No matter what size the ship, cruise companies are starting to cater to the growing wellness demographic.
Cruise ships are the perfect place to focus on wellness: there are no distractions from the outside world; the ocean backdrop provides a constant focal point and staff are there to cater to the needs of holiday makers, whether that be by leading a Pilates class on the top deck, cooking delicious meals with the best ingredients or even just starting your day with a simple ‘good morning’.
Wellness means something different to everyone and cruisers’ priorities will differ depending on preference and experience. So we've focused on four areas of cruise life: dining, movement, relaxation and nature. Each area has the power to vastly change your cruising experience, making it one to remember long after you've stepped back ashore.
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Dining
What you eat has a direct correlation to both your physical and mental health. Dining is therefore the cornerstone of a wellbeing cruise. It's not only what is served on your plate that has an impact, but also the environment in which you consume it. Here are our frontrunners in this space.
Celebrity
Celebrity are looking to appeal to the wellness generation and this is clear in its array of restaurants. Exquisite examples on select ships include:
- Blu, delivering a holistic menu in the spa area, with the freshest ingredients served simply
- Raw, a sushi bar with amazing raw fish and vegetarian options
- Lawn Grill Club, lying between Celebrity’s grass ‘Lawn Club’ and the vast ocean, the menu features a vast array of meats alongside a fresh and innovative salad bar
Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages stand out from the pack with their no-buffet dining promise. Instead, everything is cooked to order with the freshest ingredients with menus designed by Michelin-starred chefs. All restaurants and essential drinks are included within your fare, with our favourites being:
- Extra Virgin Italian, a beacon for those looking to follow the Mediterranean diet
- Pink Agave, offering luxury Mexican cuisine such as guacamole, grilled corn and black bean soup
- The Dock House, a Mezze lounge and bar serving detox mocktails, cold-pressed juices and ‘good gut’ shots
Norwegian Cruise Line
NCL’s dining options are based on the principle of flexibility. They want cruisers to choose if they want to eat inside or out, dressed up or down, quickly or taking their time. With all this choice, their customers can easily make good food choices in their chosen environment. Some of our favourite NCL spots include:
- The Raw Bar, the freshest produce served with the minimum of intervention from chefs
- Teppanyaki, serving gorgeous Japanese cuisine such it's as name sake and miso soup - watch the chefs show off their knife skills as you eat during this immersive experience
Movement
Keeping active is a real treat for your body and onboard a cruise ship is one of the best places to elevate, or begin, your regime. You'll find gyms and fitness classes, plus some more niche ways to keep fit like Pickleball and surf simulators. Here are some of the best cruise lines in this field:
MSC
MSC have put huge priority onto their fitness programs. Their gyms are some of the best at sea, with their TechnoGym equipment facing huge windows to the ocean. They also have a running track, mini golf and a range of sports courts.
Cunard
The luxury cruise line also has a complimentary gym, as well as the opportunity to purchase 1:1 sessions and group classes. If traditional workouts aren't for your, Cunard also run a number of complimentary dance lessons including Latin and Ballroom.
Virgin Voyages
One of the huge advantages of a Virgin Voyages cruise is their variety of free fitness classes. Included in your fee are HIT, Pilates and yoga, plus so much more. They also have TechnoGym machines, a boxing ring and iconic red running track.
Relaxation
Nothing beats a world-class spa on a cruise line. They are the epitome of luxury with their relaxing spaces and experiences. Whilst nearly every cruise ship has a spa area, some outshine the rest. Here are some of our favourites:
Holland America
The Greenhouse Spas onboard Holland America ships offer sauna and steam room grottos, hydrotherapy pools and heated ceramic loungers to help you treat and heal your body. Treatments include Elemis facials and massage therapies from around the world. Treat yourself to a spa suite for the ultimate onboard experience.
Celebrity
The latest Celebrity Edge ships have some of the best spas at sea. The SEA Thermal Suite offers eight experiences that mimic the power of nature and the Persian Garden plays with water and temperature in its rainfall showers and steam rooms to soothe muscles and joints. Treatments include brands such as Kérastase Institute, CoolSculpting and Thermage. For the best wellness break, book an Aquaclass suite for unlimited spa access.
Cunard
The Mareel spa areas onboard Cunard ships offer delights such as Finnish saunas, sensory showers and beautiful pools. There are an array of treatments designed to mimic the calm of the waves beneath you including massages, salt scrubs and body wraps.
Nature
Having wonderful experiences on the ship is essential to a great holiday, but memories made on land, in some of the most stunning places on earth, are those that really feed the soul. Below are our top cruise lines that help their guests really connect to the environments around them.
Princess
Princess partner with Discovery and Animal Planet to create small group excursions that showcase their beautiful locations. Snorkel amongst coral reefs, head out in a crab boat in Alaska or stay onboard for a night of stargazing. Princess also offer the option of hiring a private vehicle with, or without, a guide so you have control over your itinerary and can create your own wellness journey.
Fred Olsen
Fred Olsen offer half day and full day excursions in every port and make the trips as easy as possible, with Journey Guides sent well in advance to help you plan your day. Excursions include the main tourist destinations, but also take guests off the beaten track, into the heart of a place, to immerse them in the culture and traditions. Guests can wander the Keukenhof in the Netherlands, the largest flower garden in the world, go wildlife spotting to see porpoises, white-tailed sea eagles and whales in Norway or frolic with Shetland ponies in the Scottish Isles.
Saga
Note: Saga are only available for those aged over 50
Not only are Saga excursions excellent, a great selection are included within your cruise fare. Shuttle buses are also free, so you can get to your destination easily to start your own adventure. The Explore Ashore team will help you create the perfect itinerary for your perfect day and can even offer the ship's own e-bikes to help you get around.
Zoe, Saga's Destination Director:
"You'll find a fantastic mix of destinations and experiences to choose from, and if you can't see exactly what you want, we'll work with you to create it."
GET.cruises will help you find the best cruise deals. Search for your perfect cruise holiday and compare prices from all the major travel agents.
