Are you heading off on your first Carnival Cruise and wondering what’s all the hype about sea days? I’ll share with you 5 ways to have an adventurous or relaxing day on your cruise and you can find out for yourself.
If you are new to cruising, you might be wondering what is a sea day?
Sea days are the days your cruise ship is sailing to the next destination or port of call. They may be listed on your itinerary as “Fun days at sea”.
These days on a Carnival Cruise can be action-packed or chill depending on what kind of experience you are looking for.
Why are sea days necessary? On some cruise itineraries, the distance is too far between ports, so it’s easier to sail a bit slower and have a relaxing day in between. Besides having a fun day at sea, you will get a smoother ride.
Some itineraries are port intense. They are fun but having so many port days back to back can be exhausting.
Carnival ships have so much to offer on sea days with a wide variety of amenities and activities to choose from. No matter your age, I’m sure you will find something to do on a Carnival sea day.
Days at sea can be relaxing, visiting the spa, sleeping in, or enjoying a good book somewhere on deck.
They can be adventurous playing slots at the casino, being a kid on one of the water slides or rope courses, or even romantic in spending some much-needed time alone with someone special.
During a sea day, you are free to do as many or as few activities on board as your heart desires. Anything from eating your way through the buffet to lounging in a deck chair, to sleeping in. We are somewhere in between and try to experience a little of everything the ship has to offer.
Eat your heart out
If you enjoy food, then you are in the right place. You won’t go hungry on sea days. No matter if you are an early riser, or choose to sleep in, you will have many choices of what to eat on sea days.
Breakfast
- Java Blue Cafe- additional cost
- Coffee Bar- additional cost
- Room Service- 24 Hrs. Charges may apply
- Cat & The Hat Breakfast-additional cost
- Sea Day Breakfast-included
- Lido Market Place- included
- Bluegill Cantina- included
- Pizza Pirate- 24 hrs-included
Be sure to check out the Sea Day Brunch or Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast with the Cat and the Hat and friends. There is an additional cost for this breakfast, but you will not find these items on a menu anywhere else. KIds of all ages can take pictures with characters from their favorite children’s books.
Sea Day Brunch is held in one of the main dining rooms with the option to sit with others (the quickest option) or sit alone. If you want a window seat, you’ll need to arrive very early, like when the doors open, or have good luck.
What food can you expect on a sea day brunch?
You can find traditional brunch favorites like pastries and eggs as well as burgers, salads, fried chicken, pasta, and desserts. Craving steak? Steak and eggs are also on the menu. A kids menu for younger cruisers or those with smaller appetites is available too!
Made to order breakfast with a special sea day menu. Items like Flaming hot tomato soup, Huevos Ranchero’s, and pork chops to name a few.
Dessert for breakfast? Yes please! Skip the pastries and go for sweet treats like Banana Cream Pie, Cheesecake, and double chocolate brownies. Hours: 6:30 to 9:30 AM. Feel free to check the HUB app for menus.
Craving breakfast burritos, Arepas, or Huevos Rancheroes? Blue Iguana Cantina is the place to head for breakfast. The menu changes at lunch.
If you don’t want to get up and leave your stateroom, room service is available 24 hrs a day. Some items may be at an additional cost. See Carnival Hubby App for details.
What about the buffet? The Lido Marketplace serves all types of typical breakfast fare until noon on sea days. Bacon may only be available on the buffet every other day due to supply chain issues.
What are choices for lunch on a Carnival Cruise?
Lunch
Starting at noon sea days you can find many options for lunch such as:
- Guy’s Burger Joint- included
- Blue Iguana Cantina- included
- Lido Marketplace-included
- Carnival Deli- included
- Mongolian Wok-included. Some ships
- Bonsai Sushi Express- additional cost- some ships
- Seafood Shack- additional cost-most ships
- Pizza Pirate- 24 hrs-included.
