What is your "normal" cruise day?

[UlsterLad]

Have asked this before, but think this is the right forum for it.

 

Just booked my first ever cruise for my honeymoon (NCL Jade - Greek Isles)! So I was wondering what a day on a cruise is actually like, I know this varies wildly depending on the person, ship, location and if it's a port/sea day.

 

So, what does your day look like on a ship? In as much detail as you wish, the more the merrier I say! I'm just intrigued to find out what an "average day" looks like and have some fun seeing what people get up to!

[cruiserking]

Have asked this before, but think this is the right forum for it.

 

Just booked my first ever cruise for my honeymoon (NCL Jade - Greek Isles)! So I was wondering what a day on a cruise is actually like, I know this varies wildly depending on the person, ship, location and if it's a port/sea day.

 

So, what does your day look like on a ship? In as much detail as you wish, the more the merrier I say! I'm just intrigued to find out what an "average day" looks like and have some fun seeing what people get up to!

 

It really depends what your itinerary is. Since you'll be traveling to Europe your cruise will be very port intensive.

 

Port Day

On European cruises we're always up very early.We'll either grab a fast bite at the Buffet Restaurant or order room service if we have a very early tour booked. We're either booked on an all-day excursion or if we're docked in a city like Barcelona we'll go exploring on our own.

 

I usually do a ton of research before each cruise so I have a list of places to go and things to see.

 

Sea Day

I'm always up very early so excited to be back on a ship. I have a wander around the public spaces, it's so beautiful early in the morning when no one else is around. If the ship is arriving at port early I love going to the forward section and watch the twinkling lights and tiny dots gradually morph into villages and cities, it's quite thrilling.

 

Around 7:30 or 8:00 am my wife and I will head for the main dining room for breakfast.

 

We always enjoy Pub Trivia at 10:00 am and several times during the day. Afterwards I like to head over to the computer area and post some comments to a Live Thread on Cruise Critic.

 

We take a stroll around the promenade. Go the MDR for lunch around noon.

Relax by the pool, read, people watch. Sea days are very enjoyable. It's always very pleasant to just enjoy your time aboard the ship, the sights and sounds and the next thing you know it's time for dinner.

 

Enjoy researching all of your ports, visit the port of call section here on Cruise Critic, join your Roll Call and have a great cruise.

 

Jonathan

Edited May 30, 2015 by cruiserking

[cb at sea]

There is no "normal"....everyone is so different!

 

What do you do at a resort hotel? Well, that's what you'll do on a sea day, most likely! Port days are a different kettle of fish...it does depend on your ports....some folks never leave the ship, others spend the entire day ashore...some go out for a while, then come back to a virtually empty ship,....

 

Why don't you tell US what you think your day will be like? (Leave out the "honeymoon" bits!!!)

[UlsterLad]

I know there's so much to do, that's why I'm asking... More a fun/nosey question on my part I suppose (I do enjoy hearing what other folk get up to), I'm torn between doing every activity there is and doing absolutely nothing. I'm also concerned that due to the drinks package that was a special offer that the whole thing will be slightly hazey! Since we've never been on a cruise before some of the shows look cool, like the cirque du soleil type stuff.

 

I imagine our day will go something like, get up, get breakfast, get off ship, do our own thing while off ship, come back, have a nap due to the dancing and late nights, grab dinner then go to a show/pub quiz before finishing the night with some dancing! Although I notice that there's no pool time in there, which is definietly something that would appeal to both of us, so maybe do that after our nap! So much to do, so little time!

Edited May 30, 2015 by UlsterLad

[SteveH2508]

First point: no Cirque du Soleil show on the Jade per se - however the theatre shows do have aerial artists etc..

 

DO NOT MISS Elements - it is a superb show which mixes magic, acrobatics and dancing with some humour.

 

Look out for the Martini tastings on sea days - good laugh and and a good slug of booze to boot for a very reasonable price ($15 + grat for 6 mini-martinis at least). Beware - the after-nap can screw up your evening plans;).

[Bookish Angel]

or rather, I lounge late as at middle age I am generally unable to sleep past about 6:30 a.m. I stay in bed and doze or read, often missing breakfast. My husband, an early riser, will bring me fruit and ice water so I have something before lunch.

