“What do you actually do all day on a cruise ship?” It’s the most common question we get from people who haven’t tried cruising yet. The assumption is that after the first day, it gets boring.
After four sailings — MSC Seashore, MSC Fantasia, Discovery Princess, and MSC Sinfonia — we can say with confidence: boredom is not the problem. The challenge is fitting everything in. Here are ten activities worth knowing about, most of them included in the cruise fare.
1. Pools, Jacuzzis, and Water Parks
Almost every cruise ship has multiple pools — and they’re not all the same. Expect at least one large open-air pool with sea views, usually a quieter indoor or covered pool, a shallow splash zone for children, and jacuzzis for those who want to sit rather than swim. The pools are well-maintained and the towels are provided.
On newer ships, there’s considerably more. The MSC Seashore — which we sailed from Barcelona to Miami — has a full water park with four slides, including one where you ride down on an inflatable tube. We went on each one multiple times. There’s also a dedicated splash zone for smaller children. On the Discovery Princess, we had a similar setup with a water park and multiple pool areas across the deck.
Tip: pool deck chairs fill up quickly on sea days. If you want a good spot, get there early — by mid-morning the best loungers are claimed.
2. Sunbathing on Deck
Sun loungers, parasols, and towels are included — find your spot and stay there. The deck caters to all preferences: full sun near the pools, shaded areas at the edges, quieter sections towards the bow or stern away from the main crowd.
My personal approach: I have fair skin and tend to burn, so I’d go up to the deck early — before most passengers appeared — and have an hour of gentle morning sun before heading to breakfast. By 10:00 AM the deck is considerably busier. Pack more than one swimsuit, because a wet costume is miserable in the afternoon.
Use sunscreen consistently. It sounds obvious, but the combination of reflected light off the water and the open sea breeze means you burn faster than you’d expect.
3. The Gym and Fitness Classes
Every ship we’ve sailed has had a well-equipped gym — cardio machines, free weights, resistance equipment, yoga mats — usually positioned on an upper deck with panoramic windows looking out to sea. Exercising with a view of the open Atlantic or the Mediterranean coast is something that doesn’t get old.
Beyond the gym, most ships run organised group classes throughout the day: morning stretching sessions on deck, yoga, pilates, aerobics. These are typically free and posted on the daily schedule in the ship’s app. After training, the sauna is right there — a logical end to the session.
On the MSC Seashore and MSC Fantasia, morning deck exercise sessions were a regular fixture. We joined on most sea days and it became a good way to start a day with no port.
4. The Buffet and Restaurants
Eating on a cruise ship is its own activity — and it’s included in the price. The buffet opens at 6:00 AM and the last pizza is available at 1:00 AM. Water, tea, and coffee are available around the clock.
Our standard routine across most sailings: buffet for breakfast and lunch, main restaurant for dinner. The restaurant serves from a daily changing menu with no prices — order what you like, as much as you like, and a waiter looks after your table throughout. On sea days, lunch in the restaurant is also an option and worth trying at least once.
Most ships also have speciality restaurants — Italian, Japanese, French, steakhouse — for an additional cover charge. These are worth booking in advance if you want a specific evening, as they fill up early in the cruise.
5. Onboard Shopping
The ship’s shops are duty-free, which means lower prices than on land for alcohol, tobacco, perfume, cosmetics, and branded goods. We’ve found the prices genuinely competitive — particularly for spirits and fragrances.
Beyond the duty-free basics, most ships stock branded cruise merchandise, jewellery, accessories, and clothing. There are regular sales events and promotions throughout the sailing — worth checking the daily schedule if you’re planning to buy anything. Gifts and souvenirs are easier to pick up here than in busy port markets.
6. Arts and Crafts Workshops
This one surprises most people. Cruise ships run creative workshops for both adults and children — painting, ceramics, jewellery-making, origami — and they’re generally free or low-cost. The groups are small, the instructors are patient, and you leave with something to take home.
We’ve participated in workshops on both MSC Fantasia and MSC Sinfonia sailings, and they’re consistently one of the better ways to spend a sea day afternoon. They also attract a sociable crowd — people who want to do something with their hands rather than sit by the pool — which makes them a natural way to meet other passengers.
7. Sports Courts
Most ships have outdoor courts for basketball, volleyball, and tennis. Equipment is available and casual games between passengers happen throughout the day — it’s easy to join in or organise a match. On sea days with good weather, the courts are one of the more active areas on the ship.
Some ships offer coaching sessions or organised tournaments during the cruise. Check the daily schedule — these are usually free and a good way to spend an energetic afternoon.
8. Evening Entertainment Shows
The main theatre runs two performances each evening, timed around the two dinner sittings. On our sailings, this was typically 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM — so you attend whichever one doesn’t overlap with your dinner. The format changes nightly: musicals, dance shows, comedy acts, magic performances.
