I’m addicted to vacations. I absolutely love to travel! The problem is, however, that I don’t much care for flying. I also don’t enjoy spending hours and hours in an automobile driving to a far-away destination. So how does one get to distant vistas without a car or a plane? Simple – on a cruise ship! It’s the ultimate vacation experience. There’s none of that “are we there yet?” because getting there is half the fun!

One of the most popular cruise lines is Royal Caribbean. Their ships are amazing, and so is the service on board. You have a wide choice of staterooms, including interior cabins, exterior cabins with balconies, and roomy suites. Destinations from the mainland U.S. include the Bahamas, Mexico, the Caribbean, Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, New England, and the Panama Canal Zone. You can even take a transatlantic cruise to Europe!

Remember I said getting there is half the fun? There’s plenty to do and see on the ship to keep even the most jaded traveler entertained. The choice of activities differs from ship to ship, but some of the fun is found on every ship. Check out the following:

Rock climbing: You’ll find a rock climbing wall on every ship. Kids and teens especially love this. Imagine the panoramic view from the top! Don’t worry; this is a perfectly safe activity.

Swimming and hot tubs: Take a refreshing dip in one of the pools on the ship. Some of the ships have both indoor and outdoor pools. You’ll also find special pools for kids and hot tubs for everyone.

Flowrider: This thing is awesome! It’s just like real surfing, with a real surfboard and real water. The Flowrider is a real fave with the younger crowd, and with the young-at-heart bunch.

Spa: Every Royal Caribbean ship has a spa onboard. You’ll be totally pampered and rejuvenated! Get a massage, a new hair style, acupuncture, a Botox treatment, or have your teeth whitened.

Fitness center: You can work off all those extra calories you’ll consume onboard at the state-of-the-art fitness center that includes weight machines, free weights, treadmills, stationary bikes, stair steppers, saunas, and whirlpools. You can also take a class in aerobics, pilates, or yoga.

Basketball: On the sports deck, you’ll find basketball courts and half-courts.

Other sports: You can also enjoy a game of ping-pong, shuffleboard, billiards, dodge ball, volleyball, or pool volleyball on many of Royal Caribbean’s ships.

Golf: For the swingers onboard, there’s a golf simulator and a small golf course on some ships. One thing’s for sure – you won’t find a course anywhere with better views!

Skating: Got a skater in your group? No prob. Inline skating is offered on selected ships.

Zipline: Some of Royal Caribbean’s ships even have an onboard zipline.

Scuba course: Take a scuba diving course on board. Then you’ll be ready for a real scuba adventure once you reach your destination.

Jogging:  Take a trot or run around the course up top as you breathe in the scintillating sea air and soak in the views.

Shows: All the Royal Caribbean ships offer live entertainment. These might include musical reviews, plays, ice shows, comedy, or live music.

Games and contests: You can enjoy all kinds of games on board. These might include bingo, trivia, Scrabble, scavenger hunts, chess, bridge, or a version of the Newlywed Game. Some of the contests onboard include karaoke and talent shows.

Shopping: If you’re a shopaholic, you can entertain yourself by shopping right on the ship. You’ll find great bargains on jewelry, designer watches, clothing, art, fragrances, liquors, tobacco, cosmetics, souvenirs, and toiletries. Best of all, everything is guaranteed, and it’s tax and duty-free!

Gaming: Try your luck at one of the onboard Las Vegas-style casinos. Enjoy roulette, poker, blackjack, or slot machines. You can even take a quick class on strategies.

Dining: You’ll actually spend a lot of time onboard eating – unless you just don’t like food. Restaurants vary some from ship to ship, but all include formal dining rooms, casual buffets, room service, family dining options, and 24-7 eateries. Some of Royal Caribbean’s ships offer a mystery dinner theater that’s getting some great reviews. Or how about an ice cream parlor? Or a seafood shack? Donut shop, anyone? Warning: bring along some stretch pants.

Nightlife: As night falls on the ship, the action really cranks up. Dance and party until the wee hours in one of the pubs, dance clubs, or lounges on board.

Kids and teens: If you brought the kids along, they’ll find all kinds of fun things to do and neat places to just “hang out.” Games, arcades, discovery activities, and special teen night clubs will keep them all happy. And if mom and dad need some alone time, the Royal Caribbean staff will take of the little ones.

If you’ve never experienced the luxury of a cruise, treat yourself soon. Cruising is a totally stress-free vacation. There’s as much or as little as you want to do. On our first cruise, my husband and I scoffed at the fact that the ship offered free movies in our stateroom. We wondered, “Who in the heck is going to stay in their room long enough to watch a movie?” We had to eat those words on the last night of our cruise. We were so exhausted from having so much fun that we actually spent a quiet night in our cabin!

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