Cabin fever on return leg from Hawaii?

[Petronillus]

DW and I are looking forward to escaping a long Chicago winter by taking an 18-day Hawaii cruise on the Koningsdam out of San Diego, starting on 01/31/23. It's 6 days out, 6 days around the islands, and 6 days back. At a recent holiday party a neighbor, of roughly the same age and temperament as myself, said that they had taken the same cruise on HAL a couple of years ago (pre-pandemic). All went well, he said, until the final 6 days when they were heading home. By that time they were tired of shipboard life -- same food, same atmosphere, same entertainment, same old same old. If they had had their druthers, he said, they would have disembarked at the final stop in Hawaii and flown back (obviously, not doable).

Is this a common experience? Right smack before the COVID shutdown, we did a 17-day Panama Canal transit from Fort Lauderdale to San Diego. We enjoyed it immensely, and our enjoyment never flagged. I have never welcomed the end of a cruise, including that one. Provided I have loaded up my Kindle before sail-away, I'm happy to while away my time on board. But are 5 sea days in a row before our final obligatory stop in Ensenada likely to test my endurance?

[crystalspin]

26 minutes ago, Petronillus said:

Provided I have loaded up my Kindle before sail-away, I'm happy to while away my time on board. But are 5 sea days in a row before our final obligatory stop in Ensenada likely to test my endurance?

Looking at your cruise history, I think you and your Kindle will be fine!

[Radbooks]

I haven't done that cruise with Holland, but have done it twice with Princess. For me, it was incredibly relaxing and I loved every minute with my Kindle and going to an occasional trivia game or fun event.  However, I did notice that some of the Princess passengers who were traveling with kids had a tough time and some of the kids got a bit wild. Maybe a bit stir crazy? 🙂

 

But, I enjoyed it enough to do it again and to sign up for a similar cruise in January of 24. 🙂

[Mary229]

Some people love the extensive days at sea, some don’t.

 

  I enjoy the spa, the gym, the hot tubs, the library. DH and my Sis, my alternate travel companions, are not so enamored with long sea days.  They are both fairly social and spend much of their days visiting with others and in conversation. I think after a while you have told all of your best stories😁.  

 

HAL used to have great lecture series, topical movies and other enriching ways to fill your days.  Those activities are now reserved for their grand voyages it seems.  
 

On the other hand DH hates flying so his next chosen cruise is round trip to Tahiti.  We will probably drive three days to port 

 

this is truly a know thyself moment, only you can decide.

[ski ww]

We enjoyed the sea days, hopefully they will have some interesting guest speakers. 

[shipgeeks]

We did a similar cruise on X a few years ago.  On the sea days going there, there were activities such as hula lessons, ukelele lessons, jewelry making, etc.  They helped me appreciate the islands. On the way back, we continued the classes, and gave a concert one day.

Knowing HAL, I would imagine they do something along those lines; well worth participating in.

In the end, I enjoyed the sea days, including on the way back, even more than the island days.  The whole cruise was a wonderful experience.

[Heartgrove]

We did this cruise for 18 days in 2018 on the Eurodam and agree with @shipgeeks. It sounds even more inviting with the additional food choices, venues, etc. onboard the Koningsdam! The only downer was the required stop in Ensenada on the last evening. There was an Engineering Department talk daily which was well attended and even included prizes.

[SilvertoGold]

Have done this one many times, 16 to 18 days R/T Vancouver and found the 5 days back were very relaxing, a time to decompress after 5 or 6 days straight in Hawaii. The two Hawaii cruises we did this year were a bit different because those days back did not have quite as much going on, few fewer classes, etc, but still lots to do if you that way inclined.  Food on these cruises did not include a lot of repeats (as Alaska does, week after week!) Agree with Crystalspin, you should be fine.  I would suggest you make reservations for any specialty restaurants early on because a lot of pax use those final days to "dine out" and reservations can sometimes be hard to come by.

Enjoy your cruise!

[Seasick Sailor]

We will be on Konigsdam Feb 18th for a 35 day Hawaii/Tahiti cruise. 

 

I love to read and enjoy sitting on our balcony with a cocktail and munchies. I have 8 books downloaded for our 45 day sail on Saturday. 

 

I enjoy trivia and HAL offers several settings. I can always find something to do, and if I get bored, I walk or people watch at the Lido pool.

 

Don't forget your Kindle charger! Have a wonderful cruise!

[FlaMariner]

Her Majesty and I were on the Rotterdam TA October 2021 (maiden voyage) and we could not stop in the Azores due to weather so we went 9 days at sea and did just fine. Her Majesty is one that I was concerned about the reaction to that many sea days and all was well.

 

Between the gym, thermal suite, trivia, different restaurants, promenade deck walking, reading, spa treatments, pool, hot tub, afternoon tea, EXC talks, casino, afternoon Lincoln Center, evening entertainment, naps, shopping, sunning on the top deck, movies on the lido at night, movies in the room.......so much to do but my advice is to go for variety and re-shuffle the deck of activities daily.  Never the same ole same ole....

 

The days flew by.

