Day at sea advice for a newbee

[floridababe]

Hi all

We are going to the Caribbean next January and trying to get all the advice I can. How does a seasoned cruiser navigate the first day at sea?  How to get sunbeds etc hints and tips

 

Thanks in advance

[firefly333]

You would be better to ask on the specific cruiseline you booked. Some ships and lines it's a free for all. Some have areas you book ahead of time. 

[sparks1093]

A lot of people try to flock to the pool to get a lounger, but most ships have plenty of loungers on the level above the pool deck. Many cruise lines have areas that are designated only for adults, so you can lounge in the sun without screaming kids. A lot will depend too on your departure port. Departing from the northeast means no lounging in the sun for a couple of days. Make sure that you give yourself time to just enjoy being on the ship and don't try to "do it all" the first day.

[DRS/NC]

If you have a balcony cabin, spend most of the day there -- just relax, order from Room Service (depending how RS works on your ship).  You don't have to "Do" something all the time, esp. the first day.  RELAX!  ENJOY!

[Honolulu Blue]

22 hours ago, floridababe said:

We are going to the Caribbean next January and trying to get all the advice I can. How does a seasoned cruiser navigate the first day at sea?  How to get sunbeds etc hints and tips

 

Thanks in advance

Others have covered the lying-around-by-the-pool scene and the sit-on-your-balcony-and-watch-the-sea-go-by scene better than I could.  Those aren't things I like to do, IMHO.

 

I've done a couple of dozen cruises, so I guess I count as "seasoned".  I prefer that to "sunbaked".  Here's how I pass the sea days:

 

• The cruise lines have an impressive number of activities all over the ship, so be sure to check your daily newsletter. There's trivia, lectures, music, bingo, art auctions, and many other things.  
• The casino will be open, so if that's your thing, head on down and partake
• Your cabin TV will have some VOD options - some free, some not free.  There are worse things to do on a cruise than while away a few hours watching a movie, IMHO.  I don't judge.  This varies widely by line, so YMMV.
• I like bringing my own entertainment - books and videos are much easier to deal with when you don't have to download them on the road
• The old salts may wag their fingers, but you CAN buy Internet access on most ships and sometimes it DOES work well enough to stream entertainment things.  If random surfing is your idea of entertainment, it'll almost certainly be good enough for that.  If not, then you can entertain yourself by walking down to Guest Services (or whatever it's called), listening to their excuses, and getting a refund. 😁

[9tee2Sea]

this what I usually do on sea days..... I TRY to stay in bed at least until 9am ( I am usually up around 7am). Slowly get ready to be seen in public ( slow shower, change clothes).  I then make may way up to the buffet around 10 am.  Have my breakfast by a window.  Linger for some time gazing out the window trying to find wildlife.  Then, ( if I have the drink package), order a bloody mary.  After I finish, I walk 1 mile around the walking deck.  That brings to around noon-ish.  Get my second drink at a bar with window seating indoors (outside is usually very crowded on sea days).  When done, either wait for a table at the MDR, or just snack in the buffet.  Do another 1/2 mile walk around the walking deck.  Sit in the casino and " donate" to the cruise line ( last time I came out $800 ahead).  Late afternoon, go back to my cabin and snooze, or watch a move on the tube.  Around 4:30, start my evening off with a Martini and socialize at one of the bars.  Get sit down dinner in the dining room or specialty restaurant.  See the early show.  Have another night cap ( now you know why I get the drink package), then hit the bed around 10pm ( my usual sleep time).  UNLESS..I meet some folks that are fun and enjoy talking to.  Or , you can grab a nice seat by a window, and read a good book.. Sea days are what you make of them.  Best part is just being away from home and not having to do anything at a certain time.

[Ferry_Watcher]

Leave your cabin for enough time in the morning to have your stateroom made up, have some lunch, stroll the deck, then back to the cabin for some 'afternoon delight' with your loved one.  Just make sure you lock the stateroom door and have the 'do not disturb' sign out.  :  )

[shipgeeks]

One of our favorite things to do on a sea day is being on the Promenade Deck to either walk, lounge, or stand/sit at the rail to watch for flying fish, along with the beautiful and changing sky and sea.  It can be mesmerising.

Like some of the above, we also enjoy private cabin time (no balconies for us), leisurely meals (dining room or buffet, never in the cabin), and at least looking in on some of the more active things going on around the ship.  We are not pool/sundeck people, though.  The daily planner is always a good source of info on what's going on and where.

 

[schmoopie17]

It depends on the size of the ship and the itinerary and the season.

 

A larger ship means more competition for spots...as well as how big the inside public areas are. For example. the NCL Prima has smaller than usual public areas, which tend to get jam-packed on sea days.

 

I mention itinerary and season because if you are doing northern ports (especially in late fall) the outside decks will probably be deserted, with everyone fighting for the inside spaces.