 

Once upright, I'll grab my non e-reader book and find a shaded, quiet area to read while hubby runs in the gym or on a track. We meet up for lunch, where I eat a healthful, generally meat-free meal. After lunch, I'll read some more and/or attend an educational lecture if offered. Hubby likes cooking/food seminars and internally laughing at the art auctions. and their schtick. Hubby and I will join up to go to an adult pool or a hot tub or to watch a film if a good one is offered.

 

Once the sun gets low, I put on my walking garb, add more sunscreen and do 45 -60 minutes of FAST walking then hit the shower and get ready for dinner. After dinner we might see a show though neither of us attend the singing/dancing production shows, post lectures, etc. We enjoy good comedians.

 

We will infrequently have an after dinner drink but usually just browse the shops at which we rarely buy anything, loosely plan our next port day, stroll on deck if it is not hot, etc.

 

Port days: We do much on our own using local transportation, having planned our day via guideboks, internet, etc. We don't care to shop so we might go to a local restaurant or much more likely, I will go with my husband to a local restaurant as he is an adventurous eater. We both like museums, art exhibits, bookstores, libraries, nice beaches, animal conservation places, aimlessly riding local buses and talking to local folks and walking around. We are both loners so prefer to be on our own.

 

While cruising does not make up the bulk of our travel wish list, it does offer a relaxing vacation with lots of down time and the right amounts of alone time and togetherness.

Edited May 30, 2015 by Bookish Angel

[Velvetwater]

Sea day

 

Get up and have breakfast in the Lido Buffet (sometimes early enough for a sunrise)

 

Get some early morning swimming in while the pools are less busy and maybe relax with some reading

 

Have Lunch at a casual dining spot or in the Lido Buffet

 

In the afternoons I will usually be found playing trivia or drinking with friends. Maybe observing an event like a food demo or a participation show. Most likely at Trivia. If nothing grabs me I will be in the pool again.

 

Around 5 its back to the cabin for a shower and relaxing in my robe while I put on my make up and get my evening attire and hair sorted.

 

Head to dinner around 6-7ish and usually done by 8.30.

 

Hit an evening show or some more Trivia or drinks with friends then (if Carnival) go and see comedy.

 

If the mood takes me I might be in the club til the wee hours

 

Port day

 

Get up while the boat is parking and head up on deck to watch her dock

 

Have breakfast in the Lido buffet

 

As soon as possible head ashore (if its a beach port I head there first for more early swimming before the crowds)

 

Spend most of my port time wandering about and finding local eats and drinks (never return to the ship to eat) and doing shopping in the local markets and shops and cultural places of interest and museums. I tend to not book tours but will book the odd thing like snorkelling.

 

Head back to the ship 45 minutes before sail away

 

Watch pier runners then watch the ship pull out of port

 

Around 5 its back to the cabin for a shower and relaxing in my robe while I put on my make up and get my evening attire and hair sorted.

 

Head to dinner around 6-7ish and usually done by 8.30 or if port has made us tired have some casual eats on an open deck near the Lido.

 

Hit an evening show or some more Trivia or drinks with friends then (if Carnival) go and see comedy.

 

If the mood takes me I might be in the club til the wee hours

[sykimball1498]

Sea Day

 

We get up about 8:30am and get ready for breakfast in the dining room. We enjoy a leisurely breakfast of about an hour and then head back to the room to change into swimsuits.

 

From 9:45 to about noon I lay out in the sun and have a cocktail.

 

We enjoy a nice lunch around 12:30 in the dining room.

 

On some sea days we will then take a nap, on others we will enjoy games and/or trivia if offered.

 

About 5 we will begin to get ready for dinner. After this we will stop and get a drink on the way to dinner as we usually do anytime dining.

 

We spend about 2 hours at dinner and then onto the show.

 

After the show we either hit a party for dancing or head to bed, depends on what we have going on the next day.

 

Port Day

 

We usually get up about 7am and head to breakfast in the dining room. We then gather everything we need from the room and meet up in the theatre to get called for our shore excursion.

