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The Best Fitness Areas on Princess Cruises' Ships

7/27/2015

Regal Princess, Princess Cruises' newest cruise ship

By John Roberts

Princess Cruises, made famous decades ago for having the ship featured in the TV series "Love Boat", now carries more than two million passengers yearly to more destinations than any other major cruise line.

So, how can those passengers stick to their fitness regimens while onboard Princess Cruises' sailings?

Princess Cruises' ships are known for their elegant design and luxury touches, but they don't have the activities onboard that other lines like Carnival Cruise, Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean have been packing into the areas on the top of their ships, like rock climbing, ziplines, ropes courses, waterslides, etc.

So, when you are looking to stay fit onboard a Princess cruise, you'll pretty much have to stick to the workout basics: weights, jogging and classes.

I have been on three cruises with Princess on a couple ship types and found the best spots to get in your daily workout before you head ashore to explore all those cool destinations.

The Princess Cruises gyms are well-equipped and spacious enough, if not as large as some of the big fitness centers I see on some of the mega-ships launched by other cruises lines in recent years.

I have had great workouts at the Princess Cruises gyms because they have everything you need: free weights (space is cramped at busy times), resistance training machines, dozens of cardio bikes and treadmills and all with good panoramic window views.

The fitness centers feature complimentary Zumba classes. Princess Cruises also offer a range of fitness classes (Pilates, boot camps, TRX training) and individual training for a fee.

Jogging track and weight training stations on Regal Princess, a Princess Cruises ship.

Regal Princess features an excellent jogging track with several weight training workout stations set up along the route.

The jogging track on Princess Cruises' new ships Royal Princess and Regal Princess are among the nicest at sea. The space is truly segregated for runners and walkers who are serious about putting in their miles. This is a nice change from many ships I see that integrate a "jogging track" into common areas that make the runners feel guilty for intruding on the space of cruisers who would rather pull their sun loungers into this space or simply linger for the top-side views of the ocean and leisurely saunter around on the track.

The Princess Cruises' jogging track, however, really work nicely and have a good no-slip track surface. As a bonus, on Regal Princess and Royal Princess, the track features workout stations adjacent to the running circuit, meaning you can get an entire workout outside if you choose -- strength and cardio -- while basking in the Caribbean morning breezes.

Most of Princess's 18 cruise ships also offer a swim-against-the-current lap pool (not on Royal Princess or Regal Princess or the smallest ships). You just hop in the water of the adults-only pool push a button to start a current and start your lap workout, swimming in place against the current. Make sure to bring along a pair of high-quality eye goggles for your cruise, and you can keep up with your daily swim training while on your cruise vacation. Not too many cruise ships feature this amenity that will please avid swimmers.

Thanks for reading.

Travel fit! Travel happy!

JR

Related stories:
Best Fitness Areas on Norwegian Cruise Line Ships
Best Fitness Areas on Carnival Cruise Ships
Best Fitness Areas on Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships
Best Fitness Areas on Celebrity Cruises Ships

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Royal Caribbean's 10-Story Slide on Harmony of the Seas

7/17/2015

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Harmony of the Seas rendering courtesy of Royal Caribbean

By John Roberts

Never afraid to make a splash with its cruise innovations, Royal Caribbean is going bigger with a 10-story "dry slide" on Harmony of the Seas. All the fun -- without getting wet!

Royal Caribbean's Harmony of the Seas is the line's third Oasis-class ship and will be even bigger than sisters Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas when it launches in spring 2016. Harmony of the Seas will homeport in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, beginning in November 2016.

The big new ship will have a big new attraction, too. Harmony of the Seas is going to feature a 10-story slide called The Abyss, which plummets brave souls from the AquaTheater area to the Boardwalk neighborhood at the back of the ship, Royal Caribbean said.

The Abyss on Harmony of the Seas is one of four slides on the ship. Three other waterslides make it easy to cool off in the Caribbean sun. These slides drop a mere three stories and are named Cyclone, Typhoon and Monsoon, creating an attraction that together is called "The Perfect Storm."

I love a good thrill ride, myself. But Mrs. In The Loop chuckled when I told her about this new 10-story monster on Harmony of the Seas, saying she couldn't wait to see me go down it and hear me scream in fear like the last time I tried a steep cruise ship slide.

Oh, yeah.

I had forgot about that and hoped that she had, too.

It was a scream of joy, by the way.

JR

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The Best Fitness Areas on Norwegian Cruise Line Ships

7/7/2015

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Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway offer rock-climbing walls. Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line.

By John Roberts

Freestyle cruising means you can enjoy your vacation the way you want. On your own schedule.

If you're like me, that schedule is going to include a daily workout or at least some physical activity to let you know you properly enjoyed a complete day. Norwegian Cruise Line offers freestyle "Cruise like a Norwegian" sailings that its legions of fanatics enjoy so much. And Norwegian Cruise Line includes a range of cool fitness options onboard its ships -- especially its newest vessels.

Let's check out the best fitness areas on NCL's cruise ships.

Rocks and ropes -- Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway feature rock-climbing walls and ropes courses at the top of the ships. These activities can be as challenging as you like as you race an opponent for the best time up the wall or attempt more difficult routes to the top. The ropes course features multiple ways to make your way around from platform to platform in a circuit that includes a stop to walk the plank off the side of the ship -- you get an amazing view from a dizzying height (harnessed, of course). The course also includes a zipline. This is a fantastic and fun way to work on your grip, arm strength, balance and coordination.

On Norwegian Escape -- When Norwegian's largest cruise ship debuts in November, it will feature the largest ropes course at sea, a three-story multiplex of challenges. The course will have two planks and five "Sky Rails," which are zip tracks that allow you to soar through the air. Also, Norwegian Escape's "Aqua Park" will be the largest at sea and includes an Aqua Racer slide.

The Flywheel studio on Norwegian Breakaway. Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line.

The gyms -- Norwegian Cruise Line ships offer fitness centers and classes. Equipment includes treadmills, ellipticals, steppers, medicine balls and fit balls, and free weights. The free-weight workout spaces are smallish compared with many other lines even on the newest and largest ships. But the NCL ships feature large cardio centers in the Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway fitness centers. Ships in the fleet also feature Zumba classes (except Norwegian Sky), boot camps and other training. Breakaway and Getaway also feature Flywheel spinning classes. Ships also offer running tracks, of course, but we found them to be small and often too crowded to run on without a hassle. You also can play basketball and other sports on the sports courts, which I like for the views and breezes you get while working up a sweat at the very top of the ship.

Kicking and punching -- You can train like the Rockettes on Norwegian Breakaway. You might not kick as high as the legendary dancers, but you'll learn their muscle stretching and strengthening techniques while getting your kicks. These fitness classes are led by Norwegian Cruise Line's specially trained instructors or, on select Norwegian Breakaway cruises, by two Rockettes dancers themselves.

Prefer punching to kicking? Or both, maybe? Try Norwegian Fight Klub (fee), available on Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway. The classes are designed based on traditional boxing training. It's a nonstop, high-intensity workout that can help you master jabbing, punching, ducking, knee strikes and kicks. This one will leave you dripping sweat.

Related stories:

Best Fitness Areas on Carnival Cruise Ships
Best Fitness Areas on Royal Caribbean Cruise Ships
Best Fitness Areas on Celebrity Cruises Ships
Best Fitness Areas on Princess Cruises Ships

Thanks for reading.

Travel fit!

JR

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The Best Fitness Areas on Princess Cruises' Ships

Royal Caribbean's 10-Story Slide on Harmony of the Seas

The Best Fitness Areas on Norwegian Cruise Line Ships

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