Some people like to relax and take it easy when they’re on a cruise. Others like to throw themselves into games and activities, just taking part and letting the experience provide them with plenty of entertainment.
Then there are the people like me. The people who don’t just want to get involved but who are determined to win.
It’s something that’s been with me since childhood. Luckily I’ve been smart enough to stick to what I’m good at, so winning is a habit I’ve been able to cultivate in direct competition firstly with my sister and then in later years with my now-wife.
And on a cruise ship, I’ve plenty of opportunity to beat down the competition. Here are some of the competitive games you can try on cruise ships:
Quizzes
These are a staple of a number of cruise lines. Often the questions will be themed to the cruise line, so you may find a higher number of questions on US history or cultures if you’re on one of the lines more tailored to American travellers, but generally they are broad enough that you’ll be able to compete.
Bingo
This one might be more luck based, but you need to keep your wits about you to make sure you don’t miss a call. Some bingo games on cruise ships have jackpot prizes, meaning you can walk away feeling very happy if your numbers come up.
Karaoke
It’s sometimes believed that there are three types of karaoke singer – the good singers, the bad but self-aware singers who don’t care, and the bad singers who think they’re good. But there is actually a fourth category, which I fall into – the singer who is rubbish but is hoping they’ll find that one song where they’re actually good. It’ll happen, one day, and I’ll win a karaoke competition. Oh yes.
Hairy chest competition
This one is exclusive to Carnival. It’s obviously high-brow entertainment as some ladies are chosen to join the judging panel before a number of men then parade their (usually large) chests whilst ‘dancing’ to some choice tunes. Rumours that the competition was once won by a hairy woman are probably false, since I just made it up.
Cinema-screen Wii
On NCL ships you can play Wii on a giant screen, two-storeys tall. As a gamer this is my kind of thing, and destroying the competition in a mega-sized way is something that can only appeal.
Game Show
There are a few cruise lines that run live game shows. Carnival’s may be some of the best, as they are partnered with Hasbro which means you can play stage versions of Connect 4 Basketball, Yahtzee Bowling and more. These are more aimed at families, but that doesn’t mean you can’t take control and lead your family to glory and, of course, prizes.
By Ian Lewis
Google
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