R/T Hawaii--Too Many Sea Days??

[Arisia]

I was reading on the Hawaii thread and found a couple of posters saying that the round trip to Hawaii had too many sea days. I would like more thoughts about this itinerary since my husband and I have booked the Island Princess for March 2006. Personally, I was looking forward to the number of sea days but I would like to hear other opinions. The most consecutive sea days we've experienced have only been two days.

 

Also, does anyone know what sea (as in how rough) conditions are prevalent in late March for the LA to Hawaii round trip?

Thanks!

[Florida Lady]

Never enough days at sea!!!

[spongerob]

If you like sea days, can there ever be enough?

[jsea]

We did Hawaii-Vancouver last year and for us, the 5 days at sea between the islands and Canada was simply too much. Despite having a large balcony stateroom with two rooms (sort of similar to a mini-suite on Princess), we still got cabin fever.

 

And while we normally like sea days, after a while when you're together with 2000 other passengers it can get to be a bit much.

 

Your mileage may vary, but, we now know that 2 days in a row at sea is our maximum.

[Toto2Kansas]

I love Sea Days, DH does not. But IF the weather does happen to get rough............with rain or cool temps, it can make sea days very long. It might have been that these passengers didn't enjoy it that much if the weather did not comply. And with Mother Nature, you just never know what the sea conditions will be in advance.

There is no way to predict what type of seas your cruise will encounter. We have repeated the same cruises before, same time of year and 1st time it was lovely, second time was a nitemare.................so it really is a toss of the coin what you might run into.

[PINEVIEW01]

On my Panama Canal Cruise, we had seven sea days. Thanks Frances, Ivan and Jahoblo (sp). I was just fine with it and will be doing a Transatlatic now that I know I truly can't get enough sea days:) My daughter, 25, on the other hand was getting antsy by day six. She couldn't get off that ship fast enough.

[DMorris]

I am doing the 15 day Hawaii trip on the Island Princess next year and can't wait for all the sea days. Great time to decompress before we hit the islands. Then coming home time to relax after going to much in Hawaii.

[SeaTrixie]

We did that cruise over the holidays last year and we loved it. The Island probably has more to keep busy than the Regal. Plus, your whether might be better at that time of the year.

 

Leaving Maui it was very rough. I'm still convinced we hit a whale at one point. There was the feeling of impact and then the lights flickered. I'd like to believe we didn't, tho. It was New Year's Eve. After my SIL mentioned that disaster movie that took place at sea on NYE (can't think of the name?), my daughter and I left the dining room and went to the Atrium where it was a lot calmer. That was the only really rough spot and it didn't last long.

 

I'd do that cruise again in heatbeat!

[Toto2Kansas]

Thinking of the Posiedon (sp) Adventure?

[Liner]

I did the QE2 transatlantic...took 6 nights to cross. In my opinion, it was way too short! Days at sea go by soooo fast! It was great to lounge around, listen to lectures, do things I don't do at home, like RELAX!

 

Just returned from the Panama Canal repositioning (ok..it was in October). We were 9 days at sea out of 16. Loved every minute of it! My MIL wanted to get OFF that ship! She had had enough of all that water! We had fun at her expense on that one!! :D

 

To each their own on the 'days at sea' dilemma!

[nhcruiser]

We sailed to Hawaii last spring aboard the Regal Princess. The ten sea days were filled quickly with daily Bridge play and extra activities put on by the cruise staff.

 

Fives days at sea, five days around the islands, five days back to the coast. It was the most relaxing vacation that we have had in years!

[kruisey]

Find I never get bored on days at sea I plan my next day after reading the Patter......after my daily 3 mile walk I go to Trivia ,Lunch...... the days fly by .

There are so many activities that sometimes they clash and I have to decide which one to drop .

Think if a person honestly does not fancy too many sea days there are many cruises that have no 'AT Sea' days at all......now thats one of the reasons I like the 'break of ' sea days'.....you can do lots of things....or nothing at all.

