How Long do Most Cruises Last?
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
The time most cruises last is highly variable. Typically the most popular cruise length is a seven-day long cruise, but there are many other varieties worth considering when you want to take a cruise, and many different lengths that will help you plan the cruise that best fits with your schedule.
Many people cite that the shortest cruises are three days long. This is in fact inaccurate. There are numerous cruises that are day length, or are dinner cruises. It's perhaps arguable that most cruises last a day or shorter, since popularity of single day cruises or dinner or brunch cruises tend to be very high. These shortest of cruises tend not to be taken into account when considering how long most cruises last.
The next shortest cruise is usually three days in length, and people may choose these as either part of a vacation or just alone. Some people argue that most cruises last, or at least should last longer, especially for a person who takes a few days adjustment to being on a cruise ship. If you do tend to get seasick, or tend to start off seasick and off balance at the beginning of a cruise, you may want to consider a longer cruise so that you’ll have more time to enjoy activities once you adjust to being on a ship.
As mentioned, the average cruise length is about seven days, but there are also five and four day cruises. Some cruises may have a specific time length, but allow you to exit the cruise earlier from various ports of call to return home or enjoy the sights of a particular port. Though seven-day cruises are popular, the time most cruises last for the most popular type can vary too. There are a number of cruises that are ten to fourteen days in length, and if people want to cruise a considerable distance or see more on a cruise, they may prefer a longer cruise than can be taken in a week.
For those who really want to live the sea life, you can spend up to a third of a year on a cruise and travel around the world. Others prefer to take a long cruise across the Atlantic Ocean, perhaps from New York to England or France, since they don’t like to fly. Typically though, you’ll find most people prefer a cruise that doesn’t take up quite so much time, especially if you’re not an independently wealthy person who can’t afford to take a third of year off of work to “see the world.”
If you’re not sure how you’ll react to a seven-day cruise, it’s a good idea to get some experience aboard a cruise ship first. Seven days on a cruise may seem interminable if you spend it horribly sick to your stomach. You might start out by taking a day cruise or dinner cruise, or even a three-day cruise vacation to see how you do before committing to the expense of a longer trip.
Tricia Christensen
Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseTour contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.
Tricia Christensen
Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent WiseTour contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.
AS FEATURED ON:
AS FEATURED ON:
-
![Seven-day cruises are the industry standard.]()
By: James SteidlSeven-day cruises are the industry standard. -
![The duration of a cruise might depend on how many visits to the shore the boat makes.]()
By: spvvkThe duration of a cruise might depend on how many visits to the shore the boat makes. -
![Cruises might be part of a larger vacation or a separate excursion.]()
By: bepsphotoCruises might be part of a larger vacation or a separate excursion. -
![Buffet-style meals are typically served on cruise ships.]()
By: sattrianiBuffet-style meals are typically served on cruise ships. -
![Most cruises have a full bar for passengers to enjoy.]()
By: Maya KruchancovaMost cruises have a full bar for passengers to enjoy.
Discussion Comments
There is a university near me that offers semester cruises. I think the program is termed Semester at Sea. For the cost of the program you actually study and receive credits as if you were on a college campus. In addition, you have the opportunity to sail to interesting cities and locales around the world.
The actual destination depends on the cruise scheduled for the particular semester. I think these are more often river cruises where the ship will be passing many cities, rather than spending days at sea in the ocean.
I can't think of a better way to earn a college degree, but the semesters are rather expensive, so four years at sea might be a bit much. However, one semester is definitely worth the expense if you can afford it.
The article makes a good point about some people needing a couple days to get acclimated to the constant motion they will experience on a cruise. For whatever reasons, most people who get seasick recover after twenty four hours or a couple days on the water.
There are also various remedies that you can use to ward off seasickness. If you are worried about spending too much time on the ship then you should take into consideration that most cruises make stops at various ports along the route.
During an average five day cruise you can expect to spend at least two partial days on land. The ideal situation is that you sail at night and in the early morning and then spend your days touring the sites or relaxing in fascinating locations.
Post your comments