- Room service pizza delivery- additional cost
- Tea Time-included*
If you come back early on a port day and want to eat lunch, your choices may be limited. The buffet usually doesn’t open for lunch until noon. Head over to Guy’s Burger, Blue Iguana, the Deli, or room service for lunch before noon.
What are my choices of places to eat for dinner on a Carnival Cruise?
Unfortunately, No Guy’s Burgers or Blue iguana is open at dinner.The buffet referred to as the Lido is open, but make a point to eat in the Main Dining Room at least once. The menu changes each day.
If celebrating a special occasion, try the steak house. The cost is reasonable for the amount of food. There may also be other stand-alone specialty restaurants available depending on what ship you are sailing.
Dinner
- Lido Marketplace-included
- Main Dining Room-included
- Seafood Shack-additional cost-most ships
- Carnival Deli-included. Open late
- Pizza Pirate- 24 hrs-included
- Steak House- additional cost-most ships
- Pizziaria del Capitano-included- some ships
- Bonsai Sushi Express-additional cost-most ships
Another classic cruising experience is tea time. Be sure to experience tea time at least once in your cruise career. It’s held at like 3 PM. Typical bag teas are available and (*fancier teas) additional cost. Although it is not High Tea, it’s still fun.
Hors d’oeuvres and sweet treats. Served in one of the main dining rooms. If you enjoy this and eventually cruise on Sister cruise line Cunard, this will be a nice introduction to what High Tea is like. Tea time is problematic since it is served so close to dinner time. The snacks and treats are so good it’s hard to leave room for a proper dinner.
Treats/snacks
- Swirls soft serve ice cream & frozen yogurt- included- 24 hrs
- Pizza Pirate- 24 hours- included
- The cherry on Top- additional cost
- Sweet Spot- dessert bar-included- all ships.
- Carnival Deli-included
- Room service- some free items including my cake, cookies, and pie
- Milkshake, frappes, and hot chocolate available at Java Blue- additional cost. Check the HUB app for hours. They may also have fancy slices of cake and parfaits.
When you have a hankering for a snack, you have options. My hubby’s favorite is the soft-serve ice cream from Swirls. There may be two locations on some ships. One near the Lido and the other outside near the midship pool. Cones and bowls are available or grab a cup from the beverage station.
If you have a hankering for cake, head to the Sweat Shop. Reasonable priced slices of cake, cookies, and parfaits.
I found this dessert bar with the Coffee stand. If you have Cheers, you can get shakes and boozie shakes here included in your drink package or available to purchase.
If you just want a snack, or some thing like Grilled cheese, sandwiches and wraps of all kinds are available from the Carnival Deli, until 11 PM or so. Look for the daily sandwich special.
The Carnival Deli also serves, fries, and cookies in addition to chips and potato salad.
Now that you’ve held your stomach over for a while, you might want to find some fun activities for your first sea day. I’ve broken up the activities by location.
Enjoy inside activities
Looking for fun things to do on a sea day, but want to stay inside? There are always lots of inside activities like trivia games going on.
Trivia
Are you an expert in useless knowledge and want to strut your stuff? Trivia is held in Ocean Plaza each day starting around 9 AM, and is one of the most popular activities die-hard cruisers participate in.
Some of these competitions get pretty intense. All this for a solid-gol- plastic ship on a stick!
Trivia matches are held several times per day. Consult the Fun Times or your HUB app for time and theme. Included. No extra cost.
Kids activities
Your kids just might want to stay at Club Ocean all day. If you can pry them away from all the organized activities, may you can spend some time together?
One of the activities for parents and kids to do together is building a custom teddy bear to take home at the Build a Bear Workshop.
Tip: If your child wants to make a custom Teddy Bear, at Build a Bear Workshop, make sure to sign up early.
