7 Best Cruise Ships for Sea Days

1. Norwegian Escape

Norwegian Escape is on a mission to keep passengers entertained, and there's no reason to give up the sun to have some fun on Norwegian's largest cruise ship. Adrenaline junkies should head to decks 16 to 19, where they can try out the Aqua Racer (for tandem inner tube races), the super-fast Free Fall or the fun-for-the-whole-clan Family Slide in the ship's Aqua Park. (Little ones have their own expanded Kid's Aqua Park.)

Drier adventures await at the rock climbing wall, mini-golf course and basketball or bocce courts, as well as the largest ropes course at sea where you can navigate 99 challenges, like swinging on one of five zip lines or walking the "plank," two of which come cantilevered over the side of the ship.

Escape has redesigned pool-lounge-hot tub areas, which include a bi-level bar, large LED screens and an open area for sunbathing. It also features the adults-only Vibe Beach Club with hot tubs and chaise loungers, and the Ibiza-inspired Spice H2O with a huge LED screen, bar and waterfall grottoes.

The Mandara Spa offers all the usual treatments and a thermal suite, while the large fitness center has all you need for working off those sea-day snacks. Classes include options like TRX, Norwegian Fight Klub and a body-sculpting boot camp.

Wine lovers can indulge at The Cellars — A Michael Mondavi Family Wine Bar; beer aficionados will find their match at The District Brew House, serving 24 draft beers on tap (and 50 more in bottles), including an exclusive brew for Escape; and cocktail fans will find their pleasure at Tobacco Road, an at-sea outpost of Miami's oldest and most storied watering hole. The casino is Norwegian's largest and best equipped, to boot.

Norwegian's huge kids club (for ages 3 to 12) features a circus school in addition to games, sports, arts and crafts and play areas, while teens get a separate lounge-style hangout packed with couches, foosball, flat-screen TVs and a dance floor. Look, too, for the first-ever Norwegian nursery, catering to wee ones ages 6 months to 2 years, complete with an active room for playtime and a quiet room for sleep and rest.

For video games, drop by the video arcade or try the ship's atrium with its giant, two-story LED screen with scheduled times for Wii games.Norwegian's Freestyle Dining concept means passengers can find plenty of food at all hours of the day, and Escape has a mind-boggling 27 options, from Pincho Tapas Bar to the Food Republic food hall.

2. Carnival Mardi Gras

The first roller coaster-style attraction at sea, Carnival's BOLT will debut on Carnival Mardi Gras in 2020 (Image: Carnival Cruise Line)

Launched in 2021, Carnival’s Mardi Gras is a fantastic sea day ship for its plethora of activities, including Bolt, the first roller coaster at sea.

On Mardi Gras, you can do as much or as a little as you want to do on a sea day, from themed trivia to bingo and top-deck activities at the eye-popping Ultimate Playground. It's here where the heart-pumping Bolt can be found, along with mini-golf, a ropes course with a zip line, five waterslides and a splash park for kids. 

There’s plenty of pool space onboard, including The central Beach pool and Tides pool at the back of the ship, which also has two hot tubs, while the Havana Pool is exclusive to Havana stateroom guests. Cloud 9 Spa is a wonderful space to relax during the day, with a large Thalassotherapy pool within the thermal area. 

There’s a pair up with Dr. Suess at the jaunty kids' clubs and for some adults-only relaxation, we love the Serenity sundeck, which is complimentary to use and also has a pool and hot tubs. Inside, there are family game shows, including Family Feud, and a three-story Atrium with wonderful sea views that's a nice spot to relax. 

By dividing the ship into six neighborhoods, Mardi Gras becomes easier to navigate, too. Cocktail-lovers can imbibe at the New Orleans-themed French Quarter, which has the outstanding Brass Magnolia Fortune Teller bars. At the Lido, passengers can easily segue from the pool to the Shaq's Big Chicken — a tasty pair up with Shaq O'Neal — to sun lounger.

3. Disney Wish

AquaMouse on Disney Wish (Image: Disney)

The much ballyhooed main attraction of Disney Wish is AquaMouse, a two-seater raft-style water slide on the upper pool decks, while Wish’s eight pools have something for everyone, from the four main pools to the Toy story splash zone. 

An additional adults-only sun deck features a splash pool and rain curtain. The requisite all-purpose sports court, mini-golf, walking track and Ping-Pong tables make an appearance on the Sports Deck.

You might have a serendipitous run-in with your favorite Disney character or princess, or you can find them at scheduled meet-and-greets. 

