If you’re new to cruising or new to Disney Cruise Line, you may be wondering what there is to do during an At Sea day during your voyage. Are there activities when the ship isn’t docked at a port? What does a typical At Sea day look like?
We weren’t sure what to expect ahead of our first At Sea day with Disney Cruise Line. We knew there would be something to do, but the full list of activities wasn’t apparent until we were on board. We learned that an At Sea day is basically a Choose Your Own Adventure day. It becomes whatever you make of it.
Here’s a quick look at just a few of the activities we enjoyed.
Sleeping In
This may sound silly, but hear us out. Early wake-up calls are usually the norm when the ship visits a port. Most guests want to get ready, enjoy breakfast, and be off the ship as soon as possible to maximize their time at the destination. A day at sea is an opportunity to slow things down.
There’s always something to do on a cruise, which can wear even experienced travelers down in a hurry. A bit of extra sleep on an At Sea day can go a long way. Sleep in and maybe order some room service. It’s included!
Sun and Pool Time
Relaxing on the upper decks and enjoying the ocean breeze is the perfect recipe for relaxation. An At Sea day is also the perfect opportunity for a quick dip in the pool or a ride on the AquaDuck.
Of course, lots of other guests may have a similar idea, so we recommend finding a nice lounge chair in the shade and napping the day away. We also highly recommend booking a stateroom with a verandah and making full use of sitting on the verandah while the ship is sailing. It’s peaceful, beautiful, and incredibly relaxing.
Trivia, Games, and Sports
The Disney Cruise Line cast members do an amazing job of running activities to keep guests entertaining. Trivia, Chip-It-In Golf, Bingo and a variety of other games fill the schedule during an At Sea day. You may even win a fun prize if you come out on top.
Bingo is a favorite, and often attracts a large number of guests hoping to win some cash prizes. While the possibility of winning a jackpot is fun on its own, Disney’s cast members always make bingo an entertaining and hilarious experience.
If you’re wanting to get active, there’s also the walking/running track that wraps around the entire ship (except on the Disney Wish), the sports court, and a miniature golf course (only on the Dream and Fantasy). All of the ships have fitness centers and classes, though the workout classes may carry an extra fee.
Arts and Crafts
Maybe you want to put the artistic side of your brain to work during your cruise? Disney Cruise Line has you covered there. Crafts are regularly offered, and may include Origami, learning how to draw a favorite character, paper crafts, and more.
Cast members walk guests through how to create the specific craft or art piece, and make it simple enough for all ages (and skill levels) to enjoy. We learned how to draw Russell from Up, and while we won’t be animators any time soon, it was a lot of fun.
Cooking Demonstrations
One of our favorite At Sea activities is the ‘Anyone Can Cook’ demonstrations. Disney Cruise Line chefs teach guests how to cook one of their famous entrees or desserts. We’ve learned how to make Lobster Ravioli and a delicious Chocolate Spider Cake for Halloween.
The best part? Everyone gets to sample the featured dish, and take a recipe sheet home with them.
Characters
Disney characters will meet regularly during every Disney Cruise Line trip. On longer cruises, the first At Sea day can see some pretty lengthy lines for most of the characters. But, for longer cruises, the general rule is the lines to meet characters get shorter the further you get into the cruise.
Disney does a great job making sure every guest has amble opportunity to meet a bunch of characters (if they want) during their cruise.
Youth Activities
Parents don’t need to worry about their kids being bored during a sea day. The Youth clubs on the ship are loaded with programming throughout the day and long into the night, keeping kids of all ages having fun.
We’d need a separate article to cover all the activities on Disney Cruise Line because there’s so much offered in the Oceaneer Club & Lab (ages 3-12), Edge (ages 11-14), and Vibe (14-17).
Movies
Watching a movie at sea might feel like a waste of time if you’ve never cruised before. It’s not! It’s a great way to spend a couple hours. And, as an added bonus, Disney releases their films on the ships the same day they debut in traditional theatres. Guests on Disney Cruise Line can watch brand new movies as soon as they come out.
Special Events
Select Disney cruises will use an At Sea day for a special event such as Star Wars at Sea, Pixar Day at Sea, or Halloween on the High Seas. These aren’t offered on all cruises, but if you are sailing on a voyage with one of these events on the schedule, you’ll have a whole schedule of themed activities on that specific day at sea.
Everything Else!
There’s so much that we missed! Take a walk around the ship. See how many ice cream cones you can eat. Enjoy an adult beverage in one of the lounges. Take a nap. Play shuffleboard. The list goes on and on. We love a good day at sea.
What are your favorite things to do during an At Sea day on Disney Cruise Line?
