Inside: Tips For Staying Healthy On Cruise Ships. Collaborative post.
If you’re looking for new travel experiences, a trip on a cruise ship may seem alluring. According to an annual report from the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), the cruise industry has experienced robust growth in recent years, with passenger volume reaching a record 31.7 million in 2023 — a 7% increase over numbers from 2019.
Meanwhile, the CLIA projects that cruise capacity from 2024 to 2028 will see a 10% rise. The report also highlighted the significant economic contribution of the cruise industry despite it constituting only 2% of global travel. In 2022, the cruise industry generated $138 billion (£108.3 billion) globally, supported 1.2 million jobs worldwide, and contributed $43 billion (£33.7 billion) in wages.
As you can see, the popularity of cruise travel points to shifting consumer preferences. Aside from providing a luxurious alternative to standard air travel, cruise ships are also bound to provide fresh experiences for those sick of going through crowded airports.
However, while travelling by cruise can certainly be a fun and memorable experience — whether solo or with your family — it’s also important not to overlook your health and wellness while onboard.
Popular cruise lines like Celebrity Cruises offer loads of different on board facilities to make sure your cruise stay is healthy. Below, we’ll be sharing some tips for staying healthy while on a cruise ship:
Make use of onboard facilities
As mentioned above, cruise ships offer various onboard experiences and facilities that can support your health and wellness. These facilities differ depending on the cruise line you go with and how long your itinerary will be, but it’s always best to inquire ahead if you need or want specific onboard fitness opportunities.
Explora Journeys’ luxury cruises offer a variety of well-being and fitness programmes, including open-air fitness opportunities like on-deck yoga and even access to a thermal spa for some much-needed relaxation.
Explora Journeys’s offering of well-being and fitness programmes is also designed to be tailored to specific passenger needs and preferences meant to keep them motivated, improve sleep quality, as well as help lower stress levels. Explora’s ships also champion mindful nutrition, as well as in-suite guided meditation sessions if you’d like to embrace wellness in the privacy of your suite.
Opt for healthier cuisine options
Some cruise lines focus on providing healthy nutrition options for passengers in addition to specialised health, wellness, and fitness opportunities onboard. Norwegian Cruise Line recently announced 2025’s Norwegian Aqua, which will offer fresh food and beverage experiences, including its first plant-based eatery, a new wine bar, and an upscale Thai restaurant.
The new Planterie will offer plant-based bowls and other healthy options, which is great if you want to uphold your healthy eating habits while on holiday.
Of course, if you’re travelling with family, it can help to encourage everyone to eat healthy together. While there are certainly a lot of delicious and tempting culinary options on cruise ships, it’s also important to encourage the rest of your group or family to embrace healthier eating options. You can also pack healthy snacks and meals to bring onboard to help motivate your family to embrace eating healthy.
Remember sun protection
Finally, aside from making time for physical exercise and healthy nutrition on a cruise ship, it’s also essential not to overlook other aspects of your physical health. One of the most important things you shouldn’t forget when going on a cruise ship is sun protection— whether a hat, sunglasses, or sunblock to prevent dreaded sunburn and harmful UV radiation while enjoying cruise activities on deck.
Experts recommend at least SPF 30 sunblock if you have plans for cruise bathing or other on-deck activities. You can also look into packing UPF clothing to help protect your skin from the sun. While a cruise ship holiday can be memorable, it’s certainly best to avoid coming back home with nasty sunburn marks or even migraines caused by exposure to the bright sun.