Favorite thing to do on sea days?

[I_heart_vaca]

I have never cruised before, and while fun, I do not want to spend all my time on sea days around the pool (can you say sunburn!)...So cruise pros, what is your favorite thing to do on sea days?

 

If it helps we are booked on Crown Princess, Western Caribbean and will have two sea days.

 

Thanks in advance! So far you all have been better resources for planning then the cruise line website or any books!! :D

[janina]

I go to trivia,watch a movie or do a spa treatment.:)

[mr green]

Play bridge!

 

john

[rdsqrl]

Well, I'm pretty much an sun lounger lizard, myself, but I never miss trivia, which happens twice a day. There will also be other "game" type things, demonstrations, bingo (which has a cost), and art auctions. There will be port talks but in the Caribbean, you can pretty much skip those as they're mostly shilling for the stores at which the cruise line/person speaking has kickbacks arranged. If I weren't able to be outside, I'd be doing the same thing inside as I do outside: read. The best spot indoors for that in the daytime is probably Skywalkers. Although the bar up there is closed during the day, you can still go up and sit -- the views are gorgeous. And if you want to be outside but not in the sun, aft of Sabatini's and Adagio is a nice little terrace with tables and chairs and a little fountain and, depending on the sun's direction, it generally is shaded at least part of the day. It has a fabulous view out over the aft pool and the wake of the ship. And I always peruse the shops onboard at least once -- you never know what you'll find (I'm partial to the $10 evening bags). Oh, and the casino, of course, if you gamble -- that's open all day, every day, for your wallet-shrinking pleasure!

[JimnKaren]

Sit on the open deck (away from the noise), try to read. When I wake up 20 minutes later, I reread that last page. When I wake up 10 minute later.....

 

Jim

[Toddy709]

In my day to day life I feel like a ball in a pinball machine from the time I wake up to the time I go to bed. When I'm on a cruise, there is nothing better than sitting on my balcony with a good book. Sometimes I'm even happy when we miss a port:o! I take Princess literally when they say "Escape Completely"!

[paul929207]

Trivia

Bridge

Enrichment lectures

Port Talk (not those that are just sales pitches)

Read

[Latitude 20]

We love sea days! I wrote about them on our TA here: http://latitude20dreamin.blogspot.com/2008/12/so-what-heck-do-you-guys-do-on-all.html. And my husband wrote a bit more humorously about them here: http://latitude20dreamin.blogspot.com/2008/12/leos-notes-on-sea-days.html.

 

This was on the Pacific Princess. You'll find many more activities offered on the Crown.

 

Have a wonderful first cruise!

[Adventures ahead]

Sea days are your 'days off' when you don't need to be anywhere at anytime. Book the Sanctuary for a day, or half-day, write in a journal, gaze at the ocean, read, walk the promenade deck and feel the wind in your hair, take pictures around the ship, go to the spa, have lunch in the dining room, enjoy a drink. Breathe in, breathe out! Heck, book another cruise or, at least, buy a Future Cruise Credit! Ahhhh....

[billco]

I take the Yoga, Pilates, and Spin classes.

I go for a run on the Promenade Deck.

Later in the morning, my wife and I will walk the Promenade Deck.

Enjoy a cappuccino in the atrium area.

Tea time.

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner.

Having a beer or two on the balcony.

MUTS in the evening.

Perhaps the port lectures.

Sex

[Times Prince]

Look at art, eat, look at sales (t-shirts, watches, etc), eat, sit on the balcony, stroll around the Promenade deck, take pictures of the ship, swim, eat, snack, talk with other passengers over a leisurely breakfast or lunch, view ice sculpture carving demo (a must see at least once), listen to live music in the atrium or around the pool, checkout future cruising, nap, have an ice cream cone, watch a movie, sit on a balcony watching the waves, read, talk with my Honey, check out the menus for dinner, wander through the shops, somewhere along the line buying something.

 

You'll be amazed at how the time flies, just relaxing ...

[Judicruise]

Not to mention that the casino will be open with slot tornaments on sea days...

 

Not that we spend any time there.....

[mickiemac]

We enjoy the entertainment in the atrium. Usually some nice music to listen to. Reading on our balcony or under the shade on the lido deck, wandering the ship and of course, tea time is a nice afternoon break.

[PescadoAmarillo]

My favorite thing to do (alone;)) is to listen to audiobooks on my iPhone as I walk. I do it everyday at home...it's like therapy, meditation and a massage all rolled into one. On ships, I love to smear on sunscreen and walk on the jogging track on Deck 19 (if there is one). It's the highest spot on the ship and the views, and the smells of the sea and the inevitable breeze make it unduplicatable at home.

