Avoid Cruise Ship Weight Gain – 7 Easy Things You Can Do

We’ve all heard horror stories that claim that you’ll put on a pound a day during a cruise, but cruise ship weight gain isn’t inevitable.

I’ve never put on weight on a cruise and in this post, I share with you seven easy things you can do to prevent weight gain while still treating yourself.

Your enjoyment of the cruise should definitely be your main focus. Putting on weight isn’t the end of the world – but if you would like to avoid it, read on.

#1 Set Yourself A ‘Stair Limit’

At the start of your cruise, set yourself a number of flights of stairs that you would be willing to walk. Maybe this is two flights, five flights, or ten!

If at any point in the cruise you need to go up or down less than this number of flights try to walk.

Cruise ships can sometimes be up to 17 decks high so I always set my limit at ten flights.

If I want to go up or down less than ten flights of stairs I always try to walk.

It becomes a bit of a challenge for me and I enjoy it. I will usually take the elevator if I’m wearing heels though.

#2 Pre-Plan Exercise Classes (And Stick To It!)

Each night, you’ll be given a schedule for the next day of your cruise.

This is a great time to decide if you’re going to take any exercise classes the next day. Once you have decided, stick to it! On my Princess cruise, I went to Zumba every sea day at 9 a.m., which was so much fun.

Don’t forget to pack your gym clothes!

9 am might not sound too early, but on a cruise, that is a really early morning for me.

Deciding that I would take part the night before meant that I set my alarm and actually went. It is so easy to be distracted or just not bother if you leave it until the last minute.

Exercise classes are a great way to make friends with fellow cruisers too!

Free Zumba classes was definitely one of my favourite things about cruising with Princess.

If you’d like to learn a little more about cruising with Princess, watch this video about my trip on Sky Princess next:

#3 – Hop On A Bike

Choosing the right shore excursions can be a great way to ensure that you don’t gain weight during your cruise.

From walking tours to kayaking, there is an active excursion that suits every fitness level.

I often do my own walking tour in ports – this is not only good for the waistline but the wallet too!

Find out eveything you need to know about getting off and exploring on your own in ports here:

Getting Off The Cruise Ship in Port – What To Expect, What To Take – And Other Useful Hints and Tips For A Successful Day Out!

In Talin, Estonia, I took a biking tour organised by Marella Cruises. We cycled 20 miles – and it was exhausting!

Sadly it rained a lot during our tour but it was so much fun, definitely a highlight of the entire cruise.

A bike or walking tour is often the best way to explore a new port.

If you visit by bike or foot, you’ll feel a lot more like you’ve explored a place than if you try to see it through a steamed-up coach window!

Find out more about that great cruise with Marella here:

#4 Get Out Of Your Food Comfort Zone

It is a lot easier to eat healthily when somebody else is preparing all of your meals for you.

I am quite happy to eat a salad if somebody else is going to prepare it for me – and wash up afterwards!

The variety on cruise ships can be vast. Make sure you take advantage of the opportunity to try lots of new foods.

For me, the portions onboard are probably smaller than you would serve yourself at home, so embrace eating. (Unless you are on an American cruise line, when they tend to be far larger!)

Make sure you treat yourself. Below is a dessert from the Avalon Tapestry 2. The quality of food on ships is far superior to anything I’d have at home (although I’d probably give myself a bigger portion).

#5 Drink Smart

The temptation to indulge in drink is one of the big problems that many cruisers face.

It’s very easy for calories to ‘hide’ in drinks. A pint of cider, for example, will set you back around 400 calories! Madness! Think of the doughnuts you could have for that.

Of course, I am not going to suggest that you don’t have a drink on your cruise. If you want to, do it, but all things in moderation.

Being mindful of what you drink and choosing low-calorie drinks can really make a difference. I’ve heard that prosecco is pretty low in calories…

Low-calorie alcoholic drink options (under 200 calories):

• Martini
• Mojito
• Vodka Soda
• Old Fashioned
• Gin & Tonic
• Prosecco

Prosecco was one of my favourite things about my cruise with Marella.

Their cruise ships are ‘all-inclusive,’ which means that they literally handed me a glass of Prosecco every day when I walked into the theatre.

I always enjoy sailing with Marella. To find out about my latest cruise with them, watch the video below:

#6 Use A Step Tracker And Set A Step Goal

Consider purchasing a Fitbit (or another similar step tracker) for your next cruise.

Being able to see my step count always encourages me to walk more. I set myself a goal of at least 10k steps per day – but I often do 15 or 20k. My all-time record is 34k!

It’s pretty easy to reach a 10k daily goal on a cruise ship without even really trying. Walking a couple of laps of the promenade deck or between venues will mean you reach this target without too much trouble.

I’ve had various Fitbits and other activity trackers. I’ve now settled on an Apple watch.

It also tracks your heartbeat and the number of stairs that you’ve climbed. Amazingly, I managed to climb 93 in a day onboard a ship once!

#7 If All Else Fails…Head To The Gym!

I’ve only ever been on a cruise ship Gym to film a tour, but I hear that many people love them.

If you are going to spend your time on a treadmill I’m sure it’s much more pleasant to be running while looking out at the sea than the usual view of the car park from a gym at home.

I can’t think of a single cruise ship that doesn’t have a Gym. Amazingly, even river cruise ships have small Gyms.

Gyms on cruise ships are usually open from early in the morning until late at night and are usually free to use.

Find out more about cruise ship Gyms here:

This is What You’ll Find Inside Cruise Ship Gyms (Waivers, Age Restrictions & More)

It is possible to cruise without gaining weight – but the most important thing is that you enjoy your cruise – weight gain or no weight gain!

Why not try a more active cruising experience? I have taken two Cruise, Barge and Bike holidays, where I cycled through towns and villages in Germany.

It was certainly out of my comfort zone – but I had the most amazing time.

Find out more about my trip here:

Before You Go

Find out five ways that cruising benefits your mind and body here:

5 Ways Taking a Cruise Benefits Your Body and Brain!

Find out the eleven things I look forward to on a cruise here:

11 Things I Look Forward To When I’m Going On A Cruise