How long do you stay on a cruise ship?

How long should you stay on a cruise ship?

Seven days? Pfft. Amateur hour. Unless your family's a particularly volatile blend of toddlers and teenagers – then maybe. For the rest of us, a 10-day cruise is the bare minimum. Anything less feels like a rushed trip to the dentist.

Think of it this way: Five days is a long weekend with seasickness. Ten days? That's a proper vacation; enough time to actually relax, not just survive.

Cruises aren't about ticking boxes; they're about embracing the languid rhythm of the sea. You need time to:

• Master the art of buffet line maneuvering. (My personal best: three plates of shrimp scampi in one go. Don’t judge.)
• Discover your inner lounge lizard (or lady).
• Develop a grudging respect for the crew's seemingly endless energy.

For the truly discerning traveler – someone like, say, my Aunt Mildred (who, incidentally, owns a yacht – a real yacht, not some cruise-ship sized thing), a three-week transatlantic voyage is the only acceptable option. Anything shorter is, frankly, underwhelming.

A longer cruise allows for genuine exploration, not just a whirlwind tour of duty-free shops. It’s a deep dive, not a quick dip. It’s the difference between a fleeting summer romance and a marriage that actually lasts. A longer cruise provides the necessary time for spontaneous adventures; discovering hidden coves, befriending fellow passengers, even participating in a truly epic game of shuffleboard. Or maybe not that last one.

My cousin, bless his heart, tried a 3-day cruise last year. He spent most of it seasick in his cabin, muttering about the injustice of it all. Don’t be like my cousin. Choose wisely. Choose longer.

How long are you at sea on a cruise ship?

Cruises: Ocean-going adventures, eh? Think of them as floating hotels, except the mini-bar's refills are measured in nautical miles, not happy hours. Seven to ten days is the sweet spot, folks, unless you're aiming for a real-life Life of Pi situation, then maybe pack more crackers.

Twelve days? Sure, technically possible. Like saying a marathon is doable in 36 hours. It's true, but who wants to spend that long staring at the horizon? I mean, I've stared at my neighbour's overgrown hedges for less time, and they're significantly less glamorous.

Fuel and supplies are the real party poopers. Imagine running out of that tiny bottle of shampoo you meticulously saved for a "special occasion." Tragedy of epic proportions. Similar scale, though on a much grander scale, and involving a lot less lather.

My aunt Mildred did a 20-day cruise last year and she swore they ran out of decaf coffee on day 17. She's still traumatized. The ship is capable of much longer periods at sea, but really, why? It is like asking how long one can endure a bad rom-com. You know when to stop.

• 7-10 days: The Goldilocks zone. Not too short, not too long.
• 12 days: Possible, but bordering on endurance-testing. Like my brother-in-law's stories. Endless.
• Beyond 12 days: You're entering "survival-mode" territory. Have you packed enough Sudoku books?

How long is a short cruise?

Okay, so, I did a three-day Carnival cruise to Cozumel in 2023. It was crazy short! Felt like a whirlwind. Left from Galveston, Texas. Hot, humid Texas. Remember that? Ugh. The ship, the Breeze, was HUGE. I mean massive. It was overwhelming at first, so many people!

The actual sailing itself? Smooth as glass, mostly. Except for that one night. Man, that was rough. I was seasick. Seriously, the worst. I spent most of the night in the bathroom. Horrible. Wish I'd taken more Dramamine.

Cozumel was amazing, though. The snorkeling was incredible. Saw so many fish! Bright colors, huge schools. I totally wish we had more time. Three days just isn't enough. We barely scratched the surface. It felt rushed. I wanted to explore more!

So yeah, three days. Too short. I'd do a longer one next time. Definitely. Maybe a seven-day cruise. Five days is probably the sweet spot though, for a quick getaway. I want to go to Alaska next time.

• Cruiselines: Carnival
• Departure Port: Galveston, Texas (2023)
• Destination: Cozumel, Mexico
• Duration: 3 days (way too short!)
• Ship: Carnival Breeze (huge!)
• Highlights: Snorkeling in Cozumel.
• Lowlights: Seasickness. Seriously, the worst.
• Next time: Longer cruise. Alaska maybe.

How long do crew members stay on the ship?

Ah, ship life, it’s not exactly a walk in the park, is it? More like a cramped marathon… with questionable buffet options.

So, how long are they stuck there? Crew contracts usually run from four to ten months. Imagine swapping your comfy couch for a bunk bed for almost a year!

• The short haul: Four months, maybe. Like a quickie vacation... from your vacation!
• The long haul: Ten months. That's longer than my last relationship! Ouch!
• Job Matters: It depends on the job though. Captain gets a lifetime sentence, I bet. Dishwasher, maybe four months?

It depends, though. Fancy jobs get longer stints. Think of it like dog years, but for seasickness. My friend’s neighbor's cousin was a chef for a cruise line, he said it was awesome (and terrible).