Staying Awake

[iceleven]

I swear by my "Coffee naps."  (Google it) Drink a cup of coffee in the afternoon and immediately take a nap. There is a chemistry that creates a 20 minute "power nap." You wake up and feel re-charged and ready to go for several hours after.

 

I learned about it when I used to have to drive two 10-hour days between homes. When I began to feel drowsy I would pull over and drink a cup of coffee, make my seat back horizontal and sure enough, wake up totally refreshed 20 minutes later. Anything longer than that would make you sluggish for several hours.

 

 

[Erik101]

On 6/21/2019 at 3:30 PM, Butterbean1000 said:

 I brought caffeine pills on our last cruise to try to keep me up later.  Anyone else?

Not me.  I pay attention to my body.  If I’m tired, I’m gonna call it a night or get a short nap during the day.  The only caffeine I’ll ever have is in the mornings.  For me, the extra caffeine after lunch will screw up my sleep cycle.  

 

Now the stateroom attendants who have to answer guests’ calls at 2am to deliver a sandwich or a pizza, I feel for them.  

[Elaine5715]

On 6/21/2019 at 3:43 PM, candigirl41 said:

I try to take an afternoon nap every day.  If I don't I am done around 9:00 pm.  I usually only sleep an hour but it makes a huge difference.  I also try to drink a lot of water.

 

Candi

Same here

[Sagittarius traveler]

Yeah, it’s funny the times I’ve been with carnival most people are in bed at 10pm to be well rested for getting off the ship early . 

[midcarolina]

We are all creatures of habit....and our sleep patterns are too! If you want to be able to stay up later at night simply modify your sleeping patterns a week or two prior to your cruise. The first few nights will be rough but your body will adjust, then on the cruise you won't need chemicals to keep you awake......

[jann2793]

I'm not normally much of a napper (my husband is though), but on a cruise, we take a nap almost every single day. All of the sun and heat gets to us, so we usually take a 1-2 hour nap right before dinner. Then we are able to stay up until at least midnight!

[Butterbean1000]

6 hours ago, iceleven said:

I swear by my "Coffee naps."  (Google it) Drink a cup of coffee in the afternoon and immediately take a nap. There is a chemistry that creates a 20 minute "power nap." You wake up and feel re-charged and ready to go for several hours after.

 

I learned about it when I used to have to drive two 10-hour days between homes. When I began to feel drowsy I would pull over and drink a cup of coffee, make my seat back horizontal and sure enough, wake up totally refreshed 20 minutes later. Anything longer than that would make you sluggish for several hours.

 

 

If I am ever able to nap, then I fell "muddy" when I wake up.  Almost like it's not worth it to nap.  

[Butterbean1000]

7 hours ago, evandbob said:

 

Well, the adult comedy shows usually don't start until after 10PM, most at 11PM.  They last around a half hour, so when we see a comedian, we don't hit the bed until after midnight.

 

On casino fare cruises, they usually have promotions or drawings in the casino all evening, have to be present to win!

So many times we'll plan to go to the adult comedy show and when poop out when it's time.  This is what I mean when I say I feel like we're missing out.  

[ricew001]

I am the odd one here. My husband is a musician. He goes to bed at 3 am and gets up at 10 or 11 am every single day. Odd hours but he's consistent. On the other hand, My work schedule rotates - I get up between 3:30 am and 5:30 am depending on my day.

 

We both are night owls so we stay up really late closing down the piano bar and then see what else we can find to do. Last cruise we went to bed at 2 am and got up at 6 am for our excursion. I am 50 and he is 60. 

 

I do a lot of sleep research at work - the things here that are "true" according to science is yes your body prefers a regular sleep pattern. yes the sleep mask and dark rooms help.

 

Those of you doing the caffeine pills and energy drinks, I won't lecture because I'm sure you already know those things are very bad for you.

 

i liked the person's response who said listen to your body - we all need to do more of that! On land and at sea too!

 

[TEXSUN46]

At home I am early to bed early to rise and I was same way on first several cruises. I was always really active during the day and by 9, I would be tired and asleep by 10 and then up at 6 am. I still like to get up early and enjoy the quiet empty ship and find that is best time to explore but I also feel like I was missing out on a lot later in the day. On our last cruise I finally learned to find time in middle of the day to just relax and take a nap. Just finding an hour or so in middle of the day seemed to buy me a couple of extra hours each evening. 

[RandomUser123]

I would say best time for nap on cruise would be 4-5 PM then you wake up and get ready for dinner and the rest of evening.

[hotsauce126]

Java Blue is your friend

[xostacylee]

My cure is red bull and vodka! haha. But otherwise I'm the same.. and I always have FOMO!!

[Cruiser_1977]

On any vacation, I'm a big fan of the nap about 1600. I eat dinner late. I take an hour nap or watch a movie/nap LOL shower, change, have a cocktail before dinner and boom I can stay up late. I am normally up at 0550 to train before work. Even if I don't train I am up by 0630 for coffee and the Today Show 🙂 I'm normally asleep by 2100 or 2200. Onboard, I still try to be up by 0700 to train and then eat breakfast by 0800. This beats the crowds whether sea day or port day! My most recent cruises I've noticed not a lot was going on during that hour.

[cruisingal1981]

I try and take a nap. On port days we get off the ship early and get back on early. Eat lunch and chill out for a while. We take a nap before dinner (my time dining). It works well.

[pooksma]

My husband always makes fun of me for this! I try to sometimes have an afternoon nap but most days am enjoying my time too much to nap. Coffee in the evening does help but now I mostly just go to bed if my body says its time. Keeps me from being a grouch the next day.

[Out of Iowa]

Butterbean 1000,

 

I feel for you....if you go to sleep early, you'll arise early, too.  There isn't much going on at 7 am in the morning, or earlier.  Even the breakfast offerings on the buffet are spartan the first half hour.

 

I've taken to making a cup of hot chocolate and going to sit outside to see the sunrise, enjoy the early morning beauty and hope some random-yet-friendly stranger wants to chat!