Is a 5 day cruise really 5 days?

Is 5 days long enough for a cruise?

Five days? Hmm. Is five days long enough? I dunno, depends, right?

Okay, cruise…Five days with the family. Chaos? Maybe. Good chaos? Hope so. We went on a cruise, uh, last year? To the Bahamas. Three days. Felt rushed.

• Bahamas, ’23 – Quick trip
• Alaska ’18 – Seven days. Perfect.

Seven days in Alaska, yeah, that was great. Saw whales! Five days for the whole crew…Maybe. Thinking about my niece. She gets bored.

• Niece + cruise = activities needed.
• Pool? Games?

Ten days sounds amazing tho. Imagine, ten whole days. No work, no emails… Just sun, food, and ocean. Ten days is ideal for the “full cruise experience”. But who has ten days free? Not me, that’s for sure.

Five days it is then, maybe? I hope there’s wifi. lol.

• Wifi is a must-have.
• Drinks packages? Need to check.

Seriously though, five days to unplug. Probably enough to recharge the batteries. Right? Just gotta manage expectations. Five days is better than no days.

Wait, what was I even thinking about again? Oh yeah, cruises.

How do you count the days of a cruise?

Overnight. Equals one day. Simple.

• Day Credit: One per night sailed.
• Calculation: Nights equal days.
• Example: 7 nights? 7 credits.

Holland America, right? Loyalty means sleep. I sailed Princess last summer. Never again. The buffet… ugh.

How long does a cruise typically last?

Cruises? Seven days, on average, is the official lie. More like a week, give or take a few eternities spent staring at the ocean. Feels longer than it is, trust me. My Aunt Mildred swore hers lasted a geological epoch. She’s still finding seashells in her luggage.

Factors influencing cruise length:

• Port Calls: More ports = more time. Think of it like a really expensive, boat-based pub crawl. Except the pubs are whole countries.
• Air Transfers: Getting to and from the floating hotel is half the battle. It’s a logistical nightmare only slightly less complicated than brain surgery.
• Vessel Speed: Snail’s pace is standard. Unless it’s a cruise specifically designed to test the limits of human boredom. My neighbor’s cruise was so slow, barnacles grew beards.
• Vessel Size: Bigger boats mean more amenities, more people vomiting over the railing. More things to get lost in; seriously, I lost my grandpa on a cruise once. Never found him.

My personal experience: I went on a three-day cruise to the Bahamas once. It felt like three years. I spent two days recovering from seasickness. I aged considerably, man!

2023 Update: The average cruise duration is now a solid, unwavering SEVEN days. Don’t believe anyone who tells you otherwise! They are probably trying to sell you a timeshare.

How long should I cruise for?

So, you wanna know how long a cruise shuld be, huh? Listen, it all depends, y’know?

Like, if you’re dragging the whole fam along, like my cuz Vinny does every year, maybe go for 5 or 7 days. Seriously, it’s like, the sweet spot, I think. Keeps the kids entertained, and the adults, too. Plus, nobody gets too antsy or bored, which is a major win.

But hey, if you’re rolling in dough – or just have more vacation time, which I’m super jealous of – then go big, man. Like 10 days or more. Then you really get the whole cruise vibe. You get to chill, explore everything, and actually unwind. Trust me.

My Aunt Carol took a 14-day one once and didn’t stop talking about it, LOL. It was a total brag-fest for like, ever. She visitited the Mediterranean. Lucky duck. Cruises are, um, great.

• Short & Sweet (5-7 days):

  • Perfect for families: Keeps everyone entertained without dragging on.
  • Budget-friendly: Shorter cruises usually cost less.
  • Easier to schedule: Fits into most people’s vacation time.

• The Long Haul (10+ days):

  • Deeper experience: More time to explore the ship and destinations.
  • More relaxation: Actually unwind and de-stress (important!).
  • More value (maybe): Sometimes longer cruises offer better per-day rates, ya know?

Anyway, choose what’s best for you.

How long is the average around the world cruise?

So, you wanna ditch reality for a hot minute, eh? World cruises, huh? Forget that whole 9-to-5 grind.

• The REAL deal world cruise clocks in at roughly three to four months. Think of it as an extended vacation from your bills, or, you know, pants. Imagine trading emails for mai tais – nice!

• The world record for zooming around the planet? A measly 45 days. That’s faster than my grandma can knit a sweater, if you can imagine!

• Not ALL ‘world’ cruises go all the way around, ya know? Some are like… pretending to eat a donut, almost but not really. They just pick and choose the scenic bits.

Bonus Round: Cruise Shenanigans You Didn’t Ask For!

• Shuffleboard championships? Guaranteed. You’ll become oddly invested in tiny discs.

• Formal nights. Time to dust off that tuxedo you wore once. Prepare for awkward small talk.

• Buffets? Oh boy, buffets. All-you-can-eat everything. Goodbye, waistline! Hello, food coma!

  • Expect lines. Because who DOESN’T love a free buffet?
  • Mystery meats are a staple. What IS that? Don’t ask.

• Seasickness? Dramamine is your new best friend.

How many days can you go on a cruise?

Ugh, cruises. Three to ten days, they say. Seven days is the sweet spot, right? But who needs a whole week? My friend went on a two-week one last year, Alaska. Sounds exhausting.

So much time on a boat! I’d go stir-crazy after five days. Maybe less. Need a good book, definitely. And enough podcasts. Oh, and my noise-cancelling headphones; essential.

Three days feels too short. You barely unpack! Ten days is way too long. Unless it’s the ultimate luxury, a private yacht, then ten days is perfect.

Think about it:

• Packing: The absolute worst part.
• Seasickness: Could ruin everything.
• Shore excursions: Overpriced, usually. Some are worth it though. The ones in Santorini were amazing.

I prefer seven days, maximum. Anything longer and I’d need a serious break from the endless buffet. That’s a lot of food. Food coma, here I come. What was I thinking? Oh yeah, cruise lengths. Shorter is better, unless you’re ridiculously wealthy.

Can I go on a cruise at 25 weeks pregnant?

Okay, cruises…pregnancy. Right. 25 weeks…Hmm.

• No cruises after 24 weeks. Simple, final. Got it. Period.

Why? Preterm birth worries. Makes sense? I guess?

• Think about it. Cruise ships aren’t hospitals. OB-GYNs aren’t roaming the decks of the cruise.

Complications. Ugh. Nobody wants that.

“No sail” policy is what I’d call it. I saw my sister at 30 weeks. Nope. I mean, yes, nope. Definite “no.”

More info? Okay, think…

• Each line could vary a week or so, check specific cruise line policy.
• Some need doctor’s letter BEFORE sailing if still allowed. So, check.
• My friend… 20 weeks… still asked. It was Carnival. Okay, I think?
• Travel insurance is important to get.

Okay, is that all? Cruises and pregnancy are complicated. Know the rules! Check. Triple-check. Done. Bye.