After two active, balmy days in Nassau and Freeport, we had an entire day to spend at sea, exploring the Carnival Sensation‘s many offerings. I thought this would be the day to sit by the pool and read a book, but as usual, there was just too much to do and see to sit still. For the quick rundown of my FUN day at sea, watch the video here, otherwise, read on for 13 Ways to Spend a FUN Day at Sea!
1. Check the Fun Times.
The Fun Times arrives in your cabin each night before bed, so you have a chance to peruse & plan for all the onboard activities the next day. I tend to want to be everywhere at once, and on a cruise, my FOMO gets the best of me more often than not. Grab a pen and circle what you want to do in advance to ensure you don’t miss anything.
2. Grab a chair on the Lido Deck.
The most desirable deck chairs fill up quickly, so if you want to have a good selection, head to the pool early to stake your claim. Now, don’t be one of those jerks who drops towels on the chairs and then leaves for the day – that’s not good cruise etiquette. If you plan to partake in Lido Deck activities during the Day at Sea, grabbing a quality chair early is a great way to start the day. It’s also a great place for an open air breakfast.
3. Take a towel animal class.
Cute, clever towel critters greet you in your stateroom each night courtesy of your cabin steward, so by the end of the cruise, you’ll be wishing you could take a monkey or an elephant home with you. Luckily, you can! Just show up for the free lesson and you can be a cabin steward in your own home upon return.
4. Line dancing on the Lido Deck.
I sure hope you like line dancing, because there’s a whole lot of it going on during Sea Day! The Cupid Shuffle, the Wobble, the Cha-Cha Slide, Gangnam Style and the unforgettable Electric Slide will rouse you from your deck chair multiple times while cruising between islands. Your best bet? Grab a drink and cha-cha real smooth.
5. Get your adrenaline pumping at Carnival Waterworks.
The Carnival Sensation underwent a refresh in 2009, and one of its main additions was the 300-ft. corkscrew water slide on top. Kids and adults are welcome to splash around, and it makes a great alternative to the Lido pool when it’s jam-packed at midday.
6. Participate (or just watch) the Hairy Chest Contest.
This might seem like a weird addition to the list, but I laughed so hard and got such a kick out of this group of middle aged men coming out of their shells in front of the entire Lido crowd — I wouldn’t want you to miss it! Not for the faint of heart though… some of these guys must’ve been (hairy) strippers in a former life.
7. Watch an ice carving demonstration.
Here’s an activity I thought would be so-so, and I was wrong. It was truly unbelievable to watch the onboard ice carver work his magic. In 10 minutes, he turned a solid block of ice into a Native American chief head. It was something to see!
8. More dancing!
Seriously, the group dancing never ends. I never get tired of hearing Gangnam Style, but if you get to the point where you’ve had enough, head to the Serenity Deck. It’s for adults only and there’s absolutely no group dancing.
9. Dinner in the Fantasy Dining Room.
A highlight for me every single night was dinner in the Fantasy Dining Room. We were always greeted by name by the charming staff, welcomed and shown quickly to our table. Even with just 4 nights onboard, it’s amazing how quickly you grow to enjoy the company of your waitstaff. They are so attentive, no matter who you are, you feel quite special.
10. EAT!
You hear stories about people gaining weight on cruises, and I’m here to tell you, that’s no myth! Smash and I had this brilliant plan that we were going to work out every day and eat really well, but in the face of delicious food and lots of it, we failed. Next time, we’ll try for a healthy cruise… but this time, it was eat, eat, eat, eat and eat some more.
11. Sing & dance.
I love cruising for so many reasons – delicious food, new friends, only having to unpack once, a casino that goes with you from port to port, endless Gangnam Style line dancing. But the real reason I love cruising — nightly karaoke! The Carnival Sensation had a cute little karaoke setup that was just the right size, and folks of all ages participated. For those not singing, there was a dance floor. It was really heartwarming to see parents dancing with their kiddos and making memories, and to watch as the whole room cheered for kids who were brave enough to get up and sing in front of a room full of people.
12. Get lucky in the casino.
Smash & I discovered that we REALLY like roulette. Like… a little too much. Some nights we did well, other nights not so much. Either way, we made lots of friends every time we went to the casino, so it’s a great place for socializing.
13. SLEEP.
Go on. After a day like this, you’ve earned it.
Thanks to Carnival for hosting me on the Sensation. All opinions, as always, are 100% my own.
