Cruise ships are incredible hubs of activity nowadays, with megaships being sports centres, leisure attractions and waterparks combined. If you’re on a smaller ship you might have to be a little bit more inventive and look to your port stops or the ocean itself to stop you from getting portly!
Forget the running track – here’s our rundown of the top nineteen exciting, fun and surprising ways to stay active whilst cruising:
1 – Head for Heights
If you’ve got a head for heights then why not go climbing on a Royal Caribbean or Norwegian Cruise Line climbing wall? Norwegian Epic has the only US-rated climbing wall at sea, as well as cruising’s first rappelling (abseiling) wall.
You can also work on your core strength and balance on Carnival’s SkyCourse (on Breeze, Magic and Sunshine) or in the RipCord by iFly indoor skydiving tunnel on Royal Caribbeans’ Quantum of the Seas.
2 – Floating Playground
If water sports are more your thing (you are on the ocean after all), then why not book a cruise ship that comes with its very own marina?
Windstar is one of the best, offering kayaking, windsurfing, inflatable boats, snorkelling and even waterskiing, straight from the ship or why not have a bounce on a floating trampoline? It gives all new meaning to the term ‘floating playground’!
3 – Dancercise
Dancing is one of the most fun ways of getting fit! Dance off your socks off with many cruise lines offering different kinds of dance opportunities to show off those tail feather-shaking skills.
4 – Lose the Map
Cruise ships are coming up with new and innovative ways to help you find your way around on-board, like the Royal Caribbean WOW band which works with an app to give you your exact location or the smart screens that will save you from getting lost – but sometimes getting lost can work wonders for your waistline!
Walking from one end of RCI’s Oasis of the Sea (362 metres), down a few flights of stairs and then back across the ship in search of your stateroom should go some way towards get your daily steps whilst onboard your ship.
5 – Get Your Skates On
If you love to skate – or you’re just happy to give anything a go on holiday – Royal Caribbean should be your cruise line of choice.
Not content with ‘just’ offering ice skating in the blazing sunshine (on Oasis, Freedom and Voyager class) and in-line skating tracks to rival Miami promenade (Voyager class), they’ve also gone all 80’s with a retro rollerskating rink in the brand new Quantum-class leisure hub, the SeaPlex.
Neon leg warmers are optional.
6 – Slam Dunk
If you’ve always fancied yourself as a next-generation Michael Jordan, a cruise ship with ball sports will mean you can lace up those high tops and get your jump on.
You’ll find basketball courts on most Royal Caribbean ships, and in the SportsSquare on Carnival ships (as well as dodgeball and volleyball, if you’re feeling really athletic!)
7 – Push and Pull(eys)
Bored of the gym – even if it does have sea views? Try something different on RCI Oasis class ships and get pushed and pulled on the Kinesis wall.
This exercise tool is made up of ropes and pulleys and Madonna is said to be a big fan. Crystal and Seabourn ships also boast Kinesis walls for a workout that will push you to your limit, in the best possible way.
8 – A Real Power Plate
No, we’re not asking you to skip the steak and chips for a plate of spinach and kale – RCI Freedom class ships boast Power Plates, which are exercise machines that take the hard work out of working out.
You literally just stand there and let the vibrations do the hard work for you! You could even take a magazine and a coffee to your Power Plate session if you wanted to – although spillages are always a risk!
9 – Fight Club
RCI Freedom class ships have also come out fighting with full-size boxing rings so if you’re in the mood to go all Rocky Balboa and join Fight Club, you can strap on your gloves and go. Sorry, we can’t promise you Brad Pitt with his top off – these cruises are good, but they’re not that good!
10 – Fun Run
Okay, so we know we said for you to skip the running track but when it’s as good as the one on Royal Caribbean Oasis-class ships, it’s worth squeezing in at least a little mention.
These running tracks are shaded from the sun (with some of the track indoors and some out) and they feature motivational notices to spur you on as you go.
There’s also a running club you can join if you fancy smashing that 5k time goal while also being sociable.
11 – Splash Around
Swimming is a popular full-body workout and even having fun in the splash pool with the kids can really get your heart racing.
Climb the stairs to the flumes on NCL, Disney and Carnival waterpark ships and give those legs a workout – and once you’re at the top, the adrenalin will get that heart rate up before you splash back down to deck!
12 – Battle the Current
If your swimming style is more Rebecca Adlington than a teenager at the local fun pool, you can step your holiday swimming regime up a notch in the swim-against-the-current pools on Princess’s larger ships – like a wave pool but even harder!
The Kneipp Walk pool on Seabourn, Sojourn and Quest ships offers another interesting way to work out in the water, as the journey from hot to cold water is a detoxifying and invigorating experience – just don’t expect a relaxing dip!
13 – Taking the Gym Outdoors
Indoor gyms can be pretty boring, even if they do have sea views and the latest high-tech equipment; taking your workout outdoors can be much more inspiring and the average cruise ship offers ample opportunity to exercise alfresco.
Join the Zumba party on Princess’s outdoor decks, practice your downward-facing dog with yoga on the helipad on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis and Allure or hit the Vita exercise areas on Carnival Magic and Breeze which, quite literally, take the gym outdoors.
14 – On Your Bike
Princess Cruises are racing ahead with the Tour de Spin spinning workouts but for the best biking experience it’s necessary to go ‘off ship-ing’.
River cruise lines such as AmaWaterways, Tauk and Uniworld also do similar – and in some cases you can even ride along the river, catching up with the ship at the next port. Now there’s an incentive to keep your speed up!
15 – Surfs Up
Work that core and try to stay upright on a surfboard on the FlowRider Surf Simulators on RCI Oasis and Freedom class ships.
Surfing can burn over two hundred calories an hour which will earn you a few bites of that burger at the Wipeout Café – a post-surf essential.
Or hit the surf for real on a cruise that offers surfing stop-offs. Norwegian Cruise lines’ Pride of America will take you to ride the waves of Hawaiian waters, with surf lessons on offer as an excursion.
16 – Walk 500 Miles…
For something a little gentler, it’s hard to beat a walking workout – after all, it’s something that can be done by anyone, anywhere and at any level of fitness.
Crystal cruise ships offer two innovative programs to get walkers up and moving; Nordic Walking (with poles) and Walking on Water (with a weighted vest).
If you fancy a ramble that takes in more than just the deck of the ship, Fred Olsen offers ‘Cruise and Walk’ holidays, with scenic walks in each port. We don’t just mean strolls around the nearest green space though – these amazing walks take in volcanoes in the Canaries, dramatic coastlines and the glaciers of Norway.
