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Sea Days on the Westerdam- What do most folks do on Sea Days on a 12 day cruise?


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Hey.. so this is my first cruise in many years and I am enthusiatically anticipating a blast on my port call days (Western Med) but wondering what most folks do (besides sleep in and chill) on their sea days. Would love to hear the suggestions. I know they have ATKitchen but is it reasonably easy to get in or is it impossible? I've heard that all the activities are impossible when the entire ship is on board during a sea day but just curious what others have found. I generally can be self entertained so I'm not too worried but.....:*

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Not sure where you are hearing that "activities are impossible", because there is no way everyone is going to want to do the same things at the same time.

 

You can do what you wish. Lounge by the pool. Read. Play in the casino. Workout. Plan your next port day. Whatever you wish.

 

There will be planned activities. First sea day will have a galley tour- usually well attended. Several other planned activities.

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My personal perfect sea day: Eat, read, eat, nap, walk the deck, eat, watch the view from the Crow's Nest, read, nap, walk the deck, eat.

 

No matter if it is 1 sea day or 8 in a row, it works so well for me!

 

Have a super cruise!

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If I can get into one, I try to do a cooking class (hands on, not a demo) once per cruise. Most other daytime activities don't interest me. I might go to afternoon tea, if I remember to go early to get a seat. We go to the spa if there's a hydropool. We sit on our balcony and read and watch the ocean. I catch up on my journal and sort/cull pictures. I don't know where the time goes, but it does.

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There will be various talks scheduled to choose from - the longer the cruise, the more enrichment talks, or just upcoming port talks or previews of shore excursion offerings. We find these helpful when deciding what we want to do in port, even if we don't take a ship's excursion. Those will be in the show room.

 

Some are presented as "talks" but intact are spa services sales pitchers, or art sales pitches. But some of the art talks can be interesting. There is a movie theater - as well as movies on demand or by DVD in your cabin.

 

We also like to browse the library (or what is left of it on some of the ships), browse the shops, or the Lido deck special sales. We read a lot, and I listen to books on my iPod while either in the library or lounge or outdoors on deck.

 

Quite honestly, by the time we finish late breakfast and do one activity we are already heading into lunch, then a few hours to be lazy and then get cleaned up for dinner and a show or music. We usually fit in three lectures a day when the cruises are long enough for a dedicated speakers series. Time for some gym activity too and certainly a few strolls around the full promenade deck.

 

Plus there can be talks by the officers, ship tours, and all the other passenger favorites like Trivia and religious services, special interest meetings, bridge, tech classes ...... or look on the bulletin board in the library or by the front desk to see if anyone is asking to join playing board games or cards. There is even an ongoing puzzle table that people stop by for a bit and add to the growing puzzle.

 

Hey, there is even shuffle board, and other outdoor games - like pickle ball and basketball. So one can be both active or passive. But bored? Unlikely. The biggest problem is eating too much during the spare time, because there are options all over the ship at different times.

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Hey.. so this is my first cruise in many years and I am enthusiatically anticipating a blast on my port call days (Western Med) but wondering what most folks do (besides sleep in and chill) on their sea days. Would love to hear the suggestions. I know they have ATKitchen but is it reasonably easy to get in or is it impossible? I've heard that all the activities are impossible when the entire ship is on board during a sea day but just curious what others have found. I generally can be self entertained so I'm not too worried but.....:*

 

There are always activities to take part in. I have no idea why you think ALL activities are impossible.

Also, casino is open, spa is available, socializing with other passengers is always an option. Use the gym, walk around the promenade, use the pool, find a quiet nook and read.

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We are so looking forward to our upcoming sea days on the Westerdam! Looking forward to being together, enjoying quality time and crusing... my biggest prority is sun and chilling outside... DH and DD spoil me... we play cards, hang out, brunch and enjoy a few cocktails... also will try and make it to the cooking lecture or other lectures that might interest... its just a time of total relaxation!!! love it and counting the weeks

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All of the above and the one I enjoy is the MicroSoft Digital Workshop which is a hands on computer class about organizing your pictures, editing photos, blogs & anything about Windows 10.

Allan

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I have a very active schedule on Sea Days, I don't know how I keep up. It begins with Breakfast, then some walking off of breakfast, then read for a few hours, then take a nap, lunch, walk off lunch, then read for a few hours, a short nap, so I can make it to trivia, then dinner, walk off dinner, and I usually end the night with a bit of time in the casino or just find some place to read a little bit more. Some days I am totally exhausted from this vigorous routine every sea day. You do get bonus points for watching both the sun rise and the sun set in the same day.

