Cruises are a unique type of travel where the travel itself can also be the trip. The myriad of activities aboard a cruise can make the distance between ports nearly more exciting than the ports themselves. There’s not a whole lot of fun to be had in a car or an airplane, but cruise ships make a point of making travel as enjoyable as possible. A lot of the amenities, games and activities aboard a ship get you off your feet and active, making the cruise deck a prime spot to burn a few calories. Beyond this, though, there are lots of ways that going on a cruise can actually improve your health and make you more physically fit. If you’re curious how, read on!
Fitness centers
While crazy experiences like simulated skydiving and water parks are enough to keep you active, a majority of cruises have some type of gym or fitness center. Even if you’re not the biggest gym-rat at home, the idea of being able to gaze out on the ocean waves while you exercise could get you excited to work out a bit. If you’re less self-motivated, cruises often have fitness courses in a variety of disciplines to help teach you something new. Yoga and Pilates are very common, but some lines offer even more options. For instance, Carnival has both indoor cycling and something called “boot camp,” which sounds like something that will definitely whip you into shape. With all these choices conveniently right at your fingertips, just being on a cruise is likely to get you up and at ’em.
Sunlight
A lot of health rhetoric looks at sunlight as something that is damaging to your health, which isn’t completely off base. However, proper use of sunscreen will keep you safe from damaging rays and leave you ready to soak up the sun and all of its helpful properties. Sun gets you vitamin D which assists in depression, sleep, blood pressure and more. It can have really strong effects on your mental and physical health, making time in the sun pretty crucial. Being on a cruise, whether on or off the ship, will have you constantly in the sun. Your body will thank you! Plus, who doesn’t love lounging around in some warm rays?
Stress relief
Travel, although very fun at its core, can be really stressful for a number of reasons. Depending on the type of person you are, planning, packing, waiting in lines, and being in a new place can all bring the anxiety up to 10. Just think about how not fun being in airport security is. Cruises, on the other hand, take all the stress away from you. While you still have to get to them, everything is out of your hands once the ship sets sail. All the activities are planned, you don’t have to figure out how to get from place to place, the food is all right there, and so on. It’s the ultimate type of travel for those who want to see amazing places without having to fuss over a ton of different variables. Reducing your stress can make a big impact on your health, ranging from a lesser likelihood of getting high blood pressure to helping beat cardiovascular disease. It’ll make you have a more fun vacation and make you more healthy in the long run!
Of course, there are plenty of other ways to get fit while on a cruise. Walking or cycling tours, pool or ocean swimming and more will have your body working a sweat until you fall asleep peacefully at night. If you’re someone who takes their health seriously, think about a cruise for your next vacay!
