Should Celebrity offer more "free" fitness ?

[hcat]

I am looking over the new Oceania spa and fitness brochure  "Aquamar" (spa and vitality center),  and see more free fitness activities and classes than on X . 

There used to be more  and they were organized by activity staff or staff in the gym.

 

Examples..

morning and sunset stretch, walk a mile, mat pilates, yoga, free  classes for abs, legs, core....etc  Now most classes  on X have a fee. 

 

Hoping they  bring back more  activities  without an upcharge. 

The gym is nice but more activity would be fun!

[Jammu2]

Just got off Eclipse.

 

There were at least 3 daily free classes. Morning Stretch, Abs, and another abs class. There were usually 3 pay classes - yoga, pilates, cycle, etc. Also the free "seminar" type classes ran in between.

 

I thought I paid for yoga on Marina last time. Could be wrong.

 

[TeaBag]

2 hours ago, hcat said:

Examples..

morning and sunset stretch, walk a mile, mat pilates, yoga, free  classes for abs, legs, core....etc  Now most classes  on X have a fee. 

 

Hoping they  bring back more  activities  without an upcharge. 

The gym is nice but more activity would be fun!

You forgot Zumba.  I really miss that but not enough to pay for it!

[varoo]

47 minutes ago, TeaBag said:

You forgot Zumba.  I really miss that but not enough to pay for it!

 

We were on several Celebrity cruises where they had free "Latin Dance" classes led by the ship's own activities staff..

The music and movements were similar to Zumba, but without charging an extra fee to use the "Zumba" name.

 

Unfortunately, they were often held outdoors on the pool deck where it was too hot and noisy, with many onlookers sitting around gawking and talking.

 

It would be nice if Celebrity would offer such classes as a regular activity on all the ships in temperature-controlled comfort, as they do with the ballroom dance classes.

 

 

Edited October 25, 2019 by varoo

[Fouremco]

@hcat, I too would like to see a return to a variety of free fitness activities, but I just can't see Celebrity reversing its current trend of sticking a price tag on everything.

[varoo]

Oh, I forgot to mention that on the ship they were charging a gratuity fee on top of the price they were charging for the Zumba class!

 

Has anyone heard of Zumba classes anywhere other than on a cruise ship where they tacked  on a gratuity charge?

 

 

[jelayne]

6 minutes ago, varoo said:

Oh, I forgot to mention that on the ship they were charging a gratuity fee on top of the price they were charging for the Zumba class!

 

Has anyone heard of Zumba classes anywhere other than on a cruise ship where they tacked  on a gratuity charge?

 

 

The only times I have paid a gratuity on a fitness session was on a ship or at a resort.  But in those instances they are outsourced operations.  

[hcat]

9 hours ago, Jammu2 said:

Just got off Eclipse.

 

There were at least 3 daily free classes. Morning Stretch, Abs, and another abs class. There were usually 3 pay classes - yoga, pilates, cycle, etc. Also the free "seminar" type classes ran in between.

 

I thought I paid for yoga on Marina last time. Could be wrong.

 

Learned some  good info from the replies...thanks to all

I will look more closely on the EDGE cruise planner for free classes.  We were in AQ class..they had 2  yoga mats in our stateroom but there is really  no room to use them,  so we stowed them under the couch to free up closet space.  I think there was also a tv channel for fitness but we could not locate it .

 

Those free seminars offered in the gym are mostly sales pitches at the end...very annoying!

 

 

 

[chemmo]

I must say that I do think they need to up the number of activities generally offered. Whilst Celebrity’s strength has never been organised events I am sure there used to be more than there is now...

 

With the growing number of solo cruisers and some guests cruising with something of a caring role for elderly mother or father (needing some me time) organised activities of any type offer guests a non bar/restaurant environment to mix and mingle...

 

Whilst some solos enjoy their own company or are outgoing others are not. Carers on a ship are frequently full time carers at home and need a break and company more than anyone...Organised activities  are as much about socialising as the activity itself. 

 

[masonpips]

My thought is that as the week goes on, the gym attendance (in general) seems to get lower and lower.  I bet they find that people start to "bail" and attendance is poor so they make them $ to see who is serious and figuring if you pay you'll show up.  Could potentially change this by offering more early and making them awesome workout sessions so people WANT to come back (versus sleep in, drink their way through the day, etc.  LOL)

[hcat]

Good  point.

We try to stick to our reg gym schedule but would welcome the added  morning stretch, walk a mile, evening stretch by activity staff & free mat pilates, abs, etc  in the gym, esp on sea days!  Fun social activity!

 

Some folks are trying the gym for the first time..They do a comp intro tour   and fitness eval on EDGE but it  seems  designed to sign folks up for a fitness coach  for a fee..  not so much value in that on a 7 to 10 day trip!

