Over the past decade, the numbers of people taking to the water to enjoy a vacation have exploded to record levels, rising from around 17.8 million to almost 30 million in the last few years.
That growth in numbers has primarily come from U.S. citizens, as around 14 million Americans love taking a cruise trip to get away from the stresses and strains of life and have a break. The beauty of a cruise is that they’re not seasonal; they’re great all year round, there’s a trip to cater to almost every taste, including those who love sport.
Maybe you’re a fan of the Rams and recently wanted to catch Super Bowl LVI? You might be a keen Lakers supporter, eager to see if they can turn around their status as underdogs for the NBA championship in Ladbrokes’ latest NBA odds? Or maybe your sport of choice is one with a more international flavor, such as English soccer, where games go on until late May and resume again before the end of the summer. Whichever is your pick, there’s no need to worry about missing out on all the action, as many cruise organizers realize just how important sport is to so many of their passengers.
Keeping up to date in your room
While Wi-Fi is commonly accessible on cruise ships, it has to be said that the connection speed isn’t good enough to stream the footage onto your mobile, tablet, or laptop within your stateroom. Therefore, many of the most notable operators, including Royal Caribbean, Disney, Carnival, and Holland America, will often have live satellite feeds of the famous sporting networks that sports fans are familiar with. ESPN and ESPN2 are usually available for fans to sit back and enjoy in the comfort of their own room.
Sports bar at sea
On many larger ships, it’s not uncommon to see sports bars on their deck, with a host of TVs all broadcasting different events worldwide. Sports lovers can find one of the best sports bar experiences on the European cruise line, Norwegian Cruises, as their casual pub/bar style restaurants are open 24 hours per day. So, no matter where you are in the world and what time zone you’re in, the world’s best sporting events can be seen while enjoying a relaxing drink or snack.
Sports themed cruise
The other way you can enjoy your sport is either head onto a specific sports-themed cruise which allows fans to sail to attend major sporting events. It’s entirely possible to book a cruise that could take you to the mecca of motorsport, Monaco, to see the world’s best racers in action at the Monaco Grand Prix. Some cruises can take you to Scotland to visit St. Andrews, the home of The Open, which is the oldest of golf’s major tournament, making a real game-changer for golf lovers.
As you can see, all it takes is a little planning as many cruise liners specifically look to accommodate their offerings to the sports lover. So you don’t have to worry about missing the World Series, the NBA finals, or whatever sport your heroes play during your getaway.
