30 Fun Things to Do on a Cruise: Free to Paid Activities
What are the things to do on a cruise? A cruise ship vacation is a destination in itself.
You can spend the entirety of your vacation just enjoying all a cruise ship has to offer, from free cruise activities to paid ones. How much you decide to do is up to you.
And port destinations are a big part of cruising. Cruises travel all over with many different ports of call itineraries. Making it easy for cruisers to travel and explore multiple destinations in a short amount of time, which is part of the fun.
Other cruisers are all about the cruise ship and the journey, preferring to enjoy and take advantage of all the things to do on a cruise.
Then there are others (like us) who simply love the balance between what the cruise ship offers and exploring new destinations.
Regardless of your reason for cruising, there are things to do on a cruise for everyone. From free activities included in your cruise fare to things that may cost you extra, we’ll outline the best things to do while on your cruise vacation.
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Whether you want to relax by the pool or spend your days at the spa, we’ve got you covered. Here are 30 fun things to do on a cruise in 2023, broken down into categories of free cruise activities and paid ones with a small fee and cover charge.
With any cruise planning you do, always research and read about the ship to see what’s available. Every cruise ship is different and may feature different cruise activities.
Cruise Tip: Every night, your cabin steward will deliver your cruise ship dailies with all the activities on the cruise ship for the next day. Read through it carefully, and mark what you're interested in with a pen or highlighter. Although, advancements have been made to many cruise line mobile app where you can look over daily acitivites on the cruise ship and simply check off the things you'd like to do.
Don’t worry. An excellent cruise ship director will keep the ship excited and informed of all ongoing and upcoming activities.
If you have cruised before, let me know in the comments. What do you do on a cruise? How do you like to spend your time on a cruise ship?
Free Things To Do On A Cruise
What is there to do on a cruise ship?
Let’s dive in to the top 30 and fun things to do on a cruise.
1. Spend Time by the Pool
Spending time by the pool with a delicious fruity drink with an umbrella is one of the top things to do on a cruise, especially on Caribbean cruises.
Some cruise ships have multiple pools, while others may have just one or two main pools for the entire cruise ship.
You’ll find lounge chairs around the pool deck and other areas of the ship where you can relax in the sun or enjoy reading a book.
Sometimes finding a pool chair can be a struggle. You can either get up early to snag an ideal spot or find a quiet corner on a deck that most ignore.
If you want to avoid the crowds, try using the pools on decks higher up on the ship. These areas are often less crowded since most people prefer to be closer to the action on the main pool deck.
2. Don’t Miss the Waterslides
You are never too old to old to enjoy the waterslides. Not all cruise ships have water slides but try them if there is one. On a cruise ship not long ago, one of us went down their first water slide and has been obsessed since then.
The best part about the waterslides on a cruise ship is that there are almost always no lines. You can go down as many times as you want.
3. See a Show
One of the things that most people enjoy on a cruise is the Broadway-style shows.
Cruise ships typically have a main show in the theater that changes each night. This is why it’s important to read your cruise ship activities schedule every night before bed to decide what you’ll do the next day.
4. Movie Nights Under the Stars
If you are looking for things to do on a night cruise, you should check out the outdoor movie screenings.
Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises do this well by showing popular movies on a giant screen by the pool. They’ll hand out popcorn and blankets, so you can cozy up under the stars and watch movies.
Inside movie theaters are also available on some cruise ships. These are great options if the weather isn’t ideal for an outdoor movie screening.
5. Royal Caribbean’s FlowRider is Free
The Flow Rider is one of the best things to do on a Royal Caribbean cruise, a free cruise activity. Flow Rider is a simulated surfing machine that uses high-powered water jets to create waves.
You can boogie board or surf on the Flow Rider. If you’ve never done it before, this is your chance!
6. Eat Ice Cream Daily
Every cruise ship has either soft-serve or hand-scoop ice cream in the buffet for free. You should indulge in a cone every single day of your cruise.
You only live once!
7. Go to Karaoke and Maybe Sing a Song for Everyone
Karaoke is one of those things that some people love and others hate. If you enjoy belting out a tune in front of strangers, go for it!
If not, grab a drink and enjoy watching others belt it out. You may be surprised by the talent out there.
This is one of those free cruise activities that can be quite entertaining.
