What's the best way to relieve stress on a cruise?

[melissa@cruisecritic]

It should come as no surprise that in today's busy world, 72 percent of Americans have not yet found the right balance between work and personal priorities. Or, that one in four Americans is not planning on taking all of their vacation days this year, with 40 percent of those respondents citing work-related reasons. Yet two-thirds of Americans say that if they had more leisure time, they would use it to -- you guessed it! -- travel.

These figures -- revealed today in the Princess Cruises Life Balance Barometer, a national survey commissioned by the cruise line and conducted by third-party pollster Harris Interactive -- are a not-so-gentle reminder to many of us that putting off getting away is not necessarily a good thing.

So what do we have to say on the matter? Take a cruise! And we want to know: What's the best way to let go and relax once onboard? Vote in our poll and be sure to post your opinion below.

[lais]

I let go as soon as I walk up the gang plank. The rest takes care of itself, especially with the first welcome drink and walking into my stateroom. Purrrrfect!

[kimberly@cruisecritic]

If I could vote for the spa a hundred times I would. I've been thinking about a hot stone massage all day long!

[cb at sea]

Once I'm ON the cruise, I don't have any stress! The phone is off, there's nothing that I HAVE to do, and no way to do it, if there was something!

Getting on the ship means all the stress of getting ready and actually GETTING there is over! (this especially applies if you have to FLY to port---stupid regulations!!!)

[Traveler353]

I came home from my first cruise absolutly worn out. I tried to do everything. Now I do only what I feel like doing at the time. I don't plan my day around the Capers. I now come home fairly relaxed and ready to hit it and get back to work until the next cruise or land trip.

[Cruisin' Chick]

I think it's more what happens before your cruise that would stress you out. If you get a flight for the day of the cruise, then there's always the chance you won't get on the ship in time. If there's some arrangements you were trying to make for onboard, there could be stress.

Once onboard, there's not much reason to be stressed out. I know when I'm going to eat, I know there should be something I'll like to eat (and I'm a picky eater), I know there'll be activities for me (trivia, reading chick lit books, entertainment). As long as other passengers are behaving (the kids aren't running around, the adults aren't making a fuss, the adults staying off their cell phones around me, the smokers staying in their section and their smoke not drifting toward me), then I'm fine.

[printingchick]

Originally Posted by cb at sea

Once I'm ON the cruise, I don't have any stress! The phone is off, there's nothing that I HAVE to do, and no way to do it, if there was something!

Getting on the ship means all the stress of getting ready and actually GETTING there is over! (this especially applies if you have to FLY to port---stupid regulations!!!)

As usual, I agree with cb. The cruise IS my stress reliever. Once I'm on board, my stress melts away automatically. Flying to the port - stressful. Standing in line to board, anxious anticipation. On board...Ahhh...

As the Zac Brown Band says, "You got worries you can drop 'em in the blue ocean, but you gotta get away to where the boat leaves from."

[mr green]

Once I am on board I have no stress.

john

[JanineM]

I find the time leading up to the cruise to be extremely stressful. There's everything at work so I can even walk out the door, packing, getting the housesitters settled in, cleaninge, doing the laundry, checking every list 15 times, on top of actually getting to the port and through the embarkation process.

Once the ship begins to sail away, to a large extent the stress begins to dissipate. But my favourite time is when I wake up the first morning and know that I don't have to do anything - no work, no groceries, no cooking, no cleaning, no dishes.

[cruise kitty]

"Private" time with DH, with no fear of phone calls, DD suddenly coming in (she's 18- it never ends), MIL calling with an "emergency", Alarm company calling with a false alarm at work, you get the picture, uninterrupted time together is priceless.

[Arwenmark]

I spend most of my time staring at the incrediby blue sea. I also LISTEN to books on my balcony while looking out to sea. This is the main reason I cruise.

[mamasue]

[quote=cb at sea;21741902]Once I'm ON the cruise, I don't have any stress! The phone is off, there's nothing that I HAVE to do, and no way to do it, if there was something!

quote]


I'm with cb on this one too.... life's great when the biggest decision you have to make is..... creme brulee or banana cream pie!!??

[RetireeWannabee]

my usual world melts away behind me when we make it to the pier. travel is stressful until that moment.

I'm a free spirit at heart. staring out to sea is as good as life gets for me, experiencing the vastness, the history, the wildlife, the possibilities ...
ocean air is therapeutic, bringing the awe and splendor of nature. This is what truly grounds me.

I forget everything but the moment and just Live It. Do Whatever. Being unscheduled relieves stress. I don't want to care what time it is.

falling asleep in a deck chair with a book, exploring ports, losing a few bucks in the casino, eating really well, strolling the decks, getting lost on the ship..., it's all fun and quite different from my Normal Life. Not much for planned activities, not interested in the pools and lounger grabs. Not a fan of crowds at all, we'll be where the masses aren't.

It's fun to dress up and meet people. It's fun to be a tourist, meeting natives of places we've never seen.

[mapsmith]

My stress relief is the Muster Drill!!!

Okay, time for the explanation.
As the muster drill starts, it hits that I am on vacation. I can no longer get off the ship until the next port. All the junk at home is now behind me and no one can get to me. The phone is off (don't want to pay outrageous seaborne cell charges) so any problems at work will have to wait until I get somewhere where the cell service will work. (I also found out that I cannot even call my voice mail while out of the country ) So I can relax. Period.

But until muster, technically, something could call me away.

[themaxydog]

Unfortunatly with mobile (cell) phones, wireless high speed internet and email almost anywhere in the world, those of us who are "married" to our jobs are never far away from the unanticipated problem that will arise while you are away. However that all fades away when you meet new people on a sea day and you spend the day laughing and enjoying the view.

How many days to go is that?

[OGCFreddie]

The best way to relieve work stress??? LEAVE THE LAPTOP AT HOME!!!

[Judi2112]

There's no stress as soon as I close my front door and head to the airport.

[happy cruzer]

Looking out at the ocean. Daytime or nightime it's so relaxing.

[Donray]

What stress when on a cruise??????????????????????????????????????

[navybankerteacher]

Do not pretend that you are irreplaceable by staying in touch with your office (or even family). If your job is not really important, your being out of touch will not matter. If you are ireally irreplaceable, you are letting down your team by not training and retaining competent back-up (what if you were hit by a bus and were in a coma for a week?)

Stay out of touch with the land - that is why you cruise - spend a few minutes every morning watching the sea end at the horizon -- that will put anyone's sense of self-importance into proper perspective.