Unique new activities, features added to ships

[Jason]

Learning hobby skills or even a foreign language is an increasingly popular pastime on cruises. BY JAY CLARKE, Miami Herald

On Princess cruise ships, guests can learn how to design their own Web page, paint pottery or do estate planning. Crystal Cruises passengers can attend classes on martial arts, foreign languages and elementary piano. And Holland America has inaugurated a program that will feature culinary experts aboard every cruise.

There's more to cruising than going from one place to another. On many ships, passengers can a learn a new skill -- and enjoy doing it. Onboard classes have been such a hit that the past two years have seen a huge increase in such programs.

''Our Scholarship@Sea program has been a great success,'' said John Chernesky, director of passenger programs for Princess Cruises, whose passengers can choose from about 20 courses a day.

Princess' Scholarship program, introduced two years ago, offers instruction in computers, photography, culinary arts, ceramics, ballroom dancing and floral design.

The line offers up to 26 hands-on computer courses with a dedicated instructor aboard, from basics -- how to buy a computer -- to Web design and editing digital photos.

FOOD'S FIRST

Culinary courses draw the most attendees, and ceramics are also popular, Chernesky said.

''Ceramics has been a big success, and all our ships have it now,'' he said.

Recently added: movie editing.

Another cruise line with extensive learning programs is Crystal, which began teaming up with well-known brands when it launched its Crystal Serenity two years ago.

Yamaha, for example, gives on-board piano instruction.

''Passengers can play a song by the end of the cruise,'' said Kristin Turner, Crystal's manager of entertainment. The program also attracts those who already play piano but want to increase their skills, she said.

''Our classes are full,'' Turner said. ''They are so popular that people say they want more.''

Another popular program is given by Berlitz. The language specialist gives basic instruction in Spanish, plus classes in languages spoken at the ships' ports of call.

Other presenters include Pepperdine University, which gives instruction in such subjects as how to start a business; the Cleveland Clinic, which deals with such subjects as heart problems, diabetes, nutrition and osteoporosis; and the Computer University at Sea.

BIG DEMAND

Enrichment programs have proved so popular that Holland America Line created a new department to oversee them. ''Passengers are clamoring for this. They really want it,'' said Holly Johnsen, the new manager of onboard enrichment.

''We began our culinary arts program on the Ryndam in October and added a culinary theater on the Zuiderdam,'' she said.

''We have a lot more guest speakers,'' she added. ''Destination-related subjects are big, so is live your life to the fullest.''

Many of these programs are given on longer cruises, she explained, when the ships spend more time at sea.

The same holds true at Celebrity Cruises.

''We have at least two lectures on each cruise, more on longer cruises with more sea time,'' said Chris Jurasas, Celebrity's manager of cruise programs. ''Our programs were fairly small until two years ago, when we beefed them up.''

[GottaCruz]

All of these activities sound great, especially the ballroom dancing . With that new reality show, Dancing with the stars, ballroom dancing, from what I saw on the news today, will be more popular than ever. The news said that Arthur Murray is busier than ever due to the show on tv. Tha'ts one thing hubby and I would love to do in the evenings on a cruise. As for the rest, I don't know. We just enjoy sitting on the Lido deck doing nothing. :cool: :cool: :cool: I do think it's great that the cruise lines are offering these activities for those that are not as lazy as we are.

[JoeyandDavid]

I would LOve the chance to take a cooking course on board wouldnt that be great<]

[Mebert]

Those courses certainly make cruising Princess very attractive. I've got my eye on that photography course.

Is there an extra charge for the courses?

[JoeyandDavid]

And the REAL question was just asked 11 thanks Mebert!<]

[jtutak]

Yes I only go for the free stuff

[hazelson]

I don't think I would actually want to learn anything on a cruise - sounds too much like work lol. But the cooking thing would be interesting. TTFN Jennifer

[Lisa63]

There was a modest charge for the ceramics class on our Princess cruise in February. I believe it was to cover the cost of materials. There was a charge for computer classes, but it was still less than what we'd pay for similar classes at our local adult education center.

[schatje]

On a past cruise we take a dancing class and loved it. Hubby and I love to dance so this was right up our alley. We are thinking about the Ryndam for next year so the culinary classes will be a must. Enjoy!!!