t's never been easier to
stay fit and healthy on a cruise. More choices — on board and off — allow
passengers to stay in shape while enjoying all the experiences and delicious
food a cruise vacation has to offer. Those massive midnight buffets are ancient
history, and fitness facilities are so popular and well outfitted that it can
be difficult to get a machine during peak hours. Even menus have changed over
the years to include heart-healthy, vegetarian and even gluten-free options.
Sure, you can gorge yourself on 24-hour pizza, self-serve ice cream or a pile
of lobster tails on formal night, but it's just as easy to stay active while at
sea, and maybe even lose a pound or two.
1.
Exercise outside
There's nothing better than fresh sea air, so get outside and
move! Depending on the size of your ship, there's probably an outdoor track and
maybe a wrap-around promenade to walk off that molten lava cake you indulged in
at dinner last night. If the fresh air alone isn't enough of an incentive, see
if your ship is offering a charity walk during your sailing.
Several lines, including Princess Cruises, Holland America Line
and Royal Caribbean International, offer fundraising walks on select sailings.
For a small donation, participants get a wristband, a T-shirt and the chance to
contribute to a good cause for just a few laps around the deck. Princess and
Holland America donate to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, while Royal Caribbean
raises money for Make-A-Wish.
2 Try
something new
You'll find every
imaginable type of exercise equipment in the onboard fitness facility, but a
cruise is also the perfect time to try a class that you'd never do at home like
yoga spinning, Zumba or even roller skating. Two left feet? No problem. Trained
dancers, male and female, welcome everyone to learn some new moves. From an
assortment of goofy line dances to cha-cha and foxtrot, there are classes
offered nearly every sea day on most cruises. Note: Some of these specialized
classes charge a fee and require sign-up. On many cruise lines you can sign up
ahead of time for a week's worth of lessons.
3. Get creative
There really are no excuses
for skipping your normal exercise routine. If it's too hot outside, pouring
rain or the gym is full, try walking the indoor "track" — the ship's
corridors. On almost every boat, you can make a complete lap or at least a
horseshoe in the hallways on the passenger decks.
Of course, running through the hallways isn't an option, but in
lieu of a boring treadmill workout, a long walk in air-conditioned comfort sans
crowds is a great way to work up a sweat. You'll find that the hallways are
emptiest on sea days between 5:30 and 7pm.
You can crank it up (or down) a notch after each lap by changing
decks. Ships usually stack three or four passenger decks in one area, so it's
easy make a change of scenery and go up or down a flight of stairs during your
walk. And if your knees can handle it, make a pledge to ignore any and all of
the ship's elevators during the entire cruise. You'll be amazed how many stairs
you'll climb in only one day.
4.Sign
up for active shore excursions
Instead of a three-hour city
highlights bus tour, opt for something a little less sedentary. Biking shore
excursions are becoming popular on both ocean and river cruises, here and
abroad. Chances are, you'll pass many of the same sights that you'd see on a
dedicated city tour en route to your active shore excursion.
If your cruise doesn't offer a biking shore excursion, consider
taking your own walking tour instead. For example, in Grand Cayman several
cruise lines offer bus service to world-famous Seven Mile Beach. Skip the beach
chairs and get your exercise in by walking the shoreline up and back from your
drop-off point. If you're looking for more heart-pumping activity, you can also
rent water sports equipment like snorkeling gear, kayaks and paddleboards at
the beach.
5.Be a
kid again
Back on board, splash, climb
and play the day away at the onboard waterparks. There are towering
waterslides, wobbly ropes courses, rock climbing walls and even surf simulators
available on some of the larger cruise lines.
Grab a boogie board on Royal Caribbean's FlowRider; push your
limit on Norwegian's Epic Plunge 200-foot waterslide or test your balance on
Carnival's SkyCourse — a challenging ropes course. If competitive sports are
more your style, cruise lines have you covered there, too: nearly all lines
offer basketball, bowling, volleyball and a variety of other group pick-up
sports. With all of these options at your fingertips — and a commitment to
healthy eating — you'll return from your cruise with nothing but memories, and
no extra pounds.
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