No matter where people are on their wellness journey in 2022, they no longer have to pause their personal growth while on vacation—even on a cruise getaway. And that’s no surprise with the increased focus on wellness among travelers and society at large.
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No matter where people are on their wellness journey in 2022, they no longer have to pause their personal growth while on vacation—even on a cruise getaway. And that’s no surprise with the increased focus on wellness among travelers and society at large.
A recent survey from McKinsey shows that our interpretation of wellness now goes far beyond cucumbers on the eyelids and a cushy spa robe. Today, people view wellness as a combination of six factors: health, fitness, nutrition, appearance, sleep and mindfulness. Here is what’s on offer for wellness—on and off the water—for cruise travelers.
Fitness
Virgin Voyages' flight of ships contain exceptional fitness facilities. One standout is the B-Complex—short for Burn, Build, Bike and Balance. An outdoor running track encircles the entire ship, offering guests the perfect opportunity to get steps in, along with a dose of fresh air. To top things off, the Athletic Club on the upper deck includes a full-size basketball court, high-energy boxing classes and a dedicated juice bar.
Related: Fitness Industry Expanding Beyond Gyms
Ponant Cruises offers fitness-focused shore excursions throughout the tropics and Arctic climes. Before leaving for an excursion, such as a fjord and glacier expedition or hiking active volcanoes, onboard experts prepare participants for the flora and fauna they will encounter during the experience. This format combines local knowledge with the chance for a healthy calorie burn out in unspoiled nature.
Mental Health
In a recent American Express survey, 68% of world travelers said they were likely to base their next trip around improving their mental wellbeing. That’s no wonder, as the events of the last few years have caused many of us to reevaluate our priorities.
In April 2022, Celebrity Cruises’ Beyond sets sail with Women in Wellness. Supplementing the ship’s F45 heart rate-tracked circuit training, the program also includes mental health practices, such as specialized yoga flows, curated meditations and group exercises, each developed by some of the wellness world’s leading minds.
Nutrition
Food is one of the great human pleasures. So it's natural that how we nourish our bodies is a major area of focus in wellness-focused travel.
Quark Expeditions will offer guests cuisine bent to their Arctic adventure. Special shipboard Inuit dinners are prepared and narrated by Nunavit-based chefs. Each meal relies on native ingredients, many of which are foraged on shore during excursions in Canada and Greenland.
Related: 5 Foods to Add to Your Spa's Snack Menu
Silversea's new Sea And Land Taste (SALT) program includes shipboard meals inspired by each destination, as well as shoreside excursions to dine with Italian vintners, sample local flavors with Ecuadoran chefs and explore the inner workings of an organic farm in the Greek countryside. Guests also have a chance to learn the trade themselves in the SALT interactive cooking laboratory.
SeaDream’s two sailing yachts offer entirely raw food menus for guests. The whole-plant approach focuses on raw, organic, vegan offerings never heated above 118 degrees to maintain their complete micronutrient profiles.
About the author: John Sifling is the principle of Broad Reach Maritime, a consulting firm located in Pasadena, California. He is a retired U.S. Coast Guard Commander and former cruise line executive with over 35 years of experience as a maritime professional. Sifling also worked for nearly eight years as vice president, fleet security and company security officer at Princess Cruises.