Edited October 25, 2019 by hcat

[rhblake]

With the ever decreasing size of the cruise staff, it is wonder that can do any fitness activities.

[WrittenOnYourHeart]

35 minutes ago, hcat said:

Good  point.

We try to stick to our reg gym schedule but would welcome the added  morning stretch, walk a mile, evening stretch by activity staff & free mat pilates, abs, etc  in the gym, esp on sea days!  Fun social activity!

 

Some folks are trying the gym for the first time..They do a comp intro tour   and fitness eval on EDGE but it  seems  designed to sign folks up for a fitness coach  for a fee..  not so much value in that on a 7 to 10 day trip!

 

I signed up for the HITT class package on my upcoming Edge cruise - very much NOT for socializing (a - I'm working too hard at my workout for chatting; b - I don't cruise with the intent of making friends, nor do I feel like my experience is lessened if I don't have a zillion opportunities to talk to people...then again I'm just slightly more of an introvert, so...) but because I go to OrangeTheory almost every day and the HITT classes seem like the closest thing to that I'm going to get at sea (until OTF either branches out to working with a cruiseline or they do a charter at a time I could go to anyway). Keeping up with a somewhat similar routine is valuable to me.

[Jammu2]

I just got the new Aquamar brochure you referenced in the OP. Looks good. It is different I think.

 

Here are the free classes.

 

 

 

 

[hcat]

Yeah..those are on Oceania from the new spa  brochure..would love to see a similar list for X!

 

Cuts to activity staff have affected activities of all kinds but the daily walk and atretching were very popular! That's my point..they need more staff to bring back some of these activity

[hcat]

9 hours ago, WrittenOnYourHeart said:

 

I signed up for the HITT class package on my upcoming Edge cruise - very much NOT for socializing (a - I'm working too hard at my workout for chatting; b - I don't cruise with the intent of making friends, nor do I feel like my experience is lessened if I don't have a zillion opportunities to talk to people...then again I'm just slightly more of an introvert, so...) but because I go to OrangeTheory almost every day and the HITT classes seem like the closest thing to that I'm going to get at sea (until OTF either branches out to working with a cruiseline or they do a charter at a time I could go to anyway). Keeping up with a somewhat similar routine is valuable to me.

 

Those are hard core exercises..I can see charging a fee for that, as well as Zumba which is a  proprietary program, guided cycling, etc,

 

We are serious about our workouts  as well, and don't socialize much  doing that  but   I am talking more about activities on board (the old  Royal C style) where you  get points for participating and then a tee shirt if you have enough points,  gets  folks moving and is fun too.  Used to enjoy it!

[jled]

I am a personal trainer and a fitness instructor and I never take the free or pay classes on board because the instructors are usually so unqualified and do such a poor job at teaching classes.  I did pay for a Flywheel class on the Allure for the novelty of it..and I couldn't hear the instructor and my bike didn't work posting to the leaderboard..for $ 30...I just run or do my own thing and unfortunately unless the cruise lines hire qualified trainers and instructors, the main purpose of the trainers and the fitness instructors in the cruise ship gyms is to sell you stuff...Body composition analysis..personal training...other stuff that you would be so much better off buying at home in a qualified gym.

 

In the past, I have worked with a company that works as a booking agent for resorts.  .The are a talent/ hiring agency that provides guest instructors to different all inclusives... The instructor pays the booking agent, and then works for a week in exchange for their accommodations...  I have done it at many high end resorts in Jamaica and Mexico.. The real Up Side is the resorts get instructors that have actual real world experience and since they are all one week shots.. the instructors are pretty excited to be there.. I really wish the cruise lines would do something like that.  Years ago, I took an excellent Mat Pilates class on NCL..but it was about twenty years ago and I am sure there is an upcharge to in now..and a gratuity...I did get tipped when I was teaching at Jewel Runaway Bay in Jamaica..by the way!!

[davekathy]

1 hour ago, jled said:

I am a personal trainer and a fitness instructor and I never take the free or pay classes on board because the instructors are usually so unqualified and do such a poor job at teaching classes.  I did pay for a Flywheel class on the Allure for the novelty of it..and I couldn't hear the instructor and my bike didn't work posting to the leaderboard..for $ 30...I just run or do my own thing and unfortunately unless the cruise lines hire qualified trainers and instructors, the main purpose of the trainers and the fitness instructors in the cruise ship gyms is to sell you stuff...Body composition analysis..personal training...other stuff that you would be so much better off buying at home in a qualified gym.

