Few vacations are as thrilling, enchanting or downright engaging as a cruise getaway. We’ve highlighted time and again their merits — the joys of living large on a floating five-star resort, en route from one bucket-list port city to the next. Those days spent at sea might just be your favorite; truth be told, the only limit to how you spend your time is your imagination. Depending on the itinerary, you may have several days at sea; here’s a blueprint of how to spend perfect days at sea — maybe consecutive, maybe spread out across your entire itinerary — to jumpstart your daydreaming and planning.
Celebrity Cruises Lawn Club makes for one popping picnic.
Your First Day at Sea
Day one is all about getting your bearings, scoping out what’s hot and what’s criminally underappreciated. Your best bet is to ease into life aboard luxury at sea. This might seem contrary to popular belief, but exploring all your ship has to offer isn’t a race! Sleep late, order room service and enjoy breakfast in bed, then mosey on over to the poolside cabanas right in time for brunch (or mimosas).
On board the Celebrity Solstice class ships, you might want to wiggle your toes in the grass at The Lawn Club for a leisurely picnic. Perhaps sit in on an enlightening lecture from a leading guest expert when sailing with Silversea. Maybe you just want to stretch your legs with a leisurely stroll along the deck. Dinner should be whatever speaks to you — the point is, take day one as a chance to acclimate to ship life.
Holland America Line's High Score is truly all fun and games for the whole family.
Your Second Day at Sea
Day two is when you’ve gotten your sea legs under you (so to speak), and with a better idea of what’s available, the sky’s the limit. Maybe that’s taking an art workshop with Celebrity — or a deliciously hands-on food and wine pairing workshop. Or it could be finally having some quiet time to yourself with a new beach read in Silversea’s elegant onboard library.
Maybe your family thrives on competition; Holland America’s onboard arcade (adorably dubbed High Score!) is the place to be for an impromptu skee-ball tournament. Whatever your day entails, cap it off with dinner at a specialty restaurant and a show (or a lively night of bar-hopping among the various suave venues).
Let your stress melt away at the spa onboard Silversea Cruises.
Your Third Day at Sea
With the big marquee experiences out of the way, the name of the game today should be “treating yourself.” Maybe that means a proper pampering at the Greenhouse Spa & Salon on Holland America. Maybe you’d enjoy a quick doubles game of pickleball on Celebrity, or perhaps an acupuncture session on a Silversea voyage is more to your liking.
The point is, each and every ship will likely have the perfect activity for recharging your batteries — especially when paired with a sumptuous meal. Whichever specialty restaurant you haven’t tried that catches your eye should be the go-to restaurant. (This might mean planning ahead with a reservation, depending on the ship and the restaurant.)
Making the Most of the Trip Itself
Now you have our suggestions for how to spend your days at sea, but what’s the best way to make the most of your entire cruise vacation? By working with a trusted travel agent. Not only will you have plenty of time to enjoy the experiences and flavors listed above, but you’ll also reap the rewards of working with a pro — chiefly years of hard-earned wisdom and recommendations. You'll also gain access to exceptional offers and exclusive perks such as Amenity Departure Date sailings which offer shipboard credit, free specialty dining, and/or prepaid gratuities — all at no extra cost! Our travel agents know the leading cruise lines well, so we can help you choose, plan and book your cruise vacation to perfection.
