This Guy Tried to Get Fitter on a Cruise, Here’s What Happened

Cruises are known for many things, stunning sunsets, endless entertainment, and delicious food… It’s practically tradition to come home with tighter jeans and a suitcase full of regret. In fact, the average cruiser reportedly gains between 5 and 10 pounds in just one week at sea.

But what if someone decided to do things differently?

Instead of leaning into indulgence, one fitness YouTuber boarded a cruise ship with a goal that defied the buffet norm: get leaner, stronger, and possibly even jacked, all while surrounded by unlimited pizza and pina coladas.

Meet Will: The Man on a Mission

Will Tennyson isn’t your average cruise passenger. He’s a popular fitness YouTuber with a sense of humour, a serious gym routine, and an obsession with hitting 200 grams of protein per day, even at sea. Rather than treating the cruise like a cheat week, he turned it into a full-blown fitness challenge.

Before boarding, he laid out four simple but brutal rules:

1. No repeating meals
2. Must visit the buffet daily
3. Take the stairs only, no lifts allowed
4. Lift weights every single day

While most cruisers were sipping cocktails by the pool, Will was dry scooping creatine and heading to the gym. And somehow, he made it look like fun.

Cruising in Style, But With Limits

Will wasn’t roughing it. He booked one of the ship’s swankiest suites, complete with a sprawling balcony, retro décor, and even a private hot tub. There was a butler, a mountain of welcome treats, and yes, a drink holder on the toilet, because cruise luxury knows no bounds.

But despite all the indulgences within arm’s reach, Will stuck to the plan. He turned down the champagne and opted for a fridge stocked with Coke Zero instead. “Saying no now will make saying yes feel better later,” he reminded himself, a mantra that would be tested more than once.

Buffet Battles and Gym Gains

While most passengers made a beeline for the bar, Will and his wife Katie headed straight to the gym. And it was empty, not exactly a shock on day one of a cruise.

Will kicked things off with a heavy upper-body session, joking that gravity must be different at sea because everything felt easier. After lifting, it was time to face the true test of willpower, the buffet. He started with a safe plate of fruit and protein, knowing the real challenge was still to come.

Tracking, Lifting, and Outsmarting the Buffet

Will’s secret weapon wasn’t just willpower, it was strategy. He tracked every bite using a macro-counting app and aimed to hit 200 grams of protein daily. His approach to the buffet was tactical: start with lean protein and salad to curb cravings, then allow one “funsies” plate with a bit of everything he fancied. Just not stacked sky-high.

Dessert wasn’t off-limits either, it was just reserved for after dinner. From shrimp and steak to rotisserie chicken and raw carrots (thanks, William the butler), Will managed to eat well without going off the rails. His motto? Balance over restriction, and maybe skip the mayo-soaked potato salad.

Sticking to the Plan, With a Sense of Humour

Will’s cruise wasn’t all macros and dumbbells, it was packed with personality. He dry-scooped creatine on the deck, raced up staircases to avoid the lifts, and even requested a towel animal shaped like a dumbbell. (Joanne, the towel artist, initially gave him a bunny, close enough.)

Each day brought a mix of workouts, stair climbs, and subtle sabotage from William the butler, who kept sneaking in cookie plates despite Will’s protests. But through it all, Will stuck to his rules, often laughing at the absurdity of lifting weights after a buffet or running laps around a cruise ship while everyone else downed daiquiris.

On-Shore Discipline (Kind Of)

When the ship docked at Great Stirrup Cay, a private island owned by the cruise line, Will didn’t take it as an excuse to relax. Instead, he set a step goal: 5,000 steps before returning to the ship. Under the blazing sun, he and Katie marched through sand, dodged overpriced souvenirs, and avoided the beachside buffet entirely.

That didn’t mean total deprivation. They found a food truck and customised their chicken sandwiches by ditching the mayo and swapping in grilled veg. And when they hit their step target? A celebratory virgin cocktail and a shared coconut fudge bar. Discipline, yes, but always with a little room for fun.

Final Word: Can You Get Fit on a Cruise?

Will proved that the cruise ship lifestyle doesn’t have to mean food comas and elasticated waistbands. With the right mindset, a bit of planning, and a sense of humour, it’s possible to enjoy everything a cruise has to offer, without undoing your fitness goals.

He didn’t restrict himself into misery or skip all the fun. He found balance. He lifted, laughed, and even indulged, just not all day, every day. So next time you’re tempted to write off your cruise as a “cheat week,” remember: you can still eat the cake… just maybe skip the elevator on the way back to your room.

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