If crafting is more up your alley, then head to Make it with Michael experience at sea, held in the Atrium. No reservation is required, however, if sail during the holidays, there will be many children who want to make a craft. Make quick crafts to remember your cruise such as key chains, bracelets, and picture frames
Typically, You can decide on this craft experience last minute. Some of the crafts we have done in the past are embellish a pair of flip flops, decorate a picture frame, and Christmas picture frame. Cost: free. All needed materials, tools, and supplies provided.
Does it cost to use Sky Zone on Carnival ships?
Sky zone
Sky Zone is the newest place to have fun inside. It’s an indoor trampoline park with fun for all ages. Just like Jump and Bounce on land.
There are special times for toddlers to try out the trampoline as well as challenges, dodgeball, and basketball.
The blacklight party is not to be missed. Weight limit of 300 pounds. No shoes allowed. Socks needed. Additional cost. Currently only on Carnival Panorama.
Take a class
If you enjoy learning new things there are several classes you can take.
Learn to concoct a new favorite drink in a mixology class. Your friends will be impressed with your new drink-making skills.
Check the Alchemy Bar on the first day of your cruise for details. It’s not usually listed in the Fun Times and has a limited number of participants.
Enjoy cooking? Most ships offer cooking demonstrations and some of the newer ships offer cooking classes called Carnival Kitchen.
At both the cooking demonstration and classes you can lean how to make some of your Carnival favorite food dishes.
This Chopped like arena with decked out modern kitchen setups is only found on the newest ships (Carnival Panorama, Mardi Gras, coming soon to Carnival Celebration and Carnival Jubilee) Have really fun cooking classes called Carnival Kitchen.
You can learn to make homemade pasta, sushi, or even how to be a grill master. Each class is taught by chefs from the representing restaurants. If you are making sushi, then your chef should come from Bonsai Sushi. If you are do the Pasta Maker class, your chef will be from Covina Del Capital. Cost: $39-59 for most courses. Includes meal or snack that you make.
Want to learn some of the dances featured at the deck parties. Several times during your cruise, you can find dance lessons being taught at Ocean Plaza.
Are you enjoying your nightly towel animal and wondering how they are made? Go to Towel Animal Theater and see a puppet show performance by the towel animals.
After the puppet show, stay for a class on how to make the towel animals taught by Carnival employees.
Finally, purchase the How-to-Fold Towel Animals book if offered! You might need a refresher on how to transform that towel into a monkey when you return home.
Win something
Want to try a game of chance, how about Bingo. Discounts on cards can often be found before the games begin, announced overhead, or in the ship’s daily paper or the Hub app.
If you brought extra money and are looking to bet, hit up the casino. Table games, slots, and scratch-offs are available.
Be sure to sign up for the Player’s Club and insert your key card each time you at any games in the casino. You can add cash to your card or have it come from your onboard account on your sail and sign card.
The casino is also a designated smoking area. Gamblers and guests sneaking in a quick smoke break are found here.
Art auctions aren’t exactly winning, but can still be fun. Several auctions put on my Park West Gallery are held during the week in the art gallery. You might even win a piece of art by guessing the value.
If you end up winning the auction, your art is delivered to your home.
Team fun
Want to participate in an active challenge indoors? How about a scavenger hunt or photo scavenger hunt. During a digital scavenger hunt, guests are divided into teams.
Each team is given a list of items to find and what time to return the items. Treasure hunt items will vary depending on who is hosting the event, if they use a pre made list, or come up with their own items.
Some of the items we had to locate were take a picture with an entertainment staff, find the ship’s coin, locate the statue of Liberty.
The teams usually get about an hour to return and see who has found the most items. The list of items might include things like taking a selfie with 3 of the Entertainment Staff. Locate the ship’s coin. Take a photo of the Cat in the hat.
To get credit for the item you must photograph it, and cannot just say you found it.
How do I join a photo scavenger hunt?
Show up at Ocean Plaza or the meeting are a few minutes early. Have comfy shoes on and be ready to run up and down stairs. Make sure your camera or smart phone is charged, that you know how to work it, and are ready to have a good time.
