Going on Cruise - tips?

[zoemorn]

maybe this shoulda went somewhere else?

Going on an alaskan cruise next week and wondered if anyone had tips about utilizing the cruise itself to continue progress rather than just becoming a pig and having to do damage control afterwards.

I'm excited that it sounds like there'll be some really good protein sources (fish, lobster, steaks etc)... and i'm sure there'll be a decent fitness center though i doubt i'll be able to make use of it EVERYday. but on the other days we'll be on excursions that will provide cardio i'm sure.

thoughts? tips? things you did while on cruise to maintain your gains and progress?

[gohabs37]

i think the most important thing to do is avoid teh booze- also, depending on where you live, jet lag can mess you up for a few days. use the pool on board to swim, and make sure you get good sleep. If you do eat some sh!t one night, phucking some chicks on the high seas is great cardio

[cyde]

First off you'll be on vacation, so have some fun and live a little. You will have 24 hour access to food; feel free to indulge a little, but you shouldn't eat like you are on death row. There should be a fitness center on board. It's not much, mostly machines & dumbbells ranging from 2-50lbs; but it's better than nothing. Take the stairs instead of elevator if you want to knock out cardio without even thinking about it.

I went on one recently and ended up leaning out a bit from walking so many flights of stairs. You will have a huge selection of food to choose from, so finding something you like won't be a problem. Make sure to hit up the main dining hall for diner & breakfast. The best food is served at those times.

[snorkelman]

I have been on many cruises. I always make sure that in my schedule the time that I am on my cruise is a break period where I basically eat whatever I want on the ship. However, there is no reason that you couldn't eat very "clean" (whatever that word means) on the ship. You can always eat in the buffet where you can select your food, careful to avoid certain sauces, and you can even request it at the dinner table. Most cruise lines have a healthy (or "spa") menu which is usually low fat/cal.

I make a point of always hitting the gym, and some of the ships are very well equipped. I have only been on one ship that actually had a barbell with plates set up in a smith machine (it was the Freedom of the Seas - I know you won't be on that because it is in the Caribbean right now). But you can almost always get dumbbells to about 50 or 80 pounds depending on the ship, and weight machines, and of course plenty of cardio equipment.

A tip is to avoid the elevators and opt for the stairs as much as you can.

I always indulge in desserts. I am talking like a large plate load every single day for lunch and every dinner. I don't care for bread that much, so I justify trading off the rolls with dinner to have extra dessert.

[zoemorn]

thanks for the replies. I'm not really into alcohol so thats a nonissue (unless it BECOMES an issue on ship lol) - 'm married so... the other cardio aspect is covered as well.

The stairs idea is good! thx for confirming the gym information - and i'm a cruise newb so i wasnt sure if the pool is open on an alaskan cruise (like due to the cold).

thanks for the tips guys, good ideas to keep in mind. I figured as long as i went w/ my normal diet of eating lots of protein some veggies/fruits, i'll be ok as long as i dont go "overboard" on the desert options. and as cyde noted, there'll prolly be more cardio than i'm even anticipating.

[sunngodd]

The cruise I went on had a 24 hour pizza bar.

Use the time to mentally decompress. If you find yourself thinking about your diet, hit up said pizza bar.

[yzrider400f]

this is a vacation bro, take it as one. There's nothing wrong with taking a weeks rest/active rest and can actually help you.

If you're like me you don't get to do this type of thing very often AT ALL. Eat some good food and enjoy every last bit of it. I went on a cruise earlier this year (first one) and kinda made a simple rule. Instead of 6 meals I did 3-4 with a little snack between if I was hungry. Also I just made a rule to not overly stuff myself at any single sitting. I actually stayed about the same weight on my cruise and may have even lost a little weight.

[LordGinger]

I went all out on a 10 day cruise to Alaska and lost a pound.

Just enjoy the cruise brah.

[AniMaLizTik]

Im going on a cruise in November.

I plan on eating a huge meal in the morning and just snacking all day and then maybe a sensible dinner with some drinks...it's just 5 days man, live some life, relax...

[zoemorn]

Ha, 24 hr pizza huh... i'm more excited bout the though of how much steak/lobster/seafood etc i can get my hands on...

"yes, i'll take surf AND turf AND the chicken marsala AND bacon AND eggs AND ..."
snorkelman/cyde thx for reminding me go ahead and indulge in some dessert action cuz i'm sure it'll be crazy on board. i'm kinda like you in that bread/pastas really arent that much of a temptation for me as much as like fruit and chocoloate type stuff would be.

[Ted Nugent]

Originally Posted by sunngodd

The cruise I went on had a 24 hour pizza bar.