Disney's kids clubs are some of the biggest and best in the industry, keeping the under-18s from whining too much on sea days. The Oceaneer's Club and Oceaneer Lab have five zones, Fairytale Hall, Walt Disney Imagineering Lab, Marvel Superhero Academy, Micky and Minnie's Captain's Deck and Star Wars Cargo Bay, to ensure there’s something for all children. 

Enjoy movie dates at Wonderland and Never Land Cinemas and kiddos with credit cards (or generous parents) can go for sea-day splurges at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. At this salon-cum-costume shop, tykes can be transformed into princesses and pirates -- with hair-styling, makeup and wardrobe -- for a fee. (Advance reservations are recommended.)

Marceline, on Deck 11, is the all-day buffet, while Mickey and Friends Festival of Foods has quick eats like burgers, chicken fingers, wraps and pizza. For a more formal, sit-down repast, try Enchante. New to Disney Wish, Enchante is a French-style specialty restaurant that draws on subtle themes from “Beauty and the Beast.”

Grown-ups can sneak away to brunch at Palo, which offers a cold buffet (meats and cheese, shrimp, salads, desserts) and a selection of hot made-to-order items (omelets, fish); afternoon tea is served there, as well.

4. Queen Anne

The Pavilion Pool on Cunard's Queen Anne. (Photo: Colleen McDaniel)

Cunard's newest ship, Queen Anne, offers a wonderful contemporary take on the line’s heritage White Star style with several restaurants and bars, fun production shows and one of the best wellness facilities at sea through the line’s partnership with Harper’s Bazaar U.K. 

Mareel Spa features a large thermal area centered on an inviting thalassotherapy pool. And while Queen Anne doesn't have the big attractions of other lines, such as waterslides and climbing walls, it has some fantastic kids programming and staffed kids clubs.

The pool area, The Pavilion, on Queen Anne is beautiful. It has a chic vibe — like the kind of space you might find at a country club or private resort, with a lovely pool, hot tubs and plenty of seating and loungers. 

The daily schedule is packed with activities, from dance lessons to lectures, wine tastings and yoga. There’s a fun games room and some lovely nooks to read a book or play a board game, including the beautiful Library. 

There’s shuffleboard, a golf driving range, pickleball and an archery area. Look out for quizzes at the English pub and don’t skip the traditional afternoon tea at the Queens Room, where white-gloved waters serve finger sandwiches, scones with cream and delicate cakes. Make sure you order fish and chips at the Golden Lion pub, too. It's one of the best at sea.

5. Sun Princess

Park19 is now the SkyDeck Sport Court & Track on Sun Princess (Photo: Ming Tappin)

Sun Princess marked a gear change for Princess Cruises, who introduced a bold new design to this Sphere-class ship. The amphitheater-style Piazza Atrium is the beating heart of the ship, with everything from Zumba classes, to karaoke and gameshows. 

Also new for Sun Princess, The Dome is an all-in-one entertainment-relaxation-bar space with fabulous views, while live performances such as Cirque-style acrobat and aerialist shows take place. 

A look at the Princess Patter, the line’s daily program of activities, reveals endless things to do throughout the day, from Walk-A-Mile and yoga classes,to trivia and crafting. Wine Tasting and afternoon tea are popular, as are talks and lectures at The Arena. 

There’s plenty of space for sunbathing and cooling off, with five pools and nine hot tubs, including a unique inside-outside pool The Dome and a dreamy infinity pool, the WakeView at the stern of Deck 8. The Lotus Spa is a tranquil and relaxing space to indulge in a treatment, while the Wellness Studio overlooks the pool deck, made up of several fitness areas. Shops open on sea days run the gamut from watches, jewelry, and duty-free liquor to Princess Cruises-branded gear. 

Kids aren’t left out on Sun Princess, either, with this one of the line’s most family-friendly ships. Firefly Park is a lovely space for younger kids, while Neon Groove Tweens Club is for those aged 8 to 12 and The Underground Teens Lounge caters to more independent kids. 

What was originally intended to be the top-deck Park19 is the SkyDeck Sport Court & Track, with a multi-purpose sports court, jogging track and a children’s splash zone.

Feeling peckish? Sun Princess offers a solid mix of complimentary and extra-fee dining options. On a sea day, try the all-new Deck 9 Americana Diner, behind The Eatery buffet, for brunch, with delicious buttermilk pancakes, shrimp po’ boys, fish and chips and Buffalo wings on the menu.

