Playing host to a group of ten running enthusiasts for a week onboard a cruise ship in the Caribbean sounded like a boondoggle too good to be true. But my tickets arrived and I flew to Fort Lauderdale to meet the Grand Princess, the flagship of the Princess fleet and a veritable floating resort, complete with swimming pools, restaurants, theaters, a casino, a nightclub, more than a dozen bars, and berths for nearly 4,000 passengers and crew.

My onboard duties consisted of meeting the group for runs on shore and on the boat, leading discussions on training and answering a few questions around the dinner table: but for a short demonstration on the weight machines in the gym, no heavy lifting.

A few vignettes, Gilligan's Island-style, about my charges, ordinary folks united initially only by their passion for running: Ken, not a millionaire (so far as I know), is a cardiologist. He was joined by his wife, Roxanne, who participated enthusiastically in the group's activities even though the sum-total of her annual running is the Ho-Ho-Ho 5K-- to which she drives half a mile from home.

Diane (attractive, but not a movie star) is a psychiatrist who lives outside Boston. She ran track in college but raced sparingly since because the pressure was making her nuts (haha). Donna (she is a professor!), our token Canadian, is a multisport athlete and run/walks marathons. Dan and Joanie, from Buffalo, were in love, engaged, and never more than three yards apart, although we worried that they might be required to room on opposite sides of the ship in order to evenly distribute their several tons of luggage.

Jesus (not that Jesus) joined us from Puerto Rico, and was more of a fitness walker than runner. And more of a Spanish speaker than English. And more often late than early. But he tolerated the group's idiosyncrasies just fine and was a cheerful and welcome addition throughout the trip.

Then there was Georgie, a 20-something kick-boxer from New York City, who met us in the gym the first day and never reappeared. Was it my Hawaiian workout shirt? Actually, Georgie sightings were reported throughout the week, live and via the ship's photo board, where she posed fetchingly with at least two different guys. So we think she had fun.

The most common question (after "How did you get this gig?") was "How do you run on a boat?" Actually, we had two options: a 10-lap-to-the-mile track on the top deck, and in the gym, a bunch of hi-tech treadmills--many with personal TVs--that helped the miles sail by. On land, where most of our running took place, the better question might have been, "How do you run in that heat?" The answer, of course, is slowly.

Photo below: Jim Hage, center, on the cruise ship

As runners, we saw parts of the Caribbean that few cruisers ever see. Grand Cayman is a typical resort, with luxury condos and beach resorts along the coast. Princess Cay, on the other hand, is the cruise line's private island, tropical and sparsely populated. Running there felt like owning a playground by the sea.

In Mexico, at Costa Maya, we ran past the tourist traps at the pier and into the heartland. Well, almost, but we did run along dirt roads to a tiny village that catered to the more intrepid tourists. We also saw dozens of seemingly stray and emaciated dogs, which turned out to be as docile as the vendors; all parties were curious but most friendly. Cozumel was more cosmopolitan, and the group ran on a sidewalk along the beach. Did I mention that it was hot?

The nicely appointed on-board gym provided a welcome alternative to the shore. An abundance of free weights, Cybex machines, Stairmasters, and exercycles complemented the aerobics floor, where a full schedule of spinning, yoga, and pilates classes was held. The spa included whirlpools, a resistance pool, hot and dry saunas, and offered massages, facials, manicures, and pedicures for those wanting to be pampered.

Our group discussions covered setting goals, running for the long term, and how to personalize a training program. We also explored weightlifting and cross training for runners as well as injury treatment and prevention. My goal was to make the talks interactive, entertaining, and informative--and not too long. I think I succeeded on most counts.

Of course, even runners go cruising to indulge themselves, and the luxurious Grand Princess offered no end of activities and entertainment. Las Vegas-style shows headlined the entertainment every night, with talented singers, dancers, comedians, and magicians commanding the stage. Other activities ran the gamut from karaoke, art auctions, and how to master juggling to--of course--bingo, shuffleboard, and line dancing

A coach once remarked that he works with runners because they are the most motivated people he knows. And, of course, it's true. Members of our group took advantage of practically all that the ship offered. Then, God bless 'em, with an unscheduled 45 minutes they'll give you anywhere from four to seven miles. With all the instructional and moral support--okay, moral support-- some of us were inspired to run twice a day. And hit the weights. Oh, wait, that was me--but running 97 miles while on a cruise is possible, if a bit obsessive. While I ran, the others snorkeled, scuba-ed, sunned, swam, read, napped, and visited Mayan ruins. And accumulated better stories for dinner.

Ah, dinner. The experienced cruiser will note that I've made no mention thus far about food, the raison d'etre for most such excursions. Food, glorious food, meticulously and lovingly prepared by expert chefs so as to make Emeril salivate. Food, morning, noon and night--midnight, too. And our group missed none of it. We were runners with a purpose.

Fine, some might say, but isn't food around the clock too much of a good thing? Not on a fitness and running cruise. Our group bellied up guilt-free to the morning buffet, the soup-to-nuts lunch, the afternoon grill, the dinnertime extravaganza, and the midnight bistro, always in calorie deficit and ready to enjoy. And if the various spreads got to be too much, it was easy to focus on innovative salads and fruit or the sumptuous and endless variety of seafood. In extremis, we simply headed back to the gym or the track for another few miles. More often, an evening stroll above decks and under the stars proved a most satisfying end to the day.

So runners, pack your suntan lotion, snorkel gear, camera, and training flats. A cruise is the perfect combination of fitness and indulgence, hard work and relaxation, all while sharing time with new friends and a comfortable old habit.

Cruise Adventures is hosting fitness and adventure cruises to Alaska and the Caribbean in 2003; contact Jim at Hagejim@hotmail.com.