Cruising – What to Do

Going on a cruise is one of my favorite things to do when I travel. Cruising is easy – everything is “under one roof”. Your hotel. Your entertainment. Your restaurants. Move in and take over a cabin for a few days. Feel free to unpack and use the dressers available. It’s easier than pulling out your suitcase for every wardrobe change. I have sailed on many different cruise lines over the years. My current favorites are Viking and Oceania, as they provide the most complete cruise experiences.

So! What should you do on a cruise ship? Let’s see…

When you first board, you are likely to be presented with a signature cocktail (to be placed on your room charge account, of course!) So definitely umbrella drinks and ship’s cocktail of the day are a must.

Don’t forget to go top-side to watch the sail-away! It’s also a great place to be when pulling into or out of a port of call.

Next up is your stateroom. Welcome to your home away from home for the next several days. We always get a balcony cabin. Yes, inside cabins are less expensive and you might not spend much time in your cabin during your cruise, but a balcony offers a refuge from the masses – your own quiet oasis at sea. Enjoy your morning coffee, afternoon snack and beverage of choice or enjoy a book on your balcony while gazing out over the blue waters. Balcony cabins are also great on sea days. Grab a nap inside or out on your balcony. Balconies are also a great place to watch the sunset with the beverage of your choice. Stargazing off your balcony – there’s nothing like the open sea to see the constellations and stars.

Entertainment on board is plentiful. It all depends on you! There are live stage entertainment shows in the main theater. There are small musical groups positioned around the ship for a more quiet type of entertainment – soloists, duos, trios – everything from classics to rock. The ship’s band also plays in the lounge nightly. There are bars, lounges there’s even some entertainment offered by the waiters in the main dining room on occasion. And depending on the ship and itinerary, local musicians, actors are brought on board for the evening’s entertainment. Make sure you attend any captain’s parties or staff introduction events as well. You can even sign up on Cruise Critic for a party hosted by the ship’s officers. This is a great way to meet other passengers and be recognized by the crew.

Another form of entertainment falls under the category of shore excursions. Most people are chomping at the bit to get off the ship and experience the local culture through guided tours that are provided through the ship. After the pandemic, many cruise lines are enforcing that shore excursions need to be booked through the ship. Double check to be sure that this is the case. You may be able to book independently. We find organized shore excursions can be something of a foot race from one point of interest to another. We prefer to book on our own so we can take the time to enjoy the point of interest and take pictures.

Food selection is abundant on board. There’s something for everyone! Be sure to try out a specialty restaurant if the opportunity presents itself. Viking includes 2 specialty dinners with certain cabin types. Make sure you make your reservations as soon as possible as these restaurant fill up fast, especially on sail-away day and sea days. Other options may include a pool-side burger/sandwich shop, a buffet or a chef-named restaurant.

Clothing is definitely a personal choice. You may wish to ‘dress to the nines’ each night for dinner and a show or drink or you may be very comfy in your shorts and t-shirt. Just understand that there are expectations for certain dress in certain areas. Generally speaking, shorts and a t-shirt are OK in the main dining room during breakfast and lunch, but not for dinner. No one expects you to put on a 3-piece suit or formal gown, but the expectation is that you will get out of your shore excursion day clothes and put on long pants or a nice outfit. Check out one of my previous posts on what to wear if you are unsure.

Shopping is a must! Where else are you going to find something unique to a culture or area? Whether. you are looking for tea towels, magnets, or a cuckoo clock from the Black Forest, your opportunities to locate such items are out there. We always bring along a little bubble wrap and a small box to hold precious, breakable items. In the case of the cuckoo clock, most shops will ship it for you. Just be patient as it may take a while to get to you as it has to go through customs and paperwork before being put on a delivery truck. Our favorite souvenir from our travels are locally-made Christmas ornaments.

Cruise terminals vary from country to country and port to port. You initial entry onto the ship is usually more reminiscent of a cattle drive as you wind your way through the path the the agent at the check-in desk. Depending on your cabin selection, you may quality for the pre-sail lounge where you can check in and get a snack and rest until it’s your turn to board. Some terminals offer shopping for souvenirs, cold drinks, money exchange booths, car rental, shore excursions etc. Some cruise terminals are located in a shipyard and do not offer much in the way of anything of interest. You need to board a shuttle bus to get any where as you are not allowed to walk in the area as it is a working ship yard. Some cruise terminals are at the edge of town so you are able to walk to shops etc. There may also be a shuttle. Bottom line is they definitely want your business!