Favorite thing to do on sea days?

[billco]

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.

Great pictures! But, in my opinion, the Promenade Deck on Grand class ships is too narrow. It is much wider on Coral/Island and has room for lounge chairs and more room for walkers/joggers, and runners.

 

Here is link to photo from Coral Princess

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/2035613101_a22309a91a_z.jpg

 

Dawn/Sea Princess Promenade deck is also much wider.

[sunviking82]

We had a 3 year run on the Crown (not continuously unfortunately) but just did the Western in the fall of 2010.

 

I personally love sea days. . .mine go something like this:

 

> Wake up when I want to!

> Take a 5K walk around the Promanade before breakfast

> Breakfast in the dinning room

> Daily Trivia and group trivia

> Find a spot in the sun with SPF 50 and either a book, ipod or word search

> Drink of the day

> Hot dog and burger or Pizza for lunch

> Nice soak in the pool

> Drink of the day. . again!

> Movie (in room or by the pool)

> Afternoon at IC snack and cards in the Piazza

> another 5K walk

> steam in the Sauna

> find wife at Bingo (she is with me most of the time. . lol)

> another drink, shower and get ready for the evening

> dinner and evening entertainment

> late night snack at IC

 

Sailing out for NYC in 24 day with 4 seas days! Can't wait!! Enjoy your sea days, always something fun to do, even if you just fall asleep on your balcany to the sound of the ocean. . .awwww:)

[texasgirl29]

Since I spend my life in land-lock, when I'm at sea I can just spend hours watching the sea rise and fall.

 

Of course, my husband, children and inlaws have other ideas -- so there's eating, swimming, miniature golf, those giant chess pieces, playing Monopoly in the game room, having a latte in the atrium, afternoon tea. Check out the photo gallery, just wander around in general.

 

On the Island Princess, the children had a talent show one afternoon. We also went to the crew farewell show and galley tour.

[geoherb]

I like to eat all of my meals in the dining room on sea days. It's a much more leisurely pace than fighting the crowds at the buffet. My partner and I will play trivia in the morning and the afternoon. He'll take a nap while pretending to read a book while relaxing on the Promenade Deck. I'll be walking laps. We'll enjoy a late afternoon swim, then it's time to get together with friends for a drink before dinner--perhaps enjoy tea midafternoon as well.

[Weluv2cruise2007]

This thread has me all excited for our next cruise!!

I guess I'm like most...my sea day is a little more leisurely, although we still get up early and go to the gym before breakfast. Sea days are "Pub Lunch" days which we always look forward to and one thing I don't think was mentioned was dance classes! The last few cruises we've been on have offered classes in like the Rumba, Cha Cha etc etc. I was shocked my husband was up for it but he actually liked it! We also like the trivia, Movies Under the Stars (or in this case, the Sun!), we ALWAYS work in an afternoon nap, go to tea in the dining room, sit around the Piazza people watching, drinking coffee and eating treats from the IC (which is why we get up early for the gym!). All in all, as others have said, sea days are the best!!

[BosoxI]

Nice pictures, Wilfros. My wife thinks I'm crazy but I've always wanted to bundle up on deck on a cool/cold day and drink boullion. It'll never happen,mostly because of all thecruises I've taken, only one ship, the old PacificPrincess, every served boullion on deck. Plus, being on deck can involve some wind, though you'd never know it looking at the hair of various movie stars.

[KruzPrincess]

Nice pictures, Wilfros. My wife thinks I'm crazy but I've always wanted to bundle up on deck on a cool/cold day and drink boullion. It'll never happen,mostly because of all thecruises I've taken, only one ship, the old PacificPrincess, every served boullion on deck. Plus, being on deck can involve some wind, though you'd never know it looking at the hair of various movie stars.

 

Actually, I bring a fleece blanket throw with me so I can wrap up in it on my balcony and still be out there even when it's cold. No boullion, though.

 

I have always loved the Promenade deck as well. I use it even when I book a balcony. I was disappointed that Princess made it so much narrower on the newer ship. They don't have room for a chaise. Huge loss, IMO.

[LoveThisCruisingThing]

I read a book, wander around the ship, get a coffee, sleep....then I repeat the same routine in the afterron. I am a creature of habit or laziness on sea days :D

[mina]

Wake up -- later than usual (7 am or so!)

Have coffee and english muffin on the balcony

Find my trusty ipod and make my way to the promenade

Oh -- what fun -- 6 or 7 laps listing to jimmy buffet sing about paradise (geeze -- hope those people that just passed did not really hear my singing -- their giggling must have been over something else!).

Go back to the room and join DH for a real breakfast in the HC.

Make my way to the gym -- 30 mins on the eliptical -- more "Jolly man" on the pod.

Change into my swimsuit in the spa shower -- and relax at the spa pool hot tubs for an hour or so.

Take a shower in a BIG stall in the SPA.

Make my way up to the room -- grab a book and read till its time to eat.

Eat.

Wait for room in the tummy to be made.

Eat Again.

Wait for room in the tummy.

Eat More.

Watch a movie and fall asleep.

Wake up surprised that there is now room in the tummy

order room service.

[BoPippy]

Get up LATE...8 am!

Eat...yummy breakfast

Wander around ship..read patter to see what shows tonight.

Get a good spot around pool....swim,tan,read,swim,read.

Bucket of cold beer,Pizza,burgers,fries

Swim

Listen to entertainment live outside

Back to room for hot sex like the honneymoon days

Shower

Back to pool,swim,read,eat.

