The Ultimate Guide for First Time Cruisers

On modern ships, getting your daily exercise doesn’t have to mean a stroll on the promenade deck. Whether you like early morning yoga sessions, sweating it out at spin class, or getting your adrenaline pumping on a surfboard, there is something to keep everyone fit and active.

Gym

You won’t find a gym with better views than on a cruise ship. Why not work up a sweat before breakfast with a panoramic view of the ocean? As featured aboard most cruise ships, gyms boast a range of cardio machines, weight machines, classes and personal training. Carnival offers an outdoor workout option, SkyFitness, which includes bikes, step machines and punching bags up on deck. Available on the Carnival Vista, Breeze, Magic, and Sunshine.

Royal Caribbean

Passengers will find it very hard to leave this line’s gyms, with stunning views and countless fitness options.  Across three levels, there are stationary bikes, weights, and stretching mats, and a number of activities on offer from spin classes to the new FlyWheel classes. There is a jogging track for those wanting to make the most of the sea breeze, and a number of staff on hand to assist you with your fitness endeavours. There’s also rock climbing walls as well as the FlowRider, a surf simulator which will give your core a great workout. The Quantum-class ships have a full-sized boxing ring.

Norwegian Cruise Line

There is plenty of space in these gyms, which have a lot of cardio machines and weights. Fitness classes are also on offer from yoga to Zumba. On Norwegian’s international ships, you can brush up your fight skills at the Freestyle Fight Klub where trainers will teach you how to throw a punch and a kick. If you’re a lover not a fighter, try the dancing classes available on the Norwegian Breakaway.

Carnival Cruise Line

The gyms on Carnival’s ships are wide and open.  There is usually an outside exercise zone called the SportsSquare Sky Fitness Centre that has cardio machines, punching bags and volleyball courts, basketball courts and soccer fields available. These are mainly available on Carnival’s US-based ships.

MSC Cruises

This glass room will give you plenty of space to work on your fitness routine. Keeping up with the trend along with a number of other cruise ships, this gym allows you to keep both your mind and body healthy with an uninhibited view of the ocean as you work out.

Princess Cruises

There are weights and weight machines, cardio equipment, exercise classes-even Zumba, and LCD screens to keep you entertained while you work out, what more could you want from a gym?

Celebrity Cruises

Along with all the usual features that come with your average cruise ship gym, there is a room set aside for personal training. Your trainer can assess your strengths and weaknesses and devise a program during your voyage.

Cunard

For something a little bit different, Cunard offers its guests on all its ships, fencing classes in the main ballroom. The classes are organised by Leon Paul Fencing Equipment are a real novelty as Cunard is the only line to offer this unique experience. Or if you want to practice your backhand, there is also a small tennis court on the top of the ship.

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Ice-skating

Watch the Royal Caribbean Ice-skating spectacular featuring professional ice-skaters, then test your own skills, and balance, at the onboard ice-rink. Available free of charge on Voyager class ships.

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Ballroom dancing

Classes are offered on P&O, Royal Caribbean, MSC, and Princess, and are usually included in your fare. On lines such as P&O UK and Cunard, you can also practice the dances you learn during the ships formal evenings. Holland America offers dance classes inspired by TV show Dancing with the Stars, while Celebrity offers a variation called Dancing with the Stripes, an onboard game show where guests pair with an officer and are whittled down to the winning couple by a panel of judges. If ballroom isn’t your thing most ships also offer Zumba and other modern dance classes.

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Boxing

NCL’s FightKlub, available on Breakaway class ships is a group boxing class using punching bags. Royal Caribbean’s Freedom and Oasis class ships offer boxing lessons with an experienced coach in a full-size ring (extra fees apply). 

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Yoga & pilates

Yoga, pilates and morning stretching classes are offered on many cruise lines including Carnival, Disney, MSC, Cunard, Royal Caribbean, NCL, Azamara, and Crystal. Celebrity cruise ships offer a special program with seven different types of yoga.

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Spinning

Disney, Carnival, and Cunard all offer spinning classes. NCL and Royal Caribbean have upped the game, offering spinning like you have never seen before. The bike records your workouts and uploads them online so you can track your progress, it also adds a competitive edge, showing you the leader board as you cycle so you can compete against people in your class to see who can complete the most intense workout.

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Surfing

More of a water baby? Catch some waves on the FlowRider surf simulator. Whether you are an experienced pro or a first timer, the simulator suits all level of surfer and is certain to get your heart rate going. Available on selected Royal Caribbean ships (free of charge).

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Team games

From basketball to tennis, croquet to shuffleboard, there are a host of team games available across the sports courts and games deck of each of the cruise lines. Play water polo on MSC, dodge ball on Carnival, or bowls on Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary.

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Inline skating

Exclusive to Royal Caribbean’s Quantum class ships, and included in the price of your cruise, inline skating is offered on special sports decks with padded barriers.

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High ropes

Carnival, Royal Caribbean and NCL all offer a fitness option for the adrenaline junky. Clamber through obstacles high above the top deck, taking in the awesome ocean views.

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Circus school

Fly through the air learning to somersault with ease aboard the Royal Caribbean Quantum class ships. The flying trapeze is included as part of your cruise fare.

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Walking

Most if not all ships have stairs between decks, and a promenade deck or jogging track. Walking is by far the easiest way to slip a bit of fitness into each day. Even just walking down the stairs, rather than taking the lift will help keep you fitter. Some cruise lines such as Crystal offer Nordic Walking, and programs such as WOW, in which passengers wear weighted jackets to increase the level of effort as they walk the promenade deck.

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Virtual sports simulators

NCL ships all feature Nintendo Wii games on big screens in their atriums, while Celebrity offer virtual sports on the Xbox 360. Cunard offers a golf simulator with 51 different golf courses to choose from.

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Rock-climbing

Rock climbing is becoming popular on cruise ships and is now offered by Royal Caribbean, and NCL (included in your fare). Challenging for both the mind and body as you climb high above deck overlooking the ocean.