Modern cruise ships boast spas and fitness centres that rival their land-based counterparts. Classes such as Pilates, spin, and yoga are tailored to various fitness levels. Hydrotherapy pools and thermal suites leverage the therapeutic properties of water and heat, offering experiences like saunas, steam rooms and vitality pools to relax muscles and improve circulation. Nutrition also plays a vital role in wellness at sea with some cruise lines now prioritising healthy, locally sourced and sustainably prepared cuisine such as plant-based menus, sea-to- table dining and detox beverages.
Viking
The many indulgences of cruise life have been well documented, but you know what feels even better than feasting on bacon at the breakfast buffet or trying every cocktail on the pool bar menu? Disembarking in better shape – body, mind and spirit – than the one in which you board the ship.
On a 13-day voyage aboard Viking Mars from Montreal to New York City, I did just that. Arriving in a crumpled, jet-lagged shape, I happily embraced the restorative Viking way of cruising. Casinos, late nights and loud parties are out; relaxed elegance, cultural enrichment and self-care are in.
Nowhere on the ship is more dedicated to self-care than the Nordic Spa, a softly lit wellness complex with a heated thalassotherapy pool, snow grotto, sauna, steam room, heated ceramic loungers, hot tub and cold-plunge pool. Unlimited access is included in the cruise fare (treatments are an additional cost), a fantastic value when compared to many other cruise lines.
Occupied with shore excursions, enrichment lectures and afternoon naps during the day, I spend each evening in the Nordic Spa, peacefully soaking, swimming and sweating my cares away. Other guests are at dinner and I have the entire spa to myself. It’s so relaxing, I start daydreaming of ways I can stow away permanently on the ship.
Must Try
Aquatherapy and the healing power of hot and cold treatments are age-old keys to Scandinavian wellness culture. During a night bathing experience, spa therapists share Nordic health insights and guide participants on the correct use of the facilities for maximum benefits. As icy flakes drift from the ceiling of the snow grotto to land on my nose and eyelashes, I feel as if I could be in wintry Stockholm.
To fully immerse myself as a Nordic Heidi, I indulge in some of Viking’s signature spa treatments. The Nordic Restart package starts with an invigorating scrub, followed by a Swedish deep tissue massage and soothing scalp ritual. Two hours of relaxation are enjoyed with the Northern Stillness combination of blueberry body wrap and firm back massage. An Arctic Cure promises to ease muscle pain with a vigorous dry brush to kickstart the lymphatic system, a deep Gua Sha stone massage and remedial cupping. I float back to my cabin.
I’m so impressed with the glowing results of a hydrafacial the next day, I buy several of the NUORI skincare products sold onboard. The natural, clean beauty brand was created in Scandinavia to deliver pure, effective skincare, free of synthetic preservatives and additives. I notice the price of the products on the ship is the same as on NUORI’s website, in line with Viking’s promise not to ‘nickel and dime’ their guests. It’s another reason to embrace wellness on a Viking voyage.
Silversea
It’s lightly snowing as we make our way to Antarctica. Sitting in the heated hot tub looking out over the sea on Silversea’s Silver Cloud is a toasty and exhilarating experience. Mind, body and soul buzzing … this is what wellness is all about.
Indoors, the Otium Spa, which is inspired by the traditions of ancient Rome, creates a world of combined leisure and pleasure. Otium is based on the concept that everything – from sumptuous food to spa experiences to socialising – become a part of daily life. From curated signature experiences that go from spa to suite, to wellness treatments that will have you looking good and feeling better – Otium is the place to relax and unwind, share a moment with like-minded travellers or enjoy a quiet immersive session all for yourself.
Otium Spa is a paradise of wellness that stretches far beyond the average spa, with a menu that even Venus, the Roman goddess of beauty would envy. Facials can revitalise the skin, cryosculpt to reduce puffiness and relieve tension with natural ingredients. With time and space on sea days, it’s also the perfect opportunity for a cosmetic finetuning with Thermage, microneedling, Dysport and Restylane on the menu. The ultimate in hedonistic wellness, Otium experiences go above and beyond such as The Otium, which uses a trio of elements including mineral-rich pink salt stones, natural bamboo and grounding calabash, to entice a feeling of pleasurable inner wellbeing. There’s also a plethora of body therapies available such as Heavenly Journey with Mediterranean- scented oils and the ancient art of acupuncture. A fabulous salon restores wind-swept manes for a wow effect that is worthy of Cleopatra, offering services such as a Keratin Complex Express Blowout and a Ultra-Sensorial Scalp Soother.
Grooming treatments include wet cuts, dry cuts, beard trims and close shaves. Beauty services include manicures and pedicures … even a teeth-whitening service.
Must Try
Silversea’s holistic approach extends beyond the spa to the gym, where you can sign up for personal training sessions, a full-body health analysis and Pilates and yoga classes.
Hot Mineral Body Boost Harnessing the restorative power of the pioneering Amber and Quartz Crystal bed, this treatment helps alleviate muscular pain and remove toxins. The heated minerals warm and relax the body, ready for the nourishing Amber balm. The treatment ends with a restorative mineral-charged facial massage.
Hedone Delight includes a bespoke massage and body polish. For tired aching muscles after a day of sightseeing, Apollo’s Healing Spirit includes mineral-rich salt stone therapy with a cold mask for dynamic recovery.