Use the time to mentally decompress. If you find yourself thinking about your diet, hit up said pizza bar.

ugh the pizza bars when i went on my cruise there was like this pool room/spa room on the ship. it was a cross between a tropical rainforest + steamroom + architecture that would make your jaw drop. One of the most incredible "rooms" id ever been in ANYWHERE. and to top it off there was a pizza bar with every kind of pizza imaginable...and a bar in an adjoining nook. they had a 24 hour buffett room that will give you a heart attack out of sheer bliss, and for meals the spread they have is literally breathtaking.
CRUISES ARE HEAVEN ON EARTH
take full advantage of the bajillion things you have availiable. enjoy

[AniMaLizTik]

this thread is making me really excited about my upcoming cruise.

that is all.

[cyde]

Originally Posted by sunngodd

The cruise I went on had a 24 hour pizza bar.

Use the time to mentally decompress. If you find yourself thinking about your diet, hit up said pizza bar.

Mine had a 24 hour pizza bar & sandwich shop with cream cheese & salmon bagels (nom). I always made an effort to swing by between main courses or late night.

[xl Achilles lx]

Last cruise I went on had a 24-hr "chocolate bar." Needless to say, not only was there ridiculous amounts & combinations of chocolate there, but I spent many a late-night at that bar lol.

[zoemorn]

Originally Posted by Ted Nugent

ugh the pizza bars when i went on my cruise there was like this pool room/spa room on the ship. it was a cross between a tropical rainforest + steamroom + architecture that would make your jaw drop. One of the most incredible "rooms" id ever been in ANYWHERE. and to top it off there was a pizza bar and a bar in an adjoining nook.
CRUISES ARE HEAVEN ON EARTH
take full advantage of the bajillion things you have availiable

Sweet! this is my first cruise - and though i'm sure alaska will be cool and all (in the 60's apparently) - i'd be more excited if it was southern caribbean!

snorkelman - are you a scuba diver or just a snorkeler?

thx again all - i didnt expect so many cool replies.

[Ted Nugent]

Originally Posted by AniMaLizTik

this thread is making me really excited about my upcoming cruise.

that is all.

this thread has me trying to scheme a way to come up with some money to go again! FFUUUUUUUU, dammit im buying a powerball ticket today haha/

Originally Posted by xl Achilles lx

Last cruise I went on had a 24-hr "chocolate bar." Needless to say, not only was there ridiculous amounts & combinations of chocolate there, but I spent many a late-night at that bar lol.

mine had a 24 hour soft-serve machine with like 5 different flavors, ughhhh lol. I was only like 13-14 when i went so im sure there was a bunch of other delicacies i missed out on. all i remember was the MASSIVE buffets and the 24 hour ice cream and pizza haha. Next years tax return is going towards a cruise t-minus like 9 months, fuk.

[zoemorn]

[QUOTE=Ted Nugent;345414301]this thread has me trying to scheme a way to come up with some money to go again! FFUUUUUUUU, dammit im buying a powerball ticket today haha/


Yea this cruise cost a bundle. and had to pay 2/3 the price of an adult fare just for my 2yo which i thought was insane... he wont even remember the trip and though he can eat his fair share i dont see him using 2/3 of an adult's amount of ship resources.

o well.

how's the coffee onboard this things?
We'll also hit up Seattle for July 4... gonna check out the original Star Bucks!

[Ted Nugent]

Originally Posted by zoemorn

how's the coffee onboard this things?
We'll also hit up Seattle for July 4... gonna check out the original Star Bucks!

which cruise line are you going through. I cant personally speak for the coffee lol, but the food is def gonna be awesome, im torturing myself right now just thinking about it haha

[zoemorn]

Originally Posted by Ted Nugent

which cruise line are you going through. I cant personally speak for the coffee lol, but the food is def gonna be awesome, im torturing myself right now just thinking about it haha

carnival spirit i believe is the exact ship, headin out next wk.

[mophatthedamaja]

i would say
1. Enjoy your vacation
2. the amounts of good for you food is limitless on a cruise ship
3. Their fitness rooms/saunas/steam rooms are excellent and give you a view of the ocean
4. depending on your ship you can do cardio on the deck, mine had lanes for running

above all don't worry about your gains when you are taking a trip like this, slow down and enjoy the experience for what it is, you may just miss something

[Ted Nugent]

Originally Posted by mophatthedamaja

i would say
1. Enjoy your vacation
2. the amounts of good for you food is limitless on a cruise ship
3. Their fitness rooms/saunas/steam rooms are excellent and give you a view of the ocean
4. depending on your ship you can do cardio on the deck, mine had lanes for running

above all don't worry about your gains when you are taking a trip like this, slow down and enjoy the experience for what it is, you may just miss something

agreed. also if your interested, you could employ a little Intermittent Fasting on the trip...Im not sure how concerned you are about watching calories on the cruise. But if you skip breakfast and skip or just have a lite lunch you can have a huge dinner and some drinks by the pool guilt free (and a late night trip to the pizza bar!). Im not advocating starving yourself or not taking full advantage of the buffett, but if you are REALLY worried about calorie intake this is an easy way to keep it under control

