What to do on days at sea?

I am going on my first cruise (Emerald Princess) to the Eastern Caribbean in March. There will be a total of 3 days at sea. What kind of activities are there to do during the day? I know that some people are content reading the day away and swimming/lounging by the pool but I like to have stuff to do. I usually go to islands for a week and I'm worried that I might be bored? Are there crafts or fun games people play together? Matinee shows?

I am going on my first cruise (Emerald Princess) to the Eastern Caribbean in March. There will be a total of 3 days at sea. What kind of activities are there to do during the day? I know that some people are content reading the day away and swimming/lounging by the pool but I like to have stuff to do. I usually go to islands for a week and I'm worried that I might be bored? Are there crafts or fun games people play together? Matinee shows?

There will be a daily program printed out each night and placed on your bed detailing all of the events aboard the ship each day. They are numerous things to involve yourself in from Martini tasting classes (usually a fee) Pub trivia, napkin folding, dance instruction, tours of the galley, water coloring, movie of the day, lectures. You will not be bored. Sea days are wonderfully relaxing and a great chance to relax a bit between running around in port.

Jonathan

I have only cruised on Disney but I imagine they are all similar. You will not be at a loss for things to do. Every day you will have a schedule of what activities are going on. Various presentations or classes or competitions, games etc. Trust me, you will not be bored. Most cruisers LOVE their sea days.

Swim

Sun

movies

bingo

crafts

bars

games

lectures

contests

eat

drink

read

spa

exercise

Sea Ya

Usually you will find that there are more things to do than time to do them. I love the freedom of sea days when you can do just about anything or nothing!

I have only cruised on Disney but I imagine they are all similar. You will not be at a loss for things to do. Every day you will have a schedule of what activities are going on. Various presentations or classes or competitions, games etc. Trust me, you will not be bored. Most cruisers LOVE their sea days.

I've cruised on Disney and another cruise line. The days may be filled with activities, but the quality of the activities can vary greatly ... believe me.

Princess ships have a ping pong table on them. We usually try to get in a game or two on sea days. There's also a gym and promenade deck to walk on.

absolutely nothing.. that requires rushing about or a timetable. I find a nice location for people watching, ipod listening and book reading. must be conformable enough for the occasional nap.

Many people on these boards love sea days & find them very relaxing. I hate them. I think they are boring & I just try to get through them.

Unless you are on an RCL ship that has things like zip lines, rock walls & flow riders, there isn't much to do on board. The ship will add extra activities but they are mostly sedentary: bingo, trivia, belly flop contests, art auctions, demonstrations etc. You can fill up your day. If your Princess ship has MUTTS you can watch movies outside.

We usually stay up late the night before, sleep in, read & hang out in the sun. It's almost impossible to get a chair by the pool & you will be packed in like sardines.

What do you do at home when you have a day off? Watch TV -go shopping - maybe go to a casino - see a movie - go for a walk - go out to lunch? These are just a few shipboard activities - bury a spa, go for a swim, maybe just read.

Sea Days are when any cruise ship comes alive with activities.

Usually more than you can handle if you are looking for things to do onboard.

Activities are more subdued on port days.

I am going on my first cruise (Emerald Princess) to the Eastern Caribbean in March. There will be a total of 3 days at sea. What kind of activities are there to do during the day? I know that some people are content reading the day away and swimming/lounging by the pool but I like to have stuff to do. I usually go to islands for a week and I'm worried that I might be bored? Are there crafts or fun games people play together? Matinee shows?

Sleep late, read, bingo, trivia, culinary shows, movies, art auction, mixology class.......

Funnysocks .... Emerald Princess is a great ship. We totally enjoy being on her for a B2B in January.

On AtSea days there are enough activities to keep you from being bored silly! :D

The Patter will list the various activities going on.

LuLu

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Don't worry, your Daily planner delivered to your stateroom will keep you busy with many things to do. Enjoy your cruise

I love sea days! Ports sometimes or I might not even get off the ship.

What I do is whatever I please................that's a real vacation!

There are hilarious and entertaining games and contests out by the pool, movie theater, rock-climbing wall, basketball court, ping pong, flow-rider, shopping in the promenade, the spa (think massage), full gym, zumba (and other classes), art auctions (which I hate, but others don't), cupcake classes, wine tastings, zip-lines, hot tubs sitting over the ocean, ice skating rink, behind the scene tours, trivia contests, naps on the balcony or up on deck under the shade with a breeze blowing, internet cafe, live band playing by the pool, and I'm sure I'm forgetting some of the activities. We've never gotten to all the possibilities.

Here is a copy of the Patters from a sea day several months back. That should give you an idea of what there is to do. Looks like you won't be bored. ;)

http://www.beyondships2.com/uploads/8/2/4/5/8245255/ep_12_sea.pdf

Sea days are certainly a different stroke for different folk thing. DW and I love our sea days and have often booked longer cruises so we can have all those lazy days. Our record for a single cruise was 23 sea days and we loved every minute of those days. As to activities, we might plan to do something, but usually end up doing nothing except socializing and reading. It is great to be able to do absolutely nothing and not feel any guilt because you have things you must do :) Of course there are always the Type "A"s who must keep busy. It is amusing to watch our fellow seniors on long HA cruises....when they really get into games like animal toss. Their children would be horrified! LOL

Hank

Hank .... What is "Animal Toss" ?

Please tell us about it.

LuLu

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Hank .... What is "Animal Toss" ?

 

Please tell us about it.

 

LuLu

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:). It is just what it sounds like. They toss stuffed animals at a target and get points for being closest to the bulls eye.

Hank

We used to have a couple of different animal tosses on HAL and earned "DAM" dollars.

One we just aimed at a target.

Another one we were on third level of the atrium and had to thrown a stuffed animal and get it into a box.

Some cruises have cooking demonstrations, pay for wine tastings, pay for cooking classes.

If you join your Roll Call, usually someone will set up a Meet & Greet for the first sea day.

We used to have a couple of different animal tosses on HAL and earned "DAM" dollars.

 

One we just aimed at a target.

 

Another one we were on third level of the atrium and had to thrown a stuffed animal and get it into a box.

We do think that Animal Toss is one of those "intellectual" HA games that helps pass the time of day. One of our tablemates (also a senior) really took the game seriously and managed to win a few prizes. I think it made his cruise :). The fact that is was a 62 day voyage that went to 13 countries did not excite him as much as that darn Animal Toss.

Hank

Sea days on Princess are when the wheelchair crowd refill their h2o tanks :D

Play Gin, or get a perm:eek:

OK, these are the days one kicks back and slows down, listens to the sound of the waves the Ship makes as she flows thru the clear blue water. Why we cruise for a vacation.

While DW is inclined to take in activities on the ship, in the Caribbean my favourite activity is to recline on a lounger, read by Kindle, listen to my iPod and check my lids for cracks, I am never bored.:)