Keeping Busy at Sea (or not)

 

I think when you mention going on a cruise, this is what many people envision.  And yes, the Royal Caribbean ships have beautiful swimming pools and activity decks for the young and old.  Because so far I've only cruised on smaller ships, the water activities are pretty tame.  It's easier for them to accommodate and entertain 2,000-3,000 people on these cruises . . . than the 7,500 that are now on R/C's largest Icon Class sailings.

I remember this scene as we passed through the pool deck heading to lunch at the Windjammer Buffet.  It was the popular belly flop contest, which seems to be featured on every cruise ship.  The crowd was loud and rowdy . . . the contestants bawdy and out to win!  All in a good day's fun, but not a scene I need to hang out for.

This is more my chill vibe when hanging out at the pool.  It's nice that Pam has been able to share her 5 (per day) free Diamond + beverages with me.  I am really looking forward to getting to the Crown & Anchor Diamond level in February, and earning my own free 4 cocktails per day.  They will be a nice complement to my unlimited free cocktails in the casino, thanks to my Casino Royale Prime status.

 

But hey . . . there's a lot more to do on the ship besides hanging out at the pool!  

Throughout the day, there are games and activities to keep folks entertained and meeting new people.  I've realized that after just a couple of days on the ship, we seem to run into the same folks based on common interests.  Trivia and "Name that Tune" are a couple of games played on all ships.  Some are set up for individuals, while many are for teams.  They generally feature some pretty paltry prizes . . . mainly Royal Caribbean logoed swag (like t-shirts, coffee mugs, hats and key chains) or maybe dinner for 2 in one of the specialty restaurants.

But you need to be careful if  you are the sorta of outgoing person, willing to get involved in an extroverted way.  You my friend, are the very people they seek out for many of their games because you become the entertainment show.  "Love & Marriage" is once such game where couples are pitted against one another to win really nice prizes, not just logoed swag!  It's played like a TV game show in the main theater.  The last time we went, the room was more than half full in the middle of the day.  The couples were hilarious, and the audience was involved, rooting for their favorites to win.

If you want something a little more low key, check out movie night poolside.  On our cruise to NE & Canada, Jewel even had a small 50 person movie theater.  With a couple of seas days on that itinerary, going to the movies in the afternoon was a nice break.

Royal Caribben is known for their nightly entertainment in the ships' main theatres.  The quality of the shows is said to get better as you go up in ship class.  Some even feature productions based on well known Broadway shows like Grease, Momma Mia, Cats and Hairspray.  I would love to see Saturday Night Fever or The Wizard of Oz on a cruise . . . maybe some day.

Most of the large production shows have two evening showings so people can do either an early or late dinner. Pam & I have enjoyed doing the early dinner in the Main Dining Room, followed by the early (7:30pm) show.  On the larger ships, reservations are highly recommended, but given the smaller ships I've been on, they weren't necessary.  That gets us to around 9:00pm for CASINO time . . . or perhaps a nightcap in a lounge and an early bedtime.  If you're up for some really bawdy humor or an adult themed game show, you can generally find that late at night (round 10:30 or 11:00pm).

Whatever the time of day, there is no shortage of music on the ship!  For those who enjoy dancing, I'm told they go well past midnight in the clubs.  I'm more of a people watcher, but I do enjoy good music!

Of course, if you wish to do nothing, there are plenty of quiet spots found throughout the ship.  Many of the venues that are busy in the late afternoon and evening, are empty in the morning and through the lunch hour.  And when the ship is in port, with many people enjoying time on a tour and shopping, the ship is extraordinarily quiet including the pool deck and dining areas. 

So the bottom line . . . Royal Caribbean does a very good job of providing a nice variety of activities and entertainment on the ship.  This is particularly important on sailings that feature multiple sea days.  On our upcoming transatlantic trip in October, it's a 13 night cruise with a whopping 7 sea days as we head to the coast of Florida from the Canary Islands.  I think I'm most excited about Halloween being on our last sea day . . . just before we arrive into Port Canaveral.

But for those who want to enjoy a relaxing day at the pool or on the ship's deck . . . or perhaps in a quiet corner reading a book while watching the world go by . . .  there may be no better way to disconnect and get away from it all, than on an extended vacation on a cruise ship.