Senior Citizen Cruise Ship Vacations: You’Re Never Too Old

As the members of the Baby Boomer generation have begun to reach retirement age, they have completely turned the traditional idea of the "sunset years" on its ear.  The senior citizen of today is nowhere near ready to slow down, and has more opportunities than ever before to continue enjoying life to the full.

If you’re a senior citizen who’s been exploring life’s possibilities, you’ve undoubtedly thought about traveling.   Finding vacation packages geared for seniors is easier than you can imagine, whether they be guided tours, travels with a church or other social group, or simply flying solo.  But one sometimes overlooked senior travel possibility is the cruise ship vacation.

The cruise vacation industry has grown exponentially over the past ten years, and most cruise lines operate several different ships in a variety of classes.  They have made their ships to accommodate, and fill their cruises with so many activities that you’re sure to find the one which is perfect for you.

Here’s a list of just some typical daily activities aboard one of the leading cruise lines:

- Low-impact aerobics
- Sunrise stretch class
- Walkathon
- Napkin folding
- Shopping and island information talks
- Party Bridge
- Golf putting tournament
- Art auction
- Cash prize Bingo
- Island music poolside
- Slots tournament
- Perfume seminar
- Jewelry and Cash Bingo
- Aquadynamics
- Blackjack tournament
- Piano music
- Movie
- Cocktail music
- Karaoke
- Piano bar entertainment
- Dance music
- 50s and 60s Trivia

This list, however, doesn’t include anything about the shipboard stage entertainment, the offshore excursions, or dining.  Nor does sit mention the ship’s library, pool tables, onboard shops, and private deck areas along the ship’s stern where you can simply stretch out on a lounge chair and watch the clouds and ocean drift by. 

Most cruises will offer lectures and seminars on everything from the culture of your next port-of-call to the wines being offered with the evenings’ entrees.  If you love the food, you may be lucky enough to sit in on a cooking lesson with the ship’s chef (or even a visiting celebrity chef!) One cruise line will even let you earn SCUBA certification before you reach the next great coral reef.

The stage show offered of today’s cruise ships are every bit the equal of what you can expect to see in Las Vegas,  complete with pyrotechnics, laser lighting, and huge casts of dancers and singers.  Royal Caribbean has three ships with ice skating rinks, and even if you think your skating days are behind you, you can still enjoy their version of the Ice Capades!  Vaudeville is alive and well on cruise ships, when you’re in the mood for sheer silliness.

Most cruise ships have cocktail mixers at which you can mingle with your shipmates, and most of them also have dance floors where you can strut your stuff.   The casinos and Bingo parlors are great for fun on the days you’re at sea, but the ports-of-call you’ll visit are really the highlights of your cruise.  Pulling into a tropical bay with balmy breezes and 75° temperatures when the folks back home are bundled up against the snow, and strolling along a deserted beach or playing a round of golf on one of the world’s elite courses are just some of the unforgettable experiences you’ll enjoy on your cruise.

You’ll never have a safer vacation environment than that of a cruise ship.  Regardless of whether you’ll be traveling solo or with family or friends, you can relax completely and let yourself be pampered just as you’ve always dreamed.  The only thing you won’t like about your senior cruise ship vacation is that you waited so long to take it!