6. Harmony of the Seas

One of the world's largest cruise ships, Harmony of the Seas, challenges anyone to be bored onboard, given its large variety of on-ship activities and attractions designated within seven themed "neighborhoods."

The "Pool and Sports Zone," concentrated on the ship's upper decks, has four pools and the interactive water play area Splashaway Bay for kids and tots,. Six whirlpools (including four that are cantilevered over the ship's side) can be found in the glass-covered, adults-only Solarium.

Harmony introduced a slew of Royal Caribbean firsts: The Perfect Storm trio of multistory water slides, along with the Ultimate Abyss, a side-by-side pair of the tallest dry slides at sea, which plummet 10 stories. The ultimate in water fun is the ship's two FlowRider surf simulation pools for standup surfing and boogie-boarding. Harmony also sports a zipline, two rock climbing walls and a sports deck for basketball, volleyball, soccer, Ping-Pong and mini-golf.

The deep AquaTheater pool (technically part of the Boardwalk neighborhood) does double duty as a venue for scuba lessons and stage for whimsical performances that feature acrobats and divers (held both day and night).

Take a nature stroll through Central Park at the center of the vessel, where you can pop into shops like the Cartier store and a Bvlgari boutique. Or head to the indoor-outdoor Boardwalk, with its Starbucks, arcade and a full-size carousel, which is free to ride.

For more shopping and imbibing, the Royal Promenade is sized like a real mall -- it runs the length of a football field. Other daytime entertainment options include recent 3D movies from the DreamWorks cache, an interactive group Puzzle Break game, dance classes, alcohol tastings, DreamWorks character meet-and-greets and ice skating in Studio B.

For more laid-back offerings, retreat to the Vitality Spa at Sea, featuring 29 treatment rooms and a thermal suite with heated ceramic loungers, saunas and steam rooms. Or work off those buffet calories at the fitness center, packed with cardio and resistance equipment, and the site of spinning, yoga, Pilates and kickboxing classes.

Kids, meanwhile, can indulge in the Youth Zone, with features like the Adventure Ocean kids club and a teen-only spaces, as well as the Royal Babies and Royal Tots nursery program for infants and toddlers ages 6 months to 2 years.

You can't go hungry on Harmony of the Seas, what with 20-plus dining options. Beyond lunch in the Windjammer Marketplace buffet and the main tri-level dining room, passengers can find midday eats at Sorrento's pizzeria; the Park Cafe, serving up salads and sandwiches; the Boardwalk Dog House with its seven varieties of wieners, among the options.

7. Celebrity Reflection

The Solarium Pool on Celebrity Reflection. (Photo: Colleen McDaniel)

Celebrity Reflection (and its Solstice-class sisters) put a new spin on top-deck fun when the ship debuted in 2012 with the first real grass lawns at sea. 

The Lawn Club on Reflection is the perfect spot for a sea-day picnic, a game of bocce or oversized Jenga or a barefooted stroll, feeling the grass between your toes. Plus, private cabana alcoves are available for rent for those who want shade and a bit more privacy.

Following a 2023 renovation, A Taste of Film at the Rooftop Terrace was added and new Tiffany and Swiss Watch boutiques were added.

Reflection also has one of cruising's most inviting pool decks. Parents can take the kids into the shallow family pool, while everyone can join the games in the sports pool. Vertical fountain jets spray visitors to the Wet Zone, a fun place for water play or a quick cool-down. 

The adults-only Solarium (pictured) has a circular spa pool, a swim pool and two whirlpools, as well as comfy padded loungers, circular daybeds and hammocks. Hot tubs are scattered throughout.

Foodies can learn about wine-and-food pairings, compete in culinary contests and join expert-led wine-tastings -- or independent ones. Passengers can conduct do-it-yourself wine-tastings at the Cellar Masters wine bar with its automatic wine dispensers.

If you like to kick it at a convivial watering hole, the Martini Bar is a great sea-day afternoon hangout. The enthusiastic bartenders will mix you brightly colored concoctions while juggling martini shakers.

The Canyon Ranch SpaClub offers a wide range of treatments and a Persian Garden area with heated ceramic tile loungers, a steam room and tropical rain showers. 

Celebrity has one of the best buffets in the biz, too, with the Oceanview Cafe an expansive multistation venue for lunch and all-day snacking. If you don't mind forking over a few bucks for your lunch, Sushi on Five serves a la carte Japanese favorites like sushi and sashimi.