Cruising is my most favorite form of vacation and I have never once felt board. Relaxed – yes! Rested – yes! Board – NEVER!
In most cases boredom will never strike while on a cruise because there are so many activities. However, if you are worried that you may be bored on a cruise, have no fear! If you love activities, there is something happening on a cruise ship every hour of the day. While the night hours offer fewer options, you’ve got to sleep sometime!
Use this guide on how to avoid boredom on a cruise.
How to Avoid Boredom On A Cruise
Honestly, boredom on a cruise is usually self-inflicted, there are so many options that often first time cruisers find themselves overwhelmed. The one thing you don’t want to do is pack your schedule with so many activities that you have no time to relax and take it all in! Here is a list of some of the many activities on a cruise to help you fight boredom.
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 match.
On the other hand, if you are the adventurous type, many ships now have a rock wall to climb. Or 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 cruise lines feature actual movie theaters. However, others offer movies under the stars or out by the pool, which is something you will only experience on a cruise. Imagine sitting under the stars in the middle of the ocean watching a movie, how cool?
Spa Treatments
Why not just indulge yourself a little with a luxurious spa experience at sea. You can get everything from dermabrasion to acupuncture along with teeth whitening treatments. Relax with a massage, a wrap, or a scrub, or get together with your significant other for a couples massage. You can get your hair cut, colored or styled and a pedicure or manicure for a relaxing experience.
The Casino
Enjoy gambling? When you are out to sea the casino onboard your cruise ship will be open. 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? A cruise is the perfect place to do just that! You’ve got time to learn how to play poker or try your hand in your first 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; however this will be at an additional cost.
Excursions
Cruise excursions are the best way to fully experience the culture of each port where the ship docks. 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 adventure, cultural, and fun excursions to choose from.
Excursions typically consist of activities such as swimming with dolphins in the Caribbean, hiking a glacier in Alaska, or touring cultural sights in a European city. They truly do offer something for everyone.
Keep in mind that excursions are not included in your cruise ticket fee, and you will need to book these before your cruise.
Whether you are traveling on your own, with a partner, or in a group of family and friends, team activities are a fun way to get some exercise. The bonus is that you will easily make friends while doing these activities.
Team Activities
Here are a few 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.
A few individual activities that you may want to try on your cruise:
- Rock Climbing – On some of the newer ships, you can try rock climbing on a climbing wall. Full safety equipment is provided, and staff are trained to help. However, you may be asked to sign a release form.
- Ice Skating – in this newer activity 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.
- Swimming – 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.
- Golf – Ships that provide golf simulators and putting greens allow keen golfers to perfect their swing while on vacation.
Art Auctions
Even if you cannot 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 learn a little about art while you are at it.
If you love art, you can preview and then attend an art auction. Some ships hang the works where you can preview it for days before the auction.
Fun Classes
Many cruises offer classes in everything from dance to cooking and everything in between. You’ll find that classes vary from cruise to cruise but can cover such subjects as cameras and picture taking, scrapbooking, and many 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. With regular game payout in the hundreds, this is not a bad way to spend a couple of hours on your cruise. Plus, who doesn’t love a good game of bingo?
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 additional fees. Learn to Samba or line dance, or do early morning Pilates on deck with the ocean in view.
Pools and Hot Tubs
What’s not to like about relaxing by the pool or in a hot tub while on your cruise. Most cruise lines have several pools and hot tubs to choose from. You can even catch up on your reading with a book you borrowed from the ship library or bring your own and sail away into a delightful book while lounging on deck.
Shopping
You won’t run out of shopping options while cruising. There will be plenty of shopping on the ship as well as in ports of call. Either way make sure to budget for some shopping excursions!
Food
Foodies rejoice! It is impossible to talk about a cruise and not mention the food. The buffets, the coffee shops, the ice cream, and the snacks. The seemingly endless options will leave you with so many options, that include healthy choices!
The beauty of a cruise is that you can decide to pack your days full of activities or you can relax at the spa or near the pool. Read a good book by the pool or learn to play poker at the casino. You can do as much or as little as you choose.
There are endless options, and if you use this guide, boredom won’t be one of them!