Training while on Vacation.

I just got back from vacation and it killed mine. I got in a few good workouts, but for me I had to make myself go do it. Once I did it I felt great. However, over all I feel like it knocked me out of whack. I think you are going to have to go into your vacation really telling yourself you gotta do it. Take a motivational book or magazine or something you can look at the night before to pump yourself up to train. Good luck to you for sure!! Go do it!!

Do a little research before you go.  Swimguide.com will give you lists of pools in many cities around the world.  I swam in Key West at one stop on a cruise in March.  For biking, there are stationary bikes on the ships typically, and also most will have spinning classes you can sign up for as well.  For running, there are treadmills most certainly, but also, you can run while off the ship in the ports.  Again, get online, map out a run from the dock. 

Running is the easiest thing to do on vacation.  Really no excuse for losing any fitness there.  Plan a good swim and bike the day before or morning you leave and then first thing when you get back.  If you run every other day and can sneak in a swim or two and bike workout or two, you won't lose any fitness. (unless instead of swimming like a fish, you drink like one, or put on ten pounds)

You can do it just set yourself up for success.

I've trained while on cruises, in Panama, on an island, all sorts of places.

Bring your workout clothes, figure out when you can fit workouts in. Probably biking will the hardest and do that extra before you go, and plan on extra running and swimming.

I found on the cruise running on treadmill was easiest. The track up on the top of the ship was full with mostly walkers and it was hard to get around them. The pool was super small but if you disembark you can often swim. One time we went for a day trip and I wore my tri clothes than ran back the the ship from the town. It took some loops and being creative but I got my run in with fond memories.

Also maybe plan it so it is a recovery week.

We are flying to Minnesota in 10 days to stay on an island with only dirt paths and I need to get a 18 mile run in and train about 15+ hours as I'm in the middle of Ironman training. We'll make it work. I'm borrowing a trainer from a BTer so I can do trainer rides on the island instead of having to go to the mainland to ride. I'll swim between docks to do 50's or to the reeds and back. It is all about being creative. If you have the will to do it you can.

I am in the middle of training for my first IM so I am focused missing as few sessions as possible. That being said i just came back from a trip to Key West for a few days. I trained every day I was there. I planned my day and cleared everything with my family first. I was out on the road as soon as the sun came up. I have to say my run was the best training run I ever experienced. I basically ran up and down Duval street for 2 hours and witnessed Key West waking up and coming to life. It was an awesome experience. I loved it. It was actually one of the highlights of my trip. My point being, by getting out early and doing some training I was able to experience something not many people see. Take advantage of your training and use it to broaden your horizons.

Also very easy to add in some strength training and core work.  Push ups, sit ups, lunges, planks, squats etc can all easily be done with no equipment in your hotel room.  It's not the same as doing your run/bike/swim routine, but at least the muscles get used hard. 

I went on a 7 day cruise with my wife last year.  I made myself get up and run on deck early in the morning.  If you wait very long it will get filled with walkers and chairs so go early.  Find a snorkle trip while in port.  Great way to spend time with the family and still do some swimming.  Many ships have spin classes- sign up first thing.  Check ahead of time-may be able to bring your shoes.  I tried to treadmill one day.  Sea was rough and I hate the treatmill so I quite after 1 mile.

All in all- enjoy the vacation!

I have a similar situation.  I am leaving to go on vacation in Minnnesota in a couple of weeks and it just happens to be the week of my first triathlon (I know bad timing but the chance came up).  It is only a sprint and my workout schedule is such that it has me training for an OLY in August, so my training should be there.  The problem is that I like to drink beer while on vacation and usually quite a bit of it.  I am planning on swimming and running while I am there to keep my fitness up, even though it is a race week.  I will have a few days to "dry" out before the race but I am guessing "tapering" doesn't consist of drinking beer for a week!!!

We did a cruise and I ran up on the deck pretty much every morning.  After the first couple of laps, the walkers know you're coming and move over.  It was about 1/4 mile around, so it was cool.  Plus there are times when you are with the wind and against.  Really neat.  Treadmill works as well because they are facing the front of the ship as we were heading out of port.

On the cruise we made it a point NEVER to take the elevator.  Always take the stairs when you go anywhere.  It at least made us feel better when we made our way to the cookie place.

I am going to Antigua for 8 days starting next week and I'm already scouting out running routes.  I will be doing lots of OWS sets too.

I had a 16 day vacation planned at the peak of my HIM training. I knew biking would be tough to get in to I did a long ride the morning we left to get that out of the way, then rented a bike a couple of times on vacation. That might not be an option for you on the cruise but if you get into harbor early you COULD find an LBS with decent bike rentals if you are lucky. I ran early before everyone got up, and after the kids went to sleep, and scouted out a local pool (which turned out to be free!). Did a few OWS in the bay too (I was in Hawaii) and those count as some of my most memorable swims ever. One was over a coral reef and was just gorgeous; another was into a 30 mph wind with big swells. My wife actually panicked because she stopped being able to see me (I was only 30 yards or so out but in the swells she couldn't see me) and it being Hawaii she thought a shark had gotten me. Very memorable swim too. The rides allowed me and my friend to explore more of the area than we would have otherwise and were awesome. Same with running- you just see things differently than if you stick to the cruise ship and standard activities. I was lucky though- my friend was training too so there were two of us crazy-ones rather than just me. At the very least you should be able to fit some maintenance runs in to ease the cruise-ship-feeding-guilt. Have fun.

Thanks for all the reply's and ideas. I will definetely have some help from my wife since she is a  soon to be spin instructor so i am sure she will be looking to take classes, running sounds like i can get done either on treadmill or on deck, in town. Swimming should be reasonable, we are basically going to the beach in the ports , my 3yr old loves the beach so we always look to go to the beach so i can get some swimming in there. Thanks again for all your ideas and motivation. Now, staying away from the warm melting chocolate cake will not be easy, maybe i can duct tape my mouth shut.