First Timers' Guide to Cruise Activities

Aug. 30, 2010— -- If you're worried that you'll be bored on a cruise, banish that idea right away. Cruise ships schedule so many activities that a day at sea can be almost as much fun (and as exhausting) as a full day of sightseeing. From cooking classes to rock-climbing, trivia contests to line-dancing, wine-tasting to Wii-playing, there's truly something for everyone.

Want to lie in the sun or take a dip in the pool? No problem. Want to spend time shopping for souvenirs, indulging in a massage or gambling in the casino? You can do it. Want to boogie board, drive a racecar, ice skate or learn trapeze? Aha -- even these exotic activities can be done onboard. And with the 2009 launch of Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas, cruisers now have access to the first at-sea carousel and onboard zip-line.

Regardless of your activity levels and preferences, you can't help but find a way to keep yourself entertained on a cruise ship. Here's our Cruise Critic guide to the types of programs and amenities you're likely to find to keep you busy and happy during your time onboard.

The Daily Bulletin

How do you find out what's going on each day? A daily newsletter is delivered to your cabin each evening. One will also be waiting for you when you arrive. In it, you'll find the schedule for the next day's activities and entertainment offerings, as well as opening hours for the spa, restaurants, onboard shops and bars. You'll even find listings for movies on your in-cabin TV, information on scheduled ports of call, debarkation and embarkation information, and sunrise and sunset times. Children registered with the onboard kids' club (see below) will often receive their own daily schedules of age-appropriate activities, as well.

Daytime Offerings

Cruise ships try to appeal to all types of passengers, and dozens of organized programs will offer a wide range of activities, covering an array of interests -- especially on sea days. If you want to get active, you can participate in pool games, compete in basketball and volleyball tournaments, improve your golf swing, or take dance classes. Indoors, you might prefer a history lecture, playing cards (bridge is especially popular) or bingo, learning napkin-folding or flower-arranging, bidding on items at an art auction, watching a cooking demonstration or sipping wine at a wine-tasting, usually for an extra fee. Entertainment during the day can range from musical performances by the pool to afternoon shows (such as comedy improv on NCL, small acts in Princess' Piazza or an ice skating show on Royal Caribbean) and movies in an indoor cinema or poolside.

You are, of course, free to skip all organized activities and lounge at the pool with an icy cocktail. Also open throughout the day are the ships' Internet centers, boutiques, casinos and libraries -- not to mention the many venues for eating and drinking, round-the-clock. NCL even has Wii video games hooked up to giant screens in its ships' atriums for guest use. Outdoors, you'll find ping-pong, shuffleboard, basketball courts and -- on several new ships -- mini-golf, rock-climbing walls, roller-blading rinks, and even onboard surfing and circus games (think tight-rope and trapeze). And, you can always retreat to your cabin to enjoy the view from the balcony, or indulge in a mid-day nap.

For more on onboard activities, read Cruise Critic's feature on Best Ships for Sea Days.

The Gym and Spa

You'll be hard-pressed to find a modern cruise ship without a fitness center and spa complex onboard. While some offer just the basics, the newest models are often multi-deck, spacious areas with floor-to-ceiling ocean views and state-of-the-art equipment.

Onboard fitness centers provide a range of cardio and strength-training equipment, and many have separate rooms for exercise classes. Classes tend to be offered in the morning and again in the early evening. You'll find listings in daily bulletins, but if you stop by the gym, you can pick up a separate sheet that details times for classes, as well. Be aware that, while most classes are free, some ships charge $10 to $15 for specialty offerings like yoga and spinning, which you'll have to sign up for in advance. Some of the largest and newest ships offer unique fitness options, such as boxing rings, punching bags, pilates equipment and kinesis walls.

The spa is the place to indulge in massages, facials and other pampering treatments; most ships also have salons, where you can have your hair cut and styled and get manicures and pedicures -- all for additional fees. You may also find steam and sauna rooms or a thalassotherapy pool -- a combination whirlpool and mineral bath. Cruise lines are expanding the spa's appeal with special treatments for men, like old-fashioned shaves, and teens, including mother-daughter packages. More out-there spa offerings include acupuncture, teeth-whitening and Ionithermie detox. Check the daily bulletin or the spa for special offers and spa packages. You can often save money by booking your spa treatments on port days rather than sea days.

For more on cruise ship spas, read our feature on Best Cruise Ship Spas.

Kids' Programming

For the under-18 crowd, many mass-market cruise ships have separate kids' areas. While you won't find expansive facilities on luxury lines or ships that cater to older passengers, more family-oriented ships have huge facilities that often include multiple play areas for the youngest cruisers, teen hangouts and discos, kiddie pools, waterslides, arcades and kids-only deck space.

Parents can sign children up for these onboard "camps," and trained youth counselors will lead them in various organized games, contests, scavenger hunts, arts and crafts projects, pajama and dance parties or simply supervised play. Some lines have partnered with outside sources to offer unique programs, such as acting classes, hands-on science experiments and deejay training. Children can spend as much or as little time as they want in the kids' clubs, either participating in activities or just hanging out. The amount of freedom allowed varies by age group. But, the lounges are often closed during meal times and late at night. Families with very small children may also be able to use the youth facilities for parent-child playtime.

For more on kids' activities, read Cruise Critic's Onboard Activities for Kids & Parents and Best Family Ships features.

Evening Entertainment

After dark, most ships take on a Vegas aura. Casinos may be open during the day too, but at night, they're packed with people playing the slot machines or trying their luck at poker or blackjack. Lounges feature live bands and cabaret singers for your dancing or listening pleasure; piano bars, complete with sing-alongs, are becoming popular hotspots on modern ships. And, especially late at night, the disco will be hopping.

On several nights during your cruise, the ship's theater will feature big production shows with high-tech effects like lasers and videos, as well as elaborately costumed singers and dancers performing tunes from Broadway shows and popular hits. On other nights, look for featured singers, comedians, magicians and sometimes even performers you've heard of or seen on TV. For those passengers with performance skills, many ships feature karaoke, as well as passenger talent shows. Even small ships will have some sort of entertainment -- a local visiting dance troupe, a duo with a keyboard or a crewmember with a guitar.

Outdoor movies on the pool deck are another favorite evening activity on lines like Princess, Carnival, Disney, Costa and MSC Cruises. Guests can cuddle up on lounge chairs with blankets and popcorn and watch new releases on giant LED screens. It's like being at a drive-in movie -- just on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean!

For more on evening entertainment, read Cruise Critic's Evening Cruise Entertainment article.

Cruise Critic is an online cruise guide, featuring cruise reviews, news, deals and advice on all aspects of cruising.