Staying fit on holiday with cruises to fascinating locations

Over time the vessels that carry holidaymakers around in style to visit exotic destinations and enjoy the slower pace of life at sea have grown larger and larger. Every few years, one company or another announces a new record-sized ship that is going into production. Currently the largest ship in operation has such facilities as a full size basketball court and an ice-skating rink. Royal Caribbean cruises featuring this ship, which also has a water park and boxing ring, leave from Port Canaveral in Florida and visit the Caribbean and Central America. As you will have the opportunity to spend a fair amount of time sunbathing round the pool on board or at the various beaches along the way, getting yourself into peak condition before you leave for your holiday will boost your sense of well-being and you will not feel uncomfortable about your body when you are wearing bathing clothes. Even with cruises from Southampton you can reach Florida in a couple of weeks and take in Spain and Portugal on the way, so you have plenty of opportunity to work on your tan. If you are serious about fitness then you will be pleased to know that you can take advantage of facilities like an ocean view gymnasium and a spa with a thermal suite and hydrotherapy pool on ships like the Arcadia which sails around the Baltic and Mediterranean as well as other routes on P&O cruises. Personal trainers are also on hand if you need them.

Conservatory pool on board the Grand Princess

"I have to say it was a wonderful experience. The service all round was exceptional. We had wonderful waiters in the restaurant and a really lovely cabin stewardess, but the staff in general were just really friendly." - Cremin, Studham on 16th Jun 2009 (Cunard Cruises)

Night time entertainment

The evenings on board ship are never dull, with live bands and deck parties just a couple of choices for passengers who want to let their hair down at night. If you want something a bit more laid-back then there are cocktail bars, casinos and theatres where you can spend a few enjoyable hours. If you are worried that the eating arrangements may be too formal and not give you much flexibility then the choice of venues and times on Princess cruises, that are designed to fit around you, will be the kind of dining experience you will appreciate. You may eat in the formal surroundings of the traditional dining room or one of their specialty restaurants depending on your mood. If you do not fancy going out at all you can always take dinner in your stateroom. It is probably best to pack your own sports drinks and health shakes, as different people get used to a certain formula and it may not be available on your ship. If you like to work out when you feel like it then you will enjoy the fitness centres on NCL cruises which are open 24 hours a day, so you can use them whenever you want to. After a hard session you can cool off in one of the ship’s pools or maybe have a game of 10-pin bowling to round off the day. You will want to keep yourself properly hydrated while in warmer climates so remember your isotonic drinks.

Glass bridge above Mad Hatter street party

"We chose MV Discovery for the fourth time for its friendliness, service, food, entertainment and standard of guest speakers and, once again, we were not disappointed." - Bushell, Long Ditton on 16th Jun 2009 (Voyages of Discovery)

Pamper yourself

As well as fitness centres you will find ships that have saunas, Turkish baths and various spa treatments that you can take advantage of while you are on your trip, so that for once, you might come back from a holiday feeling better than when you left. All this as well as Jacuzzis and massage rooms are available on MSC cruises. There are many professionals on hand at the spas too, such as Balinese masseuses, acupuncturists and pressure-point therapists, so you can have someone help unknot your muscles after a brutal workout on the weights. If you are on an intense weightlifting regime then a protein powder formula will help with muscle repair after each session. For less experienced but keen fitness enthusiasts, Fred Olsen cruises have classes to guide you and a gym for those who prefer to work out on their own. This company also have themed trips if you fancy learning something new on your annual break, and a range of activities to join in such as practising your golf swing with some professional guidance. For something more cerebral you could work on your bridge game with expert help available to master the finer points. If you are a keen golfer then you might want to think about choosing one of the many Caribbean cruises on offer as there are dozens of top class courses on the islands in this area. You can take your own clubs with you or hire them on location if you prefer.

Monkey, rabbit & skate made of towel

"We cannot fault the whole experience and would recommend this ship to anyone who like to dress for dinner and enjoy the finer things life has to offer." - Priest , Stourbridge on 16th Jun 2009 (Cunard Cruises)

Room to relax

When you book your first sea voyage you will have quite a selection of sleeping accommodation from which to choose. From basic cabins all the way up to elegant staterooms, you can decided what suits you best based on cost and how much personal space you require. As an example, the Queen Mary II ship has the grand duplex suites at the top of its range of on board accommodation. These suites, which are over 2000 square feet in area, come with 24 hour room service and an on-call butler. If you like the sound of these then you can sail on this boat on various Cunard cruises. People that are into keeping fit usually appreciate a more active type of holiday and an oceangoing holiday has much to offer in this area. On a trip to Alaska for example, there are many shore excursions that you can participate in, such as a guided hike through the temperate rainforest region in the south or a thrilling ride on an ocean raft. You can also drive your own four-wheel ATV down old coal mining trails and have a go on a cable ride that has a maximum speed of 60mph! All these shore excursions are available with celebrity cruises among others. If you are taking part in very active excursions in places like Alaska then please do remember to warm up thoroughly beforehand to avoid any injuries to ligaments and tendons. In the worst case, all ships have onboard medical facilities.

Oasis of the Seas Boardwalk & Zipline

"Our cruise on the Ventura was excellent. Being our first cruise we were unsure of what to expect and I think this made it even more enjoyable." - Toms, Christchurch on 16th Jun 2009 (P&O Cruises)