8. Check out Dueling Pianos
This is one of our favorite things to do on a Norwegian cruise line mega-ship. The Norwegian Getaway has a great dueling piano bar packed with people having a great time.
The pianists are amazing and always get the crowd going. It is one of the best things to do on a cruise night.
6. Borrow a Book from the Library
Believe it or not, cruises have libraries, and you are welcome to check out books from them. There is no need to pack actual books on a cruise if you don’t want to. You can always visit the library to see what they have.
Of course, the library may be limited in what’s available.
Once you have your book, you can read by the pool, in a lounge chair on the deck, or even in your stateroom.
7. Go to the Gym
Not everyone wants to work out on vacation, but free access to the cruise gym is important for some. It can be the best way for them to start their cruise days.
8. Participate in Daily Trivia
Daily trivia happens more than once a day on a cruise ship, usually in the atrium or lounges. Check out the daily planner. This is a great way to meet people and learn some new things.
You can even win prizes for participating in trivia on a cruise.
9. Participate in Themed Dance Parties
Many cruise ships will have themed dance parties throughout the cruise. These can be a lot of fun, especially if you participate.
The Norwegian Cruise Line is known for its cruise ship parties. They have a White Hot Party, a Glow Party, 70’s and 80’s nights. They are all fun; you can dress up and join in.
Virgin Cruises has a scarlet night, where everyone dresses in red colors, and there is a huge pool party.
Research the cruise line you’re cruising with to see if there are any special nights and parties.
Are you still debating if a cruise vacation is for you? See our 25 reasons why cruising is one of the best vacations.
10. Sit by the Martini Bar
One of my favorite things to do on a cruise, specifically on a Celebrity cruise, is to sit and order a drink at the Martini Bar. This bar is among the most popular on the ship because of its great atmosphere and drinks.
You can tell the bartenders are always in a good mood and make some of the best martinis. You can watch them show off their bartending skills if you’re there at the right time.
Sitting near the bar, people-watching is free, as is the martini on Celebrity since their cruise fares include free drinks.
What is your favorite cruise ship bar?
11. Join a Bar Crawl
Speaking of bars, one of the most fun things to do on a cruise ship is a Bar Crawl, especially if you have a free beverage package. You can set this up as one of the cruise activities for adults to do with the group you’re traveling with. Or you can join one that may be planned with your cruise roll call on Cruise Critic.
The ship has many bars, and it’s a fun way to try all of them.
This is a gray area because you may or may not have to pay for the drinks. It all depends on the cruise fare you booked. Celebrity Cruises includes drinks (up to $9), NCL Beverage Package is almost always part of their Free at Sea Promo, and other cruise lines sometimes have similar promotions.
So, if you take advantage of free drinks, think about doing a bar crawl.
12. Soak in a Hot Tub
Cruise ships have amazing hot tubs. These are great places to relax, especially at night. During the day, they may be full and busy, so at night, it’s a great time to sneak in and soak in a hot tub.
You can find hot tubs on the main decks of the ship, and they are usually open late depending on the cruise ship’s rules. So, if you’re looking for things to do on a cruise at night, change into your swimsuit and get into a hot tub.
13. Stop by the Buffet for Late Night Snacks
Most cruise ships have a small selection of late-night snacks and food at the buffet or nearby. It’s a great spot to hit after hitting up a Broadway show or dancing.
We always like to stop by there for that one slice of pizza before bed. We are on vacation, after all.
14. Do the Rope Course
Some cruise ships have rope courses that are usually free to use. They are a lot of fun and a great way to exercise while on vacation. Plus, there are some great views from up on the rope course.
Carnival, Disney, MSC, NCL, and Royal Caribbean all have cruise ships with rope courses.
15. Play Mini Golf
Mini golf is another one of those cruise activities that can be found on a lot of cruise ships and is included in the price of the cruise. This can be a fun cruise activity as a family, couple, or with friends.
16. Play Ping Pong
Ping-pong tables are usually found on cruise ships. It’s one of those cruise activities you need to play at least once during your cruise.
17. See a Comedy Show
There hasn’t been a cruise that we haven’t been on that had a comedy show. Usually, they’ll have one big night in the main theater and then on other nights in one of the smaller lounges and bars.
They are free to attend and a great way to spend an evening after dinner.