Back to room to get ready(sea day)Formal night...fun again.

Off to a show(Beatle Maniacs is great)

Have a drink out on balcony

Back to bed and another round of Sex again

Thank God ,i brought a stash of Viagara and finally a walk around the Promenade deck and off to sleep with a little tv.

Then,dead to the world!!!

Repeat again tomorrow.......if a sea day.

 

or

do absolutely nothing....no KIDS!!

[wilfros]

Great pictures! But, in my opinion, the Promenade Deck on Grand class ships is too narrow. It is much wider on Coral/Island and has room for lounge chairs and more room for walkers/joggers, and runners.

 

Here is link to photo from Coral Princess

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2359/2035613101_a22309a91a_z.jpg

 

Dawn/Sea Princess Promenade deck is also much wider.

 

 

You may be right, but the fittings, the teak decks and lockers, the fact it goes completely around the bow of the ship, just makes it perfect for me. Yes, early in the morning the joggers were there, but everyone was courtious and there were no problems what so ever.

 

Here is a photo of Carnival Pride's deck, while wide there was NOTHING on it. Nowhere to sit and enjoy the deck. Such a waste. IMHO

 

 

But still a nice quiet place to walk.

[Kinkacruiser]

An excellent thread for those who think they will be bored on a cruise. Have you found that non-cruisers ask, "what do you do all day?"

[Cymro1953]

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!

 

That's a bummer, I've just bought a Kindle so i can do loads of reading

from saturday onwards :D

I found on our 1st cruise it was the only time I actually sat and did nothing for over 2 hours while cruising along the Italian coast

 

Berwyn

[juniper berries]

Sea days love them a way to relax from the days that you are not doing shore excurssions. I love to have breakfast on the balcany. then sit and knit and watch the diferent ships going by. Also keeping an eye out for dolphins which i was lucy enough to see on our last cruise in the Med. and in the carrabian and in the carribian flying fish. Alos as mentioned the pub lunch. And In the carribian you can do the Cancer walk to raise money for The SusanG Colman fund to find a cure for breast cancer. I have done it on on the Crown and on the Ruby in the Carrabian. They didnot do it in the Med last fall. You do 7 laps around the promade deck or as may as you are able to do. the provide light refeash ments .There is a donation off the top of my head I think it is 15.00Us the last time I did it. You also get a baseball cap.They mention this walk in the patter an you just sign up at the pusers desk. I will do it again if it is offered on the emerald this year in the Carrabian. It is a good excuse to get some exersie to walk off all the calories consumed. Aso when changing time zones it gives your body a chance to ajust to the time change. If there is one. There is always something to do just check the patter. Hope this helps give you some ideas as to things to do. You may find they are a really great part of the cruise experince.

[Weluv2cruise2007]

Get up LATE...8 am!

Back to room for hot sex like the honneymoon days

Back to bed and another round of Sex again

Thank God ,i brought a stash of Viagara and finally a walk around the Repeat again tomorrow.......if a sea day.

 

or

do absolutely nothing....no KIDS!!

 

Lol!! TOO MUCH INFORMATION!!!!

 

Then again, we do make it a personal goal to "christen" each port....;)

[I_heart_vaca]

WOW! So, the moral of the story is...LOTS to do. Good to know, and some great suggestions. Thank you all so much. Can't wait to see more ideas!

[whale-watcher]

...So cruise pros, what is your favorite thing to do on sea days?

 

Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

 

My work days are beyond busy, and I like to have busy port days as well, but it is nice to have some down time now and then on vacation

[luxurysailer]

Eat breakfast and lunch in the MDR

Attend lectures on history/geography, etc of the area being visited

Play trivia

Play cards

Explore the ship

 

On our upcoming cruise in September I'm bringing my iPod and small speaker. We hope to find a place with a dance floor where we won't be disturbing others and do some dancing.

[jean s]

I love sea days so much that I could go on a ten day cruise of all sea days. I just love to get up in the morning and start with a leisurely breakfast in the dining room. Then I do a couple of miles on the promenade deck. I follow this with some people watching and I attend any interesting activities. During the afternoon I enjoy a good book on our balcony with a lunch delivered from room service accompanied by a couple of nice glasses of wine. Of course duirng this time my husband sleeps late, has a really late breakfast, makes multiple donations to the casino, takes a nap and then returns to the casino.

[Gail & Marty sailing away]

sit back and read

[t60]

On our upcoming cruise in September I'm bringing my iPod and small speaker. We hope to find a place with a dance floor where we won't be disturbing others and do some dancing.

 

We would like to be able to do this as well but have never managed to find somewhere....any ideas where we might practice on Star Princess?

 

Sandy in Spain

[avalong]

And of course there's always the most stereotypical cruising activity of all: shuffleboard! :D

[Weluv2cruise2007]

We would like to be able to do this as well but have never managed to find somewhere....any ideas where we might practice on Star Princess?

 

Sandy in Spain

 

Club Fusion and Explorers can't possibly be busy all day (they usually alternate for activities)...just check the Patter and try to coordinate! Maybe even Skywalkers....not sure if anything is going on in there during the day.

[6pack]

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

 

I do what I usually experience at a 4 or 5 star resort - Relax and enjoy a cocktail or two by the pool deck!!

[Bob++]

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!

 

You missed the jigsaw puzzle in the Library...:)