Onboard activities
Much like the entertainment, the larger the ship, the more vast and diverse the activities.
Everything from trivia, bingo, sports, karaoke, bowling, and much more.
Regardless of class and size, you’ll find at least one pool and hot tub on most major cruise lines.
And thats not all…
Carnival ships tend to have water slides while Royal Caribbean take things to another level with rock climbing walls, bumper cars, FlowRider (surf simulator), and iFly (indoor skydiving).
The ultimate activity; shopping
Onboard, you can expect to find everything from alcohol, tobacco and gifts, to designer leather brands like Coach, and even high end boutiques like Breitling, Cartier and Tiffany & Co.
Why would you buy high end anything on a ship? In short, tax saving advantages.
Similar to traveling by air, when the ship is a certain distance from shore, they are able to operate in a tax-free environment.
Did we mention the raffles & auctions?
Yes, on a cruise ship, there are countless presentations, raffles, prize draws and auctions.
Come for the gratuit "Duc de Valmer “champagne”…stay for the action.
But don’t be surprised if you walk out of an art auction with a $50,000
Picasso sketch paid for with your new Park West Gallery credit card.
Did you know?
The biggest sellers onboard cruise ships are
Good Feet orthotic insoles and Botox.
Gym & Spa
Not to worry, ,if you want to keep with your daily routine, most ships offer quite comprehensive fitness and spa facilities.
The gym itself is free to use, but you can expect to encounter a number of personal trainers and spa staff to approach you regarding the various products and services they offer.
You can expect that the smaller the ship, the smaller and more basic the setup.
The one above is on the Quantum of the Seas, one of the larger ships, measuring more than 3 football fields and can accommodate 4,900 guests plus 1,500 crew.
The gym portion of these facilities usually open from early am until the late evening/night, whereas the spa services begin open later and close earlier.