The downside to taking a cruise is that, with all of those wonderful all-you-can-eat buffets loaded with high-caloric yet sumptuous food options, many travelers get home and are shocked when
they see they’ve put on five or more pounds.
The great news is that it’s very easy to enjoy yourself on a cruise AND make healthy choices that will help you counteract all of those extra calories you may consume. Here are some ways
you can shed pounds while having the time of your life.
You’re on vacation and it’s okay to indulge a little, but just a little. Cruise ships nowadays cater to health-conscious travelers and you’ll always have access to fresh fruits and vegetables,
vegetarian options, and smaller portion sizes. You and your family will feel better if you allow yourself one small indulgence each day while making sure the rest of your food choices are
healthy and low-calorie.
For most of us, daily life consists of running around like madmen and women getting to work, doing errands, picking kids up from school and dropping them off at some sort of extracurricular
activity. So it makes sense that while we’re on vacation, we’d want to do as little as possible. For many, the perfect cruise ship vacation means doing little else but lying in a lounge chair and
soaking up the sun. But, this is obviously one way to assuredly pack on the pounds.
There are many ways you can stay physically fit while on a cruise and have fun doing it. Here are just some of the ways you can get your body moving and burn some calories.
Sure, going to the gym at home can be boring. But imagine getting on a treadmill and looking out at the bluest ocean water. Plus, everyone in there will be in a
super great mood because they’re on vacation! Don’t worry, you don’t have to spend hours, just 20 minutes on the treadmill will help burn off that stack of chocolate chip
pancakes you devoured for breakfast.
Just because you’re on a ship doesn’t mean you can’t take a nice walk. Cruise ships have miles of deck, perfect for an after lunch stroll. The bonus is, after a
couple of times around the whole ship, you’ll know the layout and know where the best restaurants are and where you can get a haircut!
You know you should take the stairs over the elevator anyway, and being on a cruise is no different. Why wait with dozens of other people who are all going
to cram themselves into a tiny space, when you can walk up a few flights of stairs and be the first in line at the buffet.
Swimming is one of the best exercises you can possibly do. Now, during certain hours of the day, you’ll most likely find the ship pool(s) are packed with people
and kids splashing around, which obviously makes it hard for you to do laps. But you’ll most likely notice if you head for the pool in the early morning hours or late
afternoon/early evening, there will be far fewer people and you can get some laps in.
There are always a plethora of bars and nightclubs aboard any cruise line, perfect for you to dance the night away. Who cares if you’re not the world’s
greatest dancer – you’ll never see these people again. Well, except your family, but chances are you have dirt on them as well!
The great thing about taking advantage of shore excursion is, not only will you see some amazing sights and have new experiences, you’ll also burn calories while doing it.
Most shore excursions will allow you to walk around ancient ruins, hike, go snorkeling or shop ‘til you drop. Some of the coolest excursions many cruise lines offer are the swimming with
dolphins programs in the Caribbean. These programs get you up close and personal to some of the most majestic and amazing creatures on the planet. You will typically find these dolphin swim
excursions offered in major cruise ports like Cozumel Mexico , Nassua Bahamas , Tortola Virgin Islands , and Miami Florida .
There are many cruise ship lines that travel around the Caribbean, but here are three of the most popular.
The Carnival Breeze debuted in 2012 and is the third ship in the line’s popular Dream Class. The ship holds 3,690 passengers and offers a plethora of food, booze and entertainment
options. The Carnival Breeze deploys out of Miami and Galveston year-round and boasts water park slides and fun interactive shows for kids of all ages.
The Disney Dream offers its 2,500 passengers a classy, art deco décor. But it’s not all fancy on board. There are Star Wars-themed play areas as well as adult-only bars and sun decks. They
even have incredible fireworks shows – talk about memorable! The ship deploys year-round from the Bahama’s Port Canaveral.
The Norwegian Breakaway is New York-themed, which means you’ll feel more like you’re in a luxury resort than aboard a ship. The ship offers many casual as well as fine-dining options, and
there is even dinner theater available. Rock climbing, water slides, live jazz and comedy shows– there is truly something for everyone on board. Ship deploys from New York and cruises to
the Caribbean, Bahamas and Bermuda.
Now that you know they key to enjoying yourself on a cruise without packing on extra pounds, don’t you feel like booking a trip right now?
