Wellness at sea: Relax, rejuvenate and refresh on-board

Whether it’s an indulgent spa treatment or a morning yoga class, wellness at sea is fast becoming a staple of cruising life. The trend is something we are seeing regularly across numerous industries, and it’s certainly showing no sign of slowing down.

Looking at various walks of life, we are all guilty of packing lots of plans into our busy schedules, working hard to reach our goals and constantly clinging to our smartphones. With all of this, it’s easy to forget to take some time out for our wellbeing.

Highlighted more so as CLIA’s (Cruise Lines International Association) focus for Cruise Month this September, lets take a closer look at wellness and why it’s important to put yourself first for relaxing while at sea.

Wellness is anything that focuses on yourself, integrating health and fitness activities with your own lifestyle to ensure you’re taking a ‘time out’ every once in a while. These activities could be a bike ride or a yoga class, a spa treatment or meditation, or even reading a book or enjoying a walk along the coast. It’s anything that makes you feel relaxed and rejuvenated.

There are already many cruise lines which are offering these experiences on-board. Gyms, spas, classes and guest lectures are the norm on most ocean cruise ships and perfect for giving us a little boost on-board. While, some cruise lines even offer shore excursions for that added-extra wellness experience.

Wellbeing for your mind and your diet

Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Canyon Ranch Spa is the pinnacle of luxurious wellness. Found on-board six of the cruise line’s ships, the spa provides guests with a chance to rejuvenate your mind and strengthen your body. Services include skin care treatments, massages, therapeutic body treatments and fitness classes including Pilates and personal training.

As well as visiting the spa, wellness seekers can visit the speciality restaurant, Compass Rose for dining after their treatments. The venue service wholesome and delicious cuisine during lunch and dinner, comprising dishes full of whole grains, healthy proteins and fresh vegetables.

Seabourn’s Wellness Cruises

Step aboard Seabourn and experience the fleet-wide mindful living curriculum, which ensures guests can break away, relax and rejuvenate while they travel. Partnered with Dr. Andrew Weil, a visionary pioneer in integrative medicine, the program is the first of its kind at sea. Involving a holistic spa and wellness experience which integrates physical, social, environmental and spiritual well-being.

There are two specific Wellness Cruises currently on offer with Seabourn, bound for Arabia and the South Pacific. These itineraries include lectures, discussions, classes and demonstrations led by Dr. Weil and a team of experts, all of which are packed with information on how guests can enrich their lives for better mental and physical health.

Mind, body and spirit with Crystal Cruises

Crystal Cruises offer their own rejuvenating voyages which balance ancient holistic philosophies with modern conventional sciences.

Enhanced with the expertise of Tia Chi, Pilates and yoga, the sailings boast instruction and discussion on the health benefits of nutrition and diet. Health and wellness experts will join you on-board to host talks and lectures on how to set aside more time for you.

Just one of the activities that can be enjoyed on-board these cruises is the ‘walking on water’ fitness activity. Strap on a WalkVest, add weights to suit (up to 16lbs) and take a walk around the promenade deck to get the feelgood endorphins pumping.

Take a personal journey

From it’s well-equipped Fitness Centre to the sauna and steam rooms in the spa, Silversea Cruises pay a great homage to wellness during your cruise. The cruise line approaches wellness with holistic methods, featuring exercise, fitness and spa therapies with health lectures and nutritious dining to help maintain a healthy lifestyle.

The spa services on-board are designed by beauty experts from the House of Elemis in London, including deep hydrating facials, hot stone massages, seaweed body wraps and cellulite reduction treatments. Pamper yourself at the beauty salon, with hair conditioning treatments and hair smoothing, as well as full nail services and professional teeth whitening.

Alternatively, get the blood pumping at the Fitness Centre, with state-of-the-art Technogym® equipment, free weights and speciality classes. Personal trainers are also available for individual sessions for all levels of experience.

You can engage your mind too with Silversea’s enriched voyages. These each feature a varied and exciting programme which is designed to invigorate your mind, body and soul. Take your pick from the Explorer’s Collection, in partnership with the Royal Geographical Society; Culinary Voyages; Wine Voyages; Opera Voyages or Bridge Sailings. Carefully sourcing some of the world’s most renowned artists, experts and guest speakers who will travel on select sailings, these voyages offers a unique perspective for indulging your passions.

Plants and Pilates

Already offering the Finest Cuisine at Sea™, Oceania Cruises also boast an array of plant-based dishes at the Grand Dining Room. Served throughout the day and fleetwide, the vegan cuisine comprises the most expansive vegan menu at sea. Ranging from muffins and waffles, to Italian classics and Asian favourites, the dishes are great for any health-conscious traveller.

Oceania Cruises also offers the Blissful Dreams Program, offering plenty of benefits for improving heart health and boosting metabolism, as well as sharpening your memory and reducing inflammation. With a curated selection of holistic treatments, educational offerings and nutritional guidance, the programme helps you to enjoy sleep that enhances your life. Treatments include an organic lavender and seaweed full-body exfoliation, age-defying restorative facial, and mindful dreams ritual.

In addition to the spa and fitness facilities, you can join an array of classes by professional instructors. From Sunrise Stretch & Relax or Sunrise Yoga on deck, to Indoor Cycling or even Bootcamp, instructors guide you through classes offering tips, advice and helpful hints.

Scenic Spa Sanctuary

Fresh to the ocean, Scenic Eclipse gives relaxation a whole new meaning. This brand-new ship for Scenic Ocean offers 550-square metres of pure indulgence perfectly designed to revitalise you.

All guests on-board can visit the Spa Sanctuary, where spacious lounges and bars cater to everyone’s needs with ease. The Vitality Lounge offers a hair salon, treatment room and Scandinavian-inspired plunge pool, while the sauna and steam rooms are perfect for a refreshing spot of downtime.

You can opt to stay in one of the ship’s Spa Suites, where you can enjoy your own private, double-size Philippe Starck designed Jacuzzi; dual vanity basins and a steam shower equipped with an oversized head and light therapy. These suites also offer a one-hour complimentary spa treatment, and a daily complimentary laundry service on-board.

You could also take some time to enjoy the stunning views of destinations from above in one of Scenic Eclipse’s state-of-the-art Airbus H130 helicopters. Offering unparalleled views, hovering high over landscapes and coastlines, there is simply no better way to recalibrate your mind that seeing the world from a whole new perspective.

With so many options to relax, unwind and keep active on-board an ocean cruise, it shows how easy it can be for us all to take a moment to boost our wellness while on at sea. There’s no shortage of classes, gyms or spas during your cruise, so take the opportunity to relax, rejuvenate and refresh on your very own wellness cruise.