After more than 50 cruises and hundreds of sea days, we have made some mistakes along the way. We have also learned a few things that have genuinely made our cruises better.
In this post, I share 12 things we no longer do on cruise sea days and what we do instead. If you are a first-time cruiser, it will also give you a good idea of what to expect.
One thing we learned early in our cruising career is that sea days are not all the same. They can look quite different depending on your itinerary, your cruise ship and the weather.
If you want more ideas for how to fill your day, take a look at our guide to things to do on a cruise sea day. Now, let’s get into the list.
Pool Time, Sun and Spa
1. Racing Out at Dawn for the Pool Lounge Chair
We used to get up at the crack of dawn just to snag a lounge chair right next to the pool. I still like being near the pool for a good part of the day on a Caribbean or warm weather cruise.
What we realized is that heading out at 10:00 a.m., or even later in the day, works just as well. One of our favorite spots is actually on the deck above the pool, where we get a view of the ocean.
You can face your chair toward the water or turn it toward the pool if you like to watch the action. We also find it is less noisy up there.
2. Automatically Booking Spa Treatments on Sea Days
It seems logical that a sea day is the time for a massage, a facial or a visit to the hair salon. Spa treatments are lovely, although they are typically less expensive on port days.
There are fewer people on the ship when everyone is ashore, and the cruise ship often offers discounts to fill the appointments. We try to book on port days whenever we can.
I say typically because embarkation day can bring great promotions. On one cruise we found three spa treatments for the price of two, and we were able to share them between the two of us with no restrictions.
Even so, I would always check the terms and conditions before you book.
3. Staying Out in the Sun Too Long
I would love to say we never make this mistake anymore, although it does still happen once in a while. Most of the time we are pretty good about pacing our day.
A couple of hours outside in the morning, some time indoors for lunch and a few indoor activities, then back outside later works well for us. The sun is strong in the Caribbean, and we found out the hard way that it is strong in Alaska too.
The reflection off the water can make a sunburn more likely than you would expect. A few things to have with you:
- Sunscreen, reapplied throughout the day
- An SPF lip balm
- Aloe vera, just in case you need to treat a sunburn
For more on this topic, our post on cruise sea day mistakes covers getting too much sun and plenty more.
Eating on Sea Days
4. Rushing Through Breakfast and Lunch
Early on we tried to do just about everything on every sea day. These days we slow down, especially on a port-focused cruise where we might be off the ship for 7 or 8 hour excursions.
On a sea day we might sleep in a little longer. We always check the hours for the buffet and restaurants, because breakfast can finish at 9:30 or 10:00 in the morning and it is easy to miss that window.
Instead of heading straight to the buffet, we look at which main dining rooms or casual restaurants are open. Sometimes a specialty restaurant even has a lunch special that we can enjoy at a leisurely pace.
5. Overlooking Sea Day Brunch
Every cruise ship is different, although more and more ships are offering a sea day brunch. It usually starts around 11:00 and runs until about 1:30.
You get really nice breakfast options alongside lunch-style dishes, which makes it a perfect combination. Years ago we mistakenly thought a sit-down meal would take much longer than the buffet.
The kitchen knows you are coming, so a lot of the food is ready to go once you order. We love sitting down, getting out of the heat and being served on a sea day.
6. Skipping Afternoon Tea
Afternoon tea is a little more rare these days, which is why it is worth planning for. It is a very enjoyable way to spend part of a sea day.
Holland America does a beautiful Royal Dutch Tea, and you can read more about it in our post on the Royal Dutch Tea experience. Oceania has a really nice tea as well.
If you know of other cruise lines that offer afternoon tea, please share them in the comments below. It will help other cruisers plan.
Planning Your Sea Days
7. Expecting Every Sea Day to Look the Same
We have sailed on so many different ships that we know sea days vary a lot. Some ships have plenty going on inside, while others focus on the pool deck.
We try to research our ship in advance so we know what to expect and can plan around it. You will find the full list of activities on the paper planner delivered to your cabin or in the cruise line app.
Our do’s and don’ts for cruise sea days is a handy companion when you are building your plan.
8. Planning Our Sea Days Without Thinking About the Evening
The night before a sea day gives you a little more leeway. You can stay up later, head to one of the parties or book a later dinner.
We now take that into account when we think about the next morning. If we have a late night, we can simply sleep in.
9. Saving What We Really Want to Do for the Next Sea Day
This one is really important, and we have definitely made this mistake before. On a 7 day cruise with three sea days, we might relax on the first one and tell ourselves we will try the roller coaster, the rock climbing wall or even bingo next time.
Then the next sea day arrives and things do not go as planned. Weather, including wind, can affect some of the activities.
Indoor activities also tend to get much more crowded on the last sea day, and we have usually wanted to avoid them. If there is something you really want to do, do it the first chance you get.
10. Measuring a Successful Sea Day by How Much We Did
On our early cruises we were exhausted by the end of a sea day. We would be up close to 7:00 a.m., maybe hit the gym, be at breakfast by 8:00 and follow the cruise planner for the entire day.
These days we pick and choose. We like to look for something we have never done before, such as a class, a lecture or a new activity, and plan around that.
A full schedule from dusk to dawn is no longer how we judge a good day at sea.
Your Cabin and Your Last Sea Day
11. Avoiding Our Cabin on Sea Days
We used to spend no time in our cabin on sea days. We often booked inside cabins, so we figured we would never be there anyway.
Now that we have a balcony, we enjoy coming back around midday. Coffee, room service or a good book on the balcony is a lovely break.
A balcony is absolutely not a necessity. There is something so peaceful about having a space of your own to look out at the ocean and listen to the waves, though, and our post on reasons to book a balcony cabin explains why we have come around to it.
12. Packing Up on Our Last Sea Day
For us the last sea day was often the last day of the cruise. We knew we had to pack, and it hung over us like a dark cloud.
Now we pack up most of our items a couple of days earlier. By the last sea day, we know exactly what we are wearing and we leave out only what we need:
- Our outfits for the day
- Our outfits for the last night
- Our travel outfits for going home
That way, the final packing on the last night only takes about 15 minutes. If you want more help with the end of your trip, our disembarkation day to-do list walks you through it.
Final Thoughts
A great sea day is rarely about doing more. A slower pace, a bit of planning and a few smart swaps can make your days at sea much more enjoyable.
What do you do, or no longer do, on a cruise sea day that makes a difference? Please let me know in the comments below.
Happy cruising!
Ilana