Planning a cruise for your next vacation? No matter how much you need to relax, standing on the deck and staring at the water can get old after a few hours! Luckily, a cruise ship is more than just a big boat. These ships are like floating entertainment centers, complete with tons of fun activities for the entire family. Keep in mind, though, that you may need to make arrangements in advance to take advantage of everything a cruise ship has to offer. Here are some popular cruise vacation activities you should consider.

Cruise Ship Trips to Port

Called "excursions," trips to port cities are some of the most popular cruise activities. The opportunities you’ll have to visit port cities depend on the length of your cruise. Even on a short three-day cruise, the ship will dock at at least one port. But on longer trips, the ship will stop at several destinations, and you’ll have the chance to explore a variety of rich, local cultures.

Sometimes, space is limited on the smaller boats that go to shore. You may also have to sign up for the trip or book the trip to port when you originally book the cruise. Excursions are free on some ships, while others charge a small fee to go ashore. If you opt to stay on the ship, you can enjoy smaller crowds at the pool, restaurants and other amenities.

Cruise Ship Water Activities

On very large cruise ships, the water activities you’ll find rival those at water parks. The pool on the ship isn’t your only chance to get wet, though. Whenever the ship stops at a port, there may be a chance for you to try out some water activities, such as diving, sailing, jet skiing, surfing and parasailing. You may also be able to fish on some cruises, though you’ll likely need a special license.

Cruise Ship Shows

Cruise ships pride themselves on entertainment. After all, if you get bored, you can’t just drive to the next town over to do something. Many cruise ships have shows at night, after activities on the deck close. These range from musical theatre to comedy sketches to ballet. Many cruise ships also have shows specifically for children, complete with child-friendly characters that are dressed up to appeal to tiny travelers.

Cruise Ship Classes

Cruise ships fill days with tons of activities, since the ship’s directors can never guarantee that the weather will be nice enough for relaxing in the sun or checking out the pool. One thing that most ships offer is educational classes. You can usually find short classes on activities and topics like dancing, swimming, the area of the world where you’re visiting and cooking. Some cruises even offer guest speakers and conferences.

There’s no limit to what you can learn on your next cruise, but be sure to check out the itinerary well in advance and sign up for classes. It’s also a good idea to arrive a few minutes early to your class to get a prime seat.

Cruise Ship Dining

Cruises are often rated by the quality of food. Some cruises have scheduled sit-down dinners, but most also have options where you can get food at any time of the day. For example, many cruises have a buffet room, which is constantly restocked with new food.

There are also special food-related activities onboard many ships. Most cruise lines offer a captain’s table every night, where guests dress formally and sit at a table with the captain of the ship. There are also dinner theatre shows, murder mystery dinners, theme dinners, and other special events. Again, be sure to check your ship’s itinerary to take full advantage of the fun food activities onboard.

Other Cruise Ship Amenities

Lastly, take some time to explore your ship. You might be surprised at what you find. For example, a quick walk around the ship might reveal a library stocked with interesting books you can check out for the duration of the cruise. Some ships also have indoor sports facilities, like tennis courts, and most have a gym.

While you shouldn’t spend too much time on work while you’re on vacation, many cruise ships have business centers where you can make calls to home, print documents and even use the Internet. Every ship is different. So on the first day, spend some time walking around the ship to check out all of the activities and amenities available to you.

Whether you want to take an educational class, explore the local culture of a port city, take in a show or enjoy fine dining, cruise ships offer an abundance of fun, popular activities. Get the most out of your next cruise by taking advantage of all that your ship has to offer.