In Kinderdijk, Netherlands, we got off our Viking Cruises river ship and went for a run in the shadow of acres and acres of windmills along winding canals.
By John Roberts
You can stay fit while you travel. I'm sure you already know that. But did you know that doing so while on a cruise can also help you save money? That's what this blog and website is all about, of course. Enjoying your active adventures without breaking the bank.
This goes against the grain of most notions about cruisers. And while it's true that many people choose to indulge (overindulge) in food and drink and do little else but relax in a pool lounger onboard or at a beach when in port, we choose to try to break the mold when we hit the high seas for a voyage.
My attitude: I want to stay on the move so that I can see and do as much as possible on my current trip while also aiming to stay active and healthy enough to remain mobile as I age so that I can fully embrace and enjoy all my future travels as well.
In that spirit, I want to tell you about some practices I use to help maintain my fitness regimen while cruising. Plus, several of these tips also help to save a little money while getting off the beaten path to explore your destinations in a unique way.
You can stay fit while you travel. I'm sure you already know that. But did you know that doing so while on a cruise can also help you save money? That's what this blog and website is all about, of course. Enjoying your active adventures without breaking the bank.
This goes against the grain of most notions about cruisers. And while it's true that many people choose to indulge (overindulge) in food and drink and do little else but relax in a pool lounger onboard or at a beach when in port, we choose to try to break the mold when we hit the high seas for a voyage.
My attitude: I want to stay on the move so that I can see and do as much as possible on my current trip while also aiming to stay active and healthy enough to remain mobile as I age so that I can fully embrace and enjoy all my future travels as well.
In that spirit, I want to tell you about some practices I use to help maintain my fitness regimen while cruising. Plus, several of these tips also help to save a little money while getting off the beaten path to explore your destinations in a unique way.
1. Walk, walk, walk. We stay off the elevators on the ship -- except occasionally on embarkation day and debarkation day when we are walking on or off with our luggage. However, if we only have a couple flights to go to reach our cabin deck, we still might lug our bags. Also, walk in port when you might take a cab. Anything within about two miles is fair game for a stroll and exploration of the port area (as long as the area is safe and scenic with shops, restaurants, beaches, mountains, etc.). When you hop in a cab, you incur an added expense and might speed right by something that could be of interest.
2. Go for a hike or a run. Had some good chats with your cabin steward or the bartender? Ask them where the best place to go for a run or hike on your ship's itinerary. Crewmembers know all the secret spots in port because they have been there many times before. You can ask for a safe route to get in a jog when you are ashore or the best hike within a reasonable distance to your ship. The shore excursion desk or concierge also can offer great tips, or ask the cruise director, who sometimes has some great advice for fun, free active things to do in port. Many river cruise lines offer free use of their supply of bikes when in port. What a fantastic way to enjoy sightseeing in a European river village while also getting in your exercise.
2. Go for a hike or a run. Had some good chats with your cabin steward or the bartender? Ask them where the best place to go for a run or hike on your ship's itinerary. Crewmembers know all the secret spots in port because they have been there many times before. You can ask for a safe route to get in a jog when you are ashore or the best hike within a reasonable distance to your ship. The shore excursion desk or concierge also can offer great tips, or ask the cruise director, who sometimes has some great advice for fun, free active things to do in port. Many river cruise lines offer free use of their supply of bikes when in port. What a fantastic way to enjoy sightseeing in a European river village while also getting in your exercise.
I found this refreshing swimming spot near a little beach and adjacent to a quaint bar that served cheap tasty beers with a side of chips and salsa in Cozumel, Mexico.
Several port stops in the Caribbean offer sweet snorkeling spots within walking distance of your ship.
3. Swim and snorkel. We pack our own snorkel gear when headed to the Caribbean. This allows us to walk off the ship in some ports and stroll along the waterfront roads and choose among the great local beaches for a day swimming and snorkeling. Cozumel, Grand Cayman, the Bahamas, Grand Turk, San Juan, Puerto Rico, and many others stops have beaches within a 10-minute walk of your ship's pier. Also, you will pass by several other sites to see and places to drop in for some shopping. You get all this without having to pay the high cost of an organized excursion.
4. Head to the gym. Your cruise ship has an onboard fitness center and probably an outdoor walking/jogging track on a top-level outdoor deck. Take advantage of the weights, treadmills, bikes and other equipment to get in your 30-minute workout before taking the rest of the day to do whatever you want. Then, consider how you earned that extra side dish or tasty dessert come dinner time.
