TOP THINGS TO DO ON A CRUISE SHIP
If you’re new to cruising, new to a type of cruising (rivers vs. ocean, for instance), or haven’t cruised in a while, you’ll be amazed at the variety and scale of the things to do on a cruise.
While activities, excursions, and amenities vary, here’s a general guide to the best things to do on and off a cruise ship.
What to do on a cruise ship
This is an impossibly broad category because there are so many things you can do on a cruise ship ... and off the ship as well.
That's why cruises are the most popular form of organized international travel.
That’s also why we’ve broken this post into lots of bite-size pieces that will give you an idea of all the things you can do on a cruise.
Let’s get to it.
Things to do on a cruise ship for adults
The things for adults to do on a cruise ship fall into the following categories:
- Eating
- Romantic
- Fun
- Free
- Recreational
Let’s look at each one more closely.
Eating on a cruise ship: Buffets and fast-casual dining
Most cruise ships offer multiple food options, including buffets and fast-casual eateries. These are most likely to be the free dining options on a cruise ship.
Buffets
Many people associate cruises and all-you-can-eat buffets – especially endless shrimp.
Just as with any enterprise serving food, buffets can be good or bad depending on the ship, the ports of call, the time of day, and other factors.
Cruise Critic, whose business it is to know, says the five best cruise-ship buffets are:
- Oceania Cruises' Terrace Cafe
- Princess Cruises' Horizon Court
- Celebrity Cruises' Oceanview Cafe
- Carnival Cruise Line's Lido Marketplace
- Azamara's Windows Cafe
Note that some of these ships are from higher-end cruise lines – but not all, meaning a great cruise-ship buffet is not always a function of the price you pay.
What makes a great cruise-ship buffet?
- Freshness. Does the buffet have a wide selection of truly fresh fruits, vegetables, and seafood? Also, are more complex offerings like sushi made fresh?
- Locality. Does the buffet offer local specialties? This is particularly nice on European cruises, where the predominant cuisine may switch from Mediterranean to Continental in a matter of nautical miles.
- Variety. Can the person who wants a burger or pizza get a burger or pizza? Man does not live by endless shrimp alone.
- Healthy and specialty options. Furthermore, man does not live by the midnight cheesecake buffet alone. It’s vital for many travelers that gluten-free, nut-free, and vegan options are always available.
- Ambiance. Is the seating area a pleasant place to be, or does it give high-school-cafeteria vibes?
- Smart design. How well does it accommodate crowds – because at peak times, there will be crowds?
Reviews, social media, sites like Cruise Critic, travel professionals, and the cruise lines themselves can be sources of this information. And since most travelers will eat the bulk of their meals at a buffet, this matters.
Fast-casual dining
Most cruise ships have places to grab a burger or a slice of pizza. These may be located near a pool or other activity area.
These places are what they are. They’re probably not going to be significantly tastier than your favorite fast-feeder; in some cases they may be worse.
However, if you’ve been on the go since seven and it’s noon, you’re starving and the buffet is half a ship away, they serve a purpose.
How you pay for this convenience varies. Sometimes it’s an added cost; sometimes it’s included. If this type of eating is important to you, do your research.
Romantic things to do on a cruise ship
The most romantic things to do on a cruise ship fall into two broad categories:
- Having a great meal
- Dancing the night away
Cruise ships give you a myriad of choices for both.
Have a great meal
Think of your fine-dining options on a cruise ship as the limbo in reverse. Instead of “How low can you go?”, it’s, “How high can you go?”
Specialty restaurants
Watch any cruise-line ad and you’ll see Guy Fieri or Emeril Lagasse serving up something that looks absolutely scrumptious.
Branded specialty restaurants are becoming the rage on many popular cruise ships. These restaurants are almost always not included in your cruise price.
Specialty restaurants are listed as their own category mainly because of price. They tend to come in at less than $100 per person – not cheap by any means, but more affordable than the fine-dining establishments.
Fine dining
Here the sky is the limit – and the sky keeps getting higher. Cruise Critic reports that the cost per person at some fine-dining restaurants tops $200 per person, exclusive of alcohol.
You can get a lot for your money at these prices – multiple courses, exquisite presentation, top-quality meats and seafood – but the price is double-take-inducing.
Since shipboard fine dining is such a big splurge, research. Know what’s available on your specific ship and what people say about it.
Once you’ve made a decision, make reservations early. Things only get more expensive.
Dance the night away
There’s no getting around it: One of the top things for adults to do on a cruise is to spend a romantic evening in one of the many lounges or discos you’ll find on your ship.
It’s okay: Partying on a cruise ship is relatively safe. And partying doesn’t have to be about drinking. Most ships have a club with some sort of floor show, whether that’s a couple of singers and dancers, a Vegas-style floor show or a full-fledged Broadway musical.
