Cruise Year's Resolutions

Ah, the New Year’s resolution.

- Felicity Long

Every year we read articles warning us to avoid making promises to ourselves that we can’t keep, and every year we do it anyway. But instead of turning this annual ritual into a chore — one at which we suspect we’re doomed to fail — why not couple our good intentions with a little fun? What better way to inject improvement into your life than by ditching a few bad habits — and picking up a few better ones — on your next cruise? After all, you’re already in a new environment, you’ll be surrounded by a lot of people you don’t know, and there are facilities available just waiting to help you become a new and better you. We suspect you have your own list of resolutions, some of which have probably been dogging you for years, but here are a few suggestions for your next cruise — and a few tips on how to actually keep them.

01 I RESOLVE TO LOSE WEIGHT

OK, let’s get this one over with right away, since it’s among the most common resolutions most of us make every year. You may be thinking this is a counter-intuitive goal at sea, since around-the-clock dining is a key feature of many of today’s cruise lines. But if you think about it, the preponderance of dining options, from the standard buffet and dining room to the increasing number of specialty restaurants, offers numerous ways to tailor your eating to a plan that works for you. Love South Beach and Paleo diets? Go for the seafood, grilled steaks, and veggie options.Many menus offer sugar-free desserts so that you don’t have to feel deprived and miss all the fun. A fan of low-fat cuisine? You can easily skip the fries and cream sauces,be discriminating at the buffet, and keep an eye out for the low-fat logo on many dining room menu options.