CRUISES are often thought of as warm-weather vacations where the sun is always shining and the top decks are bustling with swimmers and sunbathers.
Unfortunately, cruise lines don't control the weather, and you might end up in stormy seas.
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As a former cruise ship worker, I'm unphased by bad weather when I travel now.
So when we encountered some less-than-ideal weather on our first full sea day of my most recent cruise, I didn't panic.
I knew this might happen, as we were headed north from New York instead of south toward the Caribbean and warmer weather.
So instead of wallowing in the missed sunbathing opportunity, I decided to explore the ship and see what it had to offer.
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Cloudy weather actually provides a perfect opportunity to soak up all of the experiences that your floating home away from home has to offer.
In fact, many activities are only offered on sea days, so even if it's rainy, there's plenty to do to stay entertained.
From trivia, to live music, to production shows in the main theater, to wine tastings and more, there is something for everyone.
But if organized activities aren't your favorite, cruise ships are still a goldmine.
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Here are my top three tips for how to make the most of a rainy day at sea.
FIND YOUR OWN FUN
After sleeping in and enjoying breakfast, my family and I - all 24 of us - found a space in one of the ship's lounges to gather and enjoy each other's company.
We chatted, had snacks and drinks, and waited for a scheduled trivia competition that some of us were planning to participate in.
But being together in a cozy lounge and laughing wound up being one of the highlights of the entire cruise.
We found ways to make our own fun despite the weather - and laughed the whole way through.
Cruise ships typically offer tons of spaces, both quiet and not, to unwind and just be.
Later in the day, I took my book to the cafe and sipped a hot coffee.
The cafe was located in the center of the ship, so there was plenty of action to observe, but I also enjoyed the comfort of the oversized leather chair and the relaxation it provided.
So don't be afraid to grab a book or your group of travel mates, find your space, and enjoy the day - rainy weather or not.
WINE AND DINE
It's no secret that cruises are a goldmine for food lovers.
From the buffets to the nightly sit-down dinners and everything in between, there is certainly no shortage of food to try.
Plus, cruises typically offer a wide variety of food options to cater to all travelers.
So rainy sea days are perfect for a cuisine crawl.
With food and beverages typically available 24 hours a day on the ship, you could easily start with breakfast and continue to snack at different cafes and restaurants throughout the ship all day long.
On this particular sea day, I wandered around to find the ship's Johnny Rockets location to indulge in a chocolate milkshake - because why not?
RELAX
Rainy days provide the perfect opportunity to rest and relax.
And because cruises offer so many activities, it can be easy to get swept up in wanting to do and try a little bit of everything during your trip.
But if you find yourself under some gray skies, take it as a sign to rest up.
Lounge in bed and order room service before taking a leisurely stroll around the ship to see what's happening.
You could then find a bar to indulge in a delicious cocktail or mocktail and spend hours people-watching, which is arguably some of the most fun there is on a cruise vacation.
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If you're lucky enough to have a balcony room, enjoy a nap with the door cracked open so you can fall asleep to the sound of the ocean waves.
Even on a rainy day, there's no shortage of ways to make your vacation one to remember.
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