If you are new to cruise, I suspect you are wondering what all the fuss is about. All this talk about new and exciting ships; especially when there are so many great land resorts, but what about cruises? You will be surprised at some of the things you will find on cruise ships. They aren’t always the calm, sedate environments one imagines. Cruise ships often offer the very best for fun-loving thrill-seekers.
Things You Would Never Expect To See On A Cruise Ship
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Cruising has evolved so much since our first cruise 18 years ago. It is almost unrecognisable from the experience we first fell in love with. Saying that, for the most part, it has only gotten better.
Cruise lines have become more inventive and innovative in attracting the family cruise market. This has resulted in ships being created to beat the latest innovations and be better and more attractive. Here are a few things you may be surprised to find on a cruise ship.
1. A Two Storey Racetrack
This two-storey race track can be found on Norwegian Encore, Bliss, Prima, and Viva. It is electric but still reaches speeds of 30 miles per hour. The Speedway is an extra cost; we paid $15 per person for a session, which was so much fun and worth every penny.
2. A Carousel
All Royal Caribbean Oasis Class Ships have a carousel on the Boardwalk to create the style and atmosphere you would expect on a traditional boardwalk. You will even find a Zoltar machine on some. This is included in the price of your cruise fare.
3. Bumper Cars
Royal Caribbean Quantum Class Ships have huge indoor sports courts with bumper car sessions throughout the day. These are included in your cruise fare. You do have to queue, and it gets busy, but it’s worth the wait.
4. A Water Park
Water parks at sea are getting bigger and bigger all the time. This is perfect for families travelling with kiddies and they are included in the price of your cruise.
5. Rope Climbing
The rope climbing course can be found on MSC Virtuosa. Princess Cruises are also introducing a rope course to their newest ship Sun Princess. These are perfect for families with teens or active couples.
6. A Cavern Club
I kid you not: Norwegian Encore has its own resident Beetles band that plays several sets a night in a themed Cavern bar, and they are fabulous. We travelled with a die-hard Beetles fan last year, and I thought they would roll their eyes. They didn’t; they went every night. This is a great venue; you must arrive early to get a seat.
7. Rock Climbing
Can you imagine what the views are like from up there? Nearly all Royal Caribbean ships have rock climbing walls; it’s a fantastic family activity. Plus, it is great exercise and is included in your cruise fare.
8. Sky Diving
If you are travelling on a Royal Caribbean Quantum Class ship, you must try the iFLY sky diving simulator. You start with a training session with an instructor who takes you through the basics, and then it’s your turn to try your hand at skydiving. Book as soon as you board to bag the free port day sessions. If you are a natural you can book a longer paid session on a sea day.
9. North Star
Want to be taken up over the sea and watch the cruise ship from afar? The North Star takes you up more than 300 feet above sea level. Book early to get a free port day space or book a longer session on a sea day for a fee.
10. Zip Line
Royal Caribbean Ships have an open back, which means you can zip wire across it. I mean, why not? The zip wire is included in your cruise fare, and anyone from 6 years old can ride as long as they are 4ft 4 inches.
11. VR Center
The VR center of Norwegian Encore is huge, this place is packed with VR games and rides and also has a soccer shoot out zone. It costs extra; on our cruise, it was $29 for an hour’s pass, or you can book a week’s pass. To be honest an hour is enough.
12. Surf Simulator
The FlowRider is a real family favourite of ours and can be found on many Royal Caribbean ships. Some even have 2 Flowriders. It takes a bit of practice, but there are plenty of supervised freestyle sessions to attend every day. If you want to perfect your technique you can also book training sessions for a fee.
If That Has Tempted You Check Out This Quantum Class Ship Tour
Take a tour of Royal Caribbean Odyssey of the Seas.
