A day at sea is a time to relax and enjoy life on board. For some, this means the indulgence of doing absolutely nothing beyond basking in the sun, enjoying iced cocktails, and topping up the tan. For others, a sea day might mean a carefully curated itinerary of gym, spa, lunch, pool, and cocktails.
Others still may want to spend the whole day on the go, testing out new sports, entering contests, browsing the shops, and enjoying some casino time.
This is the great joy of a sea day. The time is yours to enjoy, exactly as you please. To make the best of this special part of your cruise, a little planning can go a long way. After all, it’s not every day that you have no obligations, no commitments, and only yourself to please.
Make a Plan
Resort Deck
Your Celebrity app makes it easy to plan your perfect day at sea. You can browse all the different activities and events available on board and plan your day around anything from spa treatments to showtimes. In the app, you’ll find a calendar that you can personalize, deck plans, and details like restaurant menus. Log onto the ship’s Wi-Fi and you can chat to friends and family via the app, too.
If you’re traveling with a group, one of the joys of cruising is that everyone gets to do what they like. So perhaps have a group planning session, agree what everybody wants to do, and plan a rendezvous for lunch or dinner.
Book Specialty Dining
Fine Cut Steakhouse
On a sea day, everybody on board is relaxed. Nobody is returning from an excursion hot and tired. After a day of relaxing, you’ll be ready to enjoy the evening.
As such, the specialty restaurants on board can be busy on a sea day, so this is where you need to plan ahead. Any specialty dining can be pre-booked via the Celebrity app or in person once you are on board.
Perhaps you’re craving steak at the Fine Cut Steakhouse, or are looking forward to the state-of-the-art animation at Le Petit Chef. Maybe you want to experience haute cuisine in leafy Eden, on Edge-series ships, or al-fresco dining at the Rooftop Garden Grill.
Raw on 5
Remember, too, that you can enjoy some of the specialty dining restaurants at lunchtime. How about a spectacular seafood brunch at Raw on 5, or Sushi on 5 on Solstice-series ships? Or sizzling steaks under the sun at the Lawn Club Grill? Again, these are best pre-booked so you can plan your perfect day.
If you’ve chosen The Retreat for your cruise, you’ll have a table in Luminae at The Retreat for the duration of the voyage, so there’s no need to plan ahead there. Ask The Retreat team to help you make reservations for specialty dining if you want to venture out to try some of the exciting alternatives.
Sleep Late
Infinite Veranda
You may have found yourself racing around on your cruise as you take in all the excitement of new places and busy shore excursions. A sea day is your time to reset. The whole day is yours. There’s no early morning tour to Athens and no rush to beat the crowds in Rome.
If you enjoy sleeping in, this is the best day to order room service. A gourmet breakfast, made to order, will be delivered to your stateroom. Open your veranda doors, let the morning light stream in, and enjoy the luxury of relaxing in comfort with breakfast in bed.
Make Time for a Workout
Fitness Center
There’s a wide range of classes in the Fitness Center every day on Celebrity’s ship, but sea days usually see the fullest schedule. If you love fitness and working out is part of your routine at home, all the better; you could try something different, like bungee fit, HIIT, or a Peloton session, depending on which ship you’re on.
If you find working out a chore, plan a class early in the day so you get it out of the way and relax afterward. Not that it should be a chore; the equipment on Celebrity’s ships is state-of-the-art and the ocean views from the Fitness Center are spectacular.
Yoga class
Personal training is available, too, if you want to shake up your normal routine. There are also relaxing classes, from yoga to meditation and gentle stretching.
If you’re a runner, or simply love walking in the fresh sea air, you’ll find a jogging track on the upper decks of all Celebrity’s ships. On a sea day, it’s a good idea to get in the miles as early as you can, as the ship will be quiet. Later on, everybody will have the same idea. There’s something special about running on a ship, feeling the gentle motion of the waves, the breeze in your hair, and the soothing sounds of the ocean as your soundtrack.
Read: Ways to Stay Fit On a Cruise
Make the Most of Camp at Sea
Camp at Sea
Kids love days at sea as they’ll have a full program of activities in Celebrity’s Camp at Sea. Children’s activities are divided by age group and include everything from art and cooking to scavenger hunts, sports contests, and S.T.E.M. activities, all in bright, cheery, and custom-designed environments.
The chances are, once your kids are enrolled in Camp at Sea, you’ll barely see them unless you extract them for meals and some family time. You’ll have no chorus of “I’m bored” as you try to read your summer blockbuster by the pool.
You can mix it up; let the kids enjoy organized activities for half the day and spend time together as a family for the other half, enjoying pool time, games, or perhaps a movie.
Read: The Essential Guide to Cruising with Kids
Consider a Cabana
Cabana
On Celebrity’s Edge-series ships, luxe cabanas for four line one side of the pool deck. You can reserve one of these as your own private haven for the whole day. You’ll also find cabanas at the Lawn Club on Solstice-series ships in the form of alcoves that serve as your own private picnic area on the grass.
Take a cabana or an alcove and you’ll have an exclusive space that makes you feel every inch the VIP. Amenities vary but might include chilled water, fruit skewers, beers, soft drinks, facial spray, cold towels, a special lunch menu, and a choice of vodka, wine, or champagne. Best of all, once you’ve reserved your cabana, it’s yours for the day and you can come and go as you please.
