Keeping Fit On Your Cruise

On today’s cruise ships there’s no excuse for being a lounge lizard staring at the horizon with a dog-eared paperback, waiting for the next meal to come around. Cruise lines are going to great lengths to ensure you can disembark with a six-pack rather than using that old yarn that the salt air has shrunk your clothes that fitted perfectly before all those tempting culinary treats.

Fitness centres aboard cruise ships are now more comprehensive than anything you’ll find at your local health club. Larger than a supermarket, the gym on Royal Caribbean’s Independence of the Seas is brim-full of the latest Hammer Strength, Life Fitness, and Everlast equipment. ‘Trekking’ uses treadmills as part of an invigorating group exercise class, while ‘Bootcamp’ features kettlebells, battling ropes and TRX. There’s also ‘combat in motion’ - a workout that combines Eastern martial arts with Western aerobic conditioning. High-impact exercises such as Boxercise and kick boxing are staged in the full-size boxing ring.

Also sailing out of Southampton this summer, Navigator of the Seas has a rock-climbing wall which towers 200 feet above sea level and 30 feet above the deck. Whether it’s your first time on a rock wall or a seasoned climber, there are challenges for every level of experience. All equipment, including shoes, helmets and harnesses are provided. There’s also a Flowrider where you can learn to body-board on this exhilarating, 40 ft long surf simulator. In Studio B there’s the chance to hit the ice – probably literally! Budding Torvil and Deans can take advantage of lessons from the shipboard professionals on this massive ice rink. There’s even family skating, teen skating and disco skating sessions.

If you’re hankering for a major calorie burn then pedal away to hot tunes in the first-ever Black Light Spin classes at ‘Ryde’ on NCL’s Norwegian Getaway. The room is lit entirely by black lights and neon graffiti art to up the rush. Flywheel classes mimic the land-based experience with flywheel instructors specially trained to push you to your potential. There’s competition with fellow cyclists thanks to the ‘TorqBoard’ - a giant screen that tracks each cyclist's progress and keeps you motivated.

On Celebrity Eclipse you can move to the rhythm at high-intensity classes such as Zumba Gold, which offers easy-to-learn choreography geared to active older adults. Zumbatomic classes are tailor-made for kids and AquaZumba is ideal to minimize impact and dance in water. There's even a Zumba-themed party in the ship's nightclub. For more details on keeping fit at sea call 0800 484 0370 or click on www.cruisedirect.co.uk.