Common Cruise Ship Amenities

Are you interested in taking a cruise?  If so, you are not alone.  Each year a large number of individuals consider vacationing aboard a cruise ship.  If you have never been on a cruise ship before, you may be wondering what activities, facilities, and services can be found on board.  The activities found on board a cruise ship will vary from ship to ship, but many cruise ships have a number of activities and services in common.

Large cruise ships offer a number of on board dining facilities, in addition to the main dining room.  It is important to note that many of these dining facilities are considered specialty restaurants, and require a cover charge.  These restaurants can include an upscale Italian, sushi, or steak house.  Elegant dining restaurants are popular among cruisers.  To ensure that you are able to enjoy an elegant meal, you are encouraged to schedule a reservation as soon as you board the ship.  Some ships even offer special rates on embarkation.  In addition to sit-down restaurants, there are usually a number of small eateries located on board, including a more casual buffet-style restaurant.  Some ships may even have a pizzeria and sandwich shop, where they make paninis to order. 

In addition to the above mentioned bars and dance halls, gaming halls or casinos can be found on most cruise ships.  As with gambling on land, there are age limits on those that can gamble aboard a cruise ship.  Popular gambling activities include slots, blackjack, poker, and much more.  Many on board casinos are open for business twenty-four hours a day, except when the ship is docked or tendered.  At that time, all casinos and shops are closed.  Gambling is a popular cruise ship pastime.  If you are booking a cruise just to gamble, you may want to further explore the gambling options aboard each ship.  The newest ships will even offer gambling in the comfort of your stateroom!

Bars and dance halls are also found on most cruise ships. As with most of the bars and dance halls found on land, there may be age restrictions in place.  If you are traveling with your family, they may be engaged in other activities while you enjoy the nightlight over the seas.  If this should occur, you are in luck because most cruise ships have daycare centers and other activities geared towards children from six months through 17.

When it comes to placing your child in the care of a ship’s daycare center, you are urged to quickly familiarize yourself with the staff.  This familiarization may help to calm your nerves.  It is also important to note that cruise ship employees are often closely monitored, highly educated, and properly trained.  While it may be difficult at first, you should feel comfortable leaving your child in the care of a cruise ship childcare worker.

If you are traveling with a teenager, swimming pools, libraries, video arcades, and movie theaters can often be found on cruise ships as well as various sports activities.  Depending on the size of the ship, you may find basketball courts, mini golf, table tennis, shuffleboard, gyms, rock climbing, ice skating … the list goes on.

Teenagers may be able to visit these facilities without adult supervision.  Adult supervision is a policy that prevents children under a certain age from roaming freely around the ship. Each cruise ship is likely to have different adult supervision policies.  You are encouraged to review these policies before purchasing your tickets.

Cruise ship operators know that many travelers take a cruise to escape their daily routines.  Unfortunately for some, one routine that cannot be left behind is exercise.  That is why almost all cruise ships have onsite fitness centers and free fully equipped gyms.  These gyms are often similar, and sometimes even better, than the gyms found in your hometown.  In addition to a fitness center, a large number of cruise ships have jogging tracks, usually located on one of the upper decks, allowing you to jog around outside while enjoying the beautiful ocean view.

If a particular activity or event is the only reason why you are interested in booking a cruise, you are urged to physically check for that event or activity before making your reservation. The above mentioned services, facilities, and activities are found on a number of popular cruise lines. With the click of a mouse or a toll free phone call, you can easily determine if your favorite activities can be found aboard the cruise ship of your choice.