The Best Cruises to Walk and Run!

When you book a cruise, you could be playing Russian roulette with your waistline. It's tempting, after all, to shed your weight-conscious ways and live like a sloth, lounging for hours on shipboard decks and sipping and noshing your way through hundreds of extra calories a day. Unless, that is, you sign up for one of these unique running/walking cruises, which are open to all fitness levels:

Knock out a 5K: On December 16, Royal Caribbean will host a 5K in St. Maarten for passengers taking an Eastern Caribbean cruise on the Allure of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's newest ship. As a participant in the race, you'll get a T-shirt and be invited to the post-race party onboard. The week will also include group fun runs and lectures and seminars with athletes.

Take a week-long running/walking vacation: Climb aboard the Caribbean Princess for the Cruise to Run Caribbean Cruise from January 23-30, 2011. At each of the five port calls, you'll participate in organized events that vary in distances. In Tortola, for instance, you'll explore a four-mile course while the Antigua course covers eight miles. During the week, enjoy guest speakers, trivia games and cocktail parties.

Tackle a destination marathon: Want to log a marathon over a week's time? Check out the Caribbean Islands Marathon Cruise (Feb. 19-26, 2011) or the Great Alaskan Marathon Cruise (July 23-30, 2011) offered on Holland America's ms Eurodam and ms Westerdam, respectively. At each port call, you'll run or walk a certain distance so that by the end of the cruise, you'll have logged 26.2 miles. The marathon cruise week also includes clinics and strength training and flexibility sessions hosted by Jenny Hadfield, running coach and co-author of "Marathoning for Mortals," and John Bingham, Runner's World columnist and author of several running books.

Looking for a ship that takes the cake when it comes to calorie-burning activities? Take an inside look at fitness options aboard the Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean's largest ship.

More on Fit Travel:
The Best iPhone Apps for Fitness Travelers
Escape to a Boot Camp Retreat
Pedal Off Vacation Calories