[GloriaF]

We were on the same cruise as nhcruiser, although we never met one another. My husband and I loved the sea days! I think you will find the Island has more to do than the Regal, but we were never bored on the Regal. It all depends on your personalities, and if you can be happy reading and relaxing. DH & I are quite happy to find a comfy spot and read for a couple of hours, go to the movies, play trivia, etc. One Warning: The weather was not warm enough for laying out on deck the first two days out of CA, and the last two days back to CA in early April, so you will need to take some warm clothes (think sweats) for being on deck for a portion of the trip if your weather is like ours was. The seas were rather rough for those same cooler two days both ways also. But we really did enjoy the cruise. 4 consecutive sea days really gives you an opportunity to decompress and relax and sleep late without fear of missing out on some activity.

[jagmanss1]

I am doing the 15 day Hawaii trip on the Island Princess next year and can't wait for all the sea days. Great time to decompress before we hit the islands. Then coming home time to relax after going to much in Hawaii.

We will be joinig DMorris on this cruise and could not agree more, We just got back from the 11/14/04 AOS Cruise with this group and with 2 sea days in between all it seemed like there were none..... We are Looking forward to the sea days....... If it rains, Who cares, If We sleep in, Who Cares, If we do nothing, Who cares, If we go to the Casino, Who cares, Sit by the pool, Who cares If we stay in the Balcony cabin and watch tv/sit on the balcony and EAT, Who cares and so on........ You get the idea....... There will always be something to do or not to do......... Point being....... It sure beats being at work, And if you were at home would you sleep in? Eat on your porch and have it deliverd to you, Relax..... NOPE!!!! I think Sea days are GREAT .... JMHO:D

[Arisia]

Thank you for all of your opinions and suggestions. DH and I are very easy to please--we enjoy just sitting and reading, watching movies, walking, enjoying the world go by etc. I think we'll enjoy the extended number of sea days. Perhaps I'm just a little concerned about sea days and bad weather! That possibility goes with the territory, though. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

 

GloriaF, thank you for the suggestion of bringing the warm clothes---will do!

 

Thanks again for all of your responses.

[Splinter]

Just came back from this trip (11/5-11/20) and loved the days at sea. After 5 frantic days of a port every day when we were in the Islands, the 5 days home were perfect to unwind, nap, take a computer class, surf the web, go to a lecture or two, nap some more, read a couple of good books, and just watch the ocean go by. Our longest cruise and one of our best was 20 days with 5 port days (San Francisco to Sydney on the Crystal Harmony) so we do love those sea days!

[cruisingfreak]

We'll be on the Island Princess in 2 weeks.

 

I'll let you know what I thought of all the sea days, when I get back.

 

 

 

Minette

[cdnguy]

We're just off the Island Princess Hawaii cruise last month. We love sea days but because the weather was cool and windy for a good part of the cruise we were only able to get outside about 4 of the ten sea days. Because of that I found 10 sea days rather long. If the weather was perfect we would not have had a problem. The weather is always unpredictable.

[Druke I]

Sea day lover here!

 

For that reason, my wife and I often book either trans-Atlantics or trans-Pacifics, which often have four or five sea days in a row.

 

I can honestly say that I have never been bored on a sea day. If nothing else, I enjoy reading and watching the world (and passengers) go by.

[Charlene]

As my Friend above cdnguy said, you must really think this cruise over. As it could be great sea days, or maybe some bad sea days. You just never know what mother nature will provide you for the weather!!!

[Pam in CA]

We were on the Regal to/from Hawaii last April and LOVED the sea days. There was so much to do that I couldn't find time to do everything I wanted to. The time went way too quickly. Rain, sun, warm, cold -- IMHO, you can't have too many sea days.

[SharkieRools]

I agree, you can never have enough sea days! Especially after 5 port days in a row, it's nice to have several days to relax and recover before hitting land again. The days on the way there are exciting too as you know that you are getting closer and closer to Hawaii! :cool:

 

Hawaii Cruise 2003 aboard Regal Princess