How Walking around a Cruise Ship Track Changed my Life

Instead of Watching Broadway-Style Shows and Drinking Exotic Cocktails, We Counted Steps…

When we first embarked on the Enchanted Princess, we didn’t know what to expect. It was our first ten day cruise and my husband and I were there for the itinerary, not the festivities on board.

So, it was surprising when we ran into people who had no idea what island we were visiting next or even where we were in the Caribbean.

Not that at I fault them at all…In fact, I admire that attitude. They had been to those destinations so many times that the ship is what they came for…Simply relaxing on board enjoying the entertainment. And perhaps kicking back by the pool, swayed by the gently moving vessel. 

To us, we wanted to visit as many islands as possible and explore every beach and every rain forest that we could…Then, we started walking, and walking.

Granted, we hike about five miles a day at home, so winding around the track on the top deck wasn’t taxing…No, it was something else. The pacing became rhythmic, and we felt something new…relaxation.

Something we really didn’t fully comprehend at home. Because there were always bills to pay and problems to deal with.

Here on the open ocean, none of that mattered. Simply walking around the boat taking in the sun and the waves made us feel, well peaceful.

When we first started planning this cruise, I thought, “Oh no, what are we going to do with ourselves for three whole days at sea?”

My husband lamented, “We’ll get through it.” Because to us, a cruise was a way to see a lot of islands in one vacation. Something we couldn’t do by simply flying to each destination.

To our surprise, the three days at sea went really fast, because we actually began to relax and take in the scenery. There is something about the open ocean staring back at you. I can’t believe I am saying this now…But we actually enjoyed the sea days as much, if not more, than the port days.

Our Sea Day Routine

If you think walking around a track all day long is way too boring, you couldn’t be more wrong. It was exhilarating and calming at the same time. Sure we took breaks…many in fact.

We started out day having breakfast in the main dining room where the staff recognized us and placed us at our favorite table by the window every morning.

I laughed when our server pretended to leave the entire tray of pastries each day! You don’t see that kind of personalized service at a normal restaurant.

After grabbing a specialty coffee drink on deck five (where the International Cafe is located) we head up to the track and begin our trek.

We don’t stop until it’s time for lunch in the buffet or a burger by the pool. There we chatted with people from all over the world. They urged us to take in a show or a comedy club. Said we were missing out.

We politely declined and headed back up to the top deck to take in the clear blue beyond. Honestly, I don’t think we ever felt more relaxed in our lives.

Evenings were spent watching a feature film on the big screen by the pool.

You may think we wasted our days at sea. But to us, it was just the opposite. We reconnected and learned how to simply unwind..A skill we lacked at home.

My husband and I were talking about our next cruise. And he said, “I really like walking around the cruise ship. I’m looking forward to it.” Me too.

However, the next ship only offers a track that goes halfway around the perimeter. Legend of the Sea’s top deck consists of a giant water park. That’s OK. We will manage, And there is always stair climbing…