Next to you can either join an organized scavenger hunt or design one of your own. These are one of the most fun activities you can do inside.
Why it’s fun? Organized ones, especially at the beginning of your cruise are fun because it helps you learn the layout of the ship, run around being silly try to find off items, and get t know other guests.
Hit the gym
Some cruisers enjoy working out at the gym. The gym is open early and has many modern workout machines to work off last night’s Warm Chocolate Melting Cake. Treadmills and elliptical machines with the best view you’ve ever run to. Organized and private classes like yoga and spin are available at extra cost. You can also hire a personal trainer. Additional cost.
Tea time
Have you ever wanted to experience tea time? Carnival has afternoon tea. Not quite as formal as High Tea, but still fun. Tea is served in one of the main dining rooms on sea days from 3 to 4 PM.
Sometimes live music is played. The day we went, classical piano music was playing. Other times there may be a string quartet for your enjoyment.
Several types of hot teas are available. Lipton tea bags are free. Fancier teas are available for a small additional fee. If you don’t care for tea, coffee is available by request.
What to expect: When you sit down, you will be asked which teas you like, given a teacup and saucer, a teapot with hot water, or an individual sized pot of coffee.
Next, waiters bring around carts filled with tiny finger sandwiches like salmon, cucumber, or watercress.
Other servers bring around selections of sweet desserts like scones and clotted cream, macaroons, and cute bite-sized cakes.
Afternoon tea is included in your cruise fare. Seating is open,come early to get the best selection of tasty treats.
Gameshow
Family Feud Live is the newest Classic game onboard the Fun Ship. If you think your family or group of 5 has the right answers, sign up to audition.
If your watch and enjoy the fun, there are many opportunities for fun and laughter as you watch the two families face off. Included in the cruise fare. Currently only on the newest ships.
Board games
If you like board games, check the library. There may be several types of games to choose from. Caveat: there is no guarantee that all the prices will be there. If your heart is set on playing a board or card game, consider bring one from home.
Card games. Playing cards were available free of charge on our Carnival Freedom Cruise by asking at gueT services. Cost: free.
Sleep in
After an action-packed day in port or parting the night away, some cruisers might prefer to sleep in. Whenever you wake up, you can order room service or head up to the buffet. Just be sure to put the snoozing sign out the night before.
Listen to live music
If you enjoy music, there are many options for live music. You will find different genres of music around the deck. There might be a country and blues band by the casino, a string quartet in the main atrium, or someone playing the piano in the aft near the Alchemy Bar. The variety changes by the hour. Check the HUB app or ship paper.
Bar Hop
With many bars in the gun shop, you could make a day out of bar hopping. Most ships have the Alchemy Bar, Red Frog Rum Bar, and Blue Iguana Tequila Bar. There’s also a bar in the casino, a sports bar, and a piano bar. Some ships may even have a pub or beer station. Look for drink specials or drinks of the day.
Death By chocolate
The Chocolate Extravaganza, better known as “Death by Chocolate” is held on the last sea day in the buffet. Many varieties of cakes, ice cream, and parfaits, all chocolate of course. There is also a chocolate fountain where a crew member will dip your choice of fruits, chunks of cake, and marshmallows on a stick.
If you are a chocolate lover this special chocolate buffet is not to be missed. The best selection of cakes, including cheesecakes is found here, included in the cruise fare.
Ship Tour
The Behind the Fun Tour is a tour of the ship to places most cruisers never see. This ship excursion is usually offered once on each cruise, on a sea day. If interested, head to the shore excursions desk on embarkation day. This ship tour is capacity controlled. Extra cost. Not included in the cruise fare. After the tour, attendees get to take home Carnival swag. Closed shoes are required. (Behind the Fun Tour is Currently suspended, not available since COVID).
Get Outside- act like a kid
Bask in the sunshine
If the weather cooperates (it usually does in the Caribbean) head on outside. You will find all the active things to do outside.