Unwind by the Pool
Pool
For some, a day at sea is a chance to do nothing more taxing than lounging by the pool. So pack up your book, hat, headphones, and sunscreen, make sure your phone is charged, and pick your favorite lounger.
Spend your day cooling off in the sparkling water, chatting to fellow guests in the hot tubs, listening to live music, sampling delicious iced cocktails, and indulging in a made-to-order burger at the Mast Grill when hunger sets in.
If you’ve chosen The Retreat and are sailing on an Edge-series ship, you’ll have access to your own private sun deck, hot tub, pool, and lounge. There are fewer more blissful places to spend your day at sea.
Read: Things to Do Outdoors on a Cruise Ship
Try Something New
Yoga class
One of the best things about a cruise is that it’s a chance to try something outside your normal sphere of activities. And why not? It’s not every day at home you can attend a sushi-making demonstration, join a watercolor painting class, learn to play bridge, or laugh with your partner as you take your first steps at ballroom dancing.
Sea days are a time of cruise activities like games and quizzes for those who prefer not to immerse themselves in a book or snooze in the sunshine. Celebrity’s ships offer everything from bingo to trivia quizzes, as well as recreations of the famed Deal or No Deal show, with prizes to be won.
You’ll find all sorts of entertainment like this during your day at sea. The joy of trying something new, or taking on fellow guests in a quiz, is that there’s nothing to lose—and you may even discover a new hobby.
Step Behind the Scenes
Sea days on Celebrity’s ships are when the very special Inside Access tours take place. These two-hour behind-the-scenes adventures offer a unique insight into the inner workings of some of the world’s most advanced cruise ships.
You’ll be taken in a small group below decks to see areas like the galley, where thousands of meals are prepared every day. You’ll visit the laundry room and the impressive engine control room, the heart of the ship.
See the I-95, the broad corridor and main working artery that runs the length of the ship. Finally, you will end your tour on the bridge, with a chance to see what goes on, learn about navigation, admire the views, and talk to senior officers.
Needless to say, these Inside Access tours are popular, so this is another event you will need to book ahead for your day at sea.
Fit in a Game of Pickleball
Pickleball
Are you swept up in the pickleball craze at home? You don’t need to miss out on your cruise. Nine of Celebrity’s ships have pickleball courts, so a day at sea is the perfect chance to improve your technique or try your hand at this fast-growing craze, which incorporates skills of tennis, badminton, and ping pong.
Sometimes, on sea days, the activities team will organize contests so you can play against fellow guests. You don’t need to bring your own paddles or balls; everything is on board for you.
Explore the Ship
Magic Carpet
A sea day is a time to discover new spaces on your Celebrity ship. On Edge-series ships, why not enjoy your morning coffee on the Magic Carpet? This tangerine-colored platform, cantilevered over the side of the ship, has spectacular, uninterrupted sea views. It’s the perfect place to curl up with a book or a cocktail when it’s positioned alongside the Resort Deck as an extension of the pool area.
Or explore Eden, the leafy, light-filled aft lounge on Edge-series ships. Eden is quiet during the day, when there are no events, and is a wonderfully tranquil spot for coffee, salads, and sandwiches if you want a break from the sun. Also on Edge-series ships, the Rooftop Garden is a peaceful place to relax in the shade with a book, or catch a movie on the giant screen.
Lawn Club
Celebrity’s Solstice-series ships each have a beautiful living lawn on the upper deck. Collect a blanket and lie back on the grass with a picnic or your favorite cocktail. Challenge friends and family to a game of croquet or bocce with all equipment provided.
Sauna, Steam, Relax, Repeat
Spa
A sea day is the perfect time to maximize your time in the ship’s wellness area, enjoying the steam rooms, salt room, saunas, and blissful heated loungers. On Edge-series, this area of the spa is called the SEA Thermal Suite, while on Solstice- and Millennium-series ships, it’s the Persian Garden.
You can access this tranquil area of blissful indulgence if you book a day pass, or if you’ve planned a spa treatment. Again, you need to plan ahead as sea days are a popular time for this ultimate relaxation experience.
Better still, opt for an AquaClass stateroom or suite when you book your cruise and you’ll have unlimited access to the saunas and steam rooms. If you love a spa day and your cruise includes a few sea days, this can be a great investment.
Embrace the Night
Sunset Bar
You’ve spent a relaxing day in the sun, and now it’s time to enjoy the ship’s nightlife. Start your evening at the Sunset Bar with a sundowner as you listen to live music, gazing at the romantic views of the ship’s wake as the pink hues of sunset begin to cast a rosy glow.
Next, it’s indoors to the Martini Bar, where our mixologists will wow you with their skills as they juggle glasses, bottles, and shakers, pouring the perfect martini from a great height. You’ll want a seat at the bar for this one. Or maybe you’re a beer drinker, in which case Craft Social is the place to be, where a beer sommelier will introduce you to exciting flavors.
The Theatre
After dinner, the whole ship comes alive with music and festivity. Head to the theater to be wowed by the state-of-the-art shows, then hit the dance floor or take in some late-night stand-up comedy or cabaret. End your perfect day at sea with a stroll on deck in the moonlight, refreshed and ready for the next day’s destination.
Edge Villa
Are you ready to enjoy the ultimate vacation at sea? Browse Celebrity’s worldwide itineraries and plan your next adventure.