 

Seriously though, I love the sea days, you can do as much as little as you want. I love HAL's libraries, but it sounds like on the newer ships they are not what we are used to.

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If I can get into one, I try to do a cooking class (hands on, not a demo) once per cruise. Most other daytime activities don't interest me. I might go to afternoon tea, if I remember to go early to get a seat. We go to the spa if there's a hydropool. We sit on our balcony and read and watch the ocean. I catch up on my journal and sort/cull pictures. I don't know where the time goes, but it does.

 

very helpful.. thanks!:)

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There will be various talks scheduled to choose from - the longer the cruise, the more enrichment talks, or just upcoming port talks or previews of shore excursion offerings. We find these helpful when deciding what we want to do in port, even if we don't take a ship's excursion. Those will be in the show room.

 

Some are presented as "talks" but intact are spa services sales pitchers, or art sales pitches. But some of the art talks can be interesting. There is a movie theater - as well as movies on demand or by DVD in your cabin.

 

We also like to browse the library (or what is left of it on some of the ships), browse the shops, or the Lido deck special sales. We read a lot, and I listen to books on my iPod while either in the library or lounge or outdoors on deck.

 

Quite honestly, by the time we finish late breakfast and do one activity we are already heading into lunch, then a few hours to be lazy and then get cleaned up for dinner and a show or music. We usually fit in three lectures a day when the cruises are long enough for a dedicated speakers series. Time for some gym activity too and certainly a few strolls around the full promenade deck.

 

Plus there can be talks by the officers, ship tours, and all the other passenger favorites like Trivia and religious services, special interest meetings, bridge, tech classes ...... or look on the bulletin board in the library or by the front desk to see if anyone is asking to join playing board games or cards. There is even an ongoing puzzle table that people stop by for a bit and add to the growing puzzle.

 

Hey, there is even shuffle board, and other outdoor games - like pickle ball and basketball. So one can be both active or passive. But bored? Unlikely. The biggest problem is eating too much during the spare time, because there are options all over the ship at different times.

 

Thanks! Very helpful!:halo:

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What do you do at home?

 

I generally stay physically very busy with myself and now that I have heard that the internet is lousy/expensive... my 'quiet' time is generally on the internet (like now with cc;)); I probably won't be geeking up too much.

 

I have heard that the sea days activities are very busy and thus hard to get a seat at the cooking class, massage, seat by the pool, seat in the lounge near the music etc. It makes sense but since I stated in my OP, its my first cruise in 20 years. My husband is older and so we often hang in the AM when I'm not working but we move at different RPMs.

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I generally stay physically very busy with myself and now that I have heard that the internet is lousy/expensive... my 'quiet' time is generally on the internet (like now with cc;)); I probably won't be geeking up too much.

 

I have heard that the sea days activities are very busy and thus hard to get a seat at the cooking class, massage, seat by the pool, seat in the lounge near the music etc. It makes sense but since I stated in my OP, its my first cruise in 20 years. My husband is older and so we often hang in the AM when I'm not working but we move at different RPMs.

 

for the cooking classes, I suggest you ask and sign up on embarkation day. The "hands on" cooking classes can fill up fast. But the "viewing ones" are open to all at no charge.

 

I've never had a problem booking anything in the spa, finding a seat by the Adagio or a seat by the pool (although I prefer the aft unless friends are in the Lido section or something is going on).

 

On sea days, we like to go to the Pinnacle Grill for lunch now and then. $10 regular price and a steal IMO. It's a great selection, good food and beats the sometimes hectic Lido.

 

At the risk of being flamed, we also have other activities that can keep us occupied because they are roll call created.

 

So, visit your roll call for your cruise. At the very least go to the meet and greet and you might well find that you meet some great people that you might want to hang out with.

 

If there are enough sea days, they might do their own activities - they may appeal to you and they may not - either way, no worries. But it is another option.

 

Our roll calls also have special interest groups - sometimes it is sit and stitch, ipad get togethers to learn, mah jonng, whatever. All up to the roll call. You just go if it is of interest.

 

One activity as silly as it sounds is bingo - I only play on the ships. it can be a hoot with the right person;)

 

I've done more sea days in a row - 8 scheduled and 10 unscheduled - it's all about the ship and the crew with their special touches and they go faster than you would think.

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Sea days are the best!

 

Sleep in and then have an unhurried breakfast

Walk around the deck and look at the ocean. Watch for whales or dolphins (depending on where you are).

