Yoga on board PONANT. Photo / PONANT
Calm your mind, get your body moving, eat well and decompress on these six sailings with a wellness focus that offer more than just a holiday, writes Tiana Templeman.
Cunard’s Wellness at Sea voyage comes with sea views, stylish company and just enough glamour to keep things interesting. The seven-night round-trip cruise from Southampton on the Queen Anne partners with Harper’s Bazaar and includes an exclusive wellbeing enhancement programme that can be added to the trip. Choose from Relax which focuses on meditation, acupuncture, and mental health, Energise for personal training, or Recover which features anti-inflammatory therapy, reflexology, and nourishing smoothies. Health-focused masterclasses, and a selection of Elemis products are included in the fare. And if your personal wellness journey includes a glass of Champagne before dinner, this voyage has got you covered as well.
With nine-nights at sea and no days in port, you’ll be able to slow down, relax and make the most of your time on this Scenic voyage from Barbados to Spain. Other itineraries are also available, but the focus remains the same: rest, relax, reset. Each wellness voyage includes specialist fitness coaches, nutritionists and holistic practitioners to guide you through healthful cooking lessons, yoga and Pilates, and soothing meditation and sound healing sessions. When you’re not attending a scheduled activity, head to the Senses Spa and take an invigorating cold plunge, use the salt therapy lounge to give your complexion a glow up, or sweat out toxins in the infrared sauna. Inspirational lectures offer practical ways to maintain your improved physical and emotional health after you return home.
This seven-night round-trip Divine Cyclades voyage from Athens is a feel-good Mediterranean adventure that pairs iconic cities with a thoughtfully curated programme of health and wellness activities. Part of Elixir Cruises’ new wellness-focussed collection, your boutique yacht, Elysium, caters to just 48 passengers. From Santorini sunsets to the sacred island of Delos, your days will include group yoga, Pilates, aquarobics, meditation and sessions with the ship’s onboard Wellness Coach. You’ll also explore hidden coves, secluded beaches, and less visited ports like Serifos and Naxos that larger ships can’t reach. Add a few days to explore Athens and you’ll get your steps up and stay healthy in port before or after your round-trip cruise too.
elixir.cruises
Stay active without feeling like you’ve signed up for a boot camp on this Danube River cruise which is packed with fitness classes ranging from Zumba and Pilates to yoga and resistance-band training. They’re a great way to shake off jet lag and remind your body which time zone it’s meant to be in. For best results, grab a spot on the sunlit top deck, where natural light does wonders for resetting circadian rhythms, then reward yourself with a smoothie shot and a vibrant breakfast after the class. There’s also at least one active excursion included at every port. Depending on how fit you are, you could hike to Bratislava Castle in Slovakia or through the Vienna woods that inspired Strauss, cycle from Weissenkirchen to Melk surrounded by the Wachau Valley’s stunning scenery, or join a gentle ‘City of Three Rivers’ walking tour in Passau in Germany.
Booking an AquaClass cabin on Celebrity Cruises means your holiday comes with a side of ‘ahhh’ (or ‘arrrgggghhh’ if you go too hard at the gym). These rooms include spa-themed perks like free fitness classes, unlimited access to the ship’s spa, and dining at Blu, an exclusive ‘spa cuisine’ restaurant for AquaClass guests. Edge class ships like Celebrity Edge and the new Celebrity Xcel offer the best experience thanks to the vast SEA Thermal Suite. This multi-level spa area includes heated loungers, a rainfall room, and the chance to find your chi in a crystalarium, or get toasty in a hammam, sauna, or steam room. Ask the therapists about the DIY spa journey to make the most of the SEA Thermal Suite’s high-end facilities. Solstice class ships have a less lavish spa, but their AquaClass fares are generally lower and more relaxing for your wallet.
This 10-night voyage from Turkey to Malta combines some of the Mediterranean’s most famous cities with a programme wellness activities and lectures by a dedicated on-board yoga instructor, Pilates teacher and a facial massage World Champion and expert in holistic massage, Alexandre Thang. This voyage also features regular cruise excursions in addition to the curated wellness programme, making it the perfect sailing for those travelling with someone who is more interested in seeing the sights, enjoying a decadent lunch onshore and drinking cocktails by the pool.
