Fitness Options On A Cruise Ship
Just because you are going on a vacation it doesn’t mean that you have to temporarily give up on fitness or being healthy. Even on a cruise ship you can find ways to get in a little bit of exercise and make healthy choices. We’ve put together 8 tips that you can utilize no matter where you are going on your next cruise.
Use The Fitness Facilities. One of the most obvious ways to stay fit while you are on a cruise is to utilize the ship’s fitness facilities. However, many people don’t know that a lot of cruise ships have exercise equipment available for them to use. To ensure you are getting the most out of this equipment check the cruise line beforehand to see what is available, if there are any fees and what hours it is available for use. Royal Caribbean Cruises 2020 offer a vast array of fitness options. For example Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas cruise ship and Symphony of the Seas cruise ship have almost 10,000 square foot fitness facilities that have everything from punching bags to cardio machines. These facilities do tend to be busy first thing in the morning or in the evenings, so you’re best bet would be to go in the middle of the day if you can.
Utilize The Deck. Even if a cruise ship doesn’t have fitness facilities available you can still find other ways to stay fit. The deck is a great place to start. There’s a lot of room to walk around and do stretches. Most of Norwegian Cruise Line ships as well as most of the main stream cruise lines, actually have a walking trail on the deck that you can utilize to get some physical fitness into your daily routine while out at sea. Newer ships such as the NCL Escape and the NCL Getaway have a sports deck that includes a ropes course. Other modern ships have rock climbing, zip lining, laser tag, ice skating, full court basketball, golf and more.
Don’t Forget About Your Room. There are actually a variety of ways that you can get a little work out in while you are inside of your cabin. You can do sit ups on your bed, use a chair to help you do lunges and utilize open floor space to do pushups. One of the best parts about doing exercises in your room is that you can do it at any time of day and no one will see what you look like while doing it.
Check Your Ship’s Itinerary For Classes. Many cruise ships are trying to promote being healthy while onboard ship and are offering fitness classes. These classes include things like yoga, Pilates, spin classes, boxing and T’ai Chi. This is a great way to not only get a little bit of physical activity in while you are on a cruise, but to try something new as well. Many ships do charge a fee of $10-$20 per class.
Choose Healthy Food Options. A huge part of your fitness routine is dependent on the food choices that you make. Luckily, cruise ships are now offering a lot of delicious choices that go far beyond the boring salad for lunch and dinner. You can find just about everything from low-fat options to gluten free choices. For example, Royal Caribbean’s “Vitality” selections are all low fat dishes and are available in its main dining rooms.
Take Advantage Of The Pool. Pretty much all cruise ships have a pool. Instead of just lounging around in the water why not take advantage of it and add it to your exercise routine? Swimming a few laps or doing some water aerobics can get help you get your daily workout in each day. In addition to the pool, many cruise ships, including Norwegian’s fleets have other amenities including a rockwall, tennis court and basketball court.
Pick Excursions That Will Get You Moving. There are plenty of excursions to choose from that will get your heart rate going. From hiking in Costa Rica to snorkeling in St. Lucia, you can find a variety of activities that will help you stay physically fit.
Bring Equipment With You. Believe it or not there are some pieces of exercise equipment that you can easily pack and use while on a cruise. Stretch bands will help you maintain your flexibility and can be easily packed in your suitcase. A pedometer can help you keep track of how much walking you are doing and will help you figure out whether you are meeting your daily goals or not. If you have room you can even pack a couple of 5 pound hand weights in your suitcase.
No matter where you are you can make small choices that will have a big impact on your health overall. Even things like simply planning a shopping trip at one of the ports that will require you to do a lot of walking will keep you physically active. There may be times while you are on a cruise that you will have to get creative, but remember, a good workout goes beyond a treadmill or exercise bike. If fitness is very important to you, then a luxury cruise ship may not be the way to go since there are less options. This is just one of the things to consider when choosing the best cruise for you and your family or travel companions.
Aside from fitness options, itinerary is another thing to consider when choosing a cruise. In the Caribbean, the most common travel advice we are asked for is the difference between Eastern vs Western Caribbean cruises, and which is better.
Other blogs that may interest you:
Top 5 Reasons to Cruise on the Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas
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