Fitness goes to the high seas

The days of returning home from a cruise with 10 pounds of all-you-can-eat buffet around your waist are over. Major cruise lines have upped the fitness ante on ships with state-of-the-art gym facilities, wellness programs and spas that will help you stick to your workout routine and maybe even help you discover a new one.

For some travelers, making sure they can stay committed to their fitness program while at sea is priority No. 1. “I’m an avid runner and I knew I would go crazy if I couldn’t run aboard ship,” said Melissa Blockman, a graduate student from Bethesda. “The gym facilities on my cruise to the Caribbean were top-notch, and I managed to get a great workout every day.”