Onboard Entertainment
With so much activity and opportunity to try something new
there's never a dull moment on a cruise. Of course if you fancy
doing absolutely nothing or kicking back in the spa you can do
plenty of that too! Activities range from ship to ship but you'll
generally find among mainstream cruise lines that the more modern
the ship, the more choice of activities.
Child-friendly
Children are very well catered for on a cruise, with age groups
broken down and activities to fit specific ages. Certain cruise
lines will even have separate areas and swimming pools just for
children, so you can relax knowing they're having the time of their
lives whilst you get everything you want out of your holiday too.
It is important to ask about the children's facilities when booking
your cruise as some ships do allow children on board, but do very
little to entertain them. Also be aware that some ships are
exclusively for adults.
The Active Life
Sports are generally well catered for onboard. You can practise
your putting, go to the driving range or play a huge array of
sports on the courts - from basketball to tennis or football. Royal
Caribbean, for example, like to take their activities to another
level with ice rinks, climbing walls and surf simulators on
many of their ships.
In the Know
If you're looking for something less energetic, the enrichment
programmes onboard open your mind to new ideas from guest
lecturers, such as world-renowned chefs, explorers, politicians and
novelists. Enrichment programmes tend to be a key focus with the
more luxurious cruise lines.
Choose an expedition cruise line such as Hurtigruten and
activities onboard tend to be more limited, with ports of call
dictating what goes on both on and off board. For example, guest
lecturers will tell you how to get the most out of each new
destination.
Evening Entertainment
On most ships the evening entertainment starts from around 6pm
or 7pm, so you can choose to do dinner and a show or a show and
dinner. What kind of 'show' you'll see really depends on the size
of the ship. Larger ships offer wider entertainment programmes
which can range from stand-up comics and legendary acts to
extravagant Las Vegas-style productions or more intimate jazz
lounge piano sets. As performers stay onboard for at least a week,
it's best to pace yourself rather than seeing everything in a
couple of nights.
Of course if you've had a fantastic day at shore, many large
ships have quieter bars or room service so you can just get cosy if
you wish. If you've booked a suite or a room with access to a
private area, you will discover relaxed and peaceful courtyards or
chill out bars hidden away from many passengers. Sailing on smaller
ships, you'll find fewer public rooms and therefore fewer large
scale productions. Enjoy cabaret shows over dinner, waltzes across
beautiful ballrooms or simply drinks with your new-found
friends.