Cruise Ship Bowling Alleys: Which Cruise Lines Have Them and What You Need to Know

Cruise ships now have more and more things onboard to entertain their guests. From water parks to rock climbing, video game arcades to air hockey tables – there really is something to suit everybody.

Many ships also have bowling alleys onboard, not just one cruise line, but many lines have them.

In this post, we look at some of the ships that have them, what it costs, and what to expect.

Cruise Lines That Have Bowling Alleys

• Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) – most consistently across most of their newer ships.
  • Norwegian Pearl was the first to have a bowling alley when she was launched in 2006.
• MSC Cruises – Newer ships often have bowling alleys.
  • On Meraviglia and Seaside class ships, you will find bowling alleys.
  • Mini bowling is available on older ships, such as Magnifica, Preziosa, Splendida, and Divina.
• Other Mentions
  • Carnival Vista and Carnival Celebration have bowling alleys, but most Carnival ships don’t.

Some Ships Have Had Bowling Alleys Removed

Norwegian Gem, Norwegian Dawn, Norwegian Jade, and Norwegian Jewel have all had their bowling alleys removed during refurbishment.

Presumably, they didn’t get enough use out of them, and they wanted to make better use of the space.

What’s the Bowling Experience Like Onboard?

You can either find full bowling alleys or mini bowling alleys on board.

Often, these alleys have flashy lighting, digital scoreboards, and arcade-style vibes.

Sometimes bowling alleys are part of a larger entertainment zone, such as on the new Norwegian Aqua.

Do You Have to Pay to Bowl?

Yes, you have to pay extra to use the bowling alley. Costs vary from cruise line to cruise line.

The amount you pay for bowling can depend on the ship, the season and the demand.

They will either charge you by the game or by the hour.

Typically, mini bowling is less expensive than the full-size alleys. It typically costs around $6 or more for five frames.

Full-sized alleys on MSC ships can cost around $45 per lane for an hour.

You can usually book ahead, and this is recommended if you have a specific time slot in mind or if you’re travelling during peak season or on a popular cruise.

If you don’t have a particular time slot in mind, you can normally walk up and play whenever it suits you.

Does the Ship’s Movement Affect Bowling?

It makes sense that if the seas are calm, or you are docked in port, then you are more likely to get better strikes!

If the ship is moving, well it’s part of the fun – but rarely makes bowling unplayable.

Is Bowling Worth It on a Cruise?

Bowling can be a nice, fun activity for families, especially on sea days.

It does cost extra though, so it’s one of those “just once” activities for most.

It can be more crowded on rainy days when people can’t get out to enjoy the top decks.

Whether this extra cost activity is worth it to you, when there are so many other activities you could do for free, is only for you to decide.

Other Unusual Activities You Can Try at Sea

Bigger, new ships have lots of interesting onboard activities to choose from.

Laser tag, ropes courses, roller blading, surf simulators, mini golf, sky diving simulators, rock climbing walls – to mention just a few!

When I was invited to try Norwegian Aqua before her official launch, I got to try out all of the games in the “Gamezone area” – including a VR rollercoaster ride, where I was exploring the inside of a fridge!

Yes, you did read that right! Have a look at that, and all the other fun things I got up to onboard here:

Before You Go

If you are like me, you might not want to spend lots of money on things that come at an extra charge. Find out about some free things to do on your next cruise here:

14 Free Things To Try On Your Next Cruise

Have a look at 12 free fun activities that you can do on an MSC cruise here:

12 Free Things You Have to Try on MSC Cruises (Tried and Tested!)