One of the greatest fears that people have about cruising is that there will not be enough to do and wonder how to avoid boredom on a cruise. However, nothing could be further from the truth. If you are a person who loves activities, something is happening on a cruise ship almost every hour of the day. On the other hand, granted, in the wee hours, there are fewer options, but even the most energetic cruiser must sleep sometimes.
Sports
Depending on the size of the ship that you are cruising on, there will be a wide variety of sports that you can indulge in. If you are the competitive type, you can get into a hoop-shooting contest or gentler shuffleboard.
On the other hand, if you are the adventurous type, many ships now have a rock wall to climb. Or maybe you can ride the waves in a wave pool. Ships have putting greens, ping-pong tables, and even Wii sports if you prefer to do the virtual thing.
Movies
Some cruises have actual movie theaters. A couple of hours in the theater is a great way to avoid boredom on a cruise. However, others offer movies under the stars or out by the pool. Even others use large entertainment venues to show flicks.
The Spa
Why not just indulge yourself a little. You can get everything from dermabrasion to acupuncture along with getting your teeth whitened. Relax with a massage, a wrap, or a scrub, or get together with your significant other for a couples massage. You can get your haircut, colored or styled and a pedicure or manicure is always a nice indulgence.
The Casino
When you are out to see the casino will be open and whether you enjoy the slots or table games there will be enough excitement to keep you busy. Have you always wanted to take a poker lesson or participate in a tournament?
Games
You can find a game almost any day in one of the lounges. Want to play bridge or Scrabble, head to the game room. Do you like to play online games? You should head to the computer lounge and log into your favorite site, this will be at an additional cost, however.
Excursions
Chances are if you are pulling into any ports, there will be a wide selection of excursions that you can choose from. Moreover, a lot will depend on where you are cruising to and from but rest assured there will be adventurous ones, cultural ones, and fun ones.
Team Activities
Whether you are traveling on your own, with a partner, or in a group of family and friends, a team activity is a fun way to get some exercise. The bonus is that you will meet like-minded people.
Here are some team games that are common on cruises.
- Shuffleboard involves using a long ‘stick’ to propel a flat disc along the wet deck into marked squares. Each square equates to a different value of points. Shuffleboard is a classic cruise ship game that has been played on board ships since the 1920s.
- Table tennis can be a friendly, casual game between two or four players or organized into a tournament by the cruise director’s staff.
- Pool volleyball is fun for participants and watchers alike.
- Deck quoits is another classic cruise game. Play it with a partner or join an organized team.
Individual Activities
If team sports are not your ‘thing’, there are plenty of fun opportunities to exercise individually. A cruise vacation may be the chance for you to try something different from the exercise you usually do.
On some of the newer ships, you can try rock climbing on a climbing wall. Full safety equipment is provided, and staff is trained to help. You may be asked to sign a release form.
Another new activity on some ships is ice skating. Special boards are laid over an area of the deck and then coated with a slippery substance that looks and feels like ice. The skates are provided.
Using the ship’s pools each day is the ideal way to keep up with your swimming or aqua jogging. Some ships on family-focused cruises have wet and wild aqua slides and opportunities to surf in a limited area.
Ships that provide golf simulators and putting greens allow keen golfers to perfect their swing while on vacation.
Art Auctions
Even if you can’t imagine yourself buying a piece of art, the art auctions held on the cruises are a blast. Also, you will have the chance of winning one of their drawings so why not sit in and maybe learn a little about art while you are at it?
For example, if you love art, you can preview and then attend an art auction. Some ships hang the works where you can preview them for days before the auction others have a preview before the auction.
Classes
Classes vary from cruise to cruise but can cover such subjects as cameras and picture taking, scrapbooking, and others.
Bingo
This is a popular one with many people. The jackpot by the end of a cruise can be in the thousands of dollars. Regular games payout in the hundreds. Not a bad way to spend a couple of hours.
Exercise
There are free exercise and dance classes and if you want something a little more specialized you can take an advanced class that requires payment. You can learn to Samba or line dance or do early morning Pilates.
Pools and Hot Tubs
What’s not to like about relaxing by the pool or in the hot tub you can even catch up on your reading with a book you borrowed from the ship library.
Shopping
Shopping is a great way to avoid boredom on the cruise whether it be on or off the ship at a port.
Food
It is impossible to talk about a cruise and not mention the food. The buffets, the coffee shops, the ice cream, and the snacks. It never seems to end but there are always lots of healthy choices so don’t feel that weight gain is inevitable.
Bored, it isn’t going to happen. You can decide to do everything or nothing, that is the beauty of a cruise.
Lectures
Finally, you can attend lectures, take computer classes, read a book, and do some serious shopping. And this is just when you are not eating breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner, and a late-night snack. So, if you want to get off the ship there will be excursions offered at each port. A couple of great ways to avoid boredom on your cruise during excursions can range from parasailing to historic tours.