Most people get up early and reserve a deck chair or two. By all means, grab your deck chair and enjoy it as long as you use it.
There’s not much more frustrating than getting up on deck trying to find a chair and see they are all taken by towels and books, but no people for hours.
Please, don’t do this! Sit and enjoy the sunshine as long as you please. Leave briefly for a snack, or restroom break, just don’t be a chair hog! Don’t forget sun protection.
If you have no plans of using the pool, consider moving to one of the higher decks. There are many locations that lounge chairs are sitting and finding one away from the pool is much easier. Try looking for sun loungers at the back of the ship.
Pools
There are at least two pools on every Carnival ship. One midship and the other at the aft. In the back, you get great sea views and breezes. There are deck chairs scattered throughout the pool area.
New ships have more pools. The Panorama has 3 swimming pools, and the Mardi Gras has 5 swimming pools, and 5 whirlpools.
Vista has 2 public pools and one pool additional pool just for guests in Havana Suites.
Waterslides
New cruisers, you simply must ride the water slides at least once! It is so much fun. Head on over to the Waterworks area and pick your slide. Leave your phone and belongings with a friend and hike to the top. Scream your lungs out. repeat. Included in the cruise fare.
Rollercoaster
The newest exciting activity to hit the FunShips is the Bolt Roller Coaster, the first rollercoaster at sea. You control how fast or how slow you want your ride to be. Even slow speed is surprisingly fast.
Height and weight restrictions are enforced.
All riders must be 5’2″ to 6’4″ and weigh less than 300 pounds.
EVERY rider is weighed before they ride. Not to worry, only the ride employee can see the number.
Reserve ahead. Reservations should be made as soon as you get on the ship as there are a limited number of slots.
Keep in mind, that the roller coaster does not operate in bad weather.
When you reserve your appointment window, your account will be charged immediately.
Important coaster details: Location is Deck 18. Check-in with attendant with tablet and cruise your card will be scanned.
All riders must wear closed-toe shoes. Secure glasses or hats before the ride start. No GoPro’s or cameras permitted!
What Carnival ships have Bolt Roller Coaster?
Bolt is currently only available on Carnival Mardi Gras. Carnival Celebration and Jubilee should have the amusement ride at time of sailing.
Perhaps you want to take a photo of yourself in the Bolt car, there is a replica on Deck 18. Cost additional.
Sky Course
Thrill-seekers, there are more adventures for you on the Sky Course. Beginner and intermediate courses with 20 obstacles. On Carnival Mardi Gras there is one added obstacle, a zip line.
What kind of clothing is required to do the rope course?
Participants must wear closed-toe shoes, and cannot just wear a bathing suit for the course.
There must be street clothes covering any part of the body that the harness touches and all clothing must be dry.
Is there a height and weight restriction to do the rope course on Carnival ships?
Ropes course participants must be at least 48″ tall and less than 275 pounds accept on Carnival Horizon. 300 pounds is the limit on the Horizon ship.
How high up is the ropes course on Carnival Horizon?
In case you are wondering, this course is 20 to 30 feet off the ground, and when you add the height of the ship you will be nearly 120 above the sea.
Don’t worry, you can’t free fall. You are attached at all times with a five-point harness. If you slip from the beams, your harness lowers you and then you just climb back up.
What Carnival ships have ropes courses?
You’ll find the rope course on Carnival Breeze, Horizon, Magic, Panorama, Radiance, Sunrise, Sunshine, Vista, and Mardi Gras. All ages. Included in the cruise fare.
SportsSquare
Assuming that you prefer to get outside for your exercise, then Carnival has you covered.
There are elliptical and stationary bikes on deck as well as free weights and even a punching bag.
A track for jogging, a court for volleyball, soccer, and a game of basketball.
How many laps around the track equal a mile?