One notable difference across our ships: the MSC Sinfonia had a different show every single evening throughout the Greek island sailing — Athens, Corfu, Kefalonia, Katakolon, Bari, Santorini. On the MSC Fantasia, the programme started repeating by day six. If nightly entertainment is important to you, it’s worth checking reviews for the specific ship.
Live music in the bars and lounges starts from around 6:00 PM — a good option on evenings when you’d rather have background music and a drink than sit in a theatre.
9. Cinema
Most ships have at least an outdoor screen — often on the pool deck, with seating and blankets provided for evening screenings. Newer ships also have dedicated indoor cinema rooms. Films rotate daily and cover a range of genres: comedies, dramas, animated features, documentaries.
Outdoor cinema under the night sky at sea is one of those things that sounds gimmicky until you’ve actually done it. On a warm evening in the Mediterranean or the Atlantic, with a blanket and a drink, it’s a genuinely good way to end the day.
10. Kids’ Clubs and Family Activities
Cruise lines take children’s programming seriously, and it shows. Kids’ clubs are divided by age group — separate programmes for younger children and teenagers — and run activities including games, workshops, sports, and creative sessions throughout the day.
On the MSC Seashore, the Doremi Kids’ Club is the largest in the MSC fleet. On the Discovery Princess, the facilities were similarly well-organised. Evening childcare is available on most ships, which gives parents the option of a dinner or show without the children in tow.
For families, this is one of the main practical advantages of cruising over a standard hotel holiday. The children have their own dedicated space and programme; parents have theirs. Both work in parallel.
Quick Reference: What’s Included vs Extra Cost
| Activity | Included? | Notes |
| Pools and water park | Yes | All ships |
| Sunbathing / deck chairs | Yes | Towels provided |
| Gym | Yes | All ships |
| Group fitness classes | Yes | Check daily schedule |
| Buffet and main restaurant | Yes | Food only |
| Drinks (water, tea, coffee) | Yes | Buffet only |
| Alcohol and soft drinks | No | Charged to cabin card |
| Speciality restaurants | No | Extra cover charge |
| Shopping | No | Duty-free prices |
| Arts and crafts workshops | Usually free | Check schedule |
| Sports courts | Yes | Equipment provided |
| Evening shows | Yes | Two sittings |
| Cinema | Yes | Outdoor and indoor |
| Kids’ club | Yes | Evening care may vary |
FAQ: Cruise Ship Activities
What do you do on sea days on a cruise?
Sea days are when the ship itself becomes the destination. Most passengers split the time between the pool deck, gym, restaurants, entertainment, and relaxing. The daily schedule — published through the ship’s app every evening for the following day — lists all organised activities, classes, and events. Sea days are consistently rated by experienced cruisers as some of the best days of the trip.
Is there enough to do on a cruise ship for adults without children?
Yes. The pool deck, gym, restaurants, bars, evening shows, and cinema all cater primarily to adults. Many cruise lines also run quizzes, wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, and port talks — all listed in the daily schedule. The quieter areas of the ship — the library, the adult-only pool section on some vessels — are easy to find once you know the ship’s layout.
Are cruise ship activities free?
Most onboard activities are included in the cruise fare: pools, gym, group fitness classes, sports courts, entertainment shows, cinema, and kids’ club. Drinks, speciality restaurants, spa treatments, and some premium experiences carry an extra charge. The daily schedule makes clear which activities are free and which are not.
What is there to do on a cruise ship at night?
Evening entertainment typically starts with live music in the bars from around 6:00 PM. The main theatre runs two show performances — usually at 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM. After the show, bars and lounges stay open late, the casino operates on most ships, and the buffet is available until midnight with pizza until 1:00 AM. The ship never really goes quiet before midnight.
Do cruise ships have water parks?
Newer ships do. The MSC Seashore has a full water park with four slides and a children’s splash zone, included in the fare. The Discovery Princess has a similar setup. Older ships typically have pools and jacuzzis but not water park infrastructure. If a water park is important to you, check the specific ship before booking.
Will You Get Bored on a Cruise Ship?
Not if you engage with what’s on offer. The passengers who find sea days boring are usually those who expected the ship to entertain them passively. The ones who have a good time are those who check the daily schedule, try things they wouldn’t normally try, and treat the ship itself as a destination.
Across four sailings — from a 17-day Atlantic crossing with multiple sea days to a Greek island cruise with a port every day — we’ve never run out of things to do. The challenge is always the opposite: not enough time.
Related: 3 Things That Surprised Me on My First Cruise | How to Prepare for a Cruise: Step-by-Step Checklist
Featured photo from Pexels