Cruise holidays are rapidly growing in popularity among Filipino travellers — and it is easy to see why. A modern cruise ship is a floating resort, entertainment complex, and travel experience rolled into one, offering extraordinary value when you consider that your accommodation, meals, entertainment, and often several destinations are all bundled into a single price. Whether you are sailing from Singapore, joining a Costa Serena voyage from Manila, or planning a fly-cruise to Japan, this guide covers all the best things to do on a cruise to help you make the most of every day at sea.

Most international cruises for Filipinos begin in Singapore — a short and affordable flight from Manila, Cebu, or Davao. Book your flights early, especially for school holiday departures, which fill up very quickly across Southeast Asia.

The pool decks on modern cruise ships are a world away from a standard hotel pool. Royal Caribbean ships feature Category 6 Waterpark — the largest at sea — with six record-breaking slides. The Disney Adventure in Singapore has Toy Story Place with Woody and Jessie's Wild Slides and the Flying Saucer Splash Zone. Norwegian ships have ropes courses and ziplines over the ocean. On Star Voyager — which sails directly from Jakarta and is popular with Indonesian and Filipino travellers alike — there is a water park, seluncuran (slides), and a rope course. Most of these facilities are included in your cruise fare at no extra charge.

The entertainment on today's cruise ships genuinely rivals what you would find in a major city theatre. Disney Adventure stages five original Broadway productions including "Remember" — a Pixar-themed musical starring Wall-E and Eve. Royal Caribbean ships host shows with aerial acrobats, robotics, and projection mapping in Two70 theatre. Every ship has a main theatre hosting nightly performances at no additional cost. Arriving 15–20 minutes early is advised for the most popular shows.

One of the greatest joys of cruising for Filipino travellers is arriving at a completely different country every morning. Depending on your itinerary, you might spend one day walking the UNESCO-listed streets of Penang, the next exploring temples in Thailand, and the day after snorkelling in the Gili Islands. Find out what things to do at each port before you board so you can plan wisely. Shore excursions fill up fast — especially popular options like Kyoto day trips from Osaka or island-hopping from Phuket.

For Filipino families sailing the Disney Adventure from Singapore, character experiences are a major highlight. Unlike theme park encounters that can involve hours of queuing, the character meet-and-greets on board are scheduled, managed, and far more intimate. Mickey and Minnie, Elsa and Anna, Black Widow, and dozens of other beloved characters make appearances throughout the ship and at dedicated meet-and-greet sessions. These moments — especially for young children — are often the most treasured memories of the whole trip.

The dining experience on a cruise is one of the most underestimated pleasures. Most ships include unlimited meals across the main dining room, buffet, and casual venues — meaning three full restaurant-quality meals a day at no extra cost. Specialty dining venues (think Japanese teppanyaki, Italian trattoria, steakhouses) are available on most ships for a supplement. On Disney Adventure, six rotational dining restaurants are included, each with themed décor and live entertainment — from the Marvel Avengers misson at the Worlds of Marvel restaurant to the Frozen-themed dinner show at the Enchanted Summer Restaurant.

Sea days — days when the ship is sailing between ports with no shore stop — are ideal for spa time. Most large cruise ships have full-service spas with massage, facial, and hydrotherapy treatments. Yoga and fitness classes are also widely available, usually for free. Many ships have adults-only pool areas for those seeking a quieter retreat away from the family pool decks.

Modern cruise ships compete with each other on ever-more-extraordinary attractions. On Royal Caribbean ships you can try the RipCord by iFLY indoor skydiving simulator, ride the North Star observation capsule 90 metres above the ocean, or take on the FlowRider surf simulator. On the Disney Adventure, the Ironcycle Test Run roller coaster stretches 820 feet across the top deck — the longest roller coaster at sea. Most of these are included in your cruise fare on days at sea.

Cruise ships are also excellent evening destinations. Large ships have a dozen or more bars and lounges with distinct themes — from sleek cocktail bars and sports pubs to Disney villain-themed boba cafes on the Adventure. Live music, quiz nights, silent discos, themed deck parties, and comedy shows fill the schedule every evening. The nightly fireworks show on Disney Adventure — "The Lion King: Celebration in the Sky" — is unmissable.

Filipino families travelling with children will appreciate the outstanding Kids Club programmes available on premium cruise lines. Disney Adventure has Disney's Oceaneer Club for ages 3–10, Edge for tweens (11–14), and Vibe for teens (14–17) — all fully supervised by trained Disney counsellors. Royal Caribbean ships have Adventure Ocean for children and teens. These facilities give parents guilt-free time to relax while children enjoy structured, age-appropriate fun.

Sometimes the best thing to do on a cruise is nothing at all. A sun lounger, a good book, a cold buko pandan shake from the bar, and an unbroken view of the South China Sea. The unhurried rhythm of cruise travel — where the ship does the travelling and you simply arrive — is one of travel's great pleasures, and one that Filipino cruisers consistently say surprised them the most on their first sailing.

Ready to plan your cruise adventure? Find the best hotels for your pre-cruise night in Singapore or Manila, arrange an airport transfer to the terminal, and check the latest Traveloka promos for the best deals on flights and cruise packages. Plan everything at Traveloka.