What First Time Cruisers Should Know

While most cruise liners and ships vary in their offerings to potential voyagers, there are general options that most cruise ships give to potential travelers. Here are some of the activities and events that will be waiting for you on board your ship of choice. The categories are general and apply to all cruise ships, but the particulars may vary depending on the ship or cruise line.

A Daily Newsletter:

This is simply an outline of activities and events that will be going on during the day and in the evenings. There will be one waiting for you when you arrive, and one left either in the morning or evening for your perusal. It will outline opening hours for all the amenities, including spas, shops, and restaurants. You'll find information on ports of call, movie listings, and television programs.

Day-time Activities

From rock climbing walls and volleyball tournaments to wine tastings, onboard theatres and flower arranging classes, cruise ships offer a wide variety of options for the travelers that enjoys activities. There are many organized activities you can choose to participate in, and they differ from ship to ship. Check out your ship of choice, and they can tell you what they offer.

Night-time Activities

The number of nighttime activities varies widely from ship to ship, but one thing you can depend on is a good time. There are usually casinos, dancing to live bands and discos, live productions, sometimes featuring celebrity artists and comedians, karaoke, visiting dance troupes, and more to entertain you at night. Some ships even offer outdoor or indoor theatres that offer shows several nights a week.

Spas and Beauty Salons:

Most ships have spas and salons that perform everything from massages and facials to hair styling/cutting and manicure/pedicures. There are often special offers and spa packages - these can be found by looking at the daily newsletter or asking the staff.

Gyms:

There is always a fitness room, though the quality depends on the ship. If fitness is important to you, do the research and find out which ones are best. Most gyms offer state-of-the-art equipment in addition to exercise classes. Once again, you'll find listings in the daily bulletin, but it is a good idea to stop by the gym to double check and make sure there isn't an activity you're missing. Most of the classes are free, but some specialty classes may charge a few dollars extra.