10 New Things To Try On A Cruise Holiday, Part One

You’re booked yourself on another cruise, and you’re wondering how to pass the time at sea besides relaxing and enjoying the fresh air. The good news is there is a multitude of activities on offer on today’s cruise ships, on bigger ships especially, providing high seas holidaymakers with the opportunity of trying something new, and creating some wonderful new memories. Here’s a few suggestions:

Different Cuisine 

Gone are the days when the only choice for dining was one of two sittings for dinner in a ship’s main dining room, or a sandwich in the buffet if you fancied something more casual. When it comes to culinary matters, cruising today offers a plethora of cuisine types from fresh sushi Nobu-style on Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity, to the eclectic Qsine on Celebrity’s Solstice class ships, with classic French, country Italian and Mexican in between. On a Princess cruise, if you’re booked into a balcony stateroom or above, one option is to really spoil yourself with Ultimate Balcony dining, where you and your beloved are waited on hand and foot with a romantic, private dinner for two. And on some ships, there are private degustation style dinners for a small group of people, with multiple courses of fine food paired with fine wines. Bon appétit!

A New Workout 

If you find all that eating is causing your waistline to expand, a common occurrence with some cruise fans, a high seas holiday is a great time to take time out and work on your fitness. Most ships have decent gyms, with all manner of equipment including elliptical cross trainers and weight machines, but there’s also a wide range of exercise classes on offer on bigger ships in particular. Why not try a high energy Zumba workout on your next Princess cruise, Kinesis on Seabourn, spinning on Celebrity, or on-deck sunrise yoga on Windstar. There are also a growing number of fitness themed cruises to consider, offering everything from yoga and wellness, to the opportunity to run a marathon.  

A New Cocktail 

Along with a new type of cuisine, a cruise is also a great excuse to kick back and try something new to drink. Ship’s bars have a wide range of offerings, from wines from various regions of the world, to French Champagne, and beers in bottles or on tap. Carnival Cruises has its very own RedFrog private label draft beer, specially brewed for the line, and available on most of its ships. When it comes to cocktails, however, why not steer away from the classics or your old favourites to try a Coco Loco, which combines tequila, gin, light rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream, or a Tropical Temper, a fusion of vodka, melon liqueur and orange juice!

Learn A New Skill 

Going back to school might not be everyone’s idea of fun while on holiday, but enrichment takes on new meaning when you’re on the high seas. While some people are happy just chilling out by the pool with a good book, for others it’s an opportunity to broaden their mind or do something more stimulating; and for those folk there’s plenty to choose from. While some cruise line enrichment programs focus on educational topics, such as the history of a region you may be cruising through, to personal finance, others offer health workshops to astrology, and even language classes. Other popular options include snap courses on making the best of your holiday photos using a program like Photoshop, cooking and dance classes, and even fencing on Cunard ships. Just think of something you’re interested in, and there is likely to be a class on the high seas somewhere. 

Try Something Adventurous 

When it was first introduced on Carnival Spirit several years ago, Green Thunder caused quite a stir as the tallest, fastest waterslide at sea, while Royal Caribbean ships are famous for rock climbing walls, allowing you to scale to new heights at sea. Other adventurous options to consider on your next cruise include go-karting on Norwegian Bliss, zip lining on Norwegian Breakaway, and participating in a skydiving simulator on Symphony of the Seas.