Rocking the Boat
In the past, going on a cruise usually meant returning with extra baggage—on the hips. But today's vacationers, including health-conscious mature travelers, are as concerned about staying buff as sampling buffets, and cruise ships are wising up to their needs.
With active lifestyles the norm for all ages, cruise lines have dedicated prime space to fitness. Exercise areas have floor-to-ceiling windows that offer gorgeous ocean views to soothe your soul while you motivate your muscles. Increasing numbers of staff-directed programs encourage passengers to get out of their lounge chairs and play.
On a recent cruise to the Panama Canal aboard the Royal Caribbean Splendour of the Seas, my husband and I, both 60, were amazed at the seemingly limitless choices we had to burn off calories. In fact, we kept a schedule so we wouldn't miss opportunities—and I returned a pound lighter than when I left.
Every sea day on our cruise included a session in the fitness center using free weights, aerobic steppers, and machines for every muscle. Shirley Phillips, 57, a Texas classroom teacher for 34 years, loved the daily workout classes. She and husband James also enjoyed walking on the promenade deck at sunrise. Scheduled walking times during the day allowed for fellowship with other passengers. Most ships have dedicated tracks with joint-friendly surfaces that allow passengers to stroll at a leisurely pace or rev it up to jogging speed.
In addition to standard exercise equipment, there are many options you'd never expect: yoga, Pilates, personal training, ice-skating, inline skating, miniature golf, rock climbing walls, and more. Phillips found cruising a great time to try new activities. She took a class on exercising with a fitness ball, a purchase she had recently made but not used because she wasn't sure of proper techniques. While there is an extra charge for specialized fitness and sports activities, free options are plentiful.
Can't get moving unless there's a competition? Try participating in tournaments for Ping-Pong, ring toss, and shuffleboard (okay, it is a tradition on ships but surprisingly fun). Take a good sense of humor to dance classes—graceful and awkward folks alike bounce to the rhythms of salsa, swing, merengue, and tap. Don't forget about working out in the swimming pool—some ships have pools designated "adults only." Walk, don't ride; skip the elevator and take the stairs wherever you're headed on the ship.
Of course, at times you may want to just kick back and relax, maybe read a book (check out the onboard library), play bridge or bingo, or attend an art auction or wine tasting. Expanding your mind is okay. Classes on various cruises run the gamut from computers to art, music, or literature. You may be able to tour the ship's galley or attend talks by onboard naturalists.
Shore excursions are also becoming more active. Instead of bus tours or shopping jaunts, passengers are choosing physical sightseeing adventures such as kayaking, hiking, white-water rafting, snorkeling, or bicycling. "Retirees are not merely observers, they are participants," says Terry L. Dale, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA). Frequent cruiser and columnist for Porthole Magazine, Robert McGarvey, 55, finds shore excursions a "fairly gentle way to prod yourself out of your comfort zone." He relishes opportunities to go kayaking and canoeing—activities not on his usual agenda. Cruise lines offer a variety of options, whether you like active pursuits, soft adventure, or something in between.
It's true: ships provide round-the-clock dining opportunities, but the buffets have gotten healthier, with delicious low-calorie and heart-healthy selections as well as vegetarian dishes offered at every meal. "I don't eat anything I wouldn't normally eat at home," says McGarvey, dispelling the myth that cruising is hazardous to your waistline. "I avoid the impromptu meals—the midnight buffets, ethnic food tastings, or afternoon snacks. That's a good time to go for a walk."
At meals, Phillips asked the waiter to remove the breadbasket (“If it's not in sight, I'm not tempted”) and usually ordered fish rather than a fatty entrée or asked to have the sauce omitted. Dessert was likely to be angel food cake rather than chocolate mousse, or fruit rather than cream-filled concoctions. "There's always a choice," she says, "and chefs try to meet your dietary needs." If you simply can't resist sampling scrumptious high-calorie dishes, share with a companion. And choose the early seating in the dining room; then go dancing in one of the many lounges or discos on board to burn off calories before the evening ends.
As prices fall below the $500 mark for seven-day trips (even below $300 for four or five days in some markets), cruising is more affordable than ever. The broad appeal of cruise vacations is reflected in the numbers: more than 8 million North Americans sailed in 2003, almost a 7 percent increase over the previous year, and baby boomers are the heart of the cruise market, according to CLIA. For increasing numbers of mature adults—by 2007 the number of Americans age 55 and older will grow six times faster than the rest of the population, reports the Census Bureau—cruising is an economical way to spend vacation dollars, plus return home in shipshape condition.