 

We usually choose to do early morning shore excursions if possible as it can get hot in the afternoon in the Caribbean.

 

We then head back to the ship for a quick bite and then we shop for a couple of hours.

 

Once back on ship we either rest or grab a couple of cocktails by the pool.

 

Then we repeat the same evening we do every night: get ready for dinner, pre dinner cocktail, dinner with wine, show and dancing.

[SPacificbound]

A question with many possible answers. :)

 

I'm retired, I don't have a "normal" (as in usual) day. :D

 

A day in port, unless we have a (private) tour booked we will wander around to see what we see for however long we feel like it, and then go back to the ship.

Or stay on the ship if the port doesn't interest us.

 

On a sea day we do whatever we feel like doing, whenever we feel like doing it.

 

One "normal", we do "normally go to the show unless we are on a B2B and have already seen the show, and didn't like it well enough to see it again.

 

There is definitely not a schedule unless we have a tour booked. It is a vacation/holiday, time to relax and enjoy.

[GUT2407]

No such thing as a "Normal Day" on a cruise for us.

[geoherb]

My normal day starts around 6:30 with walking a couple of miles--either around the Promenade Deck if they're not cleaning it, up around the pools, or on a treadmill. Then it's time to wake DH and get him going. We always eat breakfast in the dining room. Back to the room to rest a few minutes before trivia. Then relax on our balcony before lunch in the dining room. After that, a short afternoon nap, then afternoon trivia. Late afternoon we hit the pools. I try to avoid the midday sun. We'll enjoy the pool, occasionally followed by time in the sauna, then time to dress for dinner. We'll eat a light snack and have cocktails. We like to have second seating traditional dining. Sometimes there's a show before dinner we can go to. Otherwise, we'll go to the show after dinner, then it's time for bed. I may play slots for a few minutes a couple of nights.

[Nebr.cruiser]

Port days: We often do a tour (non-ship, generally), especially in a new port--sometimes sightseeing, sometimes active tours, usually starting fairly early. Afterwards, some shopping or walking, then back to rest up before dinner.

 

If we've been to a port several times before, we usually just walk around, maybe go to a beach, if it's that kind of place. Some ports are especially good for exploring on your own. We like to get a good walk in when we can.

 

Sea days are mostly about relaxing. We tend to get up around 8-9, maybe walk a mile or two, have a late breakfast, hang out on the Lido, reading or napping, have a late lunch, maybe take in a movie, if a good one appears.

 

Back to the room for some down time/movie time/reading. We often walk around 6 or so when it is less crowded, then eat or go to the evening entertainment first and then eat.

 

We like to watch Movies Under the Stars, if available in the late evening.

 

If we have a lot of sea days in a row, like on a TA, we get progressively more and more relaxed, (ok, lazy) get up later and later and generally wind down.

 

We really don't do a lot of the activities on board don't drink or gamble, or rarely and don't feel the need to be ever busy, but everyone is different.

[pris993]

Been cruising for 30+ years, over 50 cruises, so our typical day is very relaxed.

 

Usually pre order breakfast from Room Service to have in our cabin. Generally around 9am or so. Even on port days, we don't rush to get off, most ports we have been to before.

 

If in port, go in to explore the port and explore on our won. If a sea day will take a nice walk on the main deck, check out what on sale in the shops, explore books in the library, take in a talk if there is one that is interesting.

 

If nice day, either sit out on our balcony for fine a quiet space up on deck away from the crowd. Often play some music we enjoy, have a cassette player.

 

May get a snack mid day. Late afternoon we take a nap, take in a movie or enjoy some organized activity on board.

 

We always do late traditional dining, table for 2. So generally have a cocktail before going to dinner.

 

After dinner take in some entertainment, then retire to our cabin and check out the news on the TV before going to bed.

[UlsterLad]

Thanks for the great replies everybody, just helping to fuel my daydreams even though it's so far off!

