In case you missed my numerous Facebook and Instagram posts last week, you might not know that my family and I spent the week cruising on Royal Carribean’s new ship, The Quantum of the Seas. We were originally drawn to the boat because it was newly released and there are tons of activities to do for the kids.
This boat is massive, I mean really big.
Oddly, the boat left from New York so the first 2 days were chilly which left us plenty of time to check out all of the activities. I was determined to keep up with my fitness because I knew that I would not be eating my normal foods. Translation: I was going to eat a lot of crap this week.
First up-There were daily FlyWheel cycle classes on board. I had never done Flywheel before and was excited to check it out. These classes rocked! I loved the music and the class format. I can honestly say I was dripping with sweat. They have a “scoreboard” of sorts that shows you were you are in terms of power compared to the rest of the class. I was psyched to see that I was at the top of the leader board and once that happened, I wasn’t about to let anyone else win the next day. I kept the lead going all week. If only I could figure out how to translate that quick leg turnover and competitiveness into running.
Didn’t hurt to have a cute Australian instructor for extra motivation.
Next up we were rock climbing on the top deck of the boat. This was a little scarier than I thought and I kind of chickened out before I got to the top. Serious upper body workout. My son did really well making it up to the top. A lot harder than it looks for sure. Love our helmets!
We then headed over for some Trapeze classes. I loved this! It was really scary walking up the ladder and then looking down. Standing on the platform and grabbing the bar, my heart was beating so fast. Literally a leap of faith but once I let go, such a blast. I was able to pull my legs over the bar and hang upside down. Serious fun!
My kids played Dodgeball and rode Bumper Cars
One of the coolest activities was the “IFly” sky diving simulator onboard the ship. I don’t have all of our pictures yet from this but you suit up like you are going actual sky diving and then learn the basics from your “flight instructor”. I would describe it as a wind tunnel tube with 60-75 mile an hour winds. It is the feeling the sky diving without jumping out of a plane or using parachutes. We entered the tunnel one at a time with our instructor for 60 second “flights”. The key is to relax and let the wind lift you up. This was such a unique experience like nothing I have ever done before. We all did it twice and I can’t wait to do it again sometime. They are starting to open franchises around the country so hopefully it will be more widespread. You can check their website here to see if there is one near you. I thought I was going to be afraid but really it was so relaxing and fun.
We don’t have our pics of this yet but you can check it out here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvsYFOH-5AQ
After that, we did yoga and TRX classes. There was even a one mile charity walk around the outdoor running track to benefit the Make a Wish Foundation. Our cabins were on Deck 6 and the activities were on Deck 14 & 15. I had a no elevator policy most of the trip so we logged lots of steps too. This was certainly one of the most active vacations we ever had. Good thing because I certainly enjoyed the freshly baked cookies every afternoon. Writing this all down is exhausting me and I think I need a vacation from our vacation.
We certainly kept busy and moving last week while having lots of family fun. The best kind of vacation for me. It is not often that we all have a chance to do the same activities together and we made some great memories on this trip.
How did you keep busy during the Holidays? What was your favorite family moment?
wow! that is one heck of a family vacation! I would love to do that sometime over a Christmas holiday like that! We have an Ifly in Orlando, the kids and I went a couple years ago for my daughters birthday- nothing quite like it! I am going to venture that you are giving the cruise 2 thumbs up!
I loved the IFly and would love to do it again. I give the cruise 2 thumbs up for activities I didn’t love the food.
I loved reading about your vacation! I have always wondered about a cruise, and all the fun you have….I am considering it! By the way, I LOVE your hair! I think the brown looks beautiful!
Thanks! It was a fun active vacation. I needed to do something crazy with the hair bc of the foot thing. I am trying to put on a brave face but it sucks big time especially this time of year. I’ve loved getting to know you this year and teaming up for MM. So fun!
This looks like an awesome trip! I had no idea you could do so much on a cruise.
