn't long enough this time. We closed down the piano bar every night and then had an early excursion, so on Sea Day, we slept in and ordered room service. Then we took a nap and got up and went to the main dining room for brunch. Then we went to the shops briefly and then the serenity deck where we talked to our favorite bartenders, met a lot of cool new people and took a nap. Of course we had drinks up there! Then I went to the spa and had my hair and make up done (thanks to a gift card from our steward for our anniversary.) Then we got ready, ate dinner, met the photographer and reviewed the amazing photos from our private photo session, went to the Alchemy Bar to meet some new friends, and then closed down the piano bar. I've done 3 7-day cruises with only one sea day because I thought I'd prefer all port days. After this trip in August, I think I want at least 2 sea days on my next cruise!

[h_blond2]

Port days are my favorite, but I also love sea days. I lay in the sun and read a good book.

[A&Jfamily]

We enjoy sea days, especially in the Caribbean. The weather is lovely and we often spend hours on our balcony where we talk, listen to quiet music or read. We also like walking the ship. If it is not too windy and my youngest is along, we will play putt-putt. We will stop in a bar, have a drink, people watch etc. And of course, I should be in the gym for 30+ minutes a day. Sometimes, particularly on Princess, they will have a movie or a speaker I want to hear. If the weather is poor and it is say football season, we may watch the game in our room with some snacks. Reading a book, playing a game or cards or taking a nap is often good.

 

We love ports and having different adventures where ever we go. But even our boys have learned to enjoy sea days. Life is SO busy at home, it is nice to just have nothing planned.

[TomAceEsq]

Sea days are almost the reason I cruise. Literally having nothing to do is pretty liberating.

[Shipcats6]

Not fond of sea days. That's the reason we don't do TA cruises or Hawaii from US. That being said, we could have used an extra sea day on our Med cruise a couple years ago - long days in port.

[sgttami]

I could do all sea days. I just love being on the ship.

 

Last 8 day cruise I did, I never got off once in port as I'd seen them all before. Got on in NY and never set foot on land until we got back! It was great.

 

And yeah, the casino is open on sea days!:D:D:D

[ryano]

Total relaxation and brunch in the dining room!

[LH25]

Am I missing something? I don't particularly care for sea days. Everything feels crowded and the activities are repetitive. I also don't want to spend the day reading a book or playing cards because I can do those things at home for free. What do you do on sea days?

 

I'm another who loves sea days. Yes, I can read at home, but like others find I don't have time. Between work, home and pets, I never seem to have a good block of time. I read, or even bring those adult coloring books. Hubby plays on his computer. I might go play bingo. We spend time together and talk. And I really like being more or less out of touch. We spent several years taking care of first his dad and then his mom and had to be on call pretty much 24-7. Sadly, they have both passed and there isn't anyone else who depends on us like that.

 

Good things there are lots of different itineraries to choose from! :D

[ultrafighter]

I'm home all day with a 2 and a 3 year old. :') I really hope they like Camp Ocean next month because a Serenity chair and my new book are practically bellowing my name. No, I can't just do that at home for free.

[ryano]

I could do all sea days. I just love being on the ship.

 

Last 8 day cruise I did, I never got off once in port as I'd seen them all before. Got on in NY and never set foot on land until we got back! It was great.

 

And yeah, the casino is open on sea days!:D:D:D

 

Staying on the ship in port is actually better to me than sea days! SO MUCH less crowded! No casino though of course but Im not much of a gambler anyway.

[cruzinlisa]

At first I was all about the ports too. But I have been to a lot of the Caribbean ports. I like Sea Days because I can sleep a little later, lay sun, go to an activity (drop in/out as I please), NAP (what is that) or just do whatever I want. I can have a frozen drink at 2 p.m if I feel like it. I don't relax at home. If I am at home I am going somewhere, doing laundry or something..

