If you won’t go on a cruise because you think it’s all about pigging out, think again. Today’s voyages offer world-class fitness centers with personal trainers to assist. There are top-deck jogging or running tracks and often basketball courts. The dining room features light choices (low cal, low fat) or spa-type cuisine. You can request dishes without the sauce. There are even no-sugar desserts that look appropriately decadent. And don’t worry, you’re likely to stay fit simply by the sheer size of today’s ships. When you’re traveling on a ship that holds several thousand guests, the distances between activities will keep you fit. Just walking from your cabin to the dining room can be quite a hike. If you’re heading for a cruise, here are a few tips I suggest for those wanting to stay fit. (1) Visit the fitness center your first day onboard; get an assessment of your physical abilities and ask for a trainer to help you design a daily fitness regimen while onboard; (2) In the morning, enjoy a cup of java but then take a walk or jog around the promenade deck or the jogging track, respectively. Couple fun activities with an exercise element; (3) Take the stairs; ships are often 15 or so decks; hopping up and down between venues, rather than opting for elevators is a great way to burn calories; (4) Book shore trips that require walking or design your own tour around a city center. Just get out and move; (5) Head for late-night dance venues. There’s nothing like a fun night on the dance floor to burn calories; (6) Grab a buddy. If you brought a friend or made a new one onboard, pledge to do one activity per day together that burns — or at least “watches” — calories, such as meeting for coffee at the far end of the ship (a long walk) or having breakfast daily with both of you not going overboard with the sausages and breads; (7) But do eat breakfast, as it gets your metabolism going for the rest of the day; and (8) Remember that all these activities will allow you to splurge a bit here and there, so you’ll likely go home weighing no more than what you did when you arrived. You’ll still have fun, enjoy the cruise and its activities, but keep the pounds where they belong – definitely somewhere else.