6 Thrilling Experiences That Made Our Hearts Race on Our Caribbean Cruise

"There he goes again," I thought to myself, gasping for breath. He was a sprightly man in his 50s, sprinting like a cheetah. Dressed in marathon-style shorts, with a bare chest glistening with salty sweat from the sea air, and ordinary running shoes, he effortlessly lapped me and the other joggers on the cruise ship’s outdoor track that morning. He seemed oblivious to our presence, only noticing us when he had to weave around leisurely walkers. Running was his passion; he was in his element, completely focused on his run.

I’m a runner too, but I’m nothing like him. My motivation isn’t rooted in love for the sport, nor do I have dreams of running marathons or jetting off to Africa to race with elite athletes (although that does sound exciting). For me, running feels more like a necessary chore as I inch closer to 40. I’d much prefer activities like surfing, skateboarding, or tennis—anything really. But running is convenient, especially while traveling. That’s how I found myself on the track alongside the runner.

As we ran in parallel around the whale tail of the Dinogo Dream, I decided to push my limits. "The next time he passes by," I thought, "I’ll latch on to him and see how many laps I can manage at his speed." He zipped past, and I quickened my pace; he had no clue that I was now trailing him, but I kept up: one lap…two laps…two and a quarter…you’ve got this, Randy!…two and a half…three laps. We sped around the track, seemingly making no progress, as we approached Montego Bay, Jamaica. My entire body buzzed as I slowed down and withdrew; he continued on, only to lap me again several minutes later.

However, that morning on the track wasn’t the only time my heart raced during our Caribbean cruise. To be honest, lounging by the pool and sipping Mai Tais all day can get a bit monotonous on vacation, so we eagerly sought out adventures. One of the highlights of cruising for me was the wide range of activities available, both onboard and off. We could choose to relax all day at sea if we wished, hit the gym, or seek out thrilling excursions. We managed to find a perfect balance between leisurely moments and exhilarating experiences, aligning perfectly with our travel style. Here are six activities we enjoyed on our Dinogo cruise that truly got our hearts pumping.

Adventurous Off-Roading in Jamaica

The thrill of riding an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) fills me with excitement, but cruising around the hills of Jamaica feels like winning a $1,000 lottery scratch-off on payday. We discovered the rural charm of Montego Bay with Chukka ATV Safari. For about an hour, we navigated dirt paths, crossed streams, and enjoyed breathtaking views of Montego Bay that most tourists miss out on.

Gliding and Sliding

As a kid, I had four main passions: roller coasters, water slides, arcades, and skateboarding. Being a child of the 1980s is an understatement. In Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, we had two water parks—Idlewild and Sandcastle. Sandcastle was the superior choice, featuring some of the largest water slides in the state at that time. I vividly recall waiting in line at the top of the park’s towering 60-foot slides with my friend Ryan, who was about to take the wedgie-inducing vertical plunge for the first time. "Feel my heart," he said, as we approached the peak. "It’s racing like crazy."

Fast forward 25 years. It’s been ages since I last enjoyed a waterslide. As I settle into position on the Twister Slide on the Dinogo Dream, my heart races and the adrenaline surges as I gaze down the vibrant tube. Then…whoosh…I’m launched! Exiting the twisting tube and splashing into the pool, I feel like I’m 12 again. I dash back to the top to tackle the DrainPipe, a type of waterslide that wasn’t around in my childhood waterparks. The first half mirrors the Twister Slide, but halfway through, you’re propelled into a giant funnel that spins you around as if being drawn into a drain. It’s an absolute blast.

Finding My Zen

In my limited experiences with yoga, I've noticed that sometimes it's calming, while other times it’s more energetic. The vibe often hinges on the instructor. Our fitness class on the cruise ship blended yoga and Pilates, which suited me perfectly. I’ve always been a morning workout person, making it a fantastic way to kick off one of our sea days. Plus, the view from the exercise studio was spectacular—one entire wall featured floor-to-ceiling windows, offering an ocean view as we flowed through our downward dogs.

Ah, Bloody Maria, where have you been all my life?

In my early 20s, I went through a serious Bloody Mary phase. She treated me well during that time, but our romance only lasted a year or two. It was mostly my fault; I didn’t want to invest too much in her. Our dates often took place in the early hours at San Diego dive bars like the Ye Olde Plank Inn in Imperial Beach. Eventually, she became lackluster and lost that delightful taste that initially drew me in. Now, after a 15-year break, I feel ready to embrace another tomato juice cocktail. This time, it’s the Bloody Maria. I didn’t set out on our cruise to rekindle my love for cocktails, but it unexpectedly happened one morning during brunch. "Tequila instead of vodka," I thought while Beth was perusing the shore excursion booklet. "That sounds intriguing." So, I decided to try it, and it was exactly what I needed. With every spicy sip, my heart fluttered, and I realized this was the beginning of a lovely new friendship.

Diving Deep in Grand Cayman

Sitting on the ocean floor and breathing as if I were lounging on a sandy beach is an incredible thrill. We went diving in Grand Cayman for the first time during the Discover Scuba Diving excursion. For about 40 minutes, we learned various diving fundamentals and practiced them on the lagoon floor. Breathing underwater, completely submerged, was exhilarating. Once our instructor gave us the signal to proceed, we swam out to Cheeseburger Reef, reaching depths of 45 feet. On one hand, it was wonderfully peaceful to float around the reef, admiring the colorful marine life, while on the other, adrenaline surged through me, knowing I was nearly 50 feet beneath the ocean's surface.

A Drink for Your Thoughts

With just three years until I hit 40, I still feel a wave of nerves wash over me whenever I need to approach strangers for interviews related to my writing. My heart races, adrenaline surges, and I sometimes break into a light sweat. Yet, once I get past that initial introduction, I’m all set. I’ve been this way for as long as I can remember and learned early on that if I wanted to thrive as a journalist, I just had to dive in—no overthinking, just jump in like plunging into a cold pool or tearing off a Band-Aid. While cruising on the Dinogo Dream, one of our tasks was to compile an A to Z Cocktail Guide by purchasing drinks for fellow passengers and gathering their best cruise tips. Beth and I thoroughly enjoyed this assignment, but I’ll be honest; our hearts would race a little each time we approached someone for our story.