If you’ve taken enough cruises, chances are you’re going to experience your fair share of rainy days while at sea.  On my last cruise it was cloudy or rainy almost the entire trip, so it inspired me to write this post on some fun things you can still do even if the skies are a little foreboding.  Don’t let a little rain ruin your vacation.

These are my top 10 things to do on a rainy day at sea but feel free to add your own to the list in the comment section below.

Spend some time in the spa

No matter how much rain is pouring out of the sky it will always be calming and relaxing in the spa.  Besides getting a facial or some other treatments you can always just enjoy watching the storm from the warm tepidarium or sauna if the ship has these features.  There is usually an indoor hot tub in the spa as well, and this is a great place to avoid the rain while enjoying some relaxation.

Check out a book from the library

The library on a cruise ship is often overlooked by most passengers.  You will not find a vast array of books here, but it’s a nice place to sit and read and get away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the ship.  And besides finding a few good books to read during your cruise you can also check out some games to play with your cruise mate or family.

Hit the arcade

Even if video games aren’t really your thing you should check out the arcade at least once anyway.  My wife and I seem to always end up playing air hockey on every cruise we go on, in addition to a competitive game of skee-ball.  You might have to endure some adolescent interaction, but a rainy day is a great time to feel like a kid again.  Just remember that the cost of those arcade games adds up fast on your cruise account. It catches me by surprise every time.

Order room service and enjoy the storm from your balcony

This is an activity I look forward to the most every time it starts to rain at sea, provided the wind is not blowing the rain onto the balcony of course.   With some food delivered by the room service staff you can simply enjoy watching the rain from your balcony.  The rain at sea is so different from watching it on land, and it provides quite the relaxing spectacle in my opinion.

Karaoke

Even if you don’t feel like singing your heart out  in front of a bunch of strangers you will probably never see again anyway, it’s always fun to listen to the singing talent (or lack thereof) on board.  Check the ship’s itinerary but there is almost always karaoke going on, especially on a sea day.

Find a covered  place to watch the pool deck TV screen

As soon as it starts raining the lounge chairs on the pool deck usually clear pretty quickly, but you can sometimes find a place that is covered and still has a view of the pool deck TV screen.  But even if watching what’s on the screen isn’t your thing it’s a fun place to people watch as well.

Get a galley tour on the cruise ship

Not every cruise line offers a galley tour for free, but often on sea days you can get the tour as an excursion.  It’s a fun thing to do if you’ve never seen the inner-workings of the kitchen, and it really is amazing how the well-trained staff serves so much quality food on a daily basis.

Watch a movie in your cabin

In your cabin you will be able to watch a number of newly released movies.  The charge for each movie will be applied to your on board account and usually you will have 24 hours to watch the movie.  And while some would think it crazy to be in a cruise cabin watching the television on vacation, others will find it the perfect way to relax on a rainy day at sea.

Get a workout at the gym

Now I know a few readers will be very opposed to this idea as well (after all, a cruise is time to do nothing, right?), but the gym is a great place to get out of the rain but still be active.  This is for those who can’t stand to sit still.  They can still enjoy watching the rain storm while burning a few calories from the chocolate melting cake.

Explore the ship

Cruise ships have so many little hidden gems that most cruisers will overlook simply because they didn’t take the time to read over the daily itinerary or explore the ship.  I always enjoy roaming the ship and exploring each floor to find rooms and spaces I didn’t know existed before.  Just make sure you don’t go anywhere that’s off limits.

So what would you add to your list?  Let us know what you like to do when it rains on a cruise in the comments below.