Just be warned, the comedians usually pick on people in the audience, so don’t be surprised if you get called out.
18. Zip-Lining
Yes, some cruise ships have zip lining. It’s one of the things to do on a Royal Caribbean cruise, most notably on Harmony of the Seas and its sister ships.
Shockingly, it is a free activity on their cruise ships. Be adventurous and book it.
19. Don’t Miss a Sunrise or Sunset
You can see the sunrise or sunset for free on land any day of the week, but on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean is a whole other special experience.
Sunrises and sunsets at sea are some of the most beautiful moments of your day on a cruise. Make sure not to miss it. Find a good spot to watch it with a cocktail in hand. Usually, you can find a bar at aft of the ship perfect for watching the sunset.
Before you set sail, pack these essentials that will help make your cruise even more enjoyable. These items include everything from sun protection essentials to must-have medications. So don’t forget to add them to your cruise packing list.
Cruise Activities with an Extra Cost
These things to do on a cruise will cost you a little extra money, but they can be worth it.
Should you spend money on these cruise activities? That is a personal choice and what you want from your cruise vacation.
You don’t have to spend anything on a cruise vacation to keep busy and have a fabulous vacation.
20. Get a Massage or Treatment at the Spa
Booking any treatment at the spa is such a special treat. It’s a great way to relax and recharge your batteries. And it can be fun to spend time on a cruise sea day.
If this is something that you normally do not treat yourself at home, you may want to consider some self-care. Maybe a manicure and pedicure combo? A massage? A body scrub?
21. Purchase a Thermal Spa Pass
What is a thermal spa on a cruise ship? It’s an extra special spa area with many heat treatments like saunas, a steam room, and maybe a thalassotherapy pool.
You can purchase a pass to the thermal spa for your time on the cruise and have unlimited access. Many cruisers love escaping crowds and spending time in the thermal spa. It’s a relaxing environment for them.
Sometimes, cruises have day passes available to the thermal spa, but this is rare.
If you’re curious about a thermal pass but not completely convinced, the thermal spas are usually open for everyone to tour on embarkation day. You can look, see what’s included with the thermal pass, and sign up if interested.
Note that not all cruise ships have thermal spas.
22. Book a Specialty Restaurant
The specialty restaurants are an additional cost, but worth to try it if you’re a foodie or looking for a more upscale dining experience. Sometimes the special restaurants are themed with a certain preparation or show.
For example, Japanese Teppanyaki is a popular specialty cruise ship restaurant that costs a small cover charge.
On Celebrity Cruises, some cruise ships have Le Petit Chef, an animated show projected on your plate while you dine.
The bottom line, if you want to try something different, specialty restaurants are a great option. You’ll find that the food is usually quite delicious and a fun way to spend an evening.
When preparing for your cruise, reserve the specialty restaurants in advance.
23. Play in the Casino
Gambling on a cruise ship is a pretty popular fun thing to do on a cruise. The majority of the big cruise ships have casinos. While entering a casino is free, playing is not.
How much you decide to gamble is up to you. We like to set a small budget for the nights we decide to spend some time playing. Try your luck; you never know.
24. Attend a Wine Tasting or a Culinary Class
Wine tastings and culinary classes are usually things to do on a cruise that cost extra. It’s usually a smaller fee per person and not as much as what you would pay if you went on a tour on land.
This can be fun as you’ll learn new things and meet people who are also participating.
Some items from home are not allowed on a cruise ship and will send your luggage directly to the naughty room. Then there are some items you just don’t need to bring. Check out these 21 cruise items you should not bring on a cruise. Keep them out of your cruise packing list.
25. Bartending & Mixology Classes
Take a bartending and mixology class with some of the best bartenders on the cruise ship. You’ll learn how to make one or two popular cruise cocktails.
Most classes are hands-on so that you can make the drinks yourself. And, of course, you get to drink them too.
These classes are usually an additional fee and fill up fast. So sign up as soon as it’s available.
26. Bingo
Bingo is one of those fun cruise activities that everyone seems to love. You have to pay a certain amount per card, but it’s not that expensive. And if you win, you could win a nice lump sum.
The Bingo cards go on sale a few days into the cruise. So if you’re interested, make sure to get them early as they do sell out.
Then the game takes place inside a theater, usually on one of the last sea days.
