What do you actually do on the boat?

[FGJones]

I'm very much looking forward to the ports and excursions .  My eight day trip only has one sea day, but when you really look at the schedule even port days are going to have some time to kill on the boat.   Besides eating and sleeping what do people occupy themselves with?  I don't drink, I don't swim, I don't gamble.  I most certainly don't relax. It's not something I ever learned how to do.  Have I made a mistake? Lol.

[travelnap]

Quote

Depending on which cruise line you are sailing on there will be different activities offered throughout the day.  Some of those may interest you.  You can usually find them in the daily newsletter that cruise lines put out.  Examples are trivia, lectures, other games, etc.  I like to read so I enjoy just sitting with a good book and relaxing that way.  You may even learn to relax and just go with the flow.  Have a good trip and good luck.

 

[FGJones]

8 minutes ago, travelnap said:

You may even learn to relax and just go with the flow. 

 

Wouldn't that be something 

 

I forgot about the shows, I am looking forward to those.  I would love a lecture and trivia.  My route doesn't start until December so hopefully I'm able to get a look at the daily's then before my trip in May.  And then maybe I can work on relaxing about the details. 

 

I do enjoy reading but it's been a while since I found one that holds my interest the way I hope they do. 

[miss prairie girl]

Your cruise ship may also have shops to browse through for clothing, souvenirs, jewellery, perfume, and alcohol. Some cruise lines turn an evening dining room into a 'market' where you can browse and shop for merchandise with your cruise line's logo. I have gotten beach travel bags, jackets, and tshirts for myself and gifts for others! These sales are usually held in the mornings on sea days!

If you walk for exercise, you can also walk on the deck that circles the ship....great exercise....! or go to the gym if you like that!

 

Happy cruising!

 

[FGJones]

Tote bags are my weakness!  Also hope to keep my early morning runs on track.  Thank you

[LHT28]

take  some courses in relaxing  before the cruise ..you may enjoy  it

Other things to do

Go to the spa

go to the gym

watch a movie in your cabin

interact with others onboard  you may enjoy meeting new people to chat with

JMO

[FGJones]

Are there really courses for that?

[JMorris271]

What about looking at the ocean, searching for whales, getting away from routine, talking to new people, art show, using your imagination.

[Cruising Golfer]

People watching is always fun...

[UtterCaro]

Is there a skill you'd like to develop but haven't found the time, such as money origami?  Voila, you just found the time.  Or you could organize the photos on your phone, or write letters, or do any number of brief (but not unpleasant to you) tasks that tend to fall through the cracks back home.  Getting small things done can be very relaxing.

[mef_57]

1 hour ago, FGJones said:

Are there really courses for that?

Meditation, yoga.  Cruise lines often have yoga classes. I realize you may have been facetious about the comment, but it is never too late to learn a new skill.

Are you crafty? like fidget toys?  I am hoping that somewhere in your day to day, you have a little down time to yourself.  Think about what you want to do if you were gifted hours or even an hour 'free time'. Most people have a list of 'things I wish I could do if I only had free time''; but there seem to be some people who need constant stimulation, interaction or entertainment.....that is not me.

[port msp]

2 hours ago, FGJones said:

I'm very much looking forward to the ports and excursions .  My eight day trip only has one sea day, but when you really look at the schedule even port days are going to have some time to kill on the boat.   Besides eating and sleeping what do people occupy themselves with?  I don't drink, I don't swim, I don't gamble.  I most certainly don't relax. It's not something I ever learned how to do.  Have I made a mistake? Lol.

I get the apprehension.  It took my wife 10 years to talk me into a cruise.  16 cruises later, I think I like them.  Like you, I don't drink (much), I don't gamble, I rarely use the pools, but I always find something to occupy myself.  I love my slothful sea days.  Sleep in, late breakfast, some reading, lunch, nap, maybe a lecture, sit on the balcony and watch the world go by, work out, dinner, movie/read/sit on the balcony and listen to the ship crash through the waves, then bed.  If you need to be doing something, and there's nothing wrong with that, check to see if a behind the scenes ship tour is offered. They're usually offered on seas days. They usually cost, but I've found them to be interesting. You'll want to sign up as soon as they'll allow as they fill up quickly.  I enjoy the workings of an ocean going vessel.  There's lots to see. I like to sit on our balcony with a book, an iced tea, and my binoculars.  I enjoy seeing other ships at sea.   The shops are usually interesting to browse.  Every ship I've been on has had a library.   I spent a few hours one sea day on HAL Eurodam just walking the passageways, looking at the historic photos on the walls. It was great.  Most ships have lots of art on display.  One ship I was on, I think it was a HAL boat, had an iPod with a guided tour of the ship's art that you could check out.  I don't know if that's still a thing.  