Just as with attractions, spas, and restaurants, there’s an upper echelon of cruise-ship lounges and clubs. According to Cruise 118, they are:
- Carnival Cruise Line’s nightclubs
- Princess Cruises’ Night Sky Lounge
- Disney Cruise Line’s Evolution (on Disney Fantasy)
- Norwegian Cruise Line’s Bliss Ultra Lounge
- Celebrity Cruises’ Quasar
As with anything on a cruise, discos come with some caveats and fine print. For instance:
- Buy a drink package if you plan on hanging out extensively, and expect to spend a lot on a la carte drinks.
- Don’t overdrink. Make this a memorable time, not one you’d rather forget. Also: drinking exacerbates seasickness.
- Dress for it. Partying on a cruise ship is often a dressy affair. Pack and wear something nice.
Fun things to do on a cruise ship
Rollercoasters? Multi-story water slides? Parachute-jump simulations? Bumper cars? Ice-skating rinks?
These and many more can be found on cruise ships.
However, to really get at the dimensions of fun on a cruise ship, you need to break things down further into:
- Attractions
- Spas
- Gaming
Let’s explore.
Attractions
These are the big fun things to do on a cruise – the rollercoasters, waterslides, and bumper cars you see in the ads.
The Points Guy describes some of the main types of attractions, but basically cruise ships take much of what you’d find in a place like Gatlinburg or the Wisconsin Dells and shove it into the aft deck of a cruise ship.
They look amazing on the ads, but like everything onboard a cruise ship, there are caveats, namely:
- They’re not always free. Things like go-karts have a fee – nothing like dinner in a top-end restaurant, but something.
- They get really crowded. Think Disney World. You know the lines there? The same lines can be found at the top attractions on a cruise ship.
- Reservations may be required. If you think you can walk right up and do a skydiving simulation, you may be right – or you may be told to go back and make a reservation.
The reality of many attractions is often less appealing than the idea of attractions, so keep your expectations modest.
Spas
Most large cruise ships have shipboard spas, where cruisers can get everything from a simple soak to a full-scale makeover.
According to Cruise Critic, the best shipboard spas are:
- The Spa and SEA Thermal Suite on Celebrity's Edge-Class Ships
- Greenhouse Spa on Holland America's Pinnacle-Class Ships
- Mareel Wellness and Beauty on Cunard's Queen Mary 2
- Otium Spa on Silver Dawn
- LivNordic Spa on Viking's Ocean Vessels
- Aurea Spa on MSC's Seaside EVO and Seaside-Class Ships
- Redemption Spa on Virgin Voyages
- Serene Spa on Regent's Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Splendor
Just about anything that’s part of a dry-land spa experience can be found on a cruise-ship spa, up to and including Botox.
Two things to note:
- It’s not cheap. No spa is. Expect prices at or slightly above what you’d pay for these treatments on land.
- Reservations are required.
Video games
Most big cruise ships have arcades. They’re not free, but they have a variety of games and may be a lifesaver if the kids get sick of all that fresh air and need a diversion.
Virtual-reality gaming is also becoming more popular onboard – you know, so you can simulate being in the jungles of the Yucatán before actually visiting the jungles of the Yucatán.
Finally, video-game-themed cruises are a thing, even though going on a cruise so you can stay inside and play video games does sound counterintuitive.
Casino gaming
Casinos are a staple of the cruise-ship experience, and one of the top things to do on a cruise ship for adults.
Most shipboard casinos are designed the way all casinos are designed – to keep you at the tables with a drink in your hand, spending money.
Sportsbooks are also an increasingly common part of the shipboard gambling experience.
Remember that the house almost always wins, so set a budget and stick to it. If you hit a jackpot, take your loot and walk away.
Free things to do on a cruise
You can eat, obviously. And sit in a deck chair. And watch the world go by from the rail. But thankfully that’s not all.
The free things on a cruise can vary wildly from ship to ship and cruise type to cruise type. Adventure cruises and river cruises may include all your excursions. Around-the-world cruises may include add-ons like drink packages. And many all-inclusive cruises, true to their name, include everything.
How do you know what’s free on your cruise? Read reviews, read the fine print and talk to your travel professional.
Recreational activities on a cruise ship
In addition to the free things on a cruise ship we've already covered, these activities are generally free.
Board/card games
If a rousing game of Uno is all you can handle after your Swedish massage, most cruise ships have a lounge area stocked with board and card games, puzzles, and other quiet diversions.
You may wonder why you traveled 3,000 miles just so you can play Uno. Don’t. It’s a nice break.
Individual fitness activities
This can be as simple as:
- Swimming
- Walking or running on deck
- Riding an exercise bike
- Lifting weights
Almost every ocean cruise ship accommodates these activities. Smaller ships and adventure cruises may be less accommodating.
Fitness classes
Again, most ships have Pilates, yoga, spin, tai chi, or other fitness classes. They can be a nice break from the shipboard routine – and a nice break from your exercise buds back home.
Other classes
Want to learn to paint or work with clay? Want to hand-dip your own chocolates? Interested in local history?
These classes and many more are offered on many ships. In addition, many ships offer special classes and class-like activities for younger guests.