27. Go-Karts
Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest ships, Norwegian Bliss and the Norwegian Joy are cruise ships with go-karts onboard.
You can race your friends or family around the track and have fun. Just be aware that there is an additional small fee to pay. You have to register and make reservations.
28. Go Bowling!
Bowling is another fun activity that most cruise ships have onboard. A few bowling lanes are usually tucked away in a pub or another corner of the ship.
It’s a small fee to play per game.
29. Take an Art Class
One of the popular cruise activities is taking an art class. Some of these classes even pair the art class with cocktails.
Learn how to paint a new piece of artwork that you can take home as part of one of your many memories from your cruise vacation. These classes are usually an additional fee but a lot of fun.
Some cruisers look forward to this and book it as soon as possible. The classes fill up fast.
30. Arcade Games
If you’re looking for things to do on a cruise with the kids, head to the arcade. They’ll have a blast playing all the different games.
It is extra to play. But it will keep your little ones busy for a short time.
Not convinced cruises are fun? See our top 12 Reasons Why Cruises are Fun!
What to Do on a Cruise: FAQs
What are some fun things to do on a cruise ship?
There are plenty of fun things to do on a cruise ship from swimming in the pool, movie nights, dance lessons, checking out the water slides, joining in on trivia, attending the themed parties, eating at specialty restaurants, finding the best drinks on a bar crawl, and more.
Can you get bored on a cruise ship?
With all these things to do on a cruise, we think it’s pretty hard to get bored on a cruise ship! How you want to spend your days and nights onboard is up to you. As the cruise director on the Celebrity Solstice would say, “if you don’t participate, you won’t have fun.”
On some cruise lines, you may get slightly bored in the evenings depending on the demographic and the number of night activities available.
What do you do when you go on a cruise?
The number of things to do on a cruise is endless. It all comes down to what you enjoy doing and how you want to spend your time while on vacation. But you can relax by the pool, spend your days at the spa, go on shore excursions at the port, eat and drink all day… the list goes on.
Do you have to spend money on a cruise?
No, you don’t have to spend extra money while on a cruise if you don’t want to. Cruises are mostly all-inclusive. However, some special items and activities on a cruise come at an additional cost. From shore excursions and spa treatments to drinking, dining, and other cruise ship activities.
What is your favorite thing to do on a cruise?
Which of the cruise activities with you do first? There are so many cruise activities that it can be hard to do in one cruise vacation. You will have a fun time on your cruise vacation, even if you choose just to relax most of the time.
Check out these other related cruise articles:
Reasons Why You Should Take a Cruise
Quick Cruise Planning Guide
Where to book a cruise?
We like to shop around before booking by going directly to the cruise line and checking out the deals on GoToSea, CruiseDirect.com, Costco Travel, and Cruise Compete. Ultimately, the best advice is to find a travel agent you can trust to help you book a cruise.
Hotels for pre-cruise and post-cruise stays
We always use Booking.com or Hotels.com to book international accommodations and Expedia or Hotels.com for US accommodations. Airbnb or Vrbo for vacation rentals.
Can I book my own shore excursions?
Yes, you’ll save money booking your own excursions and not with the cruise ship. We like to use Viator or WithLocals. Don’t forget to read up on our tips for booking.
Car Rentals
We like to rent a car at cruise ports and for the freedom to explore on our own when the destination makes sense. We also sometimes rent cars during our pre-cruise stay or on embarkation day.
Should I book cruise insurance?
Yes! Cruise insurance is essential. We always book with a third party rather than the cruise line. Compare pricing on Insuremytrip.com.
Packing for a Cruise? Don’t miss our essential cruise packing list.
Kathy Ava
Meet Kathy Ava, a food, travel, and cruise writer based in Los Angeles/Pasadena, and the owner and main writer of Tasty Itinerary. With over 20 years of experience planning trips and logistics at her full-time job and for herself, she's become a pro at crafting unforgettable tasty itineraries. She's always on the hunt for delicious, fun travel destinations and cruise itineraries. She firmly believes that life is short and we must make the most of it, so always say yes to dessert.
Thanks! I’m wondering if NCL Pearl still has a bowling alley?
Hi Cathy – I did some research, and it looks like the bowling alley is still in the Bliss Lounge. Have fun cruising!