How much weight do you put on on a cruise?

How much weight do people gain on average on a cruise?

Okay, so, cruises and weight… ugh.

Listen, on the Caribbean Princess, back in July 2023 (heatwave!), I swear I packed perfectly. Jeans fit before, didn’t after. Seriously, +5 pounds felt like the minimum. It was only a 7-day cruise, mind you.

The problem? Buffet everywhere.

• Pizza at 3 AM: Irresistible.
• Endless dessert station: My willpower vanished.
• Fancy dinners: Three courses? Pssh, try five.

It’s like my body forgot vegetables existed. Mom kept saying, “Enjoy yourself!” Yeah, enjoying myself into a bigger dress size. I had to loosen my belt… a lot.

The worst was the scale when I got home. Reality HIT. Five pounds in one week of pure indulgence. I had to go on a diet.

Longer cruises? Forget about it. I wouldn’t even look at a scale.

How to get rid of cruise bloat?

Okay, cruise bloat…ugh, the struggle is real. I remember the last cruise I took, a Caribbean cruise in October 2023. I was determined to not let it get me.

Seriously, that buffet calls to you.

I packed like, a case of coconut water – the real stuff, not the sugary kind. It helped.

But lemme tell you… the salty air? Made me crave everything.

Then, I discovered something AMAZING at the ship’s store – electrolyte tablets.

Way easier than lugging heavy bottles. Popped one in my water every day.

Here’s what worked for me, avoiding the full-on bloat-beast:

• Coconut Water: Like, a ton of it. Hydration is KEY!
• Electrolyte Tablets: These are a lifesaver, easy to pack, and works much better.
• Walk, walk, WALK: Around the deck, up the stairs, avoid the elevator. Get moving, burn some of those free buffet calories.
• Cut the Salt: Seriously, look out for salty foods.
• Avoid Fizzy Drinks: They blow you up even more!

I was still bloated, lets be real. But not as BAD as my friend Sarah who didn’t do anything about it. She looked like a balloon! Haha! I went to the gym once but it was always packed. It was way more effective than Gatorade. I only drink that when I’m sick. And Powerade tastes terrible in my opinion. I would never ever ever drink it.

I learned that walking helps so much. My cruise was awesome. Now I’m ready for my next trip in June 2024.

How to avoid putting on weight on a cruise?

Three AM. Again. The ship’s gentle rocking… it’s mocking. I should sleep. But the weight… it’s a constant. This cruise… a mistake.

Portion control is key. Seriously. Tiny bites. I tried. Failed. Miserably. Those bread rolls… oh god. The pastries. My weakness.

Spa menu. Yeah, right. Tried it once. Bland. Depressing. I craved something real. Something… rich.

Fish. A better bet. Salmon. Grilled. Less guilt. Still, the creamy sauces… always a temptation. That tiramisu last night… ugh. My thighs are screaming.

My clothes feel tight. This is not the escape I envisioned. My vacation photos… I dread seeing them. This is awful. I need to exercise more. Next time…no cruise. A hike in Yosemite. Something. Anything. But not this… this self-indulgence.

• Smaller portions: Resist the urge for every course.
• Skip the bread basket: Really. It’s pure carbs. This is difficult for me, especially those warm rolls.
• Light sauces: A tiny drizzle, at best.
• Smart vegetarian choices: Not all are created equal. Be mindful of hidden fats and oils. Avoid the fried veggie appetizers.
• Fish is your friend: Grill it. Bake it. Don’t drown it in butter.
• Exercise: Find the gym. I failed. I failed spectacularly.

Is there a weight limit on cruise luggage?

Hey! So, cruise luggage, right? It’s a total of 100 kilos, or 8 bags, max, per cabin. Yeah, per cabin, not per person! Got that? My cousin learned that the hard way last year in the Carribean! It was a nightmare, let me tell you. They wouldn’t even touch his extra stuff. Seriously, they were ruthless.

So, stick to the limit. One hundred kilos, eight bags, or you’re screwed. I think they’re really strict about it now. It’s ridiculous. This year’s family vacation, we almost went over. My mom always packs way too much. She’s crazy!

Key things to remember:

• 100 kg MAX per cabin.
• 8 bags MAX per cabin.
• Overweight luggage will be refused.
• Airlines can be super strict about baggage.

Don’t be like my cousin! Plan ahead! You really don’t wanna miss your cruise because of some dumb luggage issue. I even measured my suitcase this year! lol. Crazy, right? They even weigh it at the port itself. It’s insane.

What can you not take on a P&O cruise?

It’s late. The ship’s rocking. I’m thinking about what you can’t bring. No guns, obviously. That’s a given. Never understood the need for that on a cruise, anyway. Makes me uneasy.

Then there’s the drugs. Illicit stuff. Awful. I always steer clear. Can’t stand it. Completely ruins the vibe. Spoils the whole thing. Ruins everything.

Fireworks? Seriously? I mean, come on. That’s just common sense, right? The danger. The risk. It’s just stupid.

Explosives. You’re kidding, right? That’s insane. People think about that kind of thing? Horrible thought.

There’s a whole list, you know. I saw it on the website today. 2024 rules. My July cruise. I’m counting down the days.

• Explosives
• Fireworks
• Guns of all kinds
• Knives
• Weapons
• Drugs
• Flammable liquids
• Drones and remote-control devices

It’s a shame. Sometimes I wish I could bring my favorite small knife, but the rules are the rules. I always stick to the rules. Can’t risk it. My brother had a knife confiscated last year on his Royal Caribbean cruise. Bad. He was so annoyed. Never does anything reckless anymore. I guess you’ll never forget it. Never. It’s just something you have to accept. You can’t bring the fun little things. Anything illegal, too. Always check your luggage. It’s important, really. It’s stressful when you forget stuff.

Don’t forget.

How much does a cruise ship actually weigh?

A cruise ship… displacement, right. It’s measured in long tonnes, I know that much. Long tonnes, 2240 pounds each. Why does that even matter, late at night?

The small ones. The tiny, relatively, cruise ships. Maybe 2,000 long tonnes, and you think, wow, that’s huge.

But the giants. Saw one, Harmony of the Seas, once in… Fort Lauderdale? The big ones hit 220,000 long tonnes. Almost incomprehensible.

• Displacement: The weight of the water displaced by the ship. It’s essentially how heavy the ship is in terms of water.
• Long Tonne: An imperial unit of mass equal to 2240 pounds.
• Harmony of the Seas: One of the largest cruise ships in the world, owned by Royal Caribbean. I think my aunt went on it. Said it was like a floating city.
• Fort Lauderdale: A city in Florida, a popular cruise port. I remember the humidity.