How to stay in shape on a cruise – and potentially become even healthier!

There is no denying that the wide array of treats that come with cruising can make it hard for even the strictest of health nuts to hold onto a healthy regime whilst cruising. But that’s not to say there aren’t plenty of ways you can keep fighting fit – in fact, modern cruise ships are packed to the gunnels with fitness suites, clean eating options, spa facilities, wellness classes and lots more so you can step off your cruise in better shape than when you stepped on! 

Europe’s largest online cruising travel agent, Iglu Cruise, has revealed eight top tips for how to stay in shape on a cruise in 2025. Here’s the lowdown.  

– READ MORE: Can you actually keep fit on a river cruise? –

1. Book into a cruise wellness or exercise class, take a hike onshore

Cruise lines like Swan Hellenic offer specialist wellness voyages, while many cruise lines have apps to keep an eye on where you can find out when, where and how you can get involved with exercise classes onboard. Try Virgin Voyages for example, which offers HIIT, barre, yoga, pilates, spin and a bungee workout. Log onto the app while boarding your ship and sign up to the classes you fancy to make sure you get a spot. With all cruise lines you can book shore excursions ahead of departure so look out for hikes in the coastal countryside. With Norwegian specialists Hurtigruten you can trek up Torghatten mountain in Norway when you sail. 

2. Choose one of the many healthy or lighter cruise dining options

These days, lighter dining options are available in almost all restaurants on cruise ships of every shape and size, making them much easier to find. Carb-loaded buffets are a thing of the past. If you choose the AquaClass cabins on Celebrity Cruises for example, you will find smaller portions and healthier dining in the cruise line’s Blu restaurant, plus complimentary fitness classes.  

SeaDream Yacht Club is another great choice for clean eating. The luxury cruise brand was the first-ever company at sea to offer a vegan menu, back in 2011. Since then, plant-based menus have changed every single day so that guests sailing for seven nights will never eat the same thing twice! 

– READ MORE: Celebrity Cruises Concierge & Aqua Classes explained–

3. It’s not all about the alcohol drinks packages on a cruise

Many people associate cruises with one big booze-up and while this is available for those who want it, there are plenty of tee-total options. In fact, Princess Cruises has just introduced its ‘Amore Princess Zero Alcohol Collection’, a premium non-alcoholic drinks alternative included on select cruise packages such as Princess Plus and Princess Premier. Many celebrity alcohol-free drink brands are included in the collection, like Kylie Minogue’s Rosé, Jason Momoa’s zero-alcohol vodka and Blake Lively’s Betty Buzz mocktails. 

4. Plan a port run and opt for energetic excursions

With many hours or even days in some ports, there’s no excuse not to fit in your usual 5K around the area. It’s a brilliant way to take in whichever destination you may be in, to keep fit, and to also set you up for a great day of exploring ahead. Plus, you can jump back onboard for a shower before heading out for the rest of the day. Carpe diem, and all that.

It’s even possible to be a parkrun tourist when the timings work out; just be aware of local conditions and leave plenty of time to get back to the ship before the sailaway. Try the flat pavements, riverside paths and spacious parks in Antwerp, where cruise ships are docked in actual sight of the town. Apps such as mapmyrun help plan in areas you may be unfamiliar with. Many organised tours will also let you know which routes are more energetic or laid-back.

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5. Plan an open-water swim

Whilst the pools on cruise ships don’t usually lend themselves to swimming intensive lengths and are more for catching some all-important Vitamin D, you can always plan an ocean swim if you’re visiting a private island, or at a beach stop in your itinerary. With the trend of wild swimming continuously growing in popularity too, cruise destinations like Norway or Scotland provide the perfect place to give it a go. For slightly warmer swimming spots, Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas on a Royal Caribbean cruise provides a dreamy destination to get your lengths in.

6. Use the ship gym or dedicated track for running

Almost all modern cruise ships have a separate track for running on deck. On P&O Cruises’ Arvia and Iona, for example, you’ll find a dedicated jogging track that runs the circumference of the ships’ top decks. And in 2021, one ambitious guest once ran a marathon on an MSC Cruises ship before, so anything’s possible!

If running’s not so much your thing, loads of cruise lines offer state-of-the-art gyms, many with stunning ocean views to give some major motivation.

– READ MORE: New study shows 5-day cruise is good for your health –

7. Find out what onboard sports are available

A cruise holiday is a brilliant opportunity to try something totally new, without any obligation to ever do it again if the mood doesn’t take you. Pickleball on Cunard Queen Anne is a new sport taking the cruise line (and world) by storm: a mixture of tennis, badminton and table tennis that combines fun with exercise for all ages. Smaller cruise lines like Cruise Croatia or Emerald Cruises offer a host of thrilling watersport activities from paddleboarding to kayaking – all included in the cost! 

8. Avoid the lifts and use the stairs instead

There’s one sure-fire way of upping your step count on board and that’s to use the stairs and avoid the lifts – you’ll quickly hit your 10,000 steps a day in no time. Ships can be the length of a few football pitches, so there’s plenty of space to take a walk, especially on sea days when you’ll also get the bonus of excellent views as you move around the ship. During ship walks it’s also possible to discover a world of features you might otherwise have missed – from art galleries and installations along the way, to new restaurants to try out. You’ll shed pounds if you take a hike on Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas, the world’s longest cruise ship. It’s even longer than the Eiffel Tower!

– READ MORE: Best wellness cruises for 2025 and 2026 –