Cruise ships pack in a bunch of fun stuff for every kind of traveler. Besides the usual pools, shows, and places to eat, lots of ships come with full-on sports complexes that feel like mini gyms at sea. Imagine playing basketball or hitting a treadmill while the ocean waves roll by—that’s a game-changer for staying active on vacation. For anyone who loves mixing fun with fitness, these ship features turn a regular trip into something way cooler. Keep reading to discover why these hidden gems make cruising an adventure worth jumping on.
Whether you want to stay active, meet new people, or try something new, cruise ships offer a surprising variety of sports and games at sea.
Here are 17 exciting sports you can play on a cruise ship.
Rock Climbing
- Available On: Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line
- Cost: Included in cruise fare
Rock climbing walls are an iconic activity that you will find on most cruise ships.
Popularized by Royal Caribbean, you’ll also find rock climbing walls on other lines like Norwegian Cruise Line. The grips are often color-coded by the route’s difficulty, which allows you to navigate your climbing path for your skill level.
A rocking ship is enough to make even the most effortless route a challenge.
But don’t worry; plenty of safety features are in place to ensure you won’t get hurt while climbing.
And if you aren’t afraid of heights, look over the horizon once you reach the top; the view is unparalleled.
Surfing
- Available On: Some Royal Caribbean ships
- Cost: Included in cruise fare; private lessons may incur additional fees
FlowRider surfing simulators are available on numerous (you guessed it) Royal Caribbean ships.
The 32-foot-by-40-foot FlowRider pool uses a constant water flow to offer an incredible experience for passengers to surf and bodyboard. The activity is available at no extra cost. For a fee, they even offer private lessons to improve your surfing skills.
Soccer
- Available On: Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages
- Cost: Included in cruise fare
You can usually find soccer matches on the ship’s upper decks.
The cruise line sets up small nets at each end of the course where passengers can participate in organized tournaments or friendly pickup games.
Skydiving (RipCord by iFLY)
- Available On: Royal Caribbean (Quantum-class ships)
- Cost: Included in cruise fare; some sessions may require a fee
Ok, you caught us! While it may not be a traditional sport, skydiving is just too cool not to include in our list.
Another exclusive to Royal Caribbean, the RipCord by iFLY simulator, gives passengers the experience of skydiving without ever leaving the deck of the cruise ship.
Table Tennis
- Available On: Most major cruise lines
- Cost: Included in cruise fare
Virtually all cruise ships offer table tennis.
You’ll find the tables near the main pool or on an upper deck. Guests can participate in friendly games between family or create a game with fellow cruisers.
Some cruise lines host table tennis tournaments during the cruise. If you are up for a little friendly competition, this may be the sport for you.
Shuffleboard
- Available On: Most major cruise lines
- Cost: Included in cruise fare
A cruise ship classic, you can find shuffleboard on most cruise ships you sail.
Like table tennis, you can usually find shuffleboard near the main pool or on one of the ship’s upper decks. Shuffleboard is easy to learn and even better with the ocean breeze. It’s a great way to spend time on a sea day.
Basketball
- Available On: Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages
- Cost: Included with cruise fare
Many large ships feature versatile sports courts equipped with either a half-sized or a full-sized basketball court.
The netted courts prevent balls from flying off the ship. Depending on your cruise schedule, you can often drop in for a tournament or spend some time practicing your free throws.
Volleyball
- Available On: Carnival Cruise Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Virgin Voyages
- Cost: Included in cruise fare
Volleyball is one of our favorite sports to play on vacation.
And on a cruise ship, you can play it on land or in the water.
Depending on your cruise, you may have both options, with scheduled volleyball tournaments on the sports deck or in the main pool at some point during your cruise.
Running
- Available On: Most major cruise lines
- Cost: Included in cruise fare
Enjoy your run with a remarkable new view, as cruise ships offer outdoor jogging tracks on the ship’s upper decks.
