There’s one aspect of your cruise that’s going to take up the single biggest chunk of your time during the vacation, yet no one really talks about it.
We’re talking, of course, of sleeping. For a weeklong cruise you could spend upwards of 60 hours — roughly one-third of the entire trip — in bed. That’s considerably more time than you’ll spend at the pool, eating, or even in port.
So what is there to know about sleeping on a cruise? There are definitely some unique aspects that you’ll want to know.
What to Know About Your Bed on the Ship
If you’re talking about sleep, then it all starts with the bed. And cruise ships offer beds that are unlike any other that you have likely ever slept on.
First, if you’re expecting some sort of luxurious bed like you’d find in an upscale hotel (you know, the ones that feel like laying in a cloud), that’s not the case.
Cruise ships bed definitely put form over function. They aren’t uncomfortable per se, but they are a fairly basis mattress. If staying in some higher-end rooms, you might have a nicer bed available.
As well, the bed is actually two beds zippered together. That way they can be separated and set up for two individuals sleeping apart, or they can be put together for those that want to sleep in one larger bed together.
Don’t expect a ton of space. Apart the beds are twin-sized and together they make up a queen. It’s plenty of room for two people to sleep, but it’s not some massive bed like you might find in some hotels.
Below your bed is a spartan metal frame. Under here is a great place to store your empty suitcases to keep them out of the way. Just make sure that you don’t bump into it in the middle of the night as the metal frame would be unforgiving on your shins.
Noisy Neighbors? Not Likely. But The Cabin Door Is Another Issue
Part of having a good night’s sleep is being undisturbed by outside noise. On a cruise ship — with thousands of other people around and cabins right next to each other — that can be a concern.
The good news is that overall the cabins are well-insulated when it comes to sound. Unless there’s yelling or stomping around, you’re not likely to hear the cabins above, below, or beside you.
The one exception is that the cabin doors seem to let sounds through. For instance, if someone is walking through the hallway talking loudly, you’ll be able to hear them easily.
Because of that, if having it be quiet is important to you, then cabins at the ends of the ship may be ideal. At the end of the hallways there is much less foot traffic, meaning a quieter night.
The Cabin Noises That Can Keep You Awake
While outside noise may be a worry, in our dozens of cruises we’ve actually found noise inside the cabin to be a bigger issue. Given the size, it’s easy to forget that you’re on a ship when you’re taking a cruise. But you are on a ship in the middle of the ocean, and all that that entails.
That means in the middle of the night you may hear the ship creaking. Slight rocking can make things move in the cabin and create noise. More than once we’ve been awakened by the clothes hangers in the cabin closet making noise as they hit one another due to the slightest motion of the ship.
Perhaps the worst is if you have a room on the lower decks you can often hear and feel the vibration of the ship’s engines. This seems to be greatest when the ship is docking early in the morning and can mean an early wake-up call for light sleepers. Cabins on higher decks don’t seem to have the same issue.
Like It Pitch Black? Go With an Interior Cabin
Are you the sort of sleeper that needs it pitch black to sleep? Then there’s good news. Interior cabins have no windows. The only light comes from the cabin lights, so when you turn them off you get dark no matter the time of day.
If you get an oceanview or balcony cabin, it’s nice to have some natural light in the room but it can also mean that your room gets bright when you don’t want it to. There are curtains in these rooms, but at sea you get the full extent of the sun all day long. Even with the curtains closed, light can filter in early in the morning. This can be an issue especially if cruising Alaska where the daylight hours are exceptionally long.
What to Know About Getting Up in the Middle of the Night
The common conception of sleeping at night is that a person lays down, closes their eyes, and doesn’t get up until the morning. Must be nice.
For the rest of us, sleep means laying down, dozing off, and then likely waking up a time or two (or three!) during the night — often to use the restroom.
In a small cruise cabin, getting up can be a challenge if you don’t want to wake your partner. First, in the middle of the night the cabin can be pretty dark. In an unfamiliar cabin it’s easy to bump into things with no light.
We suggest packing a nightlight, but many newer ships are building in features like bathroom lights that are actually highly dimmed even when turned off. You don’t notice in the day, but at night it’s just enough light to see where the bathroom is. Others have motion detectors near the floor that turn a light on temporarily to show the way.
Even once you find your way, the door handle and latch can be loud in a quiet cabin. If you aren’t slow and careful, it’s easy to wake anyone else trying to sleep.
Sleeping Late Is Tough on a Cruise Ship
Part of being on a cruise to the Caribbean is that it has a bit of a party atmosphere. Don’t be surprised if there’s a late night or two. It is a vacation, after all.
The only issue with late nights is that sleeping in on a cruise can be a bit of a challenge. We’ve mentioned the daylight can brighten up a room, but it’s more than that.
As the rest of the ship wakes up, there’s more traffic in the hallways meaning more noise. As well, ship announcements can start early, especially on days when the ship is docked in port as the staff comes on the intercom to let passengers know they can leave the ship. This call is often done before 8 a.m.
If you plan to sleep late, items like sleep masks and ear plugs can be smart to bring.
Always Pack a Sound Machine (or App)
If you want to have more comfortable and uninterrupted sleep, then the smartest thing you can pack is a white noise sound machine.
You can find them on Amazon and they can help to drown out any unfamiliar or unwanted noises. In fact, if you don’t want to bring a dedicated machine, there are also apps you can download to your phone that do the same thing. Simply turn it on, let it run, and sleep like a baby.
Take Advantage of the “Do Not Disturb” Sign
Want to take a nap? Or want to sleep in? If so, then take advantage of the “Do Not Disturb” sign.
During your cruise, you’ll have a room steward that is often in the area to clean the cabins. The service is great. The only issue is that if you are trying to sleep outside the normal nighttime hours, then the knock at the door to see if you want your room cleaned can wake you up.
No need to worry, however. Your room will have a sign you can place on the door to indicate you don’t want to be bothered. Newer ships have usually moved to a switch that indicates when you don’t want to be bothered.
No matter, if you’re wanting to nap then be sure to use it.