This week's Cruise News:
Un-Cruise Adventures will head to the Galapagos for the first time, with nine voyages planned for 2016. Sailings are scheduled for February 17, March 16, March 30, May 25, July 6, August 3, September 14 and November 9. On this bucket-list buster, you get two nights hotel accommodations; two flights between Quito, Ecuador, and Galapagos; entry fees to national parks/preserves; transfers, tours and adventure activities; breakfast, lunch and dinner in Quito; and all meals plus premium spirits, wine, and beer onboard the La Pinta cruise ship. Rates begin at $8,995 per person, double occupancy for the inclusive land tour and island cruise adventure.
Celebrity Cruises and Amras Cruises have teamed up to create an awesome-looking ocean and river cruise voyage. The Celebrity Explorations program has added 11 river-and-ocean cruise packages that give you the opportunity to explore Europe on four classic rivers -- the Danube, Rhine, Rhone and Seine -- on an Amras river cruise and then by sea onboard a Celebrity cruise around the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Russia, Turkey and other destinations. The journeys range from 16 to 24 nights, departing from such destinations as Paris and Amsterdam, and start around $8,000 per person. Check with Celebrity Cruises or your travel agent for more details and start making plans for an extended period of time off from work in 2015 to try one of these epic adventures.
Royal Caribbean's 4,300-passenger Quantum of the Seas departed Sunday (Nov. 2) on its eight-day journey from Southampton, England, to its six-month homeport in Bayonne, N.J. The innovative "smartship" is loaded new technology and activities such as a skydiving simulator and bumper cars, as well as a restaurant program that tosses the traditional main dining room concept. Quantum will arrive in Port Liberty next week with much pomp. We'll have to see how the ship is received by its first passengers making the Atlantic crossing. Will it be an entertaining vacation revelation or just a bunch of hype that distracts from a cruiser's traditional onboard experience?
American Cruise Lines says construction of its new Mississippi riverboat is nearly complete. American Eagle is scheduled to hit the Mississippi for weeklong itineraries in March 2015. These river ships feature classic designs, complete with a paddlewheel and wood trim, to transport you to an earlier era of travel on the great waterway. American Eagle will have room for 150 passengers.
Thanks for reading,
JR
This week's Cruise News:
Un-Cruise Adventures will head to the Galapagos for the first time, with nine voyages planned for 2016. Sailings are scheduled for February 17, March 16, March 30, May 25, July 6, August 3, September 14 and November 9. On this bucket-list buster, you get two nights hotel accommodations; two flights between Quito, Ecuador, and Galapagos; entry fees to national parks/preserves; transfers, tours and adventure activities; breakfast, lunch and dinner in Quito; and all meals plus premium spirits, wine, and beer onboard the La Pinta cruise ship. Rates begin at $8,995 per person, double occupancy for the inclusive land tour and island cruise adventure.
Celebrity Cruises and Amras Cruises have teamed up to create an awesome-looking ocean and river cruise voyage. The Celebrity Explorations program has added 11 river-and-ocean cruise packages that give you the opportunity to explore Europe on four classic rivers -- the Danube, Rhine, Rhone and Seine -- on an Amras river cruise and then by sea onboard a Celebrity cruise around the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, Russia, Turkey and other destinations. The journeys range from 16 to 24 nights, departing from such destinations as Paris and Amsterdam, and start around $8,000 per person. Check with Celebrity Cruises or your travel agent for more details and start making plans for an extended period of time off from work in 2015 to try one of these epic adventures.
Royal Caribbean's 4,300-passenger Quantum of the Seas departed Sunday (Nov. 2) on its eight-day journey from Southampton, England, to its six-month homeport in Bayonne, N.J. The innovative "smartship" is loaded new technology and activities such as a skydiving simulator and bumper cars, as well as a restaurant program that tosses the traditional main dining room concept. Quantum will arrive in Port Liberty next week with much pomp. We'll have to see how the ship is received by its first passengers making the Atlantic crossing. Will it be an entertaining vacation revelation or just a bunch of hype that distracts from a cruiser's traditional onboard experience?
American Cruise Lines says construction of its new Mississippi riverboat is nearly complete. American Eagle is scheduled to hit the Mississippi for weeklong itineraries in March 2015. These river ships feature classic designs, complete with a paddlewheel and wood trim, to transport you to an earlier era of travel on the great waterway. American Eagle will have room for 150 passengers.
Thanks for reading,
JR
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