[h_blond2]

My typical days at sea are very lazy. On my early cruises, I felt the need to try to do everything, but now I know better! I tend to get up early, eat a quick breakfast and get up top to get a chair in the sun. I park myself in my chair and spend most of my day there. There's nothing I like more than being able to look all around me and see water in every direction. We choose not to eat in the MDR, so we grab dinner in the buffet and then will usually head to a show. Your days are what you make of them. There isn't a wrong way to spend your days on the cruise! Do what you enjoy and makes you happy! :)

[heatherandfred]

I wake up, shower and dress.!!if hubby is still asleep, I get breakfast and wander around for a while. I like the ship when it's quiet. I peek at the activities for the day and see which ones whet my appetite. Activities, then more food and wandering, back to cabin for nap and maybe more [emoji57].

Wake up again, more food more food, dancing, casino, and then I am always the one to crash early. Hubby keeps going.

 

Now with baby along, all the above changes...LOL!

Or, better yet, just insert baby into several slots. [emoji1]

[Jane2357]

DH and I are early risers so I always order room service coffee for as early as it can be delivered - my wake up call. I love watching the sunrise and then the port slowly come into view, sipping coffee on my balcony. If a port day then off to get breakfast before getting off the ship or if a sea day we go to the gym first and then to breakfast.

 

We enjoy the adult (16 and up) Solarium on Celebrity as a quiet place to read, relax or dip into the pool. We are not trivia people, have tried bingo but not our thing, do enjoy lectures if offered, love the hot glass show (Celebrity on some ships). A late afternoon nap, then sipping a cocktail while we dress for dinner. Might see a show or spend some time in the casino - we love people watching in the Martini Bar.

 

The wonderful thing about a cruise - is that there is no wrong way to do it. :D

[FTLcruisers]

Our cruise days now look much different than our cruise days when we first started cruising. We've done more than 60 cruises - actually we have lost count. When we first started cruising, we only did Caribbean cruises - one a year. Now we typically do 1 cruise in Europe and "fill in" the rest of the year with 2 or 3 Caribbean cruises. I hated sea days when we first started cruising - wanted to be off the ship visiting the beautiful locations every day - felt I didn't want to waste my vacation time laying around the pool or sitting and reading someplace. Somewhere over the years I learned that I actually like to relax while on a cruise. Early on, I booked everything through the cruiseline - cruise, flights, hotel, excursions - now I do use a TA to book the cruise but I handle all the other stuff on my own. It took us a while to get comfortable doing private excursions but we rarely book a ship's excursion now.

 

I think the best advice I could give is to do as much research as you can about the ports you'll be visiting. Whether you book ship or private tours will depend on your comfort level - check out your roll call since there will be experienced folks who you may be able to share a tour with. Also remember it's OK to relax if that's what you want to do! You mentioned a nap when returning from your port visit and that's something we always do.

 

Enjoy your cruise and congratulations on the marriage!

 

Marianne

[emmtee]

One important thing to bring on your cruise is a highlighter! Every evening, you will receive a newsletter with all the activities scheduled for the following day. Highlight your favorites and prioritize, but don't be disappointed if you don't get to everything. Cruises are about relaxation as much as they are about activities.

 

I usually wake up pretty early, which is odd because at home I like to sleep late. On a cruise, there's so much to look forward to, though. I like to watch the sun rise over the ocean and I like to be out on deck to watch the ship pull into port.

 

I don't want to wait for breakfast, so I just throw on the clothes from the previous day and head to the buffet, or if I have the time, the main dining room. Then I head back to my cabin to shower and change.

 

Most of my cruises have been very port intensive. We usually have some sort of tour planned which takes the bulk of the day. I always head up to the upper decks to watch and take photos when we leave port. Then I change and go to dinner. Afterward, we usually catch a show or if I'm too tired I'll just go back to the cabin and watch TV. My brother is a wiz at trivia, so when we cruise with him we go to the trivia contests and join his team. He answers most of the questions, but we all get a prize. :)

 

Sea days are a treat for me. I'd be happy to spend the entire day looking out at the ocean, but there are lots of activities. Each cruise seems to have an ice sculpture demonstration at some point, and I always go to those. Some cruises have crafts, which are fun. I've also enjoyed cooking demonstrations and lectures. It's a good time to shop as well, because the shops are closed when you're in port.