Exercise on Your Next Cruise

Categories

I struggle with weight management.  If I’m not losing, I’m gaining.  I can never seem to reach the optimal calories in versus calories out equation that means weight management.  So adding a vacation to the mix, for me, just makes things more complicated.  I have always been of the mindset that vacation is vacation and real life is real life; however, that has changed.  I now realize that I will never win the battle of the bulge if I keep that mindset.  So, how to you go on vacation and still keep your fitness goals?  Well, many resorts and cruise lines are making that a lot easier.

 

Cruise ships, especially the newer ones, have state of the art fitness centers on board with many of your favorite machines from your gym at home.  Not to mention the work out classes held each day.  Don’t like visiting the gym?  That’s okay too.  Explore the ship and find where their walking/running track is.  Many are located on decks that allow you to circumnavigate the ship much like the track at home, only with better views!  On the larger ships the track can be large enough that 8 laps equal a 5K.  Disney actually has a 5K challenge on their private island when it docks there! 

 

Still not interested?  How about ball room dancing classes, zoomba, Yoga, Pilates, or water aerobics?   Any of these interest you?  Check your ship’s daily planner to find out where they are holding their classes and at what time.  Sometimes they have a small fee but the classes are worth it.  MSC cruise line has introduced a fitness at sea initiative that helps you achieve your goals while on board.

 

Still not excited?  How about surfing, boogie boarding, or basketball?  Most ships have a “sports” deck that has space for you to exercise when you are really playing and having fun.   How about a ropes course that is 20 stories above the ocean?  Not for you?  Then what do you think about a peddle powered ride, also 20 stories above the ocean?  Like rock climbing?  Then Royal Caribbean has a ship for you!  They have rock climbing walls on their ships.

 

As a travel agent I get asked all the time what the average weight gain on certain vacations is.  The answer?  About a pound a day.  So, what are you going to do on your next vacation to counter act all that wonderful food and lounging by the pool?  For me, I like walking.  I explore the ship from stem to stern and only use the stairs.  Believe me, when the buffet is on deck 14 and I’m on deck 5 I rethink that pastry at breakfast.