On-board Activities

One of the best things about cruising is that you can be as lazy or as active as you'd like. Cruise lines take great care to provide lots for people to do from morning well into the night, even on days that the ship is in port. From curated activities like trivia to free-form activities like the casino, sports center, or arcade, there will be no shortage of things to entertain you.

Many people fall into a routine after a while, but no matter you preferences on a given day, you'll definitely be entertained. What better time than to discover and try something new than while you're on vacation? The tips below can serve as your gateway to a ship full of good times and memories.

Your Daily Planner

In a previous article, it was suggested that cruisers download any mobile apps that the cruise line provides. One of the reasons is that cruise lines are increasingly using those apps to allow guests to review the schedule for the day, add favorites, and get reminders on the activities they are interested in.

Whether or not you choose download an app, each evening you will receive a paper copy of the next day's activities in your room. This planner will give you a list of all the times and locations of the activities. For many, it's a routine to review this paper before bed to help get excited for the next day. Children registered with the onboard kids' club will typically receive their own daily schedules of age-appropriate activities.

This planner often gives additional information that can be useful such as specials in the restaurants, when the ship will be docking, the back-on-board times for port days, and emergency contact numbers if something happens while off the ship.

Two Days in One

There is a distinction between pre-dinner and post-dinner activities on a ship. That's how one day of vacation can seem like two and it's also something to consider when you choose what time to dine. During the day, activities will be scheduled to appeal to as many people as possible with sea days offering even more options than port days.

For those that are inclined toward a more active vacation, the fitness center will be open as well as scheduled sporting events like soccer or basketball tournaments, running groups, or dance classes. If you want to work off last night's dinner, you will be able to do so easily! For those that want to be a little more low-key, there will trivia, cooking demonstrations, ship tours, art auctions, and meet-ups for people with shared interests. Of course, those are just a few of the things you'll find on the schedule but it give an idea of the diversity of activities.

All that being said, if you just want to lay out by the pool to catch some sun or read a book, that's fantastic too!

In the evening, ships change gears a bit and tend to offer a bit more of a glitzy but fun atmosphere. You'll find the big live theater show are usually offered in the evening, the lounges that feature live music will become a bit more lively, and comedy shows will often take a more "adult" approach. For ships with a dance club, the music will keep playing well into the night, offering a place for people to let loose and dance. The type and variety of entertainment does vary by cruise line and by the venues available on each ship, but you will be able to find something that appeals whether it be a night singing along in the piano bar, or out watching a movie by the pool.

Kids' Activities

Kids are given special treatment on most large cruise lines. Families on vacation are the bread and butter of many lines and they do their best to provide a great experience both for parents and kids.

To that end, many cruise lines have extensive facilities dedicated to the youth crowd. For young cruisers, the ships have safe supervised play spaces while  cruisers that are a little older will be provided with guided activities such as scavenger hunts, dance parties, and in some cases fun classes.

Cruise lines run their youth programs somewhat differently but kids are often grouped by age ranges that allow the youth staff to run age-appropriate activities and provide appropriate amounts of freedom to the kids. The cruise lines often divide the age ranges into "camps" for which parents can register their children. The camps are typically free or have a nominal charge and have trained youth staff to help the kids make the most of their time.

Some cruise lines close their camps around dinner to make room for family meals while others run through dinner, allowing parents an adults-only dining experience. Camps typically close for the night around 10 p.m. Some (okay, most) cruise lines offer a late-night option for childcare that is less structured and comes with a small fee, similar to getting babysitting at home.

Drop-off camps typically aren't available for very kids under 3 years old or kids that aren't potty trained. Some lines offer nurseries that can be used for short-term care up to a few hours. The nurseries charge an hourly fee.

Most parents that use the camps report that their kids often don't want to leave! Even the shyest of kids, if they can get past initial awkwardness, can have a wonderful experience making new friends and participating in unique and interesting activities.

Ages 18-20

For people in the 18 to 20 age group, it's sometimes hard to find a groove on a cruise ship, especially if traveling only with family. This age group is too old to participate in the kids' clubs but is too young to be in the clubs or at the bars. During the day, people in the age group can participate in most of the adult activities such as trivia or classes but these are often targeted at a slightly older age group. Sports areas and the gym can be a good place to meet others of the same age group. If you're in this age group, you can definitely have a good time but plan to make a bit of your own fun and try to connect with others on the ship. Facebook roll call groups can be a good way to form some connections before boarding.