14 Fun and Free Things to Do on a Cruise
This week’s episode is geared towards people who haven’t cruised and are curious about it. Why would you want to go on a cruise? Besides getting to see multiple destinations and only unpacking once, being on a cruise ship can be a lot of fun! I’m sharing 14 fun things our family loves about cruising.
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My family and I absolutely love to go on cruises! Recently my husband and I counted that we’ve been on 15 cruises together. We love to cruise because there’s time to relax as well as hop off the boat and explore new places!
This podcast is all about 14 fun and free things to do on a cruise!
1. The Shows
The shows are amazing! Usually, there are shows that range from theater productions to musicals, and they are so entertaining! Some of my favorites that I’ve gotten to see on cruises are Mamma Mia, Million Dollar Quartet, an ice skating show, and a water show!
2. Game shows and trivia
Our family loves to go to trivia and game shows! Almost all cruises that we’ve been on lately have an app where you can view the activity schedules and save the ones that you’re interested in, which is super convenient. Some of our favorite game shows and trivia that we’ve gone to are the Marriage Game, Harry Potter trivia, Star Wars trivia, and “random facts” trivia.
3. Comedy Shows
Although the comedy shows are hit-and-miss, overall they are super fun! If you are traveling with your kids, make sure to attend the family-friendly comedy shows. Even if you’re not with kids, I honestly prefer the “family-friendly” shows over the adult ones!
4. Sing Karaoke
Even if you don’t like to sing, karaoke nights are always a great time! It’s always entertaining to watch friends and family singing their hearts out to their favorite songs!
5. Live Music
Throughout the cruise ships that we’ve been on, there have always been areas where you can go listen to live music. The live music ranges from the piano at the bar to brass bands, and jazz clubs! There’s a little bit of something for everyone.
6. Outdoor Fun
Every ship is unique, but they all offer so many great options if you want to hang out on top of the boat! Some of our favorite outdoor cruise activities have been mini golf, rock climbing, riding the flow rider, ropes course, zip-lining, swimming, and water slides! There are also usually sports courts to play basketball, pickleball, etc. I’ve also heard of some ships that have bumper cars and go-carts!
7. Movies on the Deck
At the beginning of our cruise, we like to look at the schedule and see what movies will be played throughout our trip! It’s so fun to lounge on the top deck of the ship and enjoy a movie. We especially love watching movies at night and curling up under blankets under the stars! As a slide note, Disney cruises do not play movies on the deck, but rather have very nice indoor movie theaters.
8. Indoor Fun
One of the indoor activities that we love is scavenger hunts! They are so fun and family-friendly. We also recently went on a cruise ship that had indoor ice skating! My husband’s favorite activity is the silent disco nights, where everyone is given headphones and has a dance party! Even if you aren’t into dancing, I think it’s pretty entertaining to watch everyone dance when you can’t hear the music. But why not get out there and dance?!
9. Attend the Setting Sail Party
The setting sail party is always so fun, especially if you’ve never been on a cruise before! You get to celebrate the start of your vacation by listening to music and dancing with other excited cruise guests!
10. Sweat at the Fitness Center
I know that working out while on vacation isn’t everyone’s preference, but I personally love it. I like to work out whenever we have a free day at sea! Most boats have an outdoor track as well!
11. Order room service
Most cruise ships have FREE room service! Sometimes they will offer fancier, more expensive items, but there is usually a free menu. I think room service is fun to order every once in a while because if you’re like me, you don’t usually get room service at hotels. It’s a fun treat!
12. Eat!
There are so many fun places to eat on a cruise ship! I like to eat breakfast at the buffet. They have SO many options! The buffet is also a good option for lunch. My family’s personal favorite lunch option is usually pizza, burger, or taco grab-and-go restaurants. Every cruise ship is going to have a different version of this, but we’ve found that pizza and burgers are typically available on all ships. We love going to the dining room for dinner! It’s so fun when you can get the same table every night and get to know your servers. Who doesn’t want to sit down and be served a fancy 3 (or 5) course meal?! You can order as many items off the menu as you want!
13. Relax
Days spent at sea can be so full of fun activities, but I think it’s important to also take some time to relax. Most cruises will have an adults-only pool area where you can take time to enjoy the quiet and lay by the pool.
14. Kids Club
I think that the kids' clubs are so great! The employees are always so kind and excited to play with your kids. They provide the kids with lots of fun activities, games, and projects! Plus, the club gives them space to make new friends for the week.
Where will you cruise to next?!