What
to do on a Cruise Ship
Cruise ships are an escape from the real world. There is no feeling of
freedom quite the same as knowing that you have literally just left all
your stress behind you on the shore!
Here are some great activities to enjoy whilst on a cruise:
Fun and Games
Vacations are inherently fun, and many cruise activities revolve around
laughter and amusement. Trivia games are a popular activity, including
themed sessions such as television, cruise, or historical categories.
Games shows are another favorite event, and variations of television
game shows may be adapted to a cruise ship atmosphere. American Idol
and Survivor are two widespread choices, particularly on cruise lines
known for a party atmosphere such as Carnival and Royal Caribbean. Most
cruise ships also offer a range of wild poolside games: hairy chest,
sexy leg, and belly flop contests are always designed for a good laugh
for both the participants and the audience. Some games, in fact, are
designed for complete audience participation, such as
Carnival’s “What’s In The Bag”
competition or Royal Caribbean’s “The
Quest.”
Fabulous Fitness
As personal fitness becomes increasingly popular, cruise passengers
find themselves with many opportunities to work up a sweat through
different cruise activities. Morning workout classes often include
yoga, Pilates, stretching, kick-boxing, and step classes, some of which
may have extra fees, particularly if they use specialized equipment.
Organized morning walks along the jogging track are another option, and
many cruise ships have a wide range of sporting equipment such as
basketball courts, golf simulators, pools, shuffleboard courts,
ping-pong tables, ice-skating rinks, and volleyball courts. Royal
Caribbean in particular is known for its wide variety of sporting
activities, including a rock climbing wall on every ship, inline
skating tracks, and miniature golf courses. Naturally, no matter what
the cruise line, larger ships offer more fitness options.
Shop ‘Til You Drop
What would a vacation be without souvenirs? Cruise ships provide many
gift shops for passengers to satisfy shopping urges, including standard
boutiques stocking postcards, shot glasses, toys, t-shirts, and other
typical keepsakes. Specialty stores offer merchandise such as jewelry,
liquor, perfume, upscale clothing, watches, and cruise line items
(bathrobes, cookbooks, paperweights, picture frames, etc.). Though in
many cases prices are comparable to land-based stores, savvy passengers
will wait for the frequent sales, particularly on days when the ship is
at sea. T-shirts, jewelry, and alcohol are frequently offered at
discounted prices, with the best deals toward the end of the voyage.
Lady Luck
Passengers with a knack for the right numbers will enjoy cruise
activities focused on the ship’s casino. Even smaller casinos
are well-equipped with a variety of slot machines accepting different
denominations, video poker terminals, and classic table games including
roulette, craps, and blackjack. Tournaments are offered throughout the
cruise, which passengers can enter for a set fee to compete for
exorbitant prizes. Bingo games are a popular diversion, including
“win a cruise” and “jackpot”
games. For novice gamblers, casinos often offer gaming lessons, and
casino crew members may be willing to provide an impromptu lesson when
business is slow. It should be noted that some cruise ships, most
notably all the Disney ships, do not feature onboard casinos.
No matter what types of cruise activities you are interested in, you
will find them offered at sea. From educational events and luxurious
pampering to slapstick games and high seas high rolling, activities at
sea are sure to convince every passenger that getting there truly is
half the fun.
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