Best Tips for Longer Cruises

I agree completely with what has already been said. I packed extra clothes. When doing a B2B, you can wear the same things the second week.

We have had a couple of 10 day cruises and a 14 day cruise and these are far and away my favourite. 7 is just not quite enough. Those extra few days make a great difference. I do not think there is much to prep different or do different from a shorter cruise, other than the planning. It is really nice when sea days are mixed with the port days so there is a rest day in between some active days.

It sounds almost counter intuitive, but explore the ship, go for walks, find spots to sit and relax...relaxing for extended periods is an art form..sometimes it takes work to do it, as weird as that sounds...you may meet and yak with folks you take an instant connection with, or, unfortunately, the reverse is also true...you'll be bumping tinto them again...its karma...if tours are your thing, put alot of time into it, FROM HOME...doing it onboard is a PITA with a thousand of your newest friends breathing down your neck. Be generous with tipping wait staff and bartenders, especially if you intend to sit at that bar or table again, a little trick we've learned is to ASK what shift they're on, and will they be working that location again, and when..introduce yourselves..shake hands, .(yeh people still do that), get their name(s)..they say hello, and usually remember you...you get all warm and fuzzy...other folks wonder who the h you are?? some pooh bah? hehehehe..for ten days+,it will become your home away from home....

I just completed my first 10-day cruise ever - and I LOVED IT !!! About day five, I was thinking how 'normally' I would be thinking about departure and what to do in the little time I had remaining. At day 5 of 10 - it was pure bliss knowing I still had five full days remaining. A hint/suggestion?

Make sure your ship has a public laundry (unless you are at a level where your get free laundry). My 10-day cruise was on a new cruise line to me. The ship only had laundry available via the ships laundry. I took extra shorts (day shorts, walking shorts, cabin shorts) and extra shirts. Since I did not have to take my tux, the extra clothes fit into the suitcase without difficulty. For me, the laundry was the only negative. All else was positive. A GREAT experience. Hope you enjoy.

P.S. My next adventure will be two 7-day back-to-back cruises, same ship, same cabin. Really looking forward to that experience. I am not as Worldly as many here.