Worried about taking a cruise as an introvert? I have you covered with several tips for making it through your cruise with plenty of “me time!”
Last year, we took our first cruise on the Royal Caribbean Wonder of the Seas. It’s an incredible ship, but its big, and there are plenty of passengers on it!
As an introvert, I did feel overwhelmed at times, especially in the busier areas of the ship. The buffet at breakfast and the pool deck were especially stressful for me!
Over the week we were on the cruise ship, I found a few ways to find peace and quiet, and recharge. I hope that this list of tips for cruising for introverts helps you have a wonderful trip! My tips reflect my experience on Royal Caribbean, but I think they would apply to most larger cruise lines.
Sneak in “Me Time” During the Day
When you’re cruising as an introvert, it’s important to work in alone time each day. Especially on sea days, make sure to sneak in some “me time” during the day. It can be temping to get sucked into one activity after another, but you don’t want to hit dinnertime and be exhausted!
Each day, I visited the thermal suite in the spa for some sauna time and brought my headphones with me just incase it was busy. I also visited the running track frequently! It is not busy at all, and a wonderful place to walk with ocean views. There were also small alcoves with seating that were perfect for sitting and reading a book!
Avoid the Buffet for Breakfast
One of the busiest places on the ship was the buffet (Windjammer) for breakfast. I have to say it was extremely chaotic and going there for breakfast did not start my day off on a good foot, although they did have wonderful food!
After the first few days of cruising, we started to visit Johnny Rocket’s for breakfast. This restaurant was included in our dining plan for breakfast only, and never too busy! We also tried out the Main Dining Room for both breakfast and lunch and it was wonderfully quiet with attentive service.
Avoid the Promenade at Night
Loud music, a shopping mall atmosphere and several thousand of your closest friends? No thank you! When we would walk the promenade at night, I felt like I was in Vegas! And I don’t mean that as compliment.
Instead, try the Central Park area for a quieter atmosphere and music like jazz trios and piano. We also enjoyed the balcony of the Music Hall, the game room and the library. None are terribly busy at any point of the day, and are perfect spots to cozy up with a cocktail and enjoy yourself!
Skip a Port Day
One of my biggest frustrations on the Wonder was how crowded the pool deck was during sea days! If there is a port stop you are not terribly interested in, considering staying on the boat.
Passengers that stay on the boat during port days essentially have the entire ship to themselves! Most ships still host limited activities, so there are plenty of low-key entertainment options. Or, a quiet day in a lounge chair by the pool is a stress free option!
Opt in for a Balcony Room
We are wildly frugal travelers, but both being introverted, we thought it was important to have quiet places to go and we were right!
It was about $50 more per day to have our own balcony, and well worth it! We spent several hours a day on our balcony, waking up with coffee, reading or enjoying a cocktail.
For me, cruising again would require a balcony! We used it so much, it was well worth the extra fee.
Dine Solo in the Main Dining Room
If you’re traveling in a small group and would prefer not to have additional passengers added to your dining table, be sure to stop by the reception desk in the Main Dining Room when you arrive.
You can be sure that just your party is seated together, and can even check to see where your table is. Remember, it never hurts to make a special request for a quieter area!
That being said, I really enjoyed dining in the Main Dining Room. We were seated in a busy area, but the acoustics were never too much of a problem for me!
I hope that these tips help you enjoy your cruise as an introvert! Let me know in the comments, and if you have more ideas to help our fellow introverts, please post them below.