The tracks frequently run around the exterior decks and provide spectacular views of the ever-changing scenery as you navigate the track.
Some ships have better tracks than others, and serious runners might be disappointed by the crowded paths, odd curves, and short track lengths. You can find the best running tracks on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis-class ships.
These ships feature a semi-enclosed track far away from the crowds and shield you from the sun, wind, and rain.
Most cruise ships running tracks share space with public areas of the vessel. In other words, you will share the track with other passengers as they stroll around the vessel.
If you’re a serious runner, you’ll want to run early in the morning or late at night when the top deck is less crowded.
Golf
- Available On: Royal Caribbean (Freedom-class ships)
- Cost: Included in cruise fare
Nearly every new cruise ship features an outdoor mini golf course, which is perfect for kids and adults alike.
Some ships also promote practice putting greens, enclosed driving ranges, or virtual golf simulators for avid golfers. High-end cruise ships are more likely to feature these activities, but if your cruise ship does, it’s an excellent opportunity to practice and meet avid golfers from around the world.
Boxing
- Available On: Royal Caribbean (Freedom class ships), Virgin Voyages
- Cost: Included in cruise fare; lessons may incur additional fees
Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas was the first cruise line to introduce boxing rings to its cruise ships. Boxing lessons are available, although usually for an extra fee.
Swimming
- Available On: All major cruise lines
- Cost: Included in cruise fare
Cruise ships typically have multiple pools on board.
There are adult-only pools, kiddie pools, and the main pool.
They are great for getting in a couple of laps or having fun with your family. And if you are in the mood for some friendly competition, many cruises will have a belly flop competition as part of the daily program.
The belly flop competition is always a big event, with hundreds of spectators celebrating the biggest flops!
Croquet
- Available On: Celebrity Cruises (Solstice-class ships)
- Cost: Included in Cruise Fare
Although playing croquet on a ship may seem out of place, Celebrity Cruises ships in the Solstice-class offer croquet on the sports deck. Join family and friends at the club, complete with a natural grass lawn, to play a friendly game of croquet.
Whether you know how to play or not, natural grass, a shimmering sun, and an ocean swaying make it a fun and relaxing onboard activity.
Bocce Ball
- Available On: Celebrity Cruises (Solstice-class ships)
- Cost: Included in cruise fare
Like croquet, bocce ball is a popular and widely played lawn sport.
Viking Cruises and Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice-class ships offer bocce sets so passengers can play on the natural grass lawns on one of the upper decks.
Pool (Billiards)
- Cost: Included in cruise fare
- Available On: Royal Caribbean (select ships)
With the rocking of the sailing cruise ships, you would think you have to start accounting for the movement in your game.
As you can see in the video above, the pool tables on cruise ships use self-leveling and stabilizing technology. In other words, the billiard balls aren’t affected by the ship’s rocking.
The stabilizers allow the balls to remain idle so you can enjoy a few rounds of pool with friends, family, and fellow passengers.
Ice-Skating
- Available On: Royal Caribbean (Voyager, Freedom, Oasis, and Icon class ships)
- Cost: Included in cruise fare
Have you ever dreamed of ice-skating on the ocean? How about on a Cruise ship sailing through the tropics?
The dream has become a reality. Royal Caribbean has introduced ice rinks to many of its newest cruise ships.
Of course, it is real ice!
You can visit the rink during their open skate times and enjoy a few laps. And don’t worry about skate rentals; they are free!
But if skating isn’t for you, Royal Caribbean has a popular ice skating show, where you can witness impressive jumps, lifts, and spins performed by professional skaters.
Pickleball
- Available On: Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean
- Cost: Included in cruise fare
Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Celebrity Cruises have added pickleball courts to many of their ships. Royal Caribbean has also adopted the trend, offering pickleball setups on several of its vessels.
Cruise ships often host open play sessions, and some even offer beginner lessons for those new to the sport.
Pickleball is a fun and social activity that is easy to learn, making it a great way to meet fellow cruisers while staying active.
