Sleep.

We all crave it, hardly anyone feels like they get enough of it and some people struggle to get any at all. However, when we sail off on holiday the hopes are that we can finally relax and give those batteries a much needed recharge.

A lot of cruisers love letting the gentle movement of the ship rock them off to sleep, but others find it harder to slip into dreamland whilst sailing the world’s seas. We’re here to help you, though, so here are some easy ways to ensure to get a great night’s sleep.

Pick Your Cabin Carefully

You may think that aside from the luxury suites, all cabins are created equally. However, this is certainly not the case. Even cabins or staterooms in the same grade (price bracket) can vary in terms of size, amenities and position on the ship. And it’s that last one that you should be concerned about.

If you want to make sure you get some rest, choose a cabin that will definitely not suffer from noise or vibration. This means avoiding those close to the ship’s engines, anything near the popular night time venues and even steering clear of cabins in the vicinity of the lifeboats where there may be some commotion as people climb aboard early morning tenders to the shore.

Cruises lines are very good at pinpointing cabins that may be susceptible to noise and vibration form the ship’s engines, but you may have to look at a deck plan yourself to find something away from the other areas mentioned.

Choose A Cruise Line With Luxury Beds

The best cruise lines will go out of their way to secure safe passage into snooze-land for their guests, offering pillow menus to help you find the ideal place to rest your head and offering top of the line linens too. They also boast about the luxurious beds in their cabins. Beds that have been tried and tested and that are made by big names in the fashion and textiles industry.

For example, Savoir of England make the beds for cruise lines like Regent Seven Seas and Silversea, whilst Oceania Cruises provide Prestige Tranquillity mattresses made by Matermoll. Furthermore, after conducting a survey that found that 67% of people didn’t sleep well on holiday, Princess Cruises has collaborated with sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus to develop the Princess luxury bed.

The individually wrapped coils help to reduce disturbance when your partner moves around and there is increased mattress support to help you drift off. The beds are being rolled out across all ships in the fleet, with 22,000 staterooms set to receive them in the coming months.

Watch What You Eat (And Drink) Late At Night

There is so much food available on board a cruise ship that you can pretty much find something to suit your taste at any time of the day. However, you should be cautious about eating late at night as this has been proven to have a negative effect on your sleep patterns. So, before you dive into that delicious late-night buffet, think about how it might impact on your slumber.

It’s not just eating late at night that can cause disruption, though. Drinking alcohol, smoking and consuming caffeine will all stop you from getting that shuteye that we all so badly need.

Take Time To Relax

We all go on holiday with the best intentions of relaxing and taking some time out. However, once on board the ship, the excitement of all the amazing things to do (on the ship and ashore) combined with a nagging feeling that you should check your emails or keep in touch with those back home can mean we forget to find time for ourselves.

If you want to give yourself a better chance of saluting the sandman, be sure to reserve at least part of the day for some relaxation time. This could be in the form of a rejuvenating spa treatment, some time around the pool or simply reading the newspaper on your balcony. This regular downtime will put you in good stead for a great night’s sleep. And, anyway, you’re on holiday – you deserve it.

Now that you have the tools to hit the hay like a professional, we can help you find the perfect cruise. For more information on the itineraries we have available or to book your next holiday at sea, call us today or contact us via the website.