what to do on sea days

AT SEA: a typical day
Folks always say they’d be bored at sea. We never are so I thought I’d give you a run down of the things that are offered each day at sea. I’m using today’s Princess Patter as an example. It isn’t a daily, predictable routine, but it’s close enough.
For example, today we didn’t have breakfast available in the dining room. Instead, since it is a Sunday, we had the brunch from 10:30 am to 1:30 pm. Usually it goes to 2:30 but they have a lecture that begins at 1:30. But otherwise, days at sea are pretty much the same in structure.
Meals
The Panorama Café has meals all day. There is room service though on a small ship like this, it isn’t usually available 24 hrs. There is of course the formal dining room where one can have breakfast and lunch on an open seating plan. At dinner, it is assigned seating and there is a first and a second seating.
In addition, there are specialty restaurants. There is a steakhouse and Sabatini’s which is a multicourse restaurant where reservations are required and there is an additional charge per person of about $20 I think.. Actually the charge is true for both restaurants.
Pizza and burgers are available on the upper deck most of the time.
And don’t forget afternoon tea!
Snacks
There is ice cream for an hour in the afternoon and at 3 pm everyday in the Club bar, there are fresh baked cookies. There are candies in a bowl as you exit the dining room and some people load up their pockets as if they were starving. Many times, by the time we leave the dining room, the bowl is empty and we are first seating so you know it must be refilled for second seating.
We are given bowls of fruit in our staterooms and we can order as much as we want and can specific fruits if they are available.
For Elites
There are hordoervers every evening but you buy your own drinks. These may be chips and salsa or sushi as they had last night.
Swimming pools
There are several up top along with hot tubs. There are always lounge lizards out there burning their skin into leather. There is a jogging track above this level and it’s a great place to just walk around. The ocean is visible on all sides and is glorious on most days. The wind is wonderful and you feel renewed when you’re done.
Gym
They have all new equipment here and they have begun to enforce the 20 min limit on the treadmills so things are moving along better.
Bars
These of course are everywhere. Each day there are special drinks including non alcoholic. Doday’s signature cocktail is the Raspberry fizz at $6.75 + 18% gratituity. The mocktail of the day is Princess smoothie. Martini of the day is “ole blue eyes”.
Spa and salon
Everyday you can be pampered and fleeced up there. They don’t offer every service you’d find in an LA salon and the ladies are usual new grads so be forewarned.
Internet center
There is wifi but the best signal is near the forward part of the ship or the panorama café near where computer classes are given (for a $25 fee). There are internet terminals and a fee for internet use. AS Elite members we get a nice chunk of free internet usages---when we’re able to access it.
Satellite TV reception
Doesn’t seem to be related to the internet. We now have FOX news, CNN irregularly, HLN sometimes. There are movies, cartoons, Discovery channel, the ship’s channels where you can see the web cam, find out about other Princess ports and ships, view the DVDs for this trip, see previous entertainment, and get information on shore excursiolns.
Photo and Video center
They have some supplies for sale but mostly they are there to sell you the DVDs of this trip and photos that they seem to be taking everywhere all the time. They are not cheap and this is a huge revenue center for the ship.
Boutiques on board
There are sales and features everyday so we always pass through this area to see what’s available. They have a small sundries section and fragrances and some clothing are available.
“Fine arts” & arts and crafts
They have paintings all over the place for sale and auction, many of these auctions include champagne and lessons on artists. They are also a money trap. Today’s “lecture” is the birth of modern art.
There is a knitting, crocheting and needlework group that meets periodically. Ceramics at sea allows you to paint your own masterpiece; I have a few from other cruises..k
Watercolor art: this is a get together and a class depending on the time. One guy said my flower looks exactly like it did when I was in the fifth grade. That would be me.
Future cruise sales and Captain’s Circle
These are to deal with frequent cruisers and will handle any questions you have related to future cruises or your Captain’s Circle account (our elite status).
Grand Casino
Oh Wow! We can’t forget this place. They even have complementary gaming lessons; such a deal. There is a poker tournament going on at the moment. And of course, the ever present slot machines and black jack tables.
Medical Center
Nurses and Nikolas, the MD, are available 24/7 but there are clinic hours in the am and pm.
Religious services
There is a priest on board and Mass is held every day. There are Shabbat services on Fridays and sometimes the staff will do nondenominational services on Sundays.
Library
There are puzzles, soduku of the day, and lots of wonderful books. Passengers donate magazines of various stripes and there are always folks up there reading and sometimes researching various topics. It is a quiet respite and enjoyed by all at various times
There is a book club that meets periodically and books are provided by Princess.
Bridge
These folks are fanatics. They meet sometimes twice a day and the world revolves around their lectures and playing.
Classes
Dance: These are done by the dancers of Princess for the most part though the female part of the Exhibitionists is doing hula classes for other passengers.
Computer: for a small $25 fee you can learn to do a lot with photoshop and other programs.
Photography: lots of different offerings here.
LECTURES
These aren’t quite classes but they often include academically oriented topics. Today there were lectures on WWII and Visions of the Cosmos. They average two lectures a day.
I’m not sure this counts as a lecture, but periodically the tour/excursion desk puts on presentations about tours. Likewise, other staff present slide shows about other cruises.
Games
There’s ping pong, shuffle board, carpet bowls, deck quoits (I don’t have a clue), outburst, and simulated golf somehow. There are more I’m forgetting. There’s a card room with Scrabble, monopoly, and other games. A lady asked me today if I played Canasta and though it’s been years, I think that would be fun to do again. There’s always laughter coming from that card/game room.
Special games: these are often done for theme nights. Right now they have a boat building contest going on and we’re all looking forward to seeing the results which are usually hilarious.
Get togethers
The COPD group meets now and then. Today’s there’s Aviator, flight attendant and ground personnel get-together. Friends of Bill W meet daily. And the RED HATS are listed often to meet but so far there are only 3 of us. And today is Canada, Canadian, and Canooks.
BINGO!
OMG don’t get in the way of these folks and their bingo. They are serious and hard core.
Tonite’s entertainment
Finally, there is the evening entertainment in the Cabaret Lounge which is usually a big show and is shown twice, once for each seating group. There is often pre-show dancing with the band. The Pacific Lounge, the large area at the front and top of the ship, has bands playing until late at night. The Casino Lounge has a band and piano entertainer and often karaoke (whoopee)
So that’s a quick and dirty of what’s official. You can still sit on the promenade deck, read, sleep, or simply do nothing which some folks seem to have down to perfection.