The rise of the wellness cruise
When you think of cruising, what usually springs to mind is gorging at the buffet and flopping on a deckchair. But a new range of wellness cruising is turning that on its head.
Cruising for calories
Did you know that the average cruiser puts on around half a kilo a day on a two-week cruise? That means you’re coming back to shore with a lot of extra baggage – and we don’t mean in your suitcase. The endless free food, sugary cocktails, late nights and lack of motivation can all contribute to a seriously unhealthy holiday. And with wellness travel on the rise overall (and predicted to be worth a whopping $880 billion this year), it's only natural that cruising should follow suit.
What is wellness exactly?
In recent years the whole concept of wellness travel has undergone a huge overhaul. Where as it was once restricted to a few dusty treadmills in the gym and a low fat menu, guests can now meet with dedicated wellness consultants to plan their trip, use state of the art equipment, enjoy endless class from yoga and pilates to personal training, and dine on delicious healthy food. Cruise lines are now trying to create a ‘destination spa’ experience similar to those you would find on land. You can incorporate these new notions of wellness into part of your regular cruise or you can sign up for the full experience and take a cruise dedicated to fitness, nutrition or overall wellbeing.
Wellness doesn’t mean deprivation
Eating is one of the great joys of life, so many people eschew anything focused around ‘wellness’ because they fear it will mean a plate full of rabbit food. Not so. Cruise lines have employed dedicated teams of nutritionists and chefs who work to ensure that menus are as tasty as they are healthy. Some lines, like Celebrity Cruises, even have dedicated spa restaurants where they combine high-standard gastronomy, beautiful presentation and the finest ingredients to create a world class dining experience that also happens to be good for you. It’s all about moderation, rather than deprivation.
Exercise can be fun
You don’t need to be strapped into an exercise bike to get fit. On a wellness cruise, you can start your day with yoga on the deck or join a cycling shore excursion that will show you the region while burning some calories. It’s much more enjoyable to take a rugged hike through the lush forests of Mexico as opposed to trudging mindlessly on a treadmill. A fitness expert or doctor can meet with you at the start of the cruise to create an appropriate plan that meets your needs and abilities. Your body will thank you for it!
Have you ever taken a wellness cruise?