[zoemorn]

Originally Posted by Ted Nugent

agreed. also if your interested, you could employ a little Intermittent Fasting on the trip...Im not sure how concerned you are about watching calories on the cruise. But if you skip breakfast and skip or just have a lite lunch you can have a huge dinner and some drinks by the pool guilt free (and a late night trip to the pizza bar!). Im not advocating starving yourself or not taking full advantage of the buffett, but if you are REALLY worried about calorie intake this is an easy way to keep it under control

i'd just read enough times that eating large meals wasnt good due to stretchin yer stomach out (thus making the tight waist/stomach look tougher to do) so i try to eat multiple smaller meals than big ones to keep myself feeling slim. Don't know how accurate that information is.

On port of calls, i have no idea what the food intake will be like. If i'm buying then i can see simply fasting during the port (waiting to eat onboard -keeping the child/wife fed of course).

[cyde]

Make sure to eat some wild salmon & crabs when you hit port in Alaska. It's phenomenal.

[Ted Nugent]

Originally Posted by zoemorn

i'd just read enough times that eating large meals wasnt good due to stretchin yer stomach out (thus making the tight waist/stomach look tougher to do) so i try to eat multiple smaller meals than big ones to keep myself feeling slim. Don't know how accurate that information is.

On port of calls, i have no idea what the food intake will be like. If i'm buying then i can see simply fasting during the port (waiting to eat onboard -keeping the child/wife fed of course).

well if you really feast you'll get a little temporary bloat, lasts an hour or two at most. if you have the self control to have small snacks/meals when your at the buffett..more power to ya!

and for port-of-calls try to get something local or unique to the region. in alaska i would def go for the seafood (crab, yummy/exotic fish, clams, etc) and also try some bison, elk, venison, moose, etc. Dont go to a chain restaraunt, try some wild foods that you might not be able to have again!

[zoemorn]

Originally Posted by cyde

Make sure to eat some wild salmon & crabs when you hit port in Alaska. It's phenomenal.

OH FREAK YES!

Can i cage fight Grizzlies? Hunt whale? for cardio i could strap myself in with the dogs on those sleds....

but i digress from my insanity. Yes, i always get pumped when at a coastal zone, at the thought of getting seafood FRESH.
On the crab/salmon deal... its that like part of an excursion you have to join up on, or is it like a deal available to the entire cruise goers? cuz i see the crab/salmon thing come up alot and couldnt figure out if they were all having their own exclusive ones, or were joining up for one big bash.

[AniMaLizTik]

anybody ever been on "Carnival Triump"

thats the one i will be on (yes 1st cruise)

[zoemorn]

Originally Posted by Ted Nugent

well if you really feast you'll get a little temporary bloat, lasts an hour or two at most. if you have the self control to have small snacks/meals when your at the buffett..more power to ya!

and for port-of-calls try to get something local or unique to the region. in alaska i would def go for the seafood (crab, yummy/exotic fish, clams, etc) and also try some bison, elk, venison, moose, etc. Dont go to a chain restaraunt, try some wild foods that you might not be able to have again!

wow, never thought of em having Moose, sweet action! (yea i'm a carnivore at heart) - would like to try some good halibut etc too - thats a good call about trying a local eatery, not having a CLUE as to what the ports are like @ alaska, didnt know how many eateries etc there'd be.
guess i need to hitup tripadvisor and do some research, just been too busy to do so. havnt even got my excursions lined out- prolly doing the train @ skagway ... not sure what else.

[Ted Nugent]

Originally Posted by zoemorn

getting seafood FRESH.

one of the best things in the world (in my humble opinion ) lol

[Ted Nugent]

Originally Posted by zoemorn

wow, never thought of em having Moose

mooseburgers ftw! haha. and theres tons of travel guides online and books devoted solely to this kinda stuff. if you really want to get the real local/regional scoop on good food and attractions you could try posting on craigslist for the area. usually you'll get some great replies from people who actually live there!

[justanotherchik]

Nice, enjoy the cruise man!

Hehe I can't believe some of you actually lost weight on a cruise, thats just insane. When I went on one in 9th grade I came back 5 lbs heavier. well 8 but i lost like 3 lbs of water weight 2 or 3 days later) Might not sound like much but on a 5 foot 100 lb frame it makes a difference lol The ship I went on wasn't even that big andit had a 24 hour pizza/icecream bar. The grill was open all day and served up unlimited burgers/hotdogs/sandwitches/fries/onion rings etc.. And the buffets were just crazy. I hate getting up in the morning but it was so good even I got up and hit the breakfast buffet every morning, easily the best food of the day. And they served dessert with every freakin meal. Good times =D