Learn 2 Cruise

The cruise ship’s pool used to be the hot spot on a cruise ship but that’s changed over the last couple of years. Cruise guests are looking for more adventure and excitement. People want to see or do something on a cruise they’ve never done before. With the addition of rock climbing walls and wave simulators guests can truly let loose!

Making a Splash

Although not the main highlight of a cruise anymore, cruise ship pools are still a great place to hang out and have fun. Larger cruise ships offer separate adult and childrens pools along with hot tubs on the lido deck and on select stateroom verandahs. Pool side games and music can really enhance your time on deck too. Be cautious of when you choose to travel. Sailing on a cruise line like Carnival (known for partiers) you may come across a few too many drinking games by the pool. This can take your poolside time from relaxing to ruckus. If you’re cruising to Alaska, even in the summer, don’t plan on spending much time around the ship’s pool. During my last cruise from Vancouver to Anchorage, fellow passengers did lay around the pool…in their fleeces. But still bring your swimsuits so you can enjoy a soak in the hot tub while sailing past the glaciers.

On Caribbean and other warm weather cruises, poolside is a great place to grab a cocktail, a good book and just RELAX! Be sure to get out there early because the deck chairs can go fast. I suggest after breakfast to hold your spot by tossing your hat or book on the chairs you want for the day. Then go back to your cabin to change in to your swimsuit.

More adventurous guests should check out Flow Rider onboard Royal Caribbean’s Oasis and Freedom Class ships. Flow Rider is a 40 foot long wave simulator that lets you ride the waves like a real surfer. These simulators are staffed with surf instructors who cover safety instructions and offer a few tips to help you keep your balance when riding the waves.

• L2C Tip - Activities vary depending on the time of year you travel. If you’re sailing early February be prepared for football trivia battles and games on the big screens. Taking a cruise in April, your kids can go on an Easter egg hunt onboard the cruise ship. For cruisers lucky enough to travel around the holidays you can enjoy cookie decorating, holiday movies and Christmas caroling by crew and guests.

Sports Center

Cruise lines large and small have all brought one of America’s favorite sports to the sea. Golf simulators and putting greens are available on almost every cruise ship. True putting greens can be found on Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Princess Cruises and now Celebrity Cruises. Some Royal Caribbean ships even offer a high-tech golf simulator where you can virtually play some of the most well known courses in the world. Volleyball, basketball and paddle tennis are also available for guests to play while cruising. Check your cruise lines onboard newsletter for details on tournaments for these sports and for activities like billiards, bean bag toss, mini golf, shuffle board and ping pong. This is a great way to challenge your friends and family and win prizes too!

For a more extreme sports experience you’ve got to try the rock wall! Now a staple on most large cruise ships, this 30 foot high wall is a very safe but intense challenge. The rock wall along with the other sports I mentioned in this article are usually free, but you will have to sign an activity waiver.

Not big on adventure, how about bowling! Norwegian Cruise Lines was the first cruise line to offer a two lane bowling alley onboard. It was constructed on the Norwegian Pearl and debuted in 2007. Ice skating, another sport you don’t expect to find on a cruise ship has now been built aboard the Royal Caribbean Freedom and Voyager class ships. You can ice skate on your own or take a few lessons from the knowledgeable crew.

• L2C Tip - Royal Caribbean International is leading the way with onboard adventure. Two of their ships, Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas, both will soon have Zip Lines going over the Boardwalk areas of the ships.

Game Time

If extreme sports aren’t your thing you’ll be pleased to find lots of games and activities onboard for everyone to enjoy. Usually located next to the café or in the media library cruise lines have lots of books, DVD’s and board games like Chess, Scrabble, Monopoly, and childhood favorites such as Candy Land and Connect Four.

When on a cruise you’ll find that on days at sea, cruise lines like to have many contests and tournaments for trivia, karaoke, bridge and bingo. Bingo is very popular onboard and usually only costs about $5 for 3 plays. Depending on the cruise lines, prizes for Bingo winners can be cash, spa treatments or even a free cruise! Having so many games and activities available onboard can really help your family connect in a way most people don’t do at home.

After the fun and games, head over to the Movie Theater onboard your cruise ship to catch a flick. Cruise lines have large screens, high-quality audio equipment and will show a few different blockbusters during the week. Crystal Cruises offers the Hollywood Theater on their ships. Here cruise guests can watch new movies or classic films. Princess Cruises has one of my favorite things, movies under the stars. Guests can grab a deck chair and settle in with a warm plaid blanket and a hot cup of buttery popcorn as they prepare to enjoy the show in the open air. We recommend checking the cruise ship newsletter, you receive at turn down for show listings and times.

No matter your age, gender, or interests there really is something for everyone on a cruise. I recommend you do your homework and find out what ships have the activities and sports that you and your family want to experience. Larger ships have more space and can host more adventurous activities. Small ship cruise lines like Regent Seven Seas, The Yachts of Seabourn and Silversea have fun things, like pools, games and golf but tend to steer clear of extreme sports and focus more on learning and lectures. See my article, Education at Sea for more details!