 

Free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.  

[mom says]

Lots of good suggestions. I happen to really like sea days, and often need them to recoup my energy after a few consecutive port days. The daily newsletter usually has one or 2 full pages of activities listed each day, so IMO you have to really work at it to be bored.

 

One other thing: DONT call it a boat. It's a ship.

[RocketMan275]

2 hours ago, FGJones said:

 

Wouldn't that be something 

 

I forgot about the shows, I am looking forward to those.  I would love a lecture and trivia.  My route doesn't start until December so hopefully I'm able to get a look at the daily's then before my trip in May.  And then maybe I can work on relaxing about the details. 

 

I do enjoy reading but it's been a while since I found one that holds my interest the way I hope they do. 

Get a kindle and take some books from amazon.  Very easy to browse Amazon and find what interests you.  I'll probably blow through four/five books.

[davekathy]

3 hours ago, FGJones said:

I'm very much looking forward to the ports and excursions .  My eight day trip only has one sea day, but when you really look at the schedule even port days are going to have some time to kill on the boat.   Besides eating and sleeping what do people occupy themselves with?  I don't drink, I don't swim, I don't gamble.  I most certainly don't relax. It's not something I ever learned how to do.  Have I made a mistake? Lol.

Is this your first cruise? What cruise line and ship? 

[FGJones]

1 hour ago, Cruising Golfer said:

People watching is always fun...

 

Agreed 😂

 

 

1 hour ago, port msp said:

check to see if a behind the scenes ship tour is offered. They're usually offered on seas days. They usually cost, but I've found them to be interesting. You'll want to sign up as soon as they'll allow as they fill up quickly.  I enjoy the workings of an ocean going vessel.  There's lots to see. I like to sit on our balcony with a book, an iced tea, and my binoculars.  I enjoy seeing other ships at sea.   The shops are usually interesting to browse.  Every ship I've been on has had a library.   I spent a few hours one sea day on HAL Eurodam just walking the passageways, looking at the historic photos on the walls. It was great.  Most ships have lots of art on display.  One ship I was on, I think it was a HAL boat, had an iPod with a guided tour of the ship's art that you could check out.  I don't know if that's still a thing.  

 

Free advice is worth exactly what you pay for it.  

 

Thank you. A ship tour would be great. Thank you for the suggestions. I always love audio (books, podcasts, lectures, tours) on my phone. 

 

1 hour ago, mef_57 said:

 I realize you may have been facetious about the comment, but it is never too late to learn a new skill.

 

 

Not facetious at all.  I would love to learn how. 

 

 

37 minutes ago, RocketMan275 said:

Get a kindle and take some books from amazon.  Very easy to browse Amazon and find what interests you.  I'll probably blow through four/five books.

 

I have a kindle and at least 75 “to read” books on it, but you’re right. I probably need to spend time looking for books I want to read rather than downloading bestsellers and recommendations from friends which I never make time for. Or go back to my trusted favorites.

 

56 minutes ago, mom says said:

One other thing: DONT call it a boat. It's a ship.

 

Ship. Got it. 🤦‍♀️

 

34 minutes ago, davekathy said:

Is this your first cruise? What cruise line and ship? 

 

Yes, my first, it took a little arm twisting from my sister and the promise of Cuba to get me to sign on.  We (four of us) will be on the MSC Armonia.  They (the other three) enjoy the partying, swimming and casino. I’ve done a lot of domestic (USA) air and land travel. I think part of what worries me about a cruise is giving up control of the itinerary.  Another skill I have not learned. 

 

Thank you everyone for the suggestions and advice.  It sounds like the cruise lines have something for everyone. 

