The cruise line, the cruise ship, the ports of call, schedule, price… there are a lot of factors that go into why passengers book a specific cruise. I doubt that days at sea ever factor into the equation.
That’s despite the fact that most cruises have at least one of these days, and it adds up to a major portion of your time on vacation. So after more than 30 cruises, what do I wish I knew about sea days before I started? There are some big things to know that you may not realize…
You’re Going to Notice the Crowds
Most of the time you’re on the ship, there are some major factors that reduce crowd sizes. Obviously in port, not everyone is on the ship, which makes it less crowded. But in the evenings when everyone is onboard, there are dinners across multiple venues, the casino, and theater shows all happening at once that help to spread people around. Busy? Sure, but well managed.
On a day at sea, you’re going to feel the crowds, especially on the pool deck. There’s plenty to do on the ship, but the pool deck is the focus of a sea day, and it can get absolutely packed at midday from bow to stern. And if the weather is bad, then areas like the main promenade inside get packed instead.
Sea days — especially in the middle of it — are really the only time that everyone is on the ship and headed to the same spots all at once instead of being spread out, so be prepared.
Good Luck “Swimming”
In a similar vein to the crowds that are part of daily life on a sea day, I do have to give a special focus to the ship’s pools.
On vacation at a resort in the Caribbean, you’d expect there to be a huge pool. Cruise ships — for as big as they are — give it a good try but they have two factors against them. First, there are a lot of people on a cruise ship and second, is physics. Water is heavy and pools are at the top of the ship. In other words, they can only be so big.
So if your vision of a day at sea pictures a dip in the pool, well, good luck. It’s going to be more of just sitting still in the pool with dozens of your closest friends. If it’s a day in port then you can often swim without it being packed. But at sea? You may be crowded out of the pool.
There’s a Lot Scheduled (But Not All of it “Wows”)
For a lot of people, myself included, it’s a lot of fun to flip through — or these days scroll through — the daily planner to see what’s going on. And one thing that you’ll notice is on sea days there is a ton of stuff planned. That’s in addition to everything being open, from shops to the casino.
If you are someone that just wants to hang by the pool or read a book, that’s no big deal. But for people that like to see and do as much as possible, it can get a bit overwhelming to where you have to make some choices and do some planning.
Now, I’ll be honest there is a lot of the schedule that’s fairly mundane. Trivia contests are big on days at sea, and there will be lots of things like little sports contests or spa demos listed. If you don’t make these, it’s not going to make or break the trip.
But there are some major events such as poolside contests or bingo or casino tournaments that some people don’t want to miss. So yes, the sea days in general are relaxing with plenty of time, but you’re also going to have things you schedule the day around.
You May See Higher Prices Than Port Days
Is it a case that you pay more for services when at sea or that you get a discount when in port? Either way, one thing you’ll wish you knew is that you will sometimes pay higher prices on board if you buy on a sea day. With a captive audience, there’s no real reason for a cruise line to offer a sale or discount.
You see this most often with the spa. Book a spa service on the day at sea and you’ll pay one price. But often cruise lines have a lower price if booking a service during a day in port. It makes sense as with fewer people on days in port, offering a deal may boost business.
It’s not everywhere, and often the difference is nominal if there is one at all. Still, don’t be surprised if you see prices from some things that are higher on days at sea.
Sea Days Can Sometimes Come Unexpectedly
One thing I wish I knew about sea days? How about the fact that they can sometimes come unexpectedly?
You book your cruise and have the itinerary. But just because you see a day at sea scheduled doesn’t mean you won’t have more. I’ve been on two separate cruises where ports of call were cancelled and resulted in an additional day at sea.
In the first, another cruise ship damaged the pier the day before we were to arrive, meaning our ship couldn’t dock. The second was when a tender was required to go to port and the wind was too strong despite it being a beautiful, clear day.
The end result is that an unplanned day at sea happened. On those days, the crew actually has a backup plan and rearrange the day’s activities to add more things to do around the ship. But when you’re anticipating being out in port, honestly that extra day at sea can throw you for a loop.
Why Some People Love Sea Days
If you’re excited about ports of call, then the thought of a sea day may sound boring to you. I was the same way when I started cruising. Now, I’ve completely changed my outlook.
Here’s the thing about days at sea — they have a very different feel to them. Frankly, days in port can be a bit hectic. If you have an excursion planned, then you are constantly looking at your watch, have to wake up early to get ready beforehand, stand in lines to get on and off the ship.
Even if you don’t have anything planned, you’re still going to be up early with the announcements going on around the ship and other passengers making noise in the halls. Then it’s exploring port and be sure to be back on the ship before all aboard. It’s a lot of scheduling and going and doing.
By contrast, there’s a lot going on around the ship on a sea day, but it’s all at your own pace. Want to sleep in? No reason not to. The only schedule you have to meet is your own. It’s just a more leisurely feel than when you have a port of call and completely different than a port day. It’s a day where you’re almost forced to slow down by design that truly feels like vacation.
The Rhythm of the Ship When at Sea
One thing you learn during years of cruising is that the ship, just like a living thing, has a rhythm of the day. And that rhythm is a little different on a day at sea.
First things first, the day gets started a little later. On a port day, breakfast is usually packed first thing in the morning, sometimes before 8 a.m. Day at sea? That breakfast rush turns later, more like 9 a.m. Want a morning workout? So does everyone else. The gym is always packed in the morning at sea. By the afternoon, however, it clears out.
The pool deck is the big one. If you want to sit in the middle of the action, then you need to get down earlier in the morning, I’d say 10 a.m. at the latest. But then it seems like in the mid afternoon it dies down, even when there’s still plenty of daylight left.
Now, in the evenings things get back to normal as they do on any other day — whether it be in port or otherwise — with everyone spreading out for dinner, the casino, shows, and bars.
It’s Different on a New Ship Versus Old Ship
If you are (or you are traveling with) more active people, then one word of advice is to definitely pick a newer ship if you have a day at sea on the schedule.
I’ll be honest, I’m the sort of person that doesn’t do well just sitting. I can relax for an hour but then I get bored. I want to get up and go do something. My first cruise was on a newer ship on Royal Caribbean, and I felt like there was so much to go and do.
My next cruise, however, was on a small ship built about 20 years earlier. Frankly, despite that cruise having only one sea day, I was bored.
Now I know some people will not have this issue at all. But for those that like to have an active vacation, just keep it in mind.
What to Know About Weather on Sea Days
Let’s talk about weather on sea days and how your itinerary and captain can make a big difference.
Here’s the thing, if you’re sailing to Alaska or from Galveston, there’s always a day at sea right at the start of your trip because the nearest ports of call are far away. In that case, you’re at the mercy of the weather at that time. It may be sunny and perfect or it may be cloudy and windy. It’s a roll of the dice.
But often you’ll see trips with ports nearby that still have a day at sea. Like a trip that goes from Miami to Nassau with a sea day in between. In that case, you should have better luck for weather.
Yes, it could be that the entire area is seeing bad weather, but more common is that the captain can steer the ship to a spot that’s clear and also keep the ship pointed to where wind isn’t an issue. Having been on sea days when the ship is powering 20 knots into a stiff breeze, the pool deck is not a fun place to be. So having that flexibility in finding good weather is nice.
