You can use a weeklong cruise vacation as a way to recharge and refresh. For many people, that might mean laying on beaches or sitting poolside on a lounger on the lido deck soaking up the sun while sipping fruity cocktails.
For me, I like to make sure I get the right balance of exercise, rest and entertainment. Cruise ships provide tons of opportunities for all of these vacation styles -- and I'm talking about all the things that can all be enjoyed without even leaving the ship.
If you're more like me -- and you just might be because you're poking around this website, after all -- you need to start your day by revving up your engine with a good workout. It's the best way to earn all those extra cruise calories.
In the first of an occasional series on fitness at sea, let's take a look at what Carnival Cruise Line has to offer for its passengers.
Yes, you can take fitness classes on a cruise. They come with an added fee, and the classes are located in the gym onboard your vessel. The gyms are complimentary, but you pay about $12 to $20 for fitness classes -- such as yoga, pilates, spinning and boot camp -- which are available on all ships in the fleet. Personal training sessions also are available and typically cost about $50 to $75 per session.
Good news: the fitness center is often located right next to the spa, so you can get a soak or a massage after your workout.
You can also take your workouts outdoors. Cruise ships Carnival Breeze, Carnival Magic, Carnival Sunshine and the new Carnival Vista (debuting in 2016) include a SkyFitness area. The gym on top of the ship offers machines for body-weight exercises, heavy bags to give the once over and a selection of cardio equipment. You can sweat under the sun or in cooling tropical breezes while enjoying the views.
I like the variety offered on the Carnival Cruise ships, so I can change up how I start each day while on my voyage.
Travel fit. Travel happy.
Thanks for reading,
JR
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