If you’ve never been on a cruise vacation before, you might be wondering what to do on a cruise ship.
Cruising is one of the most enjoyable ways to travel because your mode of transportation is a destination in and of itself with plenty of things to do while you’re sailing between ports.
Whether you’re looking to fill every hour of the day or want to unwind and indulge in the luxurious comforts onboard, here are some of the best things to do on a cruise.
1: Tour The Ship
From bow to aft, Celebrity’s ships are a marvel of design and engineering that are worth exploring. Explore all of the spectacular dining venues, impressive Theatre, Spa, fitness center, art gallery, pool decks, game rooms, and onboard boutiques.
You can even sign up for a behind-the-scenes tour and see the engine control room, get a sneak peek of the bridge, the area where the captain and his or her crew navigate the ship, and get access to crew-only areas.
2: Lounge At The Pools
One of the best things to do on a cruise is to spend time at the pool. Comfortable loungers, tropical cocktails, and a choice of pool venues are just a few of the reasons why the pool decks are among the most popular spots on your cruise ship.
Solarium
Head to the Solarium, a peaceful, adults-only* haven where it’s easy to leave all your worries behind. This glass-domed indoor area includes a pool, hot tubs, soothing fountains, and at-your-service drink attendants.
Or spend time with the family on the main outdoor pool deck and swim laps, play water polo, or simply bask in the warmth of the sun.
The Retreat Sundeck
Guests of The Retreat sailing on Edge-series ships and revolutionized ships have access to an exclusive sundeck. This private outdoor sanctuary has a stylish pool, hot tub, and food and towel attendants to bring you whatever you need to feel as comfortable as possible.
*Solarium kid’s hours available from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm on select itineraries – Antarctica, Alaska, and the Baltics.
3: Visit The Shore Excursions Desk
Shore Excursions Desk
Stop at the Shore Excursions desk to plan what you’d like to do and see at each port of call on your itinerary.
Consider booking a Destination Highlights excursion to explore a port’s most iconic sites, such as the Colosseum in Rome, Australia’s Sydney Opera House, and hundreds more unforgettable sites around the globe.
Colosseum, Rome
Local cuisine and culture are front and center when you choose a Chef’s Market Discoveries tour, where you’ll accompany our Celebrity Chef on a journey to local markets and learn all about the best local ingredients and dishes—with plenty of samplings, of course.
If you have a special adventure in mind, book a Private Journeys excursion that let you create individualized experiences you’ll treasure for a lifetime.
4: Attend A Destination Seminar
Discovery Lounge
Heighten your anticipation and excitement for your days in port by attending a seminar that highlights the best landmarks and activities in your port stops, local cuisine and customs, dining and shopping highlights, and so much more.
For example, on cruises to Alaska, you’ll be able to hear lectures from an onboard naturalist who offers wonderful insights on the incredible wildlife, magnificent glaciers, and native culture of Alaska.
Our destination seminars are a great opportunity to ask any questions you might have about local customs, etiquette, shore excursions, and more.
5: Find Your Picture At The Photo Gallery
Photo Gallery
Throughout your journey, there will be a team of roving photographers on board to capture all of the fun, sweet, goofy, and romantic highlights of your vacation.
Enjoy seeing all of the candid shots taken of you and your party during your trip with a stop at the photo gallery, where the walls are filled with daily snaps of passengers enjoying every moment aboard the ship. From morning strolls to midnight dances, casual deck shots to Evening Chic poses, our photographers shoot it all.
Once you pick the photos that show off your favorite moments on board, you can easily arrange for a set of prints or digital uploads, allowing you to cherish these memories for a lifetime.
Watch: What To Do On A Cruise Ship
6: Work Out At The Fitness Center
Even though you’re on vacation, you won’t want to miss working out at our state-of-the-art fitness center with floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over the sea.
Continue your usual workout routine—cardio, core, free weights, treadmill—or try something new by signing up for one of our fun exercise classes, which are available for every fitness level and run the gamut from aerobics to Zumba.
Gym
Use your time at sea to get in shape with a boot camp, followed by a soothing sauna session or a refreshing dip in The Solarium pool.
7: Attend An Art Auction
When thinking of what to do on a cruise, participating in an art auction probably never crossed your mind. However, on Celebrity Cruises, you can register for a paddle (or card) and join one of our fun auctions on board.
Art Gallery
Sip champagne as you peruse an exciting collection of classic and modern artwork on display. Before the bidding begins, you can listen to an art lecture or learn the basics of the auctioning process.
Once you see something you love, raise your paddle. Hopefully, by the end of the auction, you’ll have won a treasured souvenir to bring home.
8: Explore Wines Of The World
Cellar Masters
Sip your way around the world and expand your wine knowledge during a visit to Cellar Masters, our spectacular wine cellar with an expertly curated wine list that boasts over 400 bottles from vineyards around the globe.
With an intimate bar, high-top tables, cozy corners, and club chair groupings, Cellar Masters has an inviting atmosphere perfect for discussing the qualities of a particular wine, meeting up for a pre-dinner drink, or ending the evening with a relaxing nightcap.
Cater to your inner wine connoisseur by sampling one of our wine flights, or attend a variety of wine seminars hosted by our team of onboard sommeliers. It’s a wine cruise experience you won’t want to miss.
9: Treat Yourself To A Spa Day
Watch: Spa on Celebrity Edge
Indulge your urge to splurge on a variety of treatments and services at The Spa, one of the most relaxing places to spend a day at sea.
Book a massage or facial treatment, treat yourself to a rejuvenating wrap, sit back and get pampered with a pedicure, or reserve an appointment for a variety of MedSpa treatments including Botox or acupuncture during your cruise.