 

Now, I am not one of those people that wants all sea days or cruise to nowhere. I like the ports too. I like to see new places and do new things, which is what the ports are good for. But those also mean planning, and getting up earlier- usually. And spending money. And I can only handle so much of that on a trip. Truly for me a good mix is a 7 day cruise with 3 ports (not counting home port). That gives you 3 port days and 3 sea days (not counting embarkation day). Its a great mix. That is why I love cruising honestly. You get a mix between exploring and laid back. Just my opinion anyway.

[mek]

It really depends on the itinerary - they're great in the Caribbean, but if I go somewhere like Europe I want to spend as much time in the ports as possible with only a few sea days to recharge.

[Rudyard]

I read a book and play cards because I don't have time to so those things at home.

 

^ This

[kc58ab]

No, it is not just occurring to me. I have never liked them. I brought it up because of the recent itinerary changes and ports being replaced with sea days instead of different ports. I understand the reasoning behind it so no lecture needed. I am just wondering what other people do on sea days to make them enjoyable.

 

 

 

 

Don't you just love it when people question why you ask a question ;p

I have also wondered that myself. I don't really care for the sea days all that much either. I know they say it isn't about the ports, but that is the part I enjoy most. I don't care for flying so this is the way for me to see places I otherwise wouldn't want to be on a plane long enough to visit.

On a side note, on your profile pic of your dog is that a Husky?

[winddawn]

I prefer sea days over port days. I've been to Caribbean ports many times over many years, so I now enjoy the ship as a destination. The casino stays open more hours, as do the ship's shops. I just love cruising through the water and you can't experience that when you're docked. On a sea day, there's no hurry to get up to take advantage of a port of call. And then there's sea day brunch. You can't enjoy sea day brunch on a port day.

 

I'd happily choose to book a sea days only cruise, but I certainly understand newer cruisers feel differently. And occasionally I do enjoy getting off the ship to enjoy a beach day.

[Flamencacha]

I love sea days. There is usually some activity I can do to enjoy. I don't care for the laying around the pool thing.

 

I really enjoy being out at sea [emoji305]

 

 

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[SMSACE6]

I like sea days, because I dont feel the need to get up early and watch sailing into port (which I almost always do, regardless of the number of times I have been there), but these are days when I can sleep in if I want to, also no rush to get off for excursions. Sea days have Sea day Brunch!, love that. I dont spend a lot of time out in the sun, but love to relax in a shaded area on serenity, or deck 3 on conquest class ships. Well, yes, I do like to read, so sea days are good for that for me. I just find sea days a tad more relaxed than others, though the ship is naturally more crowded during peak times in places like lido. I also love port days, but like a good balance between the two. Just me though.

[nycruise3]

You get to do activities on the ship, eat anything at anytime, go swimming or on the slide, experience the ship lifeThe

[Butterbean1000]

Sitting on the balcony, reading, watching for flying fish, sipping a cocktail or teo. I love not having to be somewhere at a certain time (YTD). RELAXING.

 

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[Doggielover68]

Don't you just love it when people question why you ask a question ;p

 

I have also wondered that myself. I don't really care for the sea days all that much either. I know they say it isn't about the ports, but that is the part I enjoy most. I don't care for flying so this is the way for me to see places I otherwise wouldn't want to be on a plane long enough to visit.

 

On a side note, on your profile pic of your dog is that a Husky?

 

 

Yep, that's my dog, Gus :)

 

 

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[Doggielover68]

I'm home all day with a 2 and a 3 year old. :') I really hope they like Camp Ocean next month because a Serenity chair and my new book are practically bellowing my name. No, I can't just do that at home for free.

 

 

That's something I didn't think about. I don't have any kids so it's not as hard for me to find time to read at home.

 

 

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[kc58ab]

 

 

Yep, that's my dog, Gus :)

 

 

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Such an awesome breed of dog. My daughter has a Husky/Malamute mix. Her puppy has absolutely stole my heart over the last almost 2 years. I love the sounds she makes when she's talking and absolutely the sweetest dog I've ever encountered.