[TiogaCruiser]

8 hours ago, Petronillus said:

DW and I are looking forward to escaping a long Chicago winter by taking an 18-day Hawaii cruise on the Koningsdam out of San Diego, starting on 01/31/23. It's 6 days out, 6 days around the islands, and 6 days back. At a recent holiday party a neighbor, of roughly the same age and temperament as myself, said that they had taken the same cruise on HAL a couple of years ago (pre-pandemic). All went well, he said, until the final 6 days when they were heading home. By that time they were tired of shipboard life -- same food, same atmosphere, same entertainment, same old same old. If they had had their druthers, he said, they would have disembarked at the final stop in Hawaii and flown back (obviously, not doable).

 

... But are 5 sea days in a row before our final obligatory stop in Ensenada likely to test my endurance?

Of course, should you start to feel bored, you could ask yourself if you really preferred to be in that long, cold Chicago winter.

[Rowsby]

I've been on this cruise twice....and I love sea days....!!

 

There is entertainment and anticipation going to Hawaii on the first set of sea days.....and total relaxation coming back.....

 

I would think that only those diehard "port-loving" folks would have a problem....😉

[julia]

As SeasickSailor posted above, we're on the 35 day sailing following yours.  Our cruise ends with EIGHT sea days!  I'm a bit apprehensive about this, but I know that staying active, walking, reading, playing games and socializing will pass the time well.

[HappyInVan]

9 hours ago, Petronillus said:

But are 5 sea days in a row before our final obligatory stop in Ensenada likely to test my endurance?

 

 

Only you can tell whether 5 sea days is too much. I've done the Hawaii cruise. The sea days outbound was okay because everything was novel. On the return trip, the food, shows and talks were blah. Fortunately, I was prepared with Kindle. And, kept busy around the ship.

 

That said, I'll not do that itinerary again.

[Cruise NH]

We’re on the same cruise.  I don’t like sea days but it’s better than being home in the winter.  At least that’s how we look at it.  If it were cold and snowy at home we’d probably be stuck in the house anyway.

[DaveOKC]

We did this 5 years ago on Holland.  Going to Hawaii was fun and full of activities, but the 6 day return was a bore, with very few activities.  I would love to do a one way to Hawaii and fly home!

 

[AryMay]

2 minutes ago, DaveOKC said:

We did this 5 years ago on Holland.  Going to Hawaii was fun and full of activities, but the 6 day return was a bore, with very few activities.  I would love to do a one way to Hawaii and fly home!

 

We got lucky a few years ago and were able to book a one way to Hawaii on the NCL Pride of America following a drydock in San Francisco. The cruise stopped at 5 ports including an overnight in Kauai. We added a few days at the beginning to explore San Francisco and a few more at the end in Honolulu before flying home. A perfect mix of sea days, port visits and time on land. 

[robotpony]

We have a 18 day R/T from Vancouver booked to Hawaii this April and we're looking forward to the extra cabana days on the return leg. We tested this out in November with 3 days at the tail end of a 14 day Caribbean loop to make sure we'd enjoy it. We used the time to finish up a few books, and we explored other food options (like Nami, the Deli, and lunches/breakfasts at the uncharge restaurants), and the other EXC talks, dance numbers, movies, etc. 3 days disappeared quickly!

 

 

[Seasick Sailor]

I would suggest that anyone who has been holed up in a 30 below storm for 12 days in the mountains of Montana can find something fun to do 😉

 

 

 

[57redbird]

We're on the 35-day cruise in February & I'm not a fan of sea days...I'd like to pick up the cruise at it's last port in Hawaii (we've been to all the islands we're visiting), sail to the South Pacific & fly home from there.....but that's not going to happen.....

[vswan]

We did this cruise last April leaving from Vancouver. I generally book cruises with less sea days and more port days. On a 7 day I want at least 4 port days. I was pleasantly surprised that I really enjoyed the sea days. Came back very relaxed.

[Seasick Sailor]

22 minutes ago, 57redbird said:

We're on the 35-day cruise in February & I'm not a fan of sea days...I'd like to pick up the cruise at it's last port in Hawaii (we've been to all the islands we're visiting), sail to the South Pacific & fly home from there.....but that's not going to happen.....

 

My goodness,  why choose this cruise??

 

We have a timeshare since the 80's on Maui (Westin  KORV and Nanea) We've lived and visited the islands (except Molokai, but keep trying) and we are so looking forward to this cruise!

[Hlitner]

We have done cruises with 9 sea days in a row and another with 14 out of the first 16 at sea.  In our world we actually loved the sea days and resented getting to the ports :).  But, we have also seen some other cruisers who were hyper after one day at sea as they hated sea days.  Bottom line is that it all depends on the individual.  DW and I would probably enjoy a 2 month cruise with zero ports 🙂

 

Hank

[Loreto]

We did the Circle Hawaii cruise last February followed by the 7 day Mexican Riviera  HAL had outstanding enrichment activities from San Diego to Honolulu...The state of Hawaii required us to call first at Honolulu, which altered the cruise schedule and short changed us on the Kauai call.  The five days back had different performers...some really outstanding, in addition tho the Step One shows, and offered a variety of activities.

[JeffElizabeth]

I love the Hawaiian cruise, get to start with sea days to relax, port days in the middle to see the sights and then sea days to relax on the way back. The weather isn't as hot as the Caribbean or Canal cruises. Or as busy as the Alaskan cruises.