Healthy Eating and Fitness on Disney Cruise Line
When you think of a cruise, you might think there wouldn’t be many opportunities to be active, or healthy eating options. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that Disney Cruise make great trips for someone with a healthy, active lifestyle!
Fitness Opportunities
On-board when you download the Disney Cruise Navigator app, you’ll find a schedule of daily activities. Each day, you can find that there are fitness classes (such as Fab Abs and bootcamp classes). These group fitness opportunities are mostly complimentary, with a handful of classes having a fee. Aside from group fitness classes daily, you can enjoy fitness 24/7 on the cruise’s gym, which on Disney Dream is adjacent to Sense’s Spa.
The gym has weights and plenty of workout machines complete with TVs on the machines, but the best part? The machines face a floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the ocean. I must say, it’s pretty fun to run while the ship is moving, it makes it feel like you’re going so fast!
Also on-board are recreation opportunities that are included in your cruise, such as basketball and virtual sports simulators. A very special one-of-a-kind fitness opportunity is the Castaway Cay 5K that’s on Disney’s private Bahamian island Castaway Cay. This event is free to register for, and happens at 8:30am the day the ship docks at Castaway Cay (if that’s on your cruise itinerary).
Running the Castaway Cay 5K
In addition, there are other opportunities aside from these free ones to have fun and fitness on your Disney Cruise, through a variety of port adventures, which vary by destination.
Healthy Eating
On the cruise, each restaurant has a good amount of vegetarian and gluten-free options on the regular menu. The options are never boring, and are different for each of the rotational restaurants and adult-only restaurants. And per Disney standard, each restaurant can accommodate any dietary need (veganism, allergy) upon request. The chefs always come up with something spectacular!
A menu noting vegetarian and gluten-free options at Animator’s Palette
Black bean corn cakes at Animator’s Palette (I apologize for the dim lighting)
Tofu, veggies, and barley at Royal Palace on Disney Dream
If you’re in the mood for a snack in-between, you can head to Senses Juice Bar on the Disney Dream, which has smoothies and juices, along with protein bars. The juice bar is in between the spa and fitness center, and has tables facing the ocean. I loved grabbing a Beginning smoothie post-workout while looking at Castaway Cay. The juice bar is open 6am-10pm.
For breakfast, you can head to either your assigned rotational restaurant or the buffet-style restaurant on your cruise. The buffet has extensive items, and if you ask the cast members working there they will gladly refer you to which items will fit your dietary needs. The buffet on your cruise along with poolside quick service restaurants and room service have items to fit your needs for lunch as well! (A little tip, room service is included in your cruise and is available 24/7!)
A veggie burger at Flo’s, a quick service poolside restaurant
Room service cheese plate
That’s a look at how for someone who loves fitness and is a healthy foodie can have endless experiences on a Disney Cruise!
