How I Maximize Relaxation & Fun on Cruise Sea Days

I’ve mentioned many, many, many times that I’m the most happy on a cruise ship.  One of the things I  look forward to the most are sea days.  Sea days are free from schedules and responsibilities, and rather than thinking I’m “stuck” on the ship, I embrace the solitude of the open sea and nowhere to be.  On these days I fly out of bed and pack in the day with all the things I don’t have time for at home.

 

 

Explore: get to know the ship

I LOVE getting up early (yes, I know I’m on vacation and I’m supposed to sleep in…) and exploring the ship before most of the crowd stirs.  I like to walk each deck and orient myself with all the restaurants, shops, pools, and other amenities onboard.  This is the perfect opportunity to window shop and check out bars and lounges before they open, as if you’re on a personal behind-the-scenes tour.  And if you’re an Instagrammer, this is also the perfect time to take shots around the ship without other cruisers in your shots.

 

 

Exercise: hit the gym or walk the decks

We eat the Warm Chocolate Melting Cake, and this is a judge free zone.  And I consume quite a bit of wine on cruises as well, so I like to get a workout or two in so I don’t feel toooooo guilty about the calories.  Most gyms on cruise ships are strategically placed in the front of the ship with lovely views of the open sea and blessed air conditioning.  There’s usually plenty of ellipticals, treadmills, and free weights, and most ships also offer group classes.  I like to start out at the gym until I get bored (I am me, after all) and then head to the track above the Lido deck (until I get hot), and then walk the decks (until I get hungry).  My point is…earn those desserts.

 

 

Eat whenever: have brunch, attend a cooking demonstration, and/or enjoy afternoon tea

The only time I worry about is dinner time in the main dining room.  Otherwise, and especially on sea days, I can eat breakfast or brunch whenever.  Screw schedules.  If you’re not into early morning exploring or hitting the gym, by all means sleep in like a normal person.  And then go have brunch!  After brunch, there’s usually afternoon tea, tacos on the Lido deck, and on Carnival there’s a cooking demonstration in the afternoon that you have to show up early for.  Sea days are like the weekend day…any day!

 

 

Relax: read a book, take a nap, or just watch the waves go by in the lounge

And because I wake up early every day and try to maximize time, I tend to hit a wall in the afternoon.  Never mind the wine I’ve already consumed by this point (this is a judge free zone, remember?).  So retreating to our stateroom for a nap or reading is bliss.  Bonus if you have a balcony, because you can also enjoy the peace and quiet of watching the waves from your own personal space.  Once my energy is recharged and restored, it’s time to get down again.

 

 

Wine a bit: attend a wine tasting or create one of your own

Some cruise lines have wine tasting on sea days, and I applaud those cruise lines!  Princess Cruises packs wine tastings in, as well as Norwegian Cruise Line.  I was just getting into wine back when Carnival still hosted wine tastings, and those were some great memories!  If you’re on a cruise line that doesn’t host wine tastings but you have a beverage package, then make your own!  Get together with your friends and other cruisers and order/share literally every wine on the menu (why not? You have nowhere better to be!).

 

 

Scheduled events: attend trivia, art auctions, and port lecture

Trivia!! I’m either a rock star or a fumbling idiot, and either way it’s so much fun!  If you do nothing else on the rest of the cruise, do yourself a favor and check the schedule for fun and quirky things to do on sea days.  Your cruise director is the manager of fun.  Take his/her advise and attend an art auction, port lecture, poolside shenanigans…do all the things!

 

 

So now you know my sea day routine…what do you like to do on sea days?

 

More Cruise Tips, Packing Lists, and Past Cruise Adventures:

First 24 Hours on a Cruise Ship: Do’s and Don’ts

Cruise Tips: Planning and Packing

My Cruise Kit: The Practical & the Ridiculous

A Cruise Must: Chef’s Table on Carnival Cruises

Cruise Packing Lists: Backpack & Rolling Suitcase Packing Checklists

Carry-On Suitcase Packing List (Packing Checklist for the Overhead Bin)

Carry-On Bag Packing List (Packing Checklist for Under the Seat)

These Are a Few of My Favorite Western Caribbean Cruise Things (Part 1: Cozumel & Progreso, Mexico)

These Are a Few of My Favorite Western Caribbean Cruise Things (Part 2: Belize, Honduras, Grand Cayman, and Jamaica)

Read about our Mediterranean cruise here and British Isles cruise here and Alaskan Cruise here.

Don’t forget a corkscrew (read about my TSA-compliant Carry-On Corkscrew here)!

 

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