Persian Garden Spa
You can also purchase a day pass and experience the Persian Gardens or SEA Thermal Suite on Edge-series ships. Revive your mind and body with the myriad of relaxation experiences available, including a hamman, crystalarium, and rainfall room.
10: Explore New Cuisines
Main Dining Room
Culinary adventure and cruising go hand in hand during a vacation with Celebrity. Every day offers an opportunity to delight your taste buds and discover something new and delicious during a meal in our Main Dining Room or at one of our specialty restaurants.
Reserve a table at Murano, where you’ll savor classic French cuisine with a contemporary flair. Try dishes such as escargot and paté, and experience the thrill of cherries jubilee flamed tableside just for you.
Sushi on Five
Go way beyond California rolls for a fresh and authentic Japanese food experience at Sushi on Five. Sit at the sushi bar and watch the chef prepare nigiri, inside-out spicy tuna rolls, and a variety of traditional sushi and sashimi. Or reserve a table and enjoy menu items such as silken tofu salad, shrimp tempura, and pork or lobster ramen bowls.
Don’t forget to save room for dessert. Go traditional with pastel-colored mochi in matcha tea or strawberry flavors, or go grand with the chef’s spectacular caramelized ginger bread served with wasabi gelato, sesame rice milk, and passion fruit.
Watch: Le Petit Chef and friends at Le Grand Bistro
Take part in a unique culinary experience with a fun, high tech twist at Le Petit Chef. Watch as a 3D projection of a tiny chef heaps virtual ingredients on your plate just as your server delivers freshly cooked, beautifully plated food to your table. Le Petit Chef’s fun menu includes continental items such as bouillabaisse, truffled ravioli, and filet mignon with bordelaise sauce.
11: Discover Your New Favorite Cocktail
Martini Bar
Classic or casual, shaken or stirred, there’s no shortage of onboard cocktails to suit everyone’s taste during a Celebrity cruise.
The Martini Bar has a reputation as being the coolest bar on the ship—and not just because of its ice-topped bar. The venue’s team of bartenders are experts in whipping up a martini of your choice with an added touch of flair.
If you’re into astrology, head to the Sky Observation Lounge, where you can order one of their signature Zodiac cocktails and find out if your sign’s cocktail matches your personality.
Sunset Bar
Dress up for a romantic date night and sip a bubbly champagne cocktail while cantilevered over the sea on the Magic Carpet on Celebrity Edge or Apex.
Slip into vacation mode with tropical cocktails at the Pool & Mast Bar, or enjoy an Aperol Spritz while admiring the view at Sunset Bar.
12: Be Entertained
Celebrity onboard entertainment
There’s no shortage of live entertainment to enjoy during your cruise. At our state-of-the-art theater, watch a Broadway-worthy show filled with evocative music, acrobatics, colorful sets, and captivating stories.
See song and dance productions, and take the kids to sing-a-longs and dance-alongs backed by the scintillating sounds of a full orchestra.
Lawn Club
Listen to a concert while sitting on the real, velvety grass of The Lawn Club on Solstice-series ships. Spend an evening under the stars watching a film on the Rooftop Terrace, or find a table or a place at the bar and listen to a jazz combo.
13: Play, Your Way
Lawn Club
If it’s active sports you’re after, join an impromptu game of pickleball or basketball, available at our outdoor court on Solstice-series and Millennium-series ships. The Lawn Club is the perfect place for a family-friendly game of bocce, golf, or lawn bowling.
Read: 13 Things to Do Outdoors on a Cruise Ship
Casino
Tempt lady luck at our onboard casino, where you can play Vegas-style table games including blackjack, craps, and baccarat. Meanwhile, slots enthusiasts can have a go at video slot games, including Wheel of Fortune, Double Gold, and Super Star Poker.
GoPro game
Challenge the kids to video bowling, tennis, and more. Look out for announcements of trivia contests and other evening games for adults in our daily Celebrity Today newsletter, delivered to your stateroom each evening during turndown service.
14: Dance The Night Away
Celebrity Let’s Dance Series
Where can you dance on a Celebrity cruise? Pretty much anywhere.
Sway to Motown tunes, Top 40 hits, or tropical music played by a talented band of entertainers while hanging out by the pool.
At the Sky Observation Lounge, dance under the stars and listen to the DJ’s music beneath the crystal-clear glass ceiling.
Quasar
Or get your groove on dancing under disco balls and colored strobe lights at Quasar, a retro-chic nightclub available on Solstice-series ships, while a DJ spins tunes from a sphere-shaped control booth.
15: Take A Class
Foster your interests or discover new hobbies at one of the many daily classes offered during your cruise.
Learn the basics of digital photography, the art of watercolor, or the craft of jewelry creation.
Celebrity cooking class
Practice the art of mixing the perfect cocktail, learn how to pair wine and cheese, or take a fun cooking class inspired by one of your port destination’s local cuisine.
Brush up on your tech skills at the iLounge, where you can learn how to create movies, edit digital photos, as well as other basic computer skills, and even purchase a range of Apple products.
16: Unwind In The Library
Library
When thinking of what to do on a cruise, don’t forget to schedule in some quiet time. Head to the onboard library and choose from a selection of fiction and non-fiction titles from the floor-to-ceiling bookcases. The cozy room invites you to relax as you sink into a sofa and get lost in a classic novel or latest bestseller.
17: Chill Out With Silent Meditation
Start your day off right or take the time to center yourself after a busy day in port with a guided silent meditation practice. Head outdoors with a pair of Silent Technology headphones provided on board and start your breathing exercises as you gaze into the vast blue ocean in front of you.
Browse all of our cruise itineraries online and start planning your next vacation aboard one of our luxury cruise ships.
