14 Free Things To Try On Your Next Cruise

You will never get bored on a cruise, there are so many things to do and try – and lots of them are free of charge!

If you are wondering what to do with yourself whilst onboard, why not try one of these free options?

#1 Attend A “Sailaway” Party

Lots of cruise ships have “Sailaway” parties. Enjoy food and drink and dance the day away on the pool deck as you sail out of port.

Cruise lines often offer barbequed food – burgers, hot dogs, etc.- that is served outside around the pool. You can relax and watch the entertainment, often bands or dancers, and enjoy your favourite drinks. It’s a great way to spend an afternoon!

#2 Watch A Live Show

There are so many shows to enjoy onboard. Music, comedy, magicians and, on some ships – Broadway-style musicals!

Check your daily schedule or cruise ship App to see what is available.

On some larger cruise ships, you may need to book your seat via the app before the performance.

If you haven’t remembered to book your seat at the show, don’t worry. Extra seats are usually released just prior to the performances, so just go along and see if there is a space.

#3 Take A Dip In The Pool

Cruise ships usually have multiple pools onboard – both inside and outside pools, so even if the weather isn’t great, you can still swim.

My personal favourite cruise line for pools is Princess. They seem to have lots of lovely pools onboard, and they never seem to get overly busy!

My least favourite cruise line for pools is Virgin Voyages. They only have one extremely small pool on the top deck, so it wouldn’t be very good for those who like to swim.

Find out what I thought of my cruise onboard Virgin Voyages Scarlett Lady here:

#3 Trivia

This is one of my favourite things to do on a cruise. My family and I always enjoy trivia, and we all have different areas of knowledge, so we work well as a team.

Often Trivia is held in the pub or bars – and you will find lots of British people attending, it feels a bit like a national pastime!

Often you can win prizes, key rings, bottles of wine, or points toward bigger, more worthwhile prices. When I sailed with Azamara, they had a points system, and by the end of the week, I had enough points to get a free T-shirt! I am easily pleased…

Find out about my Azamara cruise here:

#4 Take A Dance Class

You will often find Line Dancing, Zumba, or even Ballroom Dancing lessons available free of charge – often in one of the cruise ship bars.

Learn a new dance routine and make some new friends along the way!

#5 Take a Behind-the-Scenes Tour

Some cruise lines offer free behind-the-scenes tours, which allow you to get a glimpse of life “below decks” – in the galley, around the laundry, etc.

Some cruise lines do charge for these tours, but others, like Norwegian, offer some free tours to their loyalty scheme members.

One of the most interesting tours I took was around the Laundry onboard Norwegian Spirit. It was free as part of my Lattitudes Loyalty Status with the cruise line.

Laundry crew members work SO hard to make sure we all have clean bedding, tablecloths, napkins, etc!

On some ships, you are able to take a Bridge Tour – although many lines charge extra for this.

#6 Enjoy Movies Under the Stars

Grab a blanket and popcorn for a movie on the big screen by the pool.

Many cruise lines offer this experience, and it is great when you are travelling somewhere with warm summer evenings.

In cooler climates, wrap up warm and make sure you have plenty of blankets – Many times I have given up on the film because I am too cold to stay and watch it through to the end!

#7 Attend A Port Talk

Cruise lines often have port talks, in the bars or the Theatre, so you can learn about the interesting places you will visit.

This is often a way for cruise lines to try to sell you an excursion, but you can often “go it alone” and do your own thing in port to save money. It is worth doing some research before you travel so you don’t miss any “must-see” sights.

Find out more about the options available here:

Shore Excursions vs. Exploring Solo: Which is Better for You?

When I sailed from the UK to Barcelona on P&O’s Arvia, the weather wasn’t good. I kept showing up to the port talks, but the poor lady who was supposed to be taking them got terribly seasick and didn’t show up!

I do get seasick at times, but I thought Arvia handled the bad weather beautifully – I felt fine.

Find out all about that eventful cruise here:

#8 Relax in the Sauna or Steam Room

Some ships allow you to access the sauna or steam room free of charge, although any spa treatments will come at an extra charge.

As part of my loyalty status with MSC I get a free hour in the thermal area onboard, and I always like to make use of that.

#9 Take A Stroll On The Promenade Deck

I love a Promenade Deck!

Most ships have a Promenade Ceck of some sort; sadly, in recent years, ships aren’t being built with full Promenade Decks where you can walk a complete lap of the ship.

Enjoy the sea breeze and panoramic views – and walk off all that food you may have eaten!

Find out more about Promenade Decks, their purpose and their history here:

Cruise Ship Promenade Decks – Photos, Uses, and History

#10 Visit The Observation Lounge

Observation lounges are often located at the top of the ship, curving from port to starboard.

They are a great place to take in the scenery on all sides whilst relaxing with a drink.

I particularly enjoy an observation lounge if I have booked an inside cabin. It is a great place to watch the sail-ins and sailaways from.

In the evening there is often live music, bands or pianists for example.

If you are really lucky, the observation lounge might serve free snacks too – it is always worth checking!

#11 Attend Enrichment Lectures

Many cruise lines have interesting speakers, with a range of topics from history to travel.

I have attended lectures by a Concord Pilot, a Politician, Celebrity Chefs, and many more.

When I took a cruise to Norway “In Search of the Northern Lights” we had some wonderful lectures by David Nikel, an expert on Life in Norway. I learnt so much, and we have remained friends to this day.

Find out more about David and his lectures here.

David suggested I joined him on a Havila ferry cruise along the coast of Norway to really explore the smaller ports in Norway. Find out about that amazing experience here:

It is my ambition to see a lecture by my friend Chris Frame, a Maritime Historian who lectures onboard Cunard ships. Unfortunately he lives in Australia, so It hasn’t happened yet!

Chris has a wonderful website, and if you need to know anything about ship history, he is your man! I will link to his website here.

#12 Go To A Craft Workshop

I made flowers out of ribbon with my nieces onboard Anthem of the Seas.

Other activities may include painting, colouring, card making, Origami – all sorts!

Activities are fun and relaxing, and a great way to make new friends onboard.

# 13 Cookery Demonstrations

Discover new recipes and cooking techniques with live chef demonstrations onboard.

I would never describe myself as a keen cook or baker – but I did make a Mushroom Risotto onboard P&O’s Britannia with Celebrity Chef, Marco Pierre White!

Marco Pierre White said my Mushroom Risotto was “very good” – I have never made one since!

Cooking with Marco Pierre White did come at an additional charge – but cooking demonstrations are often free.

#14 Attend A Themed Night Party

Most cruise lines have some sort themed night – White Nights, 1980s nights, Pirate Nights, Red and Gold nights – different cruise lines have different themes.

You can often find details of the theme on the Cruise lines App before you sail, so you know what to pack.

Theme Nights On Cruise Ships (Everything You Need to Know) – Examples

Before You Go

Find out about real examples of what guests wear on cruise ship White Nights here:

What Do People Actually Wear On White Night? Real Photos, Examples and Suggestions

Find out about Broadway Musicals you might be able to watch at sea here:

12 Broadway Musicals You Can See At Sea! (Included)