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

In part one of this two-part feature we took a look at five new things to try on your next cruise, from different cuisine or a new workout to work off all that cruise food, to learning a new skill. Here’s the final five suggestions, all aimed to whet your appetite for adventure whether it’s your first cruise, or your a cruise connoisseur looking for a new high seas experience. 

Join An Enrichment Program 

These programs at sea encourage guests to join in the fun and participate in a number of activities, such as wine tasting, bridge, trivia, and the perennially popular martini mixology classes. On some cruises you can go to cooking school and get hands on with some new culinary skills, such as Holland America’s Culinary Arts Center, and Oceania Cruises’ Bon Appétit Culinary Center, run by master chefs. Most ships on most days will also hold sports tournaments too, including ping-pong, shuffleboard, short tennis, basketball on larger ships with a court, mini golf, and more.

See A Show 

Broadway-style shows are a common offering on most cruise ships today, with cruise ship theatres hosting a lineup of artists wowing guests with song, dance and more. Some cruise lines have taken evening entertainment to new levels, however, especially those larger ships with multiple venues on offer. If you’re travelling with kids, cruise lines including Disney have many kid-focussed offerings including pirate themed deck parties, complete with an interactive musical show and fireworks. While on Cunard, the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) and the Julliard School offer more formal shows, and on the Great American Steamboat Company big band fans can enjoy concerts from the Glenn Miller Orchestra. 

Put Yourself Out There 

Perhaps the ultimate in participation is not just to be part of a team, or join in the fun making cocktail in front of your fellow guests, but to be the star of your own show. SuperStar Live Karaoke is one way to strut your stuff in front of a live audience on a Carnival cruise, allowing you to grab the mic and channel your inner rock god or pop princess. You don’t just pick the song; you get to perform it backed by a live band including backup singers! And on some P&O Cruises comedy-themed voyages, guests can attend a workshop to fine-tune their comedy skills, before putting them into action in front of an audience at the Comedy Gong Show.

Sports 

Beyond fitness classes, participation sports tournaments such as ping-pong, and sport-themed cruises, there are many other ways to try your hand at something new on a high seas holiday today. Virtual golfing is one, with a number of ships including those in the Crystal Cruises fleet having high-tech simulators that enable enthusiasts to play virtual rounds at some of the world’s best courses, or get some coaching on deck to improve their swing. On a number of Royal Caribbean ships you can learn to surf in a FlowRider, which uses a constant flow of water to generate waves for passengers to surf or enjoy some bodyboarding. On several Norwegian Cruise Line ships you can go tenpin bowling, on most Princess cruises you can enter Wii-Fit competitions, on Celebrity’s Solstice class ships you can play bocce or croquet on a real lawn, and on some MSC ships you can try your racing skills in a Formula 1 Grand Prix simulator. 

Go Behind the Scenes 

A range of “behind the scenes” tours have become popular with a growing number of cruise lines, offering exclusive access to areas of a ship not normally seen by guests. These tours are often limited in numbers and frequency during a cruise making them quite sought after, and there are plenty to choose from depending on which line you are cruising with. Options include a Behind The Scenes tour on Holland America ships, which takes you backstage at the theatre, to the ship’s laundry and the bridge, with a gift pack at the end of it all including a cookbook, while Royal Caribbean has an All Access Tour which also includes the galley and the engine control room.