Almost all cruise itineraries have a sea day. It’s used to reach ports that require more sailing than usual, especially when moving from one state to another.
How do passengers view this day? Well, there are mixed feelings.
Some people like to spend a more relaxing day aboard the ship, while others tend to get bored and prefer port days.
If you fall into the second category and get bored easily this article is just for you. I’ve come up with some tips that will definitely help you to better plan your day aboard the ship.
Plan Your Sea Day in Advance
The first thing you should do is to plan your day in advance. Avoid improvising; many services and attractions must be booked in advance since all passengers will be on the ship.
Therefore, check the things you can do and discuss them with the people who travel with you.
Even better would be if you book any services from home, you can usually get good discounts before departure.
Don’t Rush
You can take it very easy on the morning of the sea day. Wake up at your own time and don’t be in a hurry to get out of bed.
You probably wake up early every day of the year so this is a good time to catch up on lost sleep.
Enjoy Breakfast Delivered to Your Room
If you prefer, you can have breakfast delivered by room service. This is usually something I do during the sea day, especially if I have a cabin with a balcony and want to enjoy a good croissant with a sea view.
Remember that on many cruise lines, you have to decide the night before if you want breakfast delivered to your stateroom. Usually, you fill out an order sheet and leave it hanging outside the door before you go to bed.
Discover Hidden Areas of the Ship
I don’t know if you’ve noticed it, but the new cruise ships are literally giant. You need several days to be able to explore them completely.
A sea day is perfect for going around the ship and discovering the hidden places that are not always easy to find.
I’ve also told you about the 5 hidden places on cruise ships, but not all of them are accessible to passengers.
Relax at the Spa
Another thing many passengers like to do is relax at the spa.
You can book a massage, a beauty treatment, a blow-dry from the hairdresser, or a manicure.
Unfortunately, these are all services that cost extra so you have to take your budget into consideration.
If you don’t want to spend a lot, you can take a look at the 20 tips & tricks to save money on a cruise.
Get Some Rest
Another good idea might be to use the sea day to rest and doing absolutely nothing.
If you are very tired, you can stay in bed and watch a movie on the TV in your cabin.
Or you can take a lounger by the pool, sunbathe and take a nap. Unfortunately, deck chairs are in high demand during this day, so I suggest you use one of these strategies to outwit chair hogs on cruise ships.
Get Some Exercise
Another option could be to do activities to stay fit. As you probably know, you will eat a lot on a cruise, so it’s important to get some physical activity.
The gym is free on almost all ships, and there are also organized group activities on the pool deck.
If you are looking for something more professional, you can also book a session with a personal trainer or a fitness class with a qualified instructor.
Indulge in Specialty Dining
On sea days, you could also take the opportunity to explore different dining options.
For example, you could treat yourself to a sit-down lunch or enjoy special brunches offered only on these days​.
Some cruise lines also used to have special midnight buffets, but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen them now; I think many have removed them as a matter of cost and waste management.
Take Part in the Entertainment
During a sea day, there’s usually more entertainment than usual. The entertainment team knows that all the guests are staying on board, so they do everything they can to keep people from getting bored.
Don’t be shy and join the party. There are usually dances, quizzes, games, karaoke sessions, bingo, theme nights, and more.
The only important thing you need to remember is to look at the daily plan, you will find all the information about upcoming events.
Enjoy Water Activities
Another thing I would definitely recommend in order not to get bored is to enjoy the ship’s water activities.
Wear your swimsuit and head for the pool. You can take a refreshing swim, have some relaxation time in the hot tub, or try the water slides that are getting bigger and more fun on cruise ships.
You could also try some unique activities such as the surf simulators (if you’re traveling with Royal Caribbean) or the Epic Plunge (if you’re traveling on Norwegian Epic).
For all other activities, you can check the list of 50 incredible things you can do on a cruise ship.
