Having a holiday at sea is enduringly popular – 28.5 million people took a cruise in 2018 alone. You don’t need to be a detective to get to the bottom of why people like cruises – they’re relaxing, multi-faceted, and full of activities to keep you entertained.
In this article, I’ve picked out what I think are the three best things to do to keep you entertained on a cruise – and yes, pool time does get a mention.
Recommended reading: 5 Reasons Why You Would Want to Cruise to Lanzarote
Sample the cuisine
In the UK, there’s a well-known series of cruise adverts featuring the comedian Rob Brydon. In them, Rob does many things to stay entertained, but the food is one of the consistent themes. Why? Because it’s one of the most popular forms of entertainment for people on a cruise.
Sampling the cuisine is such a popular thing to do that some cruise ships are internationally renowned for providing great food. For example:
- Disney Cruise Line
- Celebrity Cruises
- Royal Caribbean
Tasting new and delicious foods is one of the great reasons to sample the cuisine on a cruise, but it’s not the only one – remember, the dining hall comes with a bar, so it’s an opportunity to enjoy a glass of wine, cocktail, or beer as you watch the world sail past you.
Play card games
Once upon a time, gambling ships were a big deal in America. Popular from the 1920s to the 1940s, gambling ships allowed people to circumvent betting laws by playing card games and casino games in international waters. Today, legislation shouldn’t be your reason for placing a bet on deck – your reason should be that it’s one of the most entertaining things you can do on a cruise.
There are plenty of holidays designed for over 50s around the card game bridge. However, there are so many great games you can bet on while you’re at sea, including:
- Poker
- Blackjack
- Roulette
Some cruise holidays are catered specifically towards bringing a taste of Vegas to the high seas. However, if you’ve never been to a casino then I recommend reading Online Casinos’ gambling guide for first-time gamblers before you place a bet – it gives advice on how to bet responsibly and have fun when you’re gambling.
Make new friends
I don’t know about you, but one of the reasons I love cruise holidays is that they’re about having time to yourself (or yourselves, if you’re there with your partner). You’re literally away from the hustle and bustle of the day to day, with the sea breeze the only slap in the face that life can give you. But there are times when you want a little company, so what do you do? Partake in one of the best things to do on a cruise – make new friends.
Forging new connections on a cruise is something associated with singles holidays, but romance isn’t the only reason to strike up a conversation with someone at sea. If you’re a little shy, you can try some of these tips to make new friends on your cruise:
- Listen to what people have to say – let them tell their story
- Join a cruise trivia team – become friends and teammates
- Take part in a class – learn something new and make new friends
You can pre-empt some of these things by getting in touch with your fellow cruisegoers before you set sail – many cruise holiday companies have forums on their sites (or apps) for people to talk to each other prior to embarking on their holiday.
I’ve listed the three best things to do to stay entertained on a cruise, but there’s plenty of great options among the rest – having pool time is my personal favorite. So book your cruise, set out to see, and have one of the most entertaining holidays of your life!
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