Class schedules and information are almost always made available either through a dedicated app or on a printed schedule of events. If you’re on a theme cruise (see below) these classes may be of paramount importance; otherwise, they’re just a fun way to spend time.
Specialty-cruise activities
Specialty or themed cruises generally offer special activities – wine-tasting, chocolate-eating, rock concerts, autograph sessions, Q-and-As, and many more.
Many of these activities are free, though things like autographs likely are not.
The advice for these activities is similar to that for other popular shipboard activities, namely:
- Read reviews of similar cruises and activities
- Pick-and-choose based on your interests and budgets (not on your itinerary, which may be meh)
- Expect lines and crowds
- Make reservations early where appropriate
Kids’ activities
Anything kids like to do they can do on a cruise ship. This includes:
- Swimming and waterpark stuff
- Theme-park stuff
- Playing games
- Arts and crafts
- Eating much and often
However, if you’re cruising with kids it’s important to give them some structure.
We could spend an entire post on cruising with kids, but these basic tips can help maximize the fun factor for kids on a cruise.
- Discuss what you want to do beforehand. They will probably tell you they want to ride the waterslide all day, and you’ll probably have to cap their slide time. Be realistic about lines, costs, and waits, but value their input. Do some things they want to do.
- Include some inside time. Disney cruises have the kids’-camp thing down pat. Other cruise lines vary in the quality of their kids’ activities. Don’t pawn off your kids on the children’s center the entire cruise, but a morning or afternoon here and there is healthy for kids and parents.
- Include lots of family time. The best memories are made together. Excursions are great for this, but shipboard activities can just as easily be bonding activities.
- Include some down time. It’s easy for kids to get overwhelmed or burned out. Schedule some quiet time, either in a deck chair or in your cabin.
- Don’t give them the run of the ship. Always make sure they’re supervised, either by yourself or staff.
- Debrief. Talk about what they liked and didn’t like about their day and make notes for next time.
Off the ship: Excursions galore
Most of your time on a cruise will be spent on the ship. A comparatively small time will be spent on excursions. However, that time is super-important, because it’s when you do the things you’ve always wanted to.
(This may be most true on European and river cruises, which tend to have the best ports of call.)
There’s a process for maximizing your onshore time:
- Do your research
- Set a budget
- Decide excursions vs. exploration
- Time it out
Doing the research
Cruises generally have a set menu of excursions. Many people have taken these excursions and written about them on cruise-line social-media pages and elsewhere online.
Find the list of excursions on your cruise, note the ones that sound interesting to you, then read reviews.
You may learn that you don’t actually make chocolates on the chocolate-making tour, or that swimming with the pigs is just plain gross.
The research may also point you towards excursions that are not sponsored by the cruise line.
These may be better and/or cheaper, or not. Whatever they are, they don’t always sync with when you need to be back on the ship … and the ship will not wait for you.
Set a budget
When they’re not included in the cruise cost, excursions can cost upwards of $150 per person. Costs can mount for a family of four if you’re doing an excursion in every port.
That’s why it’s important to budget for excursions and then stick to that budget. This extends to souvenirs, too.
Excursions vs. exploration
Even independently wealthy folks don’t do an excursion at every port stop. There’s much to be said for exploring on your own hook.
If you don’t like the excursion options for a destination, don’t do the excursions. Do your own research; see for yourself what makes this place special.
Maybe all you do is stroll the beach and eat fish tacos. Nothing wrong with that.
A couple recommendations for self-exploration:
- Download and use the GeoSure Global app. It has neighborhood-by-neighborhood recommendations for most destinations worldwide.
- Once you know where you want to visit, use Google Maps or Apple Maps to provide turn-by-turn instructions. Download maps onto your phone.
- Pay close attention to the final step in our process.
Time it out
As mentioned earlier, the cruise ship sails when it sails. It will not wait for you.
You always must be aware of how long it would take you to get back to the cruise ship from wherever you happen to be.
Did you take a taxi from the dock across town? Have a plan for getting back that’s more sophisticated than just hailing another taxi – because there may not be a taxi to be hailed.
Did you walk a circuitous route to wherever you are? Use Google or Apple maps to tell you how long it takes to walk straight to your ship.
Many major European cities have a transit app. Download that – or download the Transit app, which works for many locations worldwide.
You may be having such a great time that you want to cut it close. Don’t. Catching up to an oceangoing cruise ship is a nightmare.
Final thing to do: Buy travel insurance
After 3,000 words on things to do on a cruise, it’s clear: There’s lots to do on a cruise. That makes it vital to protect a cruise with travel insurance – ideally cruise-specific travel insurance, like WaveCare® from Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection.
WaveCare has cruise-specific coverages that can handle anything from a river cruise to a cruise around the world.
With all that on hand, you’re set for an amazing cruise adventure.
Questions About Travel Insurance?
Check out our online guide, "What Is Travel Insurance All About?" We've provided in-depth answers to all your travel insurance questions, starting with the basics.