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If you’re like me, you’re worried about being stuck on a ship for days with nothing to do. Fear not, there’s plenty of things to do on a cruise.
I remember the first time I stepped foot on a cruise ship. I was so concerned about being bored once we set sail. The thought of being trapped on a floating island terrified me. When I realized we would be spending an entire day at sea, I was sure I would die of boredom. Those of you who have been on a cruise are likely laughing hysterically right now because you know how ridiculous this is. There are so many things to do on a cruise that it’s virtually impossible to fit them all in.
Lounging
If you’ve been following my blog, you know I like to cram as much as I can into every vacation day. I have one exception to this rule. I like to spend at least one day lounging around when I’m cruising. In fact, I’ve mastered the art of doing absolutely nothing on a “fun day at sea.” But it’s not as easy as it sounds. To relax well, you need to follow these simple tips.
As soon as you wake up on the morning of your day at sea, grab a lounge chair in your favorite part of the ship. Do this even before you have breakfast. In fact, you may even want to set an alarm for 8 a.m. to be sure you get the spot you want. You can nap later…poolside. I love, love, love lounging in the adult-only area. No children are allowed here, so it’s much quieter, and you don’t have to worry about being splashed by a kid doing a cannonball. But spaces fill up fast in the adult-only section because it’s smaller than areas dedicated to family fun.
Save Your Space
All you need to do to save a lounger is toss a towel on each chair, along with a personal item, such as a sweater or book. This will ward off others and ensure you have a place to lay your head for the rest of the day. Once you’ve saved your spot, you can dash back to your room to finish getting ready. And don’t worry about your stuff. No one is going to take it.
Pack everything you need for the day in a tote bag. This includes a book, games, a laptop, a phone, a hat, sunscreen, and anything else your heart desires. Wear your swimsuit and a pair of flip-flops or whatever you’re most comfortable in. I love a good muumuu as a cover-up. The goal is not to have to worry about going back to your cabin if you don’t need to. Once you’re comfy on deck, all you need to do is kick back, relax, and enjoy. Aside from a dip in the pool, the most exercise you’ll get is waving your hand for drink service or a quick walk to the buffet for a bite to eat.
Food and Drink
They say the average person gains 5 to 10 pounds on a cruise. It’s easy to see why. Almost every cruise ship boasts multiple restaurants, even older, smaller ones. Let’s see, there’s the buffet and at least two main dining rooms. These are free of charge, and you can have as much food as you want. Even in the sit-down restaurants you can ask for seconds. They won’t say no. It’s gluttonous in the best possible way.
In addition to “free” food options, most ships also have a number of specialty restaurants. For an additional fee, you can dine in style at one of these upscale establishments. You can find a gourmet steakhouse or sushi station on just about every ship. Other options include Teppanyaki or French fare, for example.
Most cruise ships offer room service and 24-hour snack stations where you can get pizza, fries, and other finger foods. There is also free ice cream and a café where, for a few bucks, you can get a made-to-order cappuccino or espresso.
Drink and Be Merry
And I would be completely remiss not to mention that drinks are free-flowing all day and all night in every corner of every cruise ship. From poolside service to wine with your meal, the cruise staff are more than happy to bring you any type of beverage you desire. If you can think it, you can drink it.
Pro tip: Before boarding the boat, be sure to purchase an all-inclusive beverage package if you plan on having more than one or two alcohol-infused drinks each day. With one of these packages, you can order all you can drink at no extra charge. Without a drink package, you’ll pay $9 to $15 per drink, which adds up fast.
Entertainment
Day or night, there is no shortage of entertainment onboard a cruise ship. When your cabin steward turns down your bed each night, you’ll get a copy of the itinerary for the next day on your pillow (or next to your towel animal). Be sure to pop it in your tote so you don’t miss out on any of the fun. It’s likely the cruise director will announce major events over the intercom throughout the day, too.
On a day at sea, you’ll find tons of things to do on a cruise. Often, there’s an entertaining cooking class with cruise staff, ice or fruit sculpting displays, silly competitions, dance classes, and more. And of course, every night at sea, you can dance the night away in one of the clubs, listen to live music at various venues, see a theatrical presentation, catch a movie on a big screen, or more.
Some ships offer Broadway caliber performances. Others have a circus at sea or even an ice rink. Acrobatics, fireworks, themed parties, and other events occur every night on cruise ships. After your relaxing day at sea, you’ll be ready to let loose with a night of fun and shenanigans.
Activities
Waterslides, spas, bowling, and mini golf. These are just a few of the things to do on a cruise ship. You’ll find everything from bingo and chess to rock-wall climbing and video arcades on your cruise vacation.
Of course, the bigger the ship, the more outrageous the options. But even the smaller ships pack in plenty of fun. If you get tired of lounging around, just leave a sweater on your chair and wander off for a while. You’ll likely stumble upon a shopping extravaganza, a name that tune game, an art auction, or even a wine tasting. There’s something for everyone.
What’s your favorite way to spend a day at sea? Share your ideas for things to do on a cruise on our Facebook page.