Rainy Day Cruising

When you think of cruising you usually think of abundant sunshine, relaxing by the pool, and fruity, frozen drinks.  However, if you cruise often enough, chances are that one day you may encounter a less than perfect day.  So, what do you do if you wake up to torrential rains? If you choose not to head out in bad weather or it happens to be a sea day, don’t despair… rainy day cruising is not bad at all!

First thing to do is to check out all the onboard ship activities! Aside from all the goings-on that are already scheduled, when bad weather is in the forecast the cruise director and staff rise to the occasion.  Additional events are usually added, from dance lessons to shows to trivia to cooking demonstrations…there’s no way you’ll be bored!

Even if you usually don’t spend time at the spa, you may want to check it out on a rainy day. Many have those heated, tiled loungers in front of floor to ceiling windows…a perfect place to storm watch. Manicures or a foot rub won’t blow your budget and are so relaxing! Or book a series of treatments and make a day of it!

Check out the library. When was the last time you had the luxury of whiling away the hours curled up on a comfy couch with a cup of tea and a good book? The library on a cruise ship is often overlooked by most passengers.  Borrow a book or bring your own.  It’s a nice place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the ship. 

All ships have a nice selection of board games you can borrow. I usually see them stacked up in the card room.  You’ll probably see Scrabble, Parcheesi, Yahtzee, Monopoly, Boggle, as well as cards. Remember the excitement of putting down that 7-letter word in Scrabble or building your first hotel on Boardwalk while your opponents squirmed? You’re never too old to play a board game.

 

Watch a movie in your cabin. There’s always a nice selection of newly released or classic oldies for your viewing pleasure.  And while some would think it crazy to be in a cruise cabin watching the television on vacation, others will find it the perfect way to relax on a rainy day at sea. Be sure to order up some snacks from room service or bring down a tray of goodies from the buffet!

The bottom line is that while everybody would prefer warm sunny days on their vacation, the weather may not cooperate!  And if it’s going to rain on my vacation it might as well happen while I’m on my favorite cruise ship.  After all, rainy day cruising will always be better than not cruising at all!