When you book a cruise, you do so with the hope that you’ll have as much fun as possible, while getting a much-needed dose of R&R, coming home happy and refreshed.

You don’t imagine your cruise being more stressful than “real life” back home, or that cruising would be one frustrating experience after another.

However, unless you take the right precautions and make the right plans, you could just find that your cruise isn’t as restful and relaxing as you’d hoped. Here’s how to truly relax and de-stress during your cruise.

Book a Cabin that Will Truly Allow You to Relax — and Then Use it!

Cruise ship cabins come in all shapes and sizes, from the miniscule singles-dedicated staterooms in the ship’s interior, to the massive suites at the very top of the ship, offering thousands of square feet of space and 360-degree views.

As you choose your cabin for an upcoming cruise, though, think about more than just cost or the number of beds. What kind of cabin will truly allow you to relax?

No, you don’t necessarily need to spend big bucks on the biggest suite on the ship. However, you probably don’t want to be crammed into your cabin like sardines, either.

If you’re traveling with more than one or two other people, really think about if you’ll be able to unwind in your interior stateroom, with its one queen bed and sofa bed surrounded by four boxy walls.

If you’re traveling with children or family, do you really want to spend as much time as possible with them? Or would you like a little separation?

If the latter, you may want to look into adjoining cabins, or consider a family-geared stateroom or suite (Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas has some awesome options in its Surfside neighborhood!).

If your idea of relaxation includes plenty of trips to the spa, maybe you book a spa cabin, which usually comes with spa-specific amenities and relaxation-focused touches, like better showers and toiletries.

For example, if you book a Carnival Cruise Line Cloud 9 Spa stateroom or suite, you’ll enjoy private access to the spa, as well as exclusive discounts and amenities like priority spa appointments, a cruise-long pass to the thermal suites, unique welcome ritual, complimentary scrub kit, complimentary body composition analysis and access to two complimentary fitness classes.

Beyond considering just cabin type, also think about cabin location. For the most relaxation possible, don’t book a room near a high-traffic area, like the buffet or elevators. You won’t want the abundance of noise.

Additionally, if you suffer from sea sickness, book a cabin that will help you feel as healthy as possible — preferably one with an ocean view (looking at the horizon can help alleviate symptoms) and near the middle of the ship.

Whatever type of cabin or suite will allow you to relax as much as possible, book it, and then actually use it. If you have a spa cabin, use all those spa-related amenities. If you have even just a balcony, make time to relax on that balcony.

There’s nothing more calming and enjoyable than sitting on the balcony in the early morning, watching the sunrise with a cup of coffee, or watching it set in the evening as you sip a cocktail.

Take Advantage of Adults-Only Areas

The main pool and sun decks on a cruise ship can get hectic and loud, especially during sea days. However, don’t let that keep you from getting a tan or taking a dip. Thanks to cruise ship adults-only areas, you can relax in a quieter, more tranquil setting, with no screaming or splashing kiddos.

Cruise ship adults-only areas differ from cruise line to cruise line, but most include at least a small pool, maybe some hot tubs, an array of loungers and a bar.

Many are free to use, but some do come with a cost. For example, on Norwegian Cruise Line, the Spice H20 area is free, but you have to buy a pass to access the Posh and Vibe adults-only areas (the fee is minimal). All of these areas function a bit like a beach club, with Spice H20 even hosting club-like parties after dark.

Find Other Quiet Spots Aboard the Ship (they really do exist!)

Maybe you’re on a ship that charges for accessing its adults-only areas, and you still want to find a quiet spot, without any extra spending. Or, maybe you want a quiet spot out of the sun, where you don’t necessarily need to don your swimsuit.

Whatever the case, it is possible to find other quiet spots aboard most cruise ships, if you just know where and when to look.

For example, during the day, most cruisers aren’t flocking to the club-centric bars. If your cruise ship has a nice one that offers views, and is open during the day, head there for fewer crowds and maybe a drink.

While everyone else is headed to dinner or the theater, take a stroll along the open deck. Sunset walks offer unbeatable views. Promenade decks sometimes also offer seating in the shade, and may be less crowded during the morning or afternoon, when adjacent restaurants aren’t open.

Many cruise ships also have libraries, which don’t get a ton of foot traffic and are reliably quiet.

Put Away Your Devices for the Duration of Your Cruise

Yes, we get it. You want to share as many selfies and videos from your vacation as possible. With the various WiFi packages that cruise ships now offer, it’s more than do-able.

However, is scrolling social media all day really how you want to spend your relaxing, rejuvenating vacation?

Read Also: How to Make Each Cruise a Unique Experience

Consider pulling out your phone for a few moments, grabbing that pic and then tossing it into your bag the rest of the time. If you feel like you’ll struggle to stay off your phone, consider buying a more limited data plan that either comes with usage limits or doesn’t allow for certain types of internet usage (like media streaming).

