NORWALK, Conn., July 24 /PRNewswire/ -- People think it's hard to stay healthy when traveling, but cruises offer many opportunities to eat right and stay fit. For example, top-notch cruise lines have excellent menu selections, so if you order carefully your delicious meals will also be good for you.

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"If you're someone who can't handle temptation, you'll want to stay away from the cruise buffets and order from the menu," says actress and author Mariel Hemingway. "I am always ordering what's healthy, so I ask the staff very nicely, and if you are kind and humorous about your diet needs, they are always amenable."

"Cruise lines now offer very healthy dining options, including low-carb, low-fat, and no-trans-fat menus," said Leslie Downey, director of Travelers Advantage and TravelersAdvantage.com. "Combine that with extensive fitness and spa facilities, and you can stay fit while exploring the most luxurious corners of the world."

Here are a few more healthy cruise tips from the experts at Travelers Advantage:

-- Talk with your headwaiter the first night of the cruise about special diet needs (i.e., low-sodium, no sugar, no fat). Cruise lines are happy to accommodate your healthy diet.

-- Take advantage of the on-board gym or fitness centers. Most cruise lines offer full-service fitness centers that offer a range of cardio, weight lifting and aerobic services.

-- Many cruise activities are great exercise -- try everything from ping-pong to golf. And don't forget that dancing is a wonderful workout.

-- Relax with a spa treatment -- After you crunched the calories, relax with a refreshing and rejuvenating spa treatment. Cruise lines have tapped into the spa craze, and offer many indulgences to take you away on the high seas, from seaweed wraps and hot stone treatments to aromatherapy, Japanese silk booster facials and feng-shui, it's all yours while relaxing -- and exercising -- on your luxurious oceanic excursion.

About Mariel Hemingway

Mariel Hemingway made her silver screen debut at 13 years old in "Lipstick," and was nominated for an Oscar four years later for Woody Allen's "Manhattan." She has starred in some 30 films. Currently, she is producing a film based on her grandfather's epic best-seller "A Moveable Feast," a set of memoirs of his experiences in Paris in the 1920s. In addition to her film career, she found a passion for holistic and balanced living. She's written two books and conducts wellness retreats across the country sharing her insights about yoga, meditation, nutrition and home. Hemingway is a wife and mother of two teenage daughters.

About Travelers Advantage

Members of Travelers Advantage (http://www.travelersadvantage.com/ or 1-877-841-1335) can save money on air travel, cruises, car rentals and accommodations, as well as earn five percent cash back on eligible travel booked with preferred providers through the service. Travelers Advantage is offered by Affinion Group, a leader in the membership, insurance and loyalty marketing businesses, providing products and services that touch the lives of millions of Americans.

About Affinion Group

As a global leader with nearly 35 years of experience, Affinion Group (http://www.affinion.com/) enhances the value of its partners' customer relationships by developing and marketing valuable loyalty, membership, checking account, insurance and other compelling products and services. Leveraging its expertise in product development and targeted marketing, Affinion helps generate significant incremental revenue for more than 5,200 affinity partners worldwide, including many of the largest and most respected companies in financial services, retail, travel, and Internet commerce. Based in Norwalk, Conn., the company has approximately 3,000 employees throughout the United States and in 14 countries across Europe. Affinion holds the prestigious ISO 27001 certification for the highest information security practices, is PCI compliant and Cybertrust certified.

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