WE didn’t even get to do everything they had available. Fun but exhausting. Happy New Year!
Sounds like you guys had a great time and was full of activities. Have to find a god balance w all that wonderful food that is offered. I went on the Oasis of The Sea last year and it was probably the most fun cruise I’ve been on.
The cruise was a ton of fun for my kids. The activities were great I didn’t love the food as much. It was really hard to find healthy vegetarian food.
You are so incredible for trying everything out! What an amazing trip–so happy to see someone taking advantage of everything that they have to offer!
WE had a blast trying all these activities we never would have done. My kids were out until 2 am doing stuff.
I love trying new things and this ship would definitely not disappoint! Looks awesome. I completely understand needing a vacation from the vacation. I’ve always enjoyed being active on mine! Who wants to just sit around? I can do that at home!
Exactly! WE did have a blast and lots of family togetherness which we don’t often have with 2 teens.
I loved seeing all your pictures last week! I was vacationing vicariously through you and you family! That has to be one of the most active family vacations I have ever heard about! So glad we connected and became blogger friends! Looking forward to all of your yummy recipes and running adventures in 2015!
It was probably our most active vacation too! Lots of fun family time. I’ve love connecting with you this year too and look forward to more in 2015. Have a happy new year friend!
So, I love cruises and Royal Caribbean. I’ve been really wanting to go on this boat! I’ve been on the Freedom of the Seas, but not the newest time. It looks amazing! So glad you had fun. I think it is a perfect family vacation.
It was really fun with lots to do. My kids had a blast. I need a vacation though 🙂
Wow that ship is HUGE and flywheel sounds like an awesome class. I always try and workout on vacation because I know i am going extra hard with the eating and imbibing. Happy New Year friend. 😉
It was really big but lots to do. I tried to stay really active bc I knew I would be eating lots of crap. happy new year to you!
What an incredible trip! Trapeze classes looked awesome and the Flywheel spin class looked great too! I’ve only been on one cruise but it was before kids, definitely looks like a fun adventure with family!
It’s a great family trip with lots to do for everyone. Trapeze was so much fun!
Fun! We’re booked to do a Royal Caribbean cruise next year so I was excited to read this. Our ship won’t have all the new stuff but it has rock climbing and the surfing simulator, so I’m planning on at least trying those 2 and ice skating. I’m sure there will be lots of food so have to stay active 🙂 I like the no elevator policy, we might have to do that as well.
We have iFly here and I totally want to do it post baby! What an amazing cruise– I love cruises! So much fun and what fun things you all did! SO much fun!
Seriouly, WOW! What an amazing cruise with so many fun activities! I have never done any of those but would love to try Fly Wheel and rock climbing!
so funny my new job is all about the cruise industry so I’ve been hearing about this ship for months!! excited to explore it myself in April now that you’ve shown me all the fun ways to be active
I love that you stayed active during your vacation. That is always the best way to spend time with your family! It looks like you had a great time! My husband and I spent Christmas in Las Vegas this year and did a TON of walking. It was wonderful.
Thanks we did have a great time! Glad you did too. Thanks for stopping by today Happy New Year!
WOW! This looks like so much fun!!! I have never taken a cruise before! I would settle for a regular old Vacation at this point! VACATION added to my 2015 Bucket list!!!!!
XOXO,
Laurie
yes vacation should be on everyone’s 2015 list!
I can’t believe this was all on a cruise ship! Looks like a great trip!
We did! happy new year friend!
Oh my gosh what fun fitness moments! I really would love to try a trapeze class! Love me some Flywheel 🙂 always a good time. Happy new year!
Trapeze was so much fun! Scary but fun!
You guys really did have an active vacation! I’ve been on a couple of cruises, but aside from running around the ship deck, I really didn’t ever join in on the different activities on the ship. Now on the islands that was a different story, they were all about activity.
What an amazing trip, great way to spend your holidays!!!