Plan Your Days Around Relaxing Activities — But Don’t Plan Too Much!

Don’t just plan to show up to the cruise ship and relax. Not having some sort of plan in place can lead to a frustrating experience as you try to decide among the plethora of activities and entertainment available each day. Instead, think about how you’d like to spend your time on the cruise ship, ahead of time.

As you consider how you’d like to spend your days, think about which activities are truly going to be the most relaxing for you. Certainly head to the spa and indulge in a few treatments, but also consider other low-key activities, like seminars or classes.

Think about your dining, too. Would you rather spend time waiting in line at the buffet, battling the hordes of cruisers for a spot at the dessert station, or would you rather enjoy a romantic dinner at a high-end specialty restaurant?

That said, don’t plan your days down to the very minute. You want to have a little bit of flexibility, as well as room for spontaneity. Maybe you didn’t even know that there was a sea day brunch, but that sounds perfect for you! You’d hate to have to miss it all because you scheduled a fitness class for the same time.

Book as Much as Possible in Advance

Along these lines, there will be certain cruise activities that you’ll want to book in advance — specialty dining reservations, seats for certain shows at the theater, shore excursions, etc.

While it is totally possible to wait until you’re actually on the cruise ship to make these reservations, doing so can mean you either miss out entirely on the reservations you want, or that you end up spending a huge chunk of time making these reservations. That’s time that you could be spending relaxing instead!

Most cruise lines have certain windows in which you can book these activities. For example, Disney Cruise Line allows first-time cruisers to book activities 75 days before their sailing and up until the time of sailing, but past cruisers have earlier access and can book activities 120 days before their sailing.

If you’re unable to book activities or make reservations ahead of your cruise, do it first-thing after you board the cruise ship. It’s an excellent way to use up the few hours of time you might otherwise spend just waiting until your cabin or suite is ready.

Skip the Lines

You may also want to consider purchasing skip-the-line-style passes with certain cruise lines. Carnival Cruise Line’s Faster to the Fun pass is one popular option, as it allows you to get certain VIP services, without actually paying for a VIP-level suite.

The Faster to the Fun pass comes with priority check-in at the cruise terminal, priority stateroom access, express luggage delivery, dedicated guest services, priority dining reservations and priority water shuttle boarding. 

If you hate the idea of waiting in line — and the cruising experience does come with a fair amount of it — then this kind of pass could be well worth the relatively small investment.

Budget Appropriately for Your Cruise Experience

Speaking of investment, are you budgeting appropriately for your cruise?

Yes, while you can definitely have an amazing cruise by just paying for your cruise fare and relying on all the inclusions therein, many choose to spring for additional experiences.

These might include dining at specialty restaurants, shopping in the ship’s duty-free shops, taking shore excursions, indulging in the occasional alcoholic beverage or getting those spa treatments.

If your vision of your cruising experience includes activities like these, be aware ahead of time of just how much they’ll cost you. As an example, if you’re traveling with Norwegian Cruise Line and heading to the Mandara Spa, you can expect to pay at least $159 for a basic hot stone massage.

Likewise, if you want a beverage package on a Norwegian Cruise Line cruise, you’ll need to spend at least $109 per person, per day, for unlimited select cocktails, beer and wine.

To ensure you have the most amazing cruise possible, think about your budget and how much you’ll need in order to make that amazing cruise happen. That way, you’re not blindsided when you get on the cruise and discover the relaxing time you’re envisioning is out of your budget’s reach.

Spring for the VIP Service When Appropriate

Maybe you aren’t restricted to a specific budget, though, and you really just want to have the most relaxing, wonderful time, no holds barred. If that’s the case, you may want to spring for a trip on a cruise ship within a cruise ship — via cruise lines’ VIP areas, where select cruisers enjoy a private setting away from the masses.

More and more cruise lines are adding these small areas to their ships, wherein guests in premium staterooms and suites have access to restaurants, lounges, pools, sundecks and more, that are only accessible to them.

These guests also typically get special perks and services elsewhere on the ship, too, such as priority reservations or butler service.

These VIP areas include The Haven on Norwegian Cruise Line, the MSC Yacht Club on MSC Cruises and The Retreat on Celebrity Cruises, among others. Upgrading to one of these classes can really take your cruise to the next level.

Don’t Put so Much Pressure on Yourself!

Last, but certainly not least, don’t put so much pressure on yourself (and on the cruise line!) to have the perfect cruise! Every cruise comes with a few mishaps and hiccups — maybe you don’t get that restaurant reservation precisely when you wanted it, or perhaps the cruise line has to skip a stop on your itinerary due to bad weather — but taking them in stride will go a long way to make your cruise more enjoyable and, ultimately, relaxing.