Cruise Survival Basics

Our dear friends just got married! For the wedding, all of their friends and family took a five day cruise. How fun! (It was a ton of fun. I need a vacation to recover.)

Admittedly, my hubbie and I were a bit nervous. We don't consider ourselves "cruise people" and we were worried about how we'd cope with the copious amounts of food and with being stuck on the boat.

OK, now I get it. There's so much to do! And we created so many little strategies for having fun, but still maintaining our good health.

Here are my tips for healthy cruise survival:
1. The Salad Bar: Cover your plate with 3/4 veggies or 3/4 salad and then use the other 1/4 for little bits of temptation. (Fill with 3/4 fruit at breakfast.) And resist the temptation to pile high.
2. Soup! Soup! And more soup! Soup is a great way to start your meal. It requires you to slow down to eat it and it's very satiating! Remember, it takes about 20 minutes for your brain to recognize that your tummy is full - so slow down!
3. Be a SNOB! If it's not the best thing you've ever eaten, don't finish it. I hate wasting food, so I'll try just a bit to see if I like it and then take my whole portion.
4. Take the stairs 24/7. You can add a ton of activity to your day simply by taking the stairs. You'll build muscle and burn calories - and likely see some cool art in the stairwell.
5. Two appetizers please. Yes, you can order two apps and skip the main course. You get more flavors, to try more new things and you'll feel totally full (instead of bulging).
6. Share, share and share alike! My husband and I share all of the time. We always split dessert (and burritos). That way, we get to try something yummy and sweet and feel human versus bulbous after dinner. (How often does one get to use the word bulbous after all?)
7. Check out the gym. Cruises often have the latest and greatest equipment and great views to boot! My favorite routine was mid-day sun, followed by an afternoon workout and then a quick nap before dinner. That's what I call a vacation!
8. Be creative. Our cruise offer a running track on the top deck, but it was way to winding and kinda like playing human Frogger. Not fun. Sooo, we found a lower deck (you know, the one where they make you go for the "drill" that Leo and Kate didn't have). That deck went the whole way around the ship (twice the distance of the track), was often empty and was more sheltered from the sun and wind.
9. Check out everything on the ship! Seriously, most ships are so big that touring the whole things is really a work out in itself - especially since you're taking the stairs.
10. Try new things. There were lots of events and classes offered that we weren't in the least interested, however, we were pleasantly surprised by a number of activities. No one makes you stay, so go and try something new.

I'm happy to say that I didn't gain a pound - and I ate like a horse! I worked out in the gym 4 of the 5 days, did my very own mini-yoga classes on the upper decks and in the gym, kayaked, snorkeled, toured the ship, walked the decks each day with my hubbie, ran 1 mile, ran all over the ship in a scavenger hunt, walked the beach after the wedding (beautiful), played shuffled board, danced, walked tons and tons of stairs, hugged my friends, sang and laughed my head off, and still managed at least 4 naps and to go to bed one night around 9. Way cool!