I’ve been on many cruises over the years. I think of the ship as a floating hotel conveniently whisking me to fabulous destinations across the globe. And while my favorite part of cruising is spending time off the ship, I’ve finally learned the secret to a great cruise: Spend the first full day on the ship.
That usually means missing a port of call, but it’s a small price to pay to get to acquainted with my temporary home at its uncrowded best. With most passengers gone, I can swim solitary laps at the quiet pool, pamper myself with a treatment at the empty spa, and sample delectable cuisine without waiting.
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For many years, I took a “more is more” approach to cruising, cramming in as many destinations and excursions as possible. By the end, I was exhausted and needed a vacation from my vacation. After much trial and error, I’ve realized that spending the first day on board sets me up for a balanced vacation while still allowing me plenty of adventures on dry land.
Here’s how I put this strategy to use on a recent sailing.
All aboard Oceania’s Allura
My most recent cruise was on Oceania’s luxurious Allura, the eighth ship in its fleet. It was Allura’s inaugural voyage, which meant not even one of the 1,200 passengers was familiar with this shiny new vessel. Oceania enjoys strong customer loyalty, with many passengers re-booking the same ship year after year, treating it with the familiarity of a second home.
This time, each passenger was keen to discover every nook and cranny of the 16 gleaming decks with bars, restaurants, library, state-of-the-art cooking center, art studio, and much more. This gave me even more reason to forgo the first port of call and familiarize myself with Allura at its relaxed best.
My pre-cruise day in Trieste
Allura’s maiden voyage itinerary was a winner: six days starting in Trieste, Italy, and finishing in Athens, Greece. Each day, we’d arrive in a different port with the options to book shore excursions or explore independently.
Allura set sail in the early evening. Passengers were allowed to check-in starting at 11 a.m.; many arrived early to get a head start on exploring the ship. My husband and I chose to spend the afternoon in Trieste and hop aboard just before the ship was sailing away at sunset.
This under-the-radar city is a fusion of Italian, Austro-Hungarian, and Slavic architectural, cultural, and culinary influences. We shopped for Birkenstocks at Malvestiti, a shoe store that has been owned by the same family for generations. We dabbled in the city’s famed coffee culture, sipping a Capo in b, espresso with a dash of foamy hot milk served in a glass, Trieste’s favorite way to caffeinate. And at the end of our day of sightseeing, instead of heading to a hotel, we boarded the Allura.
Shipboard pleasures without the crowds
After sailing overnight, we docked the next morning in Rijeka, Croatia, the country’s third largest city. While most passengers set their alarm clocks to disembark for morning excursions, we slept off jetlag in a comfy bed with high-thread count sheets in our generously-sized stateroom. I checked email, a breeze thanks to the ship’s free and fast Wi-Fi, called room service and ordered coffee to drink on our spacious balcony (all staterooms have balconies on the Allura) before enjoying a delicious full breakfast in the Grand Dining Room.
I thought I might have some regrets about not getting off the ship at the first port of call; but honestly, I felt like we were already ahead of the game, having spent time in Trieste. Our lazy day gave us the run of the nearly-empty ship. We took full advantage and played pickleball, shuffleboard, and mini-golf. I had the modern fitness center all to myself, swam laps in the pool, and soaked in the hot tub without another passenger in sight. There were rows of empty sun beds waiting to cradle me in comfort.
I hadn’t booked a spa appointment but it wasn’t necessary. The staff gave me a spa tour before I settled in for a last-minute mani-pedi.
Allura offers passengers complimentary shuttle service to and from the ship to each city center, making it easy to explore destinations independently. We considered popping into Rijeka, but with a temporary home as enticing Allura, neither of us felt the desire to budge.
Casual dining options with zero wait
I’m a foodie who lives to eat. Oceania is a culinary-focused cruise line serving elevated cuisine that suited me like milk to cookies. Upscale specialty dining is conveniently included in the price of the cruise. I had already made dinner reservations at three of the specialty restaurants; Jacques for classic French food, Toscana for mouthwatering Italian cuisine, and Polo Grill for steaks and traditional American fare.
However, I was also excited to sample Allura’s casual, no-reservation options. The made-to-order crepes and Instagram-worthy bubble waffles at The Creperie were delectable, and the refreshing smoothies and avocado toast at Aquamar Kitchen were both health-centric and delicious. With a very high guest to staff ratio (800 crew for 1,200 guests), Allura benefits from excellent service, yet it was still amazing to sample these tasty treats without waiting for even a minute.
Making the most of other ports of call
After our first day on board, we were ready to get off the ship. My favorite stop was Dubrovnik. We booked a yacht excursion to the three main Elafiti Islands, Sipan, Lopud, and Kolocep. We swam in the Adriatic Sea, marveled at ancient churches, and had lunch at a traditional Croatian restaurant where the fish was so fresh I could still taste the briny sea. It was the best cruise excursion I’d ever experienced in all my years of cruising.
A post-cruise city stay
As much as I enjoyed visiting Trieste before the cruise started, I equally adored spending a few nights in Athens once the cruise was finished. I highly recommend spending time in whatever city you disembark in.
While many passengers headed straight to the airport, we took a taxi to the Hotel Grande Bretagne. Recognized as Athens’ top hotel, we enjoyed luxury fit for royalty at this palace of old-world hospitality. We strolled around the nearby botanical gardens and had a once-in-a-lifetime dinner at Michelin-starred Tudor Hall on the seventh floor of the King George Hotel, complete with a million-dollar view of the Acropolis.
We explored this ancient city at a slow pace, without the time limits that are inherent to a cruise, when you need to make it back to the ship at a set time.
I’m glad I finally figured out that my sweet spot between relaxing and exploring new destinations is to spend day one on board. It’s going to be my go-to move from here on out.
