How to handle 15 nights on a cruise ship.

I cruise quite a bit and here's what I found was useful....

1) Avoid most buffets. Instead, eat in a "sit down" restaurant whenever possible.
2) When you're sitting out on deck, choose a seat as far from the food as possible.
3) Work out in the gym
4) At dinner, stick to one appetizer, one entree and one dessert, rather than unlimited portions of everything.
5) Go easy on the booze! You wouldn't believe the amount of calories that you will save this way. Substitute sparkling water when you can. Limit to one drink/day.
7) Most cruise ships will deliver a continental breakfast to your room. I order a piece of fruit and some cereal, along with some tear and maybe a piece of toast (just like I would do at home) This really curbed calorie intake, and was well satisfied until lunch. A side benefit is that it's a relaxing way to start the day and I'm not rushing around in the a.m. to get to breakfast. Where else can you get "breakfast in bed" anyway?

This is good advice. Cruises do have healthy options. On one cruise we found the light options to be the best tasting. I love getting a bowl of fresh berries with my breakfast and lots of veggies with lunch and dinner. There will be a gym and a walking track. Try to take the stairs as much as possible. I lost 2 pounds on our last cruise even though I enjoyed a few cocktails. "All you can eat" is not a challenge.

Cruises should be fun so don't put a lot of pressure on yourself. My last cruise was fantastic and although I ended up gaining a few pounds, the weight disappeared about a week later. The easiest things I would encourage you to do are:
1. Work Out - bring gym clothes and make time to workout. The best time for me was usually 1.5 hours before my sit down dinner. I also found working out made me much more conscious of my food choices.
2. Take The Stairs - take the stairs on the ship everywhere. This will help compensate for any additional calories you might pick up elsewhere
3. Water - drink lots of water. I purchased a case of water on ship and went through the whole thing
4. Activities - enjoy them! go dancing, swim, take part in excursions, go on trails, explore the ship and have fun! You'll burn calories and make the trip more memorable.

Other suggestions that may help, but I find a little bit less practical
1. Avoid Buffets - agree with others, avoid the buffets. Try and stick to sit down meals. If you do the buffets, especially breakfast, have a preference for more filling options with higher protein but don't feel bad eating whatever you want
2. Limiting Alcohol - a glass of red wine a day won't seriously hurt you (and may help) but don't get sloshed every night. That's just not good for you in general

In any scenario, it's a vacation! Enjoy it and even if you get off track decide to get back on track when you get back home! I hope you enjoy your cruise!

This is a thread I read on Bodybuilding.com a while ago before going on vacation. It's a good read as it's his experience on a cruise.

http://forum.bodybuilding.com/showthread.php?t=144179471

I went on an 8 day cruise last April a few short weeks after joining mfp. I made better choices and was more aware of what I eating but still enjoyed myself and came home to a 2 lb loss. It can be done. I hope you have a wonderul time!

There is food everywhere you go on the ship, however, I found that I do much better if I avoid the buffet lines, and go to a sit down meal each time and order from a menu. I had plenty of food that I wanted but didn't order more than i needed. They have a great gym that you can use. And just walking around the ship all day is helpful. Just enjoy.

I gained 10 lbs on a 5 night cruise - right when I had hit my goal weight too. You definitely have cause to worry - but here's the thing - you're making a plan, which is AWESOME.

I did run once - but obviously that healthy path didn't continue for me. I got lazy. You can do better. There is a gym and a running path, and you SHOULD totally take advantage of both. Make it a part of your daily routine on the ship. You're on vacation, yes, but this is not the time to stop your workouts. If you're usually a morning workout person, go ahead and keep doing it then. Get it done, then get in your bikini and enjoy the rest of your day.

If I were you (or if I could go back in time and change things with me! ha!), I would be committed to making two meals healthy a day. Or at least measurable and trackable options, so you know how many calories you have left after you eat your breakfast. Dinner is obviously the big one of the cruise - you eat well. Maybe ask the waiter if she could portion your meal ahead of time (give me half the meal instead) before she lays the plate in front of you.

I know it's your vacation, and you want to take a break and rest too - but just remember, this change and diet and workout plan for you is not a DIET, it is a lifestyle change. And your lifestyle should continue on the cruise ship.

Drink lots of water too - and have fun. You'll do great - you're going in with a plan.

Try to eat as healthy as possible (read high protein and fiber), but enjoy yourself. Limit your carbs to your boozing and deserts, as sandwiches, pasta, and pizza on the ships suck anyway


I find that most cruises have many (active) activities like ropes courses, rock climbing, hiking, plus all the swing you can handle when you are at your destinations. When you are between ports, enjoy the fitness center, walking track. If your plan is to lie out all day try to only do this on the days between ports and still try to get to the gym, track, or water aerobics classes.

Enjoy your cruise, enjoy the food at every meal but don't overfill your plate and don't go for seconds.

if you don't want to go to the gym, make sure you walk on deck everyday.