Crystal
Renowned for its world-class service, opulent amenities and attention to detail, the Aurōra Spa onboard Crystal Cruises ships is a sanctuary of wellness and rejuvenation. Named after the Roman goddess of dawn, Aurōra, the spa embodies light, renewal and natural beauty – themes that align seamlessly with the open waters and sunlit horizons that accompany a Crystal voyage. In recent years, the Aurōra Spa has undergone a stunning redesign, emerging as a light-filled space of serenity that mirrors the calming energy of the sea. With a neutral color palette, inspired by salt crystals and silk-brushed slate stone, the spa blends modern elegance with natural tranquility. Guests are invited to immerse themselves in an atmosphere that fosters rejuvenation, whether through advanced treatments such as IV treatments to recharge your system, personalised wellness programs such as the Ionithermie Cellulite Reduction Program, or the simple pleasure of watching the waves gently roll by while enjoying a signature stone massage.
The Aurōra Spa’s selection of innovative treatments blend advanced technology with timeless wellness practices that go beyond traditional spa treatments by offering a range of aesthetic and med-spa services such as Botox, dermal fillers, and other non-surgical solutions designed to enhance facial contours, reduce wrinkles and restore youthful volume as well as nourishing facials.
In addition to its signature treatments and med-spa offerings, the Aurōra Spa features a full-service hair and beauty salon. Designed to provide guests with everything they need to look and feel their best, the salon offers a wide range of services, including haircuts, styling, colouring and treatments. Guests can also enjoy manicures, pedicures and other beauty services that add a touch of glamour to their cruise experience. The Aurōra Spa reflects Crystal Cruises’ broader philosophy of holistic wellness. Crystal Cruises has embraced a vision of wellness that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit. Holistic wellness is integrated into every aspect of the Crystal Cruise experience, from healthy dining options to fitness classes and mindfulness programs.
Must Try
Chariot of Light Massage is one of the spa’s most popular treatments. Reset your circadian rhythm, reduce inflammation, increase circulation and improve the texture of your skin with the therapeutic benefits of LightStim Pro-Panel LED light therapy. Awaken feeling balanced, refreshed and restored.
Biotec 2.0 Ultimate Facial combines microcurrent, light therapy and ultrasonic technology to address a variety of skin concerns, from fine lines to dullness and uneven texture.
bSkinny is an IV treatment that supports hydration, performance, weight control, and improved circulation. It also promotes cellular energy and boosts mood.
HX Hurtigruten Expeditions
Since 1896, HX Hurtigruten Expeditions has been taking curious travellers on mindful expeditions to the most remote, awe- inspiring and wellness-enhancing places on the planet. Every day, handpicked experts from a range of fields will lead you on discoveries onshore and onboard including hikes, kayaking, yoga classes and more.
In Iceland you can swim in the Mývatn Nature Baths, relaxing in a pool of healthy geothermal water drawn from depths of 2,500m. In Træna in Norway, soak up the steam in a wood-fired sauna after taking an Arctic dip.
floor windows of the ever-changing view.
While each HX itinerary is exhilarating for the soul, expanding your view of the world and your appreciation for Mother Nature, onboard there’s a full suite of facilities so you can maintain an active lifestyle balanced by relaxation.
After a day of exploring new destinations, guests can relax in the infinity pool and hot tubs, rejuvenate in the wellness centre with a body massage, face, hand and foot treatments or hit the high-tech gym. Aboard MS Fridtjof Nansen, you’ll have everything you need to stay active and keep your mind healthy. A full suite of facilities lets you exercise and relax to your heart’s content including sauna, spa, relaxation lounge, large gym and wellness centre, as well as an outdoor infinity pool and hot tub.
Must Try
True to HX’s Nordic heritage, there is a sauna aboard MS Roald Amundsen which is free to use for all passengers. Its expansive panoramic window covers the length of the sauna room, making it an excellent place to take in the views while you relax after returning from an expedition outing. It can comfortably seat at least 20 people and has separate changing rooms, lockers and showers for men and women.
Onboard MS Roald Amundsen there are several places to keep fit with a running track while you enjoy the view, yoga on deck, and an outdoor gym and indoor fitness centre with TechnoGym equipment. It offers massages and facials in the spa, using products made by Darphin, Kalahari, Guinot, pHformula and ECRU New York.
Regent Seven Seas
When it comes to ultra luxury at sea, you really can’t go past Regent Seven Seas Cruises, so it’s no surprise that their wellness offering is extensive and all-encompassing. Regent Seven Seas Cruises is well known and well loved for their abundance of space on board, especially on their new ship, Seven Seas Grandeur. The spa and fitness offering features a large fitness centre that boasts a variety of weights and machines plus group classes from yoga to indoor cycling, a jogging track with picture-perfect views and recreation area.
The jaw-dropping Serene Spa & Wellness has beauty, hair salon and treatment rooms as well as a relaxation lounge. It also has a hydrothermal suite that all guests have access to with a collection of thermal chambers, including infrared sauna, cold room, experiential shower and aromatic steam room. The design of the Serene Spa & Wellness was created by Studio DADO, who are masters when it comings to soothing spaces. The spa’s entryway introduces a floral motif that continues throughout the space, symbolising rebirth and rejuvenation. Intricate, lace-like details convey