Staying fit on a cruise
Yes, most ships these days have gyms, but some people don’t like going to the gym at home, leave alone while they’re on holiday. For other’s it’s just a part of their day, so that’s great. But whichever person you are out of those two, you’ve got to remember that your routine will be different on a cruise (especially one longer than a week) and it’s a good idea to keep a track of your step count as it might suddenly decrease.
Here's how you can stay fit on your next voyage while minimising the time you spend exercising — unless, of course, you're really into fitness.
Get your exercise
Most cruise ships have fitness centres that are free to use. Although some of the biggest workout fanatics will spend time there daily, most people looking for a sweat session hit the gym on sea days. (Go at peak dining times if you'd like to avoid the crowds.)
You'll often find a wide range of cardio machines, including treadmills, ellipticals, stationary bikes and rowers, as well as weight training machines (cable machines and a leg press) and free weights. You might also find high-intensity interval training equipment like kettlebells and medicine balls, plus some yoga mats, bands and foam rollers for stretching out those muscles.
Many cruise ships also offer fitness classes. Royal Caribbean, for example, offers yoga, Pilates and spinning classes on their ships. Carnival Cruise Line offers the same, plus boot camp classes. On Norwegian Cruise Line, you can also take a spin class or a high-intensity boxing class. These are often available for an additional fee.
The exception to the extra-fee class rule is Virgin Voyages, a relative newcomer to the industry. The line's vessels offer all fitness classes at no charge, and the variety is both refreshing and fun. In addition to bungee classes, yoga and spin, passengers can choose from HIIT sessions, Muscle Beach-style workouts and even an '80s aerobics class where themed attire is highly encouraged and Shake Weights are the apparatus of choice.
Many small-ship and upscale cruise lines also include group fitness classes in their fares.
The '80s-themed VHS Workout class on Virgin Voyages' Valiant Lady. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
Prefer to stay outside and maximise the sunlight? Take to the top deck for a run.
Every Royal Caribbean ship except Empress of the Seas has a running track. On Carnival cruises, you'll find padded running tracks on nearly all of the ships. If you're looking for something a bit less mundane, check out Celebrity Cruises' Edge-class ships, which feature tracks that wind around the outer decks in a figure-eight that offers inclines and declines to keep things interesting. On Virgin's vessels, the track is alone on the top deck, making it easier to burn calories without worrying that you'll run into someone or trip over a deck chair.
Skip the elevator
Best of all, you don't need to work out to stay fit during a cruise. All you have to do is skip the elevator. The largest passenger cruise ship on Earth, Royal Caribbean's Wonder of the Seas, has 18 decks: If you walk up and down the stairs every day, you'll be shocked how quickly you get in your steps during a cruise — even if you are on your way to the buffet. Every 13 steps is considered a “floor” on the apps that log your steps each day. See how many floors you can climb in a day. This is great cardio.
Watch what you eat
The beet and burrata salad appetizer at a cruise ship steakhouse. ASHLEY KOSCIOLEK/THE POINTS GUY
You might think it's impossible to eat healthy on a cruise ship, but it's pretty easy.
First, the dreaded buffet isn't so bad. With ample salad bars, fresh soups and extensive fruit selections, the buffets offer plenty of options for selective travelers who wish to avoid the endless supply of French fries and mozzarella sticks. In the morning, breakfast buffets typically include a make-your-own omelet bar (request egg whites with vegetables and hold the cheese), hard-boiled eggs and more fruit.
When you're at home, it might be difficult to find fresh or healthy foods, and they are often more expensive than their processed counterparts. But at a cruise ship buffet, making the healthy choice costs nothing.
In sit-down restaurants, cruise lines increasingly have a handful of healthful dishes on the menu, even if they're not crowd-pleasers. Some vessels dedicate sections of restaurant menus to healthy fare. Cunard's Queen Mary 2's Britannia restaurant, for example, offers spa cuisine items designed in partnership with Canyon Ranch.
Fruit on a tray. KATHRYN ROMEYN/THE POINTS GUY
Other lines are doubling down on the wellness movement by introducing health-focused a la carte restaurants. Grab a seat at Celebrity's complimentary Spa Cafe, now on most of the line's vessels. Cruisers can order grilled chicken breast with steamed vegetables; a low-sodium arugula salad with grapefruit segments; and poached fruits with herbs and spices.
On some Princess Cruises ships, cruisers can now elbow up to an Ocean Terrace Bar turning out raw, fresh-squeezed fruit and vegetable juices (for an upcharge). Even budget line Carnival has a Mongolian Wok restaurant on several of its ships.
TIP: Skip the noodles and stick with fresh vegetables and lean proteins.
Cruise lines have stepped up their game in the last few years with regard to dietary restrictions. Not only can you find more vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free menu items, but you can also look for desserts marked as sugar-free if you're hoping to limit your intake of sweets.
Cruisers should also be mindful of those pesky liquid calories. We're talking about alcohol, juice and soda — or tropical cocktails containing all three. Stick with red wine or straight liquor mixed with club soda instead, or try a NorCal Margarita: tequila, club soda, lemon or lime, salt and ice.
It might be tempting to grab a slice of cake or a frozen cocktail when they're constantly available, but the key is to not go overboard. (See what I did there?)
Book active excursions
A woman sees the sights by bicycle in Rome. TFILM/GETTY IMAGES
When the ship arrives at a port, you'll want to disembark, stretch your legs and explore — not spend a day in the gym. And that's good news because there are plenty of ways to get your steps on dry land. Even if you only get off for a few hours to walk around the town, it’s good for you to experience a new place and it’s good for your heart.
Depending on where you're cruising, you might have the opportunity to go cycling, hiking, snorkeling, scuba diving, paddleboarding or surfing. Take advantage of cruise ship shore excursions and find ways to be active while sightseeing. Even if you don't book a walking tour in a major city, try to make active choices when possible. For example, did you know the average person can burn between 250 and 300 calories in an hour of snorkeling?
River cruise lines are also diving into the fitness fray. AmaWaterways has dedicated wellness hosts who lead active excursions ashore, as well as fitness classes on board (resistance band stretches, cardio dance). Last year, wellness hosts were available on all but three AmaWaterways vessels. They lead groups of cruisers on excursions such as bike rides along the Regensburg countryside or guided hikes up the Philosopher's Path in Heidelberg.
Summary
Cruises can be a great way to kick back and relax or explore multiple destinations without having to unpack multiple times — but that doesn't mean you should completely toss away your fitness routine. Cruise lines have made it easy for passengers to hit the gym, take a fitness class or go for a run both on board and on dry land. So take advantage of the convenient exercise options, even for just a few minutes a day. And while you’re on that walking/jogging track, ponder this: why does everyone walk in an anti-clockwise direction! I don’t like it. Tried going the other way once and got told off by another passenger.
RELATED: Read our tips and tricks to make your first cruise go smoother
If you’d like to know more info about any of the 30 cruise lines I can offer you deals on, then just reach out to paul@101cruise.com.au
Depending on loads I can secure up to 80% off cruises for people who work in the travel or airline industry (even your family and friends if they want to also go with you).
However, I can also get big discounts for those who work outside the airline and travel industry. So, either way, it must be time to “get your cruise on”.
Likewise, if you’d like to know more about Ruff our Labradoodle in the pic, let me know.
Info for this article came from thepointsguys.com and different sources on the internet.