There are so many attractions across so many ships that there is a cruise for everyone, writes Sally Macmillan.
As the saying goes, cruising used to be for the "newly wed, over-fed and nearly dead".
So what's happened in the past five or 10 years to make it so popular - particularly for younger, savvy travellers who now say it's cool to cruise? Experts, such as Steve Lloyd, chief executive of Cruiseco, say there are many reasons: cruising is great value for money and there's an amazing variety of ships and destinations to appeal to many different people.
But, as Lloyd points out, one of the biggest attractions and changes is just how many activities and experiences you can enjoy on board these days.
"Passengers can be as relaxed, indulgent or as active as they like," he says.
"You can polish up your computer skills, learn how to mix cocktails, spend an hour in the spa or even throw yourself in a flowrider and learn to surf."
Lloyd adds that it's not just the onboard activities that have become more appealing to more people, but the cruise experience itself.
"The flexibility of dining and entertainment options, and the relaxing of dress codes on premium and luxury lines, attract a wider and younger audience, who would never have considered a cruise holiday before."
The world's newest, biggest resort ships certainly have a mind-boggling array of features, fabulous playthings and dazzling entertainment.
Want to wander through the trees of Central Park in the middle of the Caribbean? Whizz across the top of a ship on a flying fox? Or maybe test your sense of balance by "walking the plank" 55 metres above the open ocean? All this is now possible.
And if your tastes run more to dining in world-class restaurants, taking classes in watercolour painting, improving your Latin dance moves with the help of expert instructors or singing your heart out to win a competition, you can do all that, too.
Here, then, are Traveller's choice of the 25 best on-board experiences and activities, which, as you'll see, have come a long way from a game of quoits.
SMOOTH MOVES
Dance classes are all the rage on cruises and Holland America Line has taken it a step further with its Dancing with the Stars: at Sea program.
Based on the US TV show format, passengers on all the line's 15 ships take classes, pair up with an onboard dance pro and compete in a fleetwide competition on the Champions' Cruise. See hollandamerica.com.au
FLEX APPEAL
As you'd expect, the world's biggest cruise ships have the world's biggest gyms at sea. Allure and Oasis of the Seas each boast equipment such as Gravity machines, a Kinesis Wall, Activio Cycling and Expresso Bikes. Group classes reportedly inspire motivation. See royalcaribbean.com.au
TRAINING IT
Working out just got more interesting with the newly installed "fitness garden" on board Crystal Symphony. The redesigned aft area on Decks 7, 8 and 12 features specially designed equipment for outdoor circuit training; the Movement Journey can be tailored for all fitness levels. See crystalcruises.com
TUNE UP
Give your inner songbird a work-out in the Princess Pop Choir: after a few rehearsals with fellow warblers you'll take to the stage in the Atrium for a one-off performance of pop classics such as Waterloo and We Are the Champions. See princess.com
CAUSE YOU SHOULD
Do your bit for raising funds for cancer research while working off a few thousand cruise kilojoules on your next Holland America Line cruise. Passengers donate $20 and walk the promenade deck for five kilometres; the cruise line has raised millions worldwide. See hollandamerica.com.au
SLIP SLIDING AWAY
Kids of all ages can't resist it: the steepest waterslide at sea. Carnival Spirit and Carnival Legend both feature the hair-raising Green Thunder, which is part of the top-deck water park. Carnival Waterworks also has a Twister Waterslide and a SplashZone for smaller children (and less adventurous grown-ups). See carnival.com.au
QUANTUM LEAP
Royal Caribbean has really pushed the boat out with all the activities on board its newest ship, Quantum of the Seas. Among the many gob-smacking features is SeaPlex, the largest indoor active space at sea that boasts bumper cars, a roller-skating rink and a circus school. See royalcaribbean.com.au
MAKING WAVES
Voyager of the Seas will steam back to Sydney on December 8, fresh from a $75 million makeover, complete with a brand-new FlowRider surf simulator. It's fun, challenging - and surf conditions are always perfect. If that's all a bit hard, you can lie around the pool and watch movies on the massive outdoor screen. See royalcaribbean.com.au
WALK THE PLANK
After mastering some 40 challenges on the ropes courses on board Norwegian Breakaway and Getaway, prepare yourself for The Plank. This 15-centimetre-wide board extends 2.5 metres over the side of the ship, 55 metres above the open ocean - but at least you have to wear a harness. See norwegiancruiseline.com.au
TOTALLY OARSOME
Every decent private yacht is equipped with onboard toys such as jet skis, kayaks and sailing dinghies. You'll find these and more on board SeaDream I and II, plus experts on hand to give instructions. Perfect for showing off in Monaco. See seadream.com
HOCUS POCUS
Norwegian Cruise Line's new Norwegian Getaway takes onboard dining to a new level with its Illusionarium. The 275-seat, circular venue is part restaurant, part magic show - the illusions were designed by top magicians. Special effects include rising tables and shaking chairs - watch your soup. See norwegiancruiseline.com.au
COCOA NUTS
If you need an excuse to use the ship's gym, make sure you sample famous chocolatier Norman Love's delectable creations when you cruise on the new Regal Princess. Treats such as chocolate and wine pairings will also be available across the Princess fleet early next year. See princess.com
SOUNDS FISHY
You don't have to go to sea to enjoy Nobuyuki "Nobu" Matsuhisa's Japanese-Peruvian fusion cuisine, but if you happen to be cruising on Crystal Symphony or Crystal Serenity, dinner at Silk Road and The Sushi Bar is a highlight. Matsuhisa cruises periodically and conducts onboard classes. See crystalcruises.com
SURPRISE, SURPRISE