 

In the past, I have worked with a company that works as a booking agent for resorts.  .The are a talent/ hiring agency that provides guest instructors to different all inclusives... The instructor pays the booking agent, and then works for a week in exchange for their accommodations...  I have done it at many high end resorts in Jamaica and Mexico.. The real Up Side is the resorts get instructors that have actual real world experience and since they are all one week shots.. the instructors are pretty excited to be there.. I really wish the cruise lines would do something like that.  Years ago, I took an excellent Mat Pilates class on NCL..but it was about twenty years ago and I am sure there is an upcharge to in now..and a gratuity...I did get tipped when I was teaching at Jewel Runaway Bay in Jamaica..by the way!!

That's your opinion and one size doesn't fit all. Possibly some may say the same about over priced personal trainers/ fitness instructors matter where they work.   

[jled]

I don't expect everyone to agree, but I have almost twenty years experience working with private clients and teaching classes...This is just my opinion...I am sorry if you are offended by it..and I wish the cruises had better more motivated instructors who didn't try and sell products, but in my many cruises, that hasn't been the way it was. If they did, I would be the FIRST in the gym on embarkation day signing up for classes!

[davekathy]

6 hours ago, jled said:

I don't expect everyone to agree, but I have almost twenty years experience working with private clients and teaching classes...This is just my opinion...I am sorry if you are offended by it..and I wish the cruises had better more motivated instructors who didn't try and sell products, but in my many cruises, that hasn't been the way it was. If they did, I would be the FIRST in the gym on embarkation day signing up for classes!

I'm not offended by your opinion as you shouldn't be by my opinion.  All I said was what you said. I just turned it around. I made a generalization on those in the fitness business/personal trainer no matter where they work at. 

[ldubs]

13 hours ago, jled said:

 

In the past, I have worked with a company that works as a booking agent for resorts.  .The are a talent/ hiring agency that provides guest instructors to different all inclusives... The instructor pays the booking agent, and then works for a week in exchange for their accommodations...  I have done it at many high end resorts in Jamaica and Mexico.. The real Up Side is the resorts get instructors that have actual real world experience and since they are all one week shots.. the instructors are pretty excited to be there.. I really wish the cruise lines would do something like that.  Years ago, I took an excellent Mat Pilates class on NCL..but it was about twenty years ago and I am sure there is an upcharge to in now..and a gratuity...I did get tipped when I was teaching at Jewel Runaway Bay in Jamaica..by the way!!

 

Some while back we met a couple of women on the airplane who were traveling to the our same cruise to work as Zumba leaders (or whatever you call it).  They were there only for the one cruise.  Got a free room out of the deal.  They were also very  popular according to Mrs Ldubs and others in our group who attended the sessions.  Anyhow, sounds at least similar to the arrangement you mention.  And, by the way, this was before they started charging for Zumba.  

[jean87510]

I have bought on royal the unlimited gym class pass for the transatlantic cruises and its been nice. I have taken a couple of the am stretch classes on the summit (only celebrity ship ive been on 4x). It was the only class i could do with a port intensive day. Nothing was offered past 6pm. 

To those who are regular gym rats, i have downloaded workout programs and done them during off hours (6-8pm) when no one is at gym other than staff from the ship. I then go shower and go to dinner around 8. We dont like the shows so this works for us. If you feel the need for personal training, the ship is not the spot to start. That should be done pre cruise especially if youve never done anything. I always ask if im not sure of a piece of equipment or how to get miles instead of kilometers on treadmill. Even the classes, i would be hesitant to start something brand new on a ship if ive lived a sedentary lifestyle. 

[hcat]

We have our own trainer at home, so we are not looking for a trainer on board. 

 Not everyone at a ship's gym  is Certified  or needs to be.  There are some activities or classes that could be offered without charge, if they are not proprietary or advanced .

 

  They could use more qualified  people in the gym  to help those trying things  like treadmills and  resistance machines for the first time.     Activity staff as opposed to gym staff,  used to  lead the top deck  am and lm stretching and the walk mile activity.  I just think they should offer more to guests without added fees,

[buggins0402]

1 hour ago, hcat said:

We have our own trainer at home, so we are not looking for a trainer on board. 

 Not everyone at a ship's gym  is Certified  or needs to be.  There are some activities or classes that could be offered without charge, if they are not proprietary or advanced .

 

  They could use more qualified  people in the gym  to help those trying things  like treadmills and  resistance machines for the first time.     Activity staff as opposed to gym staff,  used to  lead the top deck  am and lm stretching and the walk mile activity.  I just think they should offer more to guests without added fees,

Oceania stopped charging for classes a little over a year ago. 

 

I am a heavy user of the Peloton App (Spin, Yoga and Tread).   My plan is to download some classes to my iPad, so all I will need is an internet connection to start the class and not have to worry about streaming.  Does Celebrity let people use spin bikes outside of a class? 

[Fouremco]

1 hour ago, buggins0402 said:

 Does Celebrity let people use spin bikes outside of a class? 

None of the cruise lines that we've sailed with allow use of the bikes outside class. The same holds true with most of the gyms at home.