In case you are wondering, it will take 8 to 11 laps to equal one mile on the track. It is also padded so you can run longer.
If play is more up your alley, there’s a pool table, foosball, and ping pong.
What Carnival ships have SportsSquare?
SportsSquare can be found on Carnival Breeze, Horizon, Magic, Panorama, Radiance, Sunrise, Sunshine, Vista, and Mardi Gras. All ages. Included in the cruise fare.
Mini Golf
Also located at SportsSquare or the sports deck on older ships is the Mini Golf course.
Have some fun competing with friends or family on this course. Try not to laugh as you attempt to hit a hole-in-one into the treasure chest. Mini Golf is on every Carnival Fun Ship. Fun for All ages. Included.
While hanging out on deck look for the fun and games around the main pool area. The Hairy Chest contest is always good for some laughs. Unfortunately, the hairy chest contest has been discontinued on Carnival ships until further notice.
You might also volunteer for some wacky guys vs girls competition. There is usually some music or band playing and something on the big screen called the Sea Side theater.
Bartenders compete and share their juggling skills as well as cocktails in a competition in front of the midship pool.
Later in the afternoon, look for the ice carving demonstration. In less than 30 minutes, an unassuming block of ice is carved into a beautiful work of art.
Usually the last sea day, you can see one of the chefs carving a massive block of ice. It’s always amazing to see a work of art that appears out of ice.
Be sure to get your photos quickly as the sculpture does not last long under the Caribbean sun.
The next not to miss activity on every CCL ship is Groove for St Jude.
At this fundraiser, you can purchase items such as a T-shirt or Teddy Bear. Besides being fun, all the money goes towards this Charity. Sometimes they have other items that have been donated and you can bid on them.
Gallivanting Souls pro cruiser tip: apply the sunscreen before going out on the deck and keep reapplying! The sun is strong. You don’t want to end up becoming a burnt, crabby Lobster!
On the last full sea day, if you are lucky to get up early enough and go toward the aft of the ship, you will see that towel animals have taken over the deck. You might see the typical towel animals like a dog or monkey. You will also see really large towel creations like octopus and alligators.
Get pampered
Guests looking for a day of pampering can book massages or other treatments at the Cloud 9 Spa.
If you attended the open house on embarkation day, you probably picked up some great coupons. How about a couples massage?
Sea days are also when most ships have elegant nights. Instead of getting through the Hassel of primping, how about having the spa beauty salon get you all dolled up.
Prices are comparable to salons on land. Have an idea of how you would like your hair. If you have any flowers or hair accessories you want to use, bring them to your appointment. The best times for elegant nights are booked early.
Spa and Cloud 9 Spa-additional cost.
Older Carnival ships have spas with steam rooms fancy showers, and saunas, but only the newest ships have Cloud 9 Spa amenities.
What’s the difference? Cloud 9 Spa facilities are on average 5’000 square feet larger. These Heavenly facilities as also have state of the art steam and sensory rooms using aroma and light therapy, and heated ceramic chaise loungers with some of the best views at sea.
In addition to the amenities listed, four ships also have a large sea water pool called Thalassotherapy pool. According to the Carnival
…soak in our Thalassotherapy Pool~ a therapeutic~ natural-bubbling salt-water spring. This mineral-rich body of water has healing powers for de-stressing~ pain relief~ and to soothe dry skin.
What ships have the Thalassotherapy pool? (Currently)
- Carnival Dream
- Carnival Breeze
- Carnival Magic
- Carnival Splendor
Final thoughts
Sea days can be the best days because you can do whatever you want. Feel free to eat an ice cream cone for breakfast, race a family member on one of the waterslides, or hang out by the pool.
Unlike port days, you can take your time, do as many activities as you want and not worry about getting left at the pier.
I hope you try a few of these simple tips to make the most of your sea days on a Carnival Cruise, or any cruise!
What are you planning on doing during your first sea day? Share with us on our Facebook community.
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