[davekathy]

FGJones...If you're like most of us, your time is going to go way too fast and didn't get to do everything. We aren't huge sea day fans but we've never been bored on a sea day. Enjoy your first cruise. 

[donaldsc]

4 hours ago, FGJones said:

I'm very much looking forward to the ports and excursions .  My eight day trip only has one sea day, but when you really look at the schedule even port days are going to have some time to kill on the boat.   Besides eating and sleeping what do people occupy themselves with?  I don't drink, I don't swim, I don't gamble.  I most certainly don't relax. It's not something I ever learned how to do.  Have I made a mistake? Lol.

If you are on a boat, this means that your ship has sunk.  Large watercraft are called ships; small watercraft are called boats.   The general rule is that you can load a boat on a ship but you can't load a ship on boat.  

 

With regard to your question, as one who hates sea days, be thankful that there is only one sea day.  I just bring lots of books for my Kindle.  Most of the people on CC will disagree w me but in my opinion, there is very little to do on a sea day but trivia, port or shopping lectures and a bunch of other boring stuff.  Thank god for my Kindle.

 

DON

Edited October 19, 2018 by donaldsc

[UtterCaro]

14 minutes ago, FGJones said:

 

 

I think part of what worries me about a cruise is giving up control of the itinerary.  Another skill I have not learned.

 

I'm a bit of a "Border collie," too.  (Sounds so much nicer than "control freak," don't you think?)  And I remember being apprehensive about my first cruise ten years ago.  What if I hated it and couldn't get off the ship?  I'd be trapped!  Ack!  Turns out I adored it, and they practically had to pry me off the ship with a crowbar at the end.  Here's hoping you have the same experience. ☺️

[Hlitner]

Perhaps you should take advantage of your cruise to start learning how to relax.  There is no better place then on a ship :).  And by the way, it is a "ship" and not a "boat."  As a Captain once told us, "a boat is something you put on a ship such as a life"boat."  Since you are going to be going on your first cruise its a great time to learn about a few basic nautical terms.  Learning something new might even help you relax :).  So start out with "port,"  "starboard," "aft, and forward."  And of course there is the bow and stern.

 

Hank

[JimnKaren]

We just completed a 22-day Vancouver to Ft. Lauderdale itinerary. Only two new ports for me, I managed to get off most of them, but did not spend the entire day ashore.

Naps are good (at my age); but I also read. Lots of good books on the shelves on the ship, I managed 12 books, which included the night prior to boarding in a hotel. Met some nice folks at dinner and listening to music after dinner. Already emailing back and forth.

Jim

[broberts]

4 hours ago, FGJones said:

Tote bags are my weakness!  Also hope to keep my early morning runs on track.  Thank you

 

Nothing better than being top-side very early morning, especially on port days.

 

 

[FGJones]

21 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

Learning something new might even help you relax 🙂

 

 

I love learning new thing but I

find learning to be stimulating.  I even found reading through travel insurance policies (which you helped me with yesterday) to be stimulating. I’m hopeless.

 

22 minutes ago, Hlitner said:

 So start out with "port,"  "starboard," "aft, and forward."  And of course there is the bow and stern.

 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out that port, starboard, bow and stern are also boat terms. Perhaps that’s the source of my miss-use of the word. 😉 

 

But in seriousness. It’s a ship. Ship. Ship. Ship. I will do better.  

 

12 minutes ago, broberts said:

 

Nothing better than being top-side very early morning, especially on port days.

 

 

 

It might be what I’m most looking forward too on the ship. If anything could relax me it would be a private moment with the sea.  Hoping to find at least one morning not crowded. I typically rise at 5 am and it doesn’t look like breakfast is available anyplace on the ship until 6:30 at least currently. I suppose that may change when the ship moves to Miami. 

[FGJones]

Here I go 😀

[CanobieFan]

I like to just walk around the whole ship and explore. I don't drink and I maybe play *one* $1 slot.... But I'll use the pool/hot tub if they are not full.

And with Royal I'll always do the rock wall and I try and do the ice rink if the ship has one. I've done the Mini-Golf too.... And with Harmony, the giant slide and zipline.