A Long Cruise...Do You Really Have Time For That? (Part Two In A Series)

mPowers
Dec 29, 2025
4 min read

Using the previous post with a focus on Carnival Cruise Line as a basis, let us continue to weigh the benefits against the potential hazards of their longer voyages.

For perspective, when some think of a longer cruise, they fo to the extreme of a world cruise - circumnavigating the globe, or South America, or a cruise through all of Asia.

Places To Go, Sights To See, People To Meet!

Most of these are billed as luxury cruises aboard the ships of five and six-star cruise lines. But here, we take choose to tackle the topic from a different angle with Carnival.

You've Got Plenty Of Time On Your Hands At Sea!

So let us consider the merits versus the drabacks of longer cruises that fall somewhere between the typical one-week loop and the round-the-world trek.

THE HIGHS

More sea days Generally, a more seasoned demographic overall, but still diverse More immersive than shorter sailings Greater variety of activities More interaction with other guests and the staff Great value proposition More laid back Still fun to be had (e.g. – nightclub crowd, dancing waiters, etc.)

A port-intensive itinerary of any length allows less time for exploring tthe floating resort and availing oneself of the amenities the ship has to offer. Shorter cruises tend to have less of a variety of activities. One exception to this might be on Alaska Inside Passage sailings that are typically seven days, yet provide more immersion into indigenous culture of the people along with a wealth of knowledge about the natural environment of glaciers, wildlife, and mountainous terrain. But we digress...

With A Long Voyage, You Realize We Live In A Beautiful World Of Varied Wonders!

Do It ALL!

On these longer Carnival Journeys sailings, the line offers an expanded portfolio of activities that help passengers pass the time and become enriched with knowledge of where they are going, what they will see, and who they will meet along the way.

On a sailing through the south Pacific to the US, or from the west coast to Hawaii, imagine classes in Hawaiian culture, the customs of such far-flung places as Fiji and French Polynesia. You could have multi-day courses in hula dancing, lei making, and playing the ukelele

The main dining room menu will feature the opportunity to sample regional cuisine Local entertainment might be brought onboard Port -of-call presentations will be more detailed and less focused on tourist trap topics

Crossing the International Date Line? You can bet that it will be incorporated into the activities! Ditto on the equator!

On a Caribbean Grand Circle sailing, you will learn more about each island you'll visit than you bargained for in a two week span. You might even have the opportunity to learn how to play steel drums. And if you love seafood, you'll be in heaven!

Or Spend Plenty Of Time Doing Nothing At All!

Of course, keeping a hectic schedule is not mandatory. On a sailing with many days at sea, you might choose to simply relax.

On shorter sailings, some may feel run themselves ragged trying to "do it all" in the alloted time. But if your sailing has many sea days scattered throughut the itinerary - or a string of consecutive days, you can take your time and also enjoy your favorite pasttimes whenever you like. You'll also have more time to cultivate friendships, if you'd like.

And that brings us to the point of what the passenger manifest might look like. In the past, cruising in general had a reputation of being a bastion of the seasoned traveler - meaning an older crowd. And while the average age of the cruise collective has come down, many longer sailings do cater to an older demographic with time and disposable income. That could affect the mood of the sailing.

Do you worry that a longer sailing mean no nightlife? On some sailings, that might very well be the case. After dinner, the evening show, and some buzz throughout the ship's bars and lounges, the night could be over by 11 pm. Some who sail on Carnival Journeys report that some diehards do, infact, keep the action going in the dance venue, or disco as it were.

The Power Of Vacation In Kids' Lives

At the other end of the spectrum, one might find fewer kids onboard than, say, a cruise of 7 days or less. TravPortUSA 's Fifth Pillar of Expanded Horizons & Lives Transformed fits well with travel greatly benefitting them. In addition to what's available for all passengers, the ship's crew will also have activities designed just for kids that will help tham appreciate what they will experience in port and at sea.

For those young'uns who do get the opportunity to enjoy a far-flung voyage, there is the excitement of visiting places they might have only seen or heard about in school or seen on the internet. In fact, this type of cruise might be great for a family of multi-generational travelers where kids have relatives and/or close family friends to interact with along the way while also meeting new people

With so many great aspects involved with longer voyages, like Carnival Voyages, how could there be a downside? Well...there are some caveats involved; they deserve due consideration, so STAY TUNED FOR PART THREE!

And do remember to check out PART ONE, if you haven't already!

Photorgaphy Credits (In Order):

Maui

Na Pali coast, Kauai, Hawaii (iStock)

St. Thomas Harbor

Photo by Diego F. Parra: https://www.pexels.com/photo/cruise-ships-in-charlotte-amalie-15304264/

Nice, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France

Photo by Pierre Blaché: https://www.pexels.com/photo/aerial-photography-of-city-3016350/

Sydney Opera House (Dreamstime)

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Photo by Julius Silver: https://www.pexels.com/photo/landscape-photograph-of-lake-and-mountains-870711/

Colorful Curacao