We did have a wonderful very active fun time! I need a rest 🙂
Wow so impressed with all the fitness activities available on the ship! Sooo cool Flywheel was on there – always fun to see stats 🙂 They are opening a Flywheel in DC close to Dupont Circle – will let you know or tweet about it once it neats completion! Right now it is an old theater.
oh I didn’t know that! Let me know and we can meet up for a class. That would be loads of fun
That all looks like so much fun! I have a fear of heights but I really want to try out that trapeze! Thank you so much for sharing.
I am kind of afraid of heights too. I was way more nervous on the rock climbing for some reason.
O my goodness! What an adventure! So much fun, but I don’t think I will ever get over my fear of going on a cruise!
WE did have lots of fun family adventures this past week! Happy New year!
I love cruising, but who knew they now have so many fun, active things to do on the ship!!! The first cruise I took only had a track and a miniscule gym.
Things have certainly changed lately!
Wait a minute, this was all on the ship?? Wow! What a fun way to be active with the family. I’ve gotta try Flywheel sometime. Sounds like such a wonderful vacation! #wowlinkup
I know crazy right? We had a great time. happy new year friend!
What a fantastic family vacation! We love for our vacations to be active also and this looks perfect!
The sky diving simulator looks AWESOME!!
Great memories 🙂
Happy New Year!
It was so much fun really! I can’t wait to do it again somewhere except not in a real airplane LOl
I’ve never really considered a cruise before. That looks amazing!
WE had an amazing time trying all this out. I need a vacation now!
WHAT?!?! Coolest boat ever!!! That’s so awesome! I just tried Flywheel for the first time in NYC 🙂 Have a happy new year!
Flywheel was so much fun-I hear they are opening one here in DC soon.
This looks like the BEST vacation ever! Active. Fun. Memories! I am so glad you and your family had a great time!
we did thanks! I love active vacations bc I know I am not eating my normal foods.
Wow! Very cool! So many things I would never try otherwise, but they do look like fun.
We had a great time! I wouldn’t have done all of those activities either. See you for coffee soon
WOW, what an awesome vacation!! Great for the older kids for sure. We’ll be Disney’ing for a while, but can’t wait to do stuff like this when they are older!
Actually they had great kids programs too. There were 6 yo doing the trapeze and the ifly. We always love Disney too-never too old for that!
I’ve always wanted to go on a cruise…but knowing they have rock climbing and trapeze? Now I NEED to go on one, haha! Thank you for sharing your vacation adventures with us!
How cool that the cruise offered those classes. The trapeze class look amazing! Happy New Year 🙂
The trapeze was really fun to try!
This sounds like an amazing vacation! Dan and I went for a few long walks including one on Christmas Day with the dogs but no major workouts.How wonderful to build these memories with your family!
We had such a great time-exhausting but great fun!
What a great vacation!! I have always wanted to do a cruise, and this post makes me interested in making that actually happen! Looks like so many fun and active activities to do! I-fly sounds amazing!
There is so much to do for the whole family. It’s a blast!
WOAH. All that stuff is on a SHIP?? Why have I never considered a cruise before? That sounds like such an awesome vacation!
We did do a TON of stuff! I think I need a vacation!
OMG there is cycling and trapeze and other fun stuff on the boat? I’d never leave!!!
ha it’s really activity packed! My kids had a blast too.
This was all on a cruise?!? AMAZINGGG!!!! It looks like you had an awesome time! We’re looking to go on a family vacation this year and this may reach the top of our list of choices. Have a great 2015 Deborah!
Yes crazy family fun indeed! If you are traveling with kids it’s a great option.
I never did a cruise and I’m in aww how you can do all those things on a ship! That’s awesome! What a fun vacation!
There was so much to do it was exhausting!
This looks like so much fun! I would love to go on another cruise #wowlinkup
We had a blast! So much to do-I was exhausted 🙂