Planning Day Trips on your Cruise

Let’s face it—cruising is fun!  There is so much to do on a cruise ship, it is unthinkable that anyone could be bored.  But, with so many activities you need to plan ahead to include all the things you most want to do.

When you first book your cruise, you probably researched the ship you are on and found out what amenities it has, such as movie theatres, how many swimming pools, whether it has a bowling alley or ice rink, or what type of exercise rooms are available.

You probably will want to spend a little time on deck soaking up the sun by the pool, but there are many other activities on board that are sure to appeal to you that you may want to participate in.

Things to do on shore

You may choose to participate in a water polo tournament going on in the pool, or you may want to take in an art auction happening in the main lobby.  There may be a seminar on photography you wish to attend, or a cooking demonstration.  On a theme cruise, you may wish to hear a specific lecture by a noted speaker.  Or, you may want to take advantage of an exercise class or golf tip session given by a golf pro. The possibilities for activities aboard ship are endless.

Each day a ship’s itinerary will be left in your cabin so that you know what is happening at any given time. It is wise to study this brochure each evening and plan your next day to include the activities that appeal to you the most.  With so much to do, some activities you may wish to attend could be going on at conflicting times and you may not be able to do everything. There is sure to be some activity going on onboard at any given time. So you need to plan your time to include the ones that are most important to you.

Which shore excursions you want to take

You also need to take into consideration which shore excursions you want to take.  It is a good idea to plan your shore excursions around the shipboard events that you don’t want to miss. Usually, the ship will have the more popular activities during your “at sea” times so that passengers don’t miss out when they visit the ports of call. However, there are certain places where you’ll want to get off the ship. On the Amazon river trips passengers have the opportunity to do horse riding, swimming in the rainforest waterways, and many other activities that will give you a genuine taste of the jungle.

In order for you not to miss an event that is important to you, you can also ask the staff at the information desk when a particular activity will be taking place.  This could help you avoid disappointment for missing something you really wanted to do. The staff aboard a cruise ship is always happy and willing to help and share information with the passengers.

With a little planning for the activities you most want to do, your cruise adventure is sure to be a success.  After all, the goal is to have fun, fun, fun!