 

And then I go and eat. :D

[KruzPrincess]

I sit on my balcony, read, watch the ocean go by, doze off, read, watch the ocean go by, go in and take a nap...you get the picture. I have stressful job and I just like to relax on the cruise.

[4cats4me]

I like to sleep in later than usual and then I like to walk around the track

[Rockymountainsparky]

Eat, drink and be merry.:D

[RebelSoul]

Sea days...

 

Sleep later, no rush to get up and run to eat breakfast and then go on shore

Relax out on our balcony, read a book, watch the water go by

Eat

Bingo

Trivia, trivia, trivia

Schloarships@Sea (did ceramics and Mother's Day cards last month on the CB)

Princess game shows (some are funny!)

Eat again, maybe Pub Lunch

Gym

Maybe Sanctuary for half a day

Snack from International Cafe

Wine tasting or afternoon tea

MUTS, if something good is playing

Meet up with some new friends we met on the cruise

Eat yet again

Private time with the DH :D

Casino if I am feeling like wasting money (never win)

Midnight snack, pizza!

Couple drinks at a bar

 

There is ALWAYS something to do on sea days. If nothing else, it's great to just sit and relax. You're on vacation after all. :)

[Princess Patches]

Buy future cruise credits!

[Go-Bucks!]

Sit on the open deck (away from the noise), try to read. When I wake up 20 minutes later, I reread that last page. When I wake up 10 minute later.....

 

Jim

 

 

LOL!! :D

 

Glad to hear I'm not the only one who can't seem to make much progress with my book while sitting in a lounge chair and relaxing!

[Treven]

I'll sit out on the Promenade deck reading and just watch people go by. OR, I'll sit on one of the other outside decks reading and watching people go by. AND, eat about 10 times per day - and read while watching people go by.

 

I don't mind sea days at all. I have a cruise coming up in '13 that is round trip out of SFO, to the Hawaiian Islands. That has 4 sea days each way.

[avalong]

To all of the great suggestions above I can only add: ping pong &/or paddle ball & the ridiculous-yet-somehow-fun miniature golf "course." :rolleyes:

 

I've also always wanted to try the cyber or virtual golf thing that's offered, but I've somehow never managed to work it in.....proof positive that there are more activities offered than you'll ever find time for.

[wilfros]

There are always MANY MANY things to do... But for me the favorite thing to do (HANDS DOWN) is walking along or sitting on a bench on the Promenade Deck. I think it is the absolute best place on the ship and so under used and perhaps under appreciated.

 

I could name at least 15 things to do on this outside deck but the absolute best is just sitting, in the shade if you prefer, and feel the wind on your face and hear the ocean interact with the bow of the ship and the rock and roll of the ship as you watch the horizon.

 

Now everything else the others have mentioned can be reproduced or done on shore. This is unique to being on a cruise ship! And I can't wait for our 8 days at sea next Feb as we sail to and from Hawaii. For me the best part of the itinerary are/is the days at sea.

 

Here are some 3D photos of the Promenade deck on Caribbean Princess. Viewing instructions available at http://3dcruiser.blogspot.com/ and select how to view these photos, link available in the right sidebar.

 

 

 

 

 

IMHO... The best kept secret on the Princess Cruise line. Feels like you are on an old ocean liner, especially the way Princess has fitted it out. They did a great job on a great deck.

 

I will be spending the better part of 8 great days on this deck on Golden Princess next winter.

[Faith77]

I spend a good chunk of time each day sitting, walking and just hanging out on the promenade deck. I like trying the different cruiselines, but since hanging out on this deck is a big part of a cruise for me, I do not want to cruise on a ship that doesn't have one.

 

On my last cruise I was out walking and sitting during sunsets most evenings. I tried to be on deck for the sunrises but that was a bit too early for me. I think that taking a cruise with 2 sea days is a good idea for a first cruise--you will find out this way if you like sea days. Enjoy! Faith

[OnVacation11]

Sleep in late

Leisurely latte, choc croissant, yogurt parfait in the Atrium

Walk/read/nap on Promenade deck

Lunch in the dining room

Tea and dessert in the Atrium

Visit shops/people watch

Walk/read/nap on the Promenade deck

Watch sunset

Dinner

 

Ahhh ! Looking forward to the above so much.... just a few more days !