Traveling can sure put a damper on a fitness routine and it can be a challenge to find a great place to workout. Thankfully cruise travelers don’t have to leave their workout regimens at home – cruise ships offer expansive fitness and spa options that rival, and in many cases surpass, anything vacationers can find on land.

What’s on deck

For many cruise travelers their days will be filled with lounging on the beach, sipping fruity drinks and enjoying the amazing onboard fare. But for those who aim to stay in the best shape, a great workout and healthy dining are always just a few decks away.

Today’s cruise ships dedicate thousands of square feet to health, fitness and spa facilities, in some cases 23,000 feet per vessel. Long gone are the days of gyms with Soviet-era weight machines now guests can experience a full complement of state-of-the-art resistance machines and free weights, plus cardiovascular equipment, fitness classes and more. Cruise ships now feature outdoor jogging tracks, multiple swimming pools, golf swing cages, putting greens with golf simulators, basketball and volleyball courts. Best of all, shipboard fitness centers offer ever changing sea views that can inspire a workout routine.

Getting ship shape

Where to start? Read the cruise ship’s daily activity planner for the times the fitness center is open along with the class activity schedule. Sign up for an aerobics, Pilates, circuit training, or yoga class, learn to ballroom or line dance, or climb an onboard rock wall.

For those seeking a true wellness regime, a cruise vacation is a great place to start. Most cruise lines offer extensive programs with many options tiered for beginners to advanced. A typical wellness day on a cruise might include a sunrise walk and pilates class followed by a late-morning seminar on nutrition that explores the best fitness options and supplements for your lifestyle. The afternoon might offer a seminar on healthy backs and abs, followed by a circuit workout with weights. Guests could wind down their day with exercises to stretch and relax their bodies, under the careful guidance of their professional fitness instructor.

Ultimate wellness

One thing fitness buffs will appreciate about a cruise vacation is the bountiful healthy dining options. Yes, despite being surrounded with multicourse dinners and decadent desserts, most dining rooms offer gourmet healthy lifestyle and ‘spa cuisine’ options on the menu. With all the tasty calorie controlled options you won’t miss out. Cruising, it seems, can be good for you.

Of course if your workout gets a little too intense and you find your muscles a bit sore it’s nice know that there is a spa onboard to soothe those athletic aches and pains. Many shipboard spas offer abundant message treatments run the gamut and include hot stone, Swedish, Shiatsu, Thai, and Reiki massage therapies and more. In some cases, guests can even opt for massages on deck or in a beachside bungalow.

It’s clear with all the exercise offerings on board today’s cruise ships, you no longer have to take a vacation from your fitness routine. It’s never been easier to stay ship shape!

Source: http://www.princess.com/news/cruisingarticlesdetails.jsp?cruisingArticleId=20101026

Author Bio: http://www.princess.com/news/cruisingarticlesdetails.jsp?cruisingArticleId=20101026

Category: Advice
Keywords: cruise, spa, travel