At Celebrity Cruises' Qsine restaurant, you order your meal on an iPad menu, then sit back and wait to be surprised. Vegetables never looked like this before; other beautifully prepared and cooked concoctions include Sushi Lollipops, Disco Shrimp and Lava Crab. The restaurant's decor is similarly classic with a twist - designed to whet your appetite for a gastronomic adventure.See celebritycruises.com.au
LIFE IN THE RAW
Health-conscious passengers on SeaDream Yacht Club's two venerable vessels can sample the only "raw food" menu at sea. Dishes are prepared with raw, organic and vegan ingredients and are delicious - you can even indulge in desserts such as cashew lemon cheesecake. See seadream.com
DISH IT UP
Britannia, P&O Cruises World Cruising's newest, biggest ship, is set to take its maiden voyage next May. High-profile chef Marco Pierre White will be on board, holding masterclasses for passengers for this special food and wine themed cruise. He is one of five famous "food heroes" to work with Britannia; and he also has restaurants on the line's Oriana, Adonia, Ventura and Aurora. See pocruises.com
SHOW AND TELL
The Culinary Arts Centres on HAL's ships feature topnotch onboard and visiting chefs demonstrating their skills. The chefs often focus on specialities of the region where the ship is cruising; hands-on cooking classes are also held for small groups. See hollandamerica.com.au
BON APPETIT
Aspiring chefs flock to Oceania Cruises' Bon Appetit Culinary Centres on board Riviera and Marina to learn the finer points of food prep and presentation. "Mastering fish" is one of the most popular hands-on classes. See oceaniacruises.com.au
BOTTOMS UP
There's an art to mixing a proper cocktail, and it's one you can learn on a P&O Cruises short-break Food and Wine cruise. Classes at the MIX Academy introduce passengers to tempting tipples; and there are even barista courses. See pocruises.com.au
SIP SHAPE
Princess Cruises' excellent scholarship@sea program includes wine-tasting seminars; whether you're an amateur enthusiast who wants to learn the basics or a connoisseur looking to increase your know-how, the ship's cellar master will take you on a thoroughly enjoyable educational journey. See princess.com
ACTING UP
Are you an undiscovered stage star? Or looking to improve your presentation skills? Cunard's Queen Mary 2 hosts acting workshops run by actors from London's prestigious Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts. You can't go wrong: famous RADA graduates include Anthony Hopkins, Kenneth Branagh and Diana Rigg. See cunard.com
FRAME GAME
Whether you're an amateur snapper or an accomplished professional, Lindblad Expeditions' photography expeditions will inspire you to achieve your personal best. National Geographic photographers run onboard seminars, and offer practical advice when you're on shore. Naturally, your subjects will include some of the world's most unspoilt landscapes and incredible wildlife. See expeditions.com
BE A TECHSPERT
Don't have time to learn the latest digital technology? Celebrity Cruises' iLearn courses cover everything from the basics of downloading photos to creating your own website. Celebrity partners with Apple; HAL has Windows "techsperts" on board its ships. See celebritycruises.com.au
CANVASSING INTEREST
Unleash your inner artist at Oceania Cruises' Artist Loft, which you'll find on board Oceania Marina and Riviera. The boutique line's stylish, premium-class ships host artists-in-residence, who run classes in everything from drawing basics to sophisticated watercolour painting, oils and crafts such as needlepoint. The courses change regularly and you need to get in early because they're so popular. See oceaniacruises.com.au
GAG ORDER
So, your jokes have friends falling about the place after a few beers, but could you cut it on stage? Find out on a P&O SeaBreak Comedy cruise. The Comedy Workshop will fine-tune your skills, which you can showcase in the Comedy Gong Show. See pocruises.com.au
What innovations will they float next?
MORE INCLUSIONS
While luxury ocean and river cruise lines have had all-inclusive fares for some years - meaning that once onboard the ship you don't pay for drinks, tips, (some) shore excursions and specialty restaurants - look out for 'premium' lines following suit. Viking Ocean Cruises' first of three ocean-going ships, Viking Star, is due to set sail next May and as with Viking's river cruises, fares will include drinks with meals - and, major bonus - free Wi-fi.
MORE PORTS OF CALL
As more ships are built every year, competition between cruise lines to attract new passengers and retain past passengers is hotting up. Offering more destinations and new ports of call is key to keeping us keen. At home, P&O Cruises will be offering cruises from every state, visiting some regional ports for the first time, and adding new itineraries to Papua New Guinea and Indonesia. River cruise lines are expanding operations in France, Portugal, America, South-east Asia and also venturing into India.
MORE SOFT ADVENTURE CRUISES
Companies such as APT and Scenic Tours are entering the "soft adventure" market previously cornered by luxury adventure lines Silversea Expeditions, SeaDream Yacht Club, Star Clippers and Compagnie du Ponant. They all offer variations on a theme: boutique ships (50-250 passengers) that can go where resort-style ships can't; expert lecturers and guides on board; shore excursions that feature encounters with wildlife; and a high level of comfort and service.
MORE FOR FOODIES
The latest celebrity chef to jump on board a cruise line is Jamie Oliver (Royal Caribbean International), joining the likes of Marco Pierre White (P&O Cruises World Cruising), Luke Mangan (P&O Cruises) and Mark Best (Holland America Line). Well-known wine connoisseurs, cheese aficionados and chocolatiers are also in demand. Expect to see more speciality restaurants, especially those serving healthy "spa menus".
MORE INTERNET ACCESS
Regent Seven Seas Cruises recently announced it would be increasing the bandwidth across its fleet and offering passengers free or greatly discounted rates for Wi-fi from October onwards. People complain constantly about the cost of being connected while cruising and as cruise lines realise the benefits (to them) of worldwide exposure through social media, they will no doubt invest in improved satellite technology. Or at least more competitively priced internet packages.