Team Trivia!!!

Take in a movie if one interests you.

Go on kitchen tours, watch demonstrations of fruit/veggie carving or towel animal folding...I always get a kick out of these!

Swim in the pool, and then get into the hot tub to talk with friends or make friends.

Take a nap on a deck lounge chair.

Read a good book, especially one related to your ports of call or route. Take a "beach book" (or two or three) as well.

Check out the ship's library for games and guide books.

Make friends and find interesting people to chat with in the lounges, Lido, and by the pool.

Take lessons (dancing, flower arranging, ukulele etc.) that are offered, depending on your cruise.

Take another nap before dressing for dinner.

 

Notice I didn't include bingo, the "art" sales, or loosing money in the casino, all of which hold no interest for me, but if those things appeal to you, go for it.

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OP: On your first sea day: explore the ship, find your favorite spot(s), have a M&G. On your second sea day, recover from the last five port days and recharge for your next four!

 

(Not counting Barcelona or Civitavecchia, you have nine ports in eleven days. You will not be bored!)

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On our first cruise there was one sea day when we never even got dressed..[emoji33][emoji33]. We sat on the balcony on our robes ( sometimes.[emoji41]) and had them bring us food. We napped. Watched movies. Talked to each other. Read. Day drank, lol. It was wonderful

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

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Westerdam earlier this month:

 

The hands-on cooking class was offered once-- while in PORT!

They had the free cooking demonstration on sea days-- I didn't get the name of the guy on the stage but he was excellent... surprised no "samples" after (I wanted one of those brownies!!) :loudcry:

 

A large group of teens and even some men joined for soccer on the sports deck.

The digital classes by Microsoft are very basic... but I dropped by a few and picked up a trick or two.

 

My real problem with sea days is that they go too fast! That's the day we start out lazy and after the port lecture, it's time for lunch. I had every intention of going to the pool, but after a walk and making the mistake of starting an on-demand movie in the cabin, it was time to start preparing for dinner!

 

In other words, the time will disappear quickly.

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Westerdam earlier this month:

 

The hands-on cooking class was offered once-- while in PORT!

They had the free cooking demonstration on sea days-- I didn't get the name of the guy on the stage but he was excellent... surprised no "samples" after (I wanted one of those brownies!!) :loudcry:

 

A large group of teens and even some men joined for soccer on the sports deck.

The digital classes by Microsoft are very basic... but I dropped by a few and picked up a trick or two.

 

 

y real problem with sea days is that they go too fast! That's the day we start out lazy and after the port lecture, it's time for lunch. I had every intention of going to the pool, but after a walk and making the mistake of starting an on-demand movie in the cabin, it was time to start preparing for dinner!

 

In other words, the time will disappear quickly.

 

Very helpful info ... THANKS;)

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On our first cruise there was one sea day when we never even got dressed..[emoji33][emoji33]. We sat on the balcony on our robes ( sometimes.[emoji41]) and had them bring us food. We napped. Watched movies. Talked to each other. Read. Day drank, lol. It was wonderful

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Forums

 

Sounds like a dream!;)

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Sea days are the best!

 

Sleep in and then have an unhurried breakfast

Walk around the deck and look at the ocean. Watch for whales or dolphins (depending on where you are).

Team Trivia!!!

Take in a movie if one interests you.

Go on kitchen tours, watch demonstrations of fruit/veggie carving or towel animal folding...I always get a kick out of these!

Swim in the pool, and then get into the hot tub to talk with friends or make friends.

Take a nap on a deck lounge chair.

Read a good book, especially one related to your ports of call or route. Take a "beach book" (or two or three) as well.

Check out the ship's library for games and guide books.

Make friends and find interesting people to chat with in the lounges, Lido, and by the pool.

Take lessons (dancing, flower arranging, ukulele etc.) that are offered, depending on your cruise.

Take another nap before dressing for dinner.

 

Notice I didn't include bingo, the "art" sales, or loosing money in the casino, all of which hold no interest for me, but if those things appeal to you, go for it.

 

Very helpful THANKS. I'm like you.. Bingo, Art Sales, Wine Blending, games, etc. does nothing for me either. ;)

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Not worrying about when I can get off the ship & if I have all of the stuff that I might need in port.

 

Not worrying about when I need to be back on the ship, how far away from the ship am I, is there a lot of traffic, etc.

 

Day drinking & flitting about like a dry leaf of a brisk autumn day.:D

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