Better to stay up late, or wake up early?

[dtrain]

We're about to take our first DCL trip in January (SWDAS WC Fantasy) and my wife and I have differing opinions on which is the better strategy. I think waking up very early will be peaceful and quiet, give us a chance to watch the sunrise from our verandah, get a little exercise in before breakfast. She thinks staying up very late will be more fun, let us enjoy the night life, provide more adult interactions on the ship. We will be traveling without children.

So I ask you, crafty veterans of the cruise game, which do you find preferable and why? What kind of special something does one or the other provide? Thanks for any insight.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

We're about to take our first DCL trip in January (SWDAS WC Fantasy) and my wife and I have differing opinions on which is the better strategy. I think waking up very early will be peaceful and quiet, give us a chance to watch the sunrise from our verandah, get a little exercise in before breakfast. She thinks staying up very late will be more fun, let us enjoy the night life, provide more adult interactions on the ship. We will be traveling without children.

So I ask you, crafty veterans of the cruise game, which do you find preferable and why? What kind of special something does one or the other provide? Thanks for any insight.

It's your vacation - do what works for you. You can go to bed early and get up early. Your wife can stay up late and sleep in. Maybe you can compromise between the two different times once in a while (so that you can enjoy some together time)?

 

[scrappinginontario]

We change as the cruise goes along. We're often up early at the beginning of the trip then sleep in more and stay up later as the trip progresses.

That being said we play it by ear and do what works for each of us each day.

 

[jubjubrsx]

I'm an early riser, and enjoy running on the deck early in the morning. usually at that time no one is out yet and its not super hot....but it does seem like more happens later at night than early in the morning (after hours adult entertainment)

 

[carolina_yankee]

The ship is really nice in the early morning, but we prefer late dining and have found eating and going to bed just doesn't work. I do try to get up early on port days to see us coming into part. St. Martin was always magical given the sun. I will be curious what Tortola is like upon approach.

 

[kdecroo]

We always like being up early on the days we will be in port. It's nice to see the various ports as the sun rises.
Some afternoon's we will take a power nap and stay up late for the night life. Mix it up and enjoy the relaxation.

 

[phinz]

My wife is an earlyish riser. I'm a *late, late, LATE* to bed kind of guy. Like 4 or 5 am. That said, I'm usually up by 9 anyway, and she can sleep all day, no matter if she goes to bed at 10 or 2, if we clip the curtains closed and the temp in the room is cold enough. We've (more like she's) been waken up by the stateroom host on several occasions, and it's rare we make it to breakfast.

 

[5Texans]

It depends on what you consider "late". Im a night owl and I work nights. Things definitely start to wrap up around midnight-1, by 2 the whole ship is asleep it seems. You can definitely take advantage of the adult entertainment and be in bed by midnight- which is what I tried to do. I was up every morning by 6:30 (three kids) and there is not much going on. The gym is definitely less crowded at this time .If we were adult only, it definitely would have been nice to sit and have coffee and watch the sun rise.

All that to say, you could easily do both, stay up late the night before a sea day or a late port arrival and then get up early on another day. You won't be partying til 4 am or anything like that.

The ship is kinda cool in the middle of the night- I saw the dancers rehearsing on the pool deck around 1am one morning and watched them. It's also a great time to do laundry.

 

[tee11]

Definitely plan to do both!!
And together!
Maybe not on the same days-
Or on the same day, with the addition of a nap, if you feel you need it.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I just go with whatever I feel like at the time. Even when I wanted to go to the after hours adult shows, if I was tired, I just went to bed. When I get up early in the morning, I am often up before any of the breakfast places are open. There's a level of quietness and peace, but it is also a bit boring.

The adult night activities actually end pretty early. You could easily stay up late and get up early. Nothing wrong with taking a nap during the day if you need one.

 

[Dug720]

I was absent the day they handed out the "sleeping in" gene, so I'm usually up early. Nothing better than grabbing some coffee, wandering a mostly quiet ship and getting some pictures, and then settling in on a lounger on Deck 4 with a good book (ok, on my nook reader, but still) and reading for a little while. No boredom for me!

 

[aggiedog]

I'd say roll with whatever you each want to do, perhaps not even together. Even the concept of getting up early on vacation simply to just be awake is beyond my understanding. I'm up early for work or kids every day. Throwing out my chance to sleep in just to sit and drink coffee and watch the scenery seems bonkers (however nice it would be.) Dh, however, loves that early time. I'd just be a grump next to him.

Enjoy your vacation, however you do it!

 

[MUN]

We're about to take our first DCL trip in January (SWDAS WC Fantasy) and my wife and I have differing opinions on which is the better strategy. I think waking up very early will be peaceful and quiet, give us a chance to watch the sunrise from our verandah, get a little exercise in before breakfast. She thinks staying up very late will be more fun, let us enjoy the night life, provide more adult interactions on the ship. We will be traveling without children.

So I ask you, crafty veterans of the cruise game, which do you find preferable and why? What kind of special something does one or the other provide? Thanks for any insight.

Do both.

 

[xlxo]

Thoughts...

• are you on the first or second feeding? I like second feeding to get that extra hour of sleep and a place to relax on debarkation morning.
• what's on the daily navigator (newsletter) in the morning that wants me to wake up earlier?
  what time is the character breakfast? Don't want to be late!!!
• is it a port day? I want to leave earlier to double up on excursions to do more.
• where is your cabin? If above/below the entertainment areas.... being a night owl is best as it will be quieter when you sleep.
• internet addicts will want to be up super early or late to get the best performance. Hmm.... on DCL, the internet is already blazing fast.

 

[Shanti]

We're about to take our first DCL trip in January (SWDAS WC Fantasy) and my wife and I have differing opinions on which is the better strategy. I think waking up very early will be peaceful and quiet, give us a chance to watch the sunrise from our verandah, get a little exercise in before breakfast. She thinks staying up very late will be more fun, let us enjoy the night life, provide more adult interactions on the ship. We will be traveling without children.

So I ask you, crafty veterans of the cruise game, which do you find preferable and why? What kind of special something does one or the other provide? Thanks for any insight.

We're on the flight home from our Fantasy cruise, & enjoyed sleeping in and staying up late, because we rarely get to do that at home. There are lots of evening family activities, & we had late dining.

 

[asamklove]

If i didnt have kids, DEFINITELY up late & sleep in
There's always a place to relax, no matter the time of day - but nightlife is, well, nightlife HAVE FUN - whatever you do

 

[Garyjames220]

Do what I do

Go to bed late and get up early

And have a wee afternoon snooze by the pool after a few cocktails zzzzzzzzzzz

 

[darnheather]

I was always so tired I went to bed around 10pm and got up at 8am. I did feel like I missed a show or two but other than that I was happy to get the extra rest.

 

[mevelandry]

DH and I always get up early (between 5 and 7) ... And we go to bed right after the fireworks/the show.

 

[dclpluto]

I usually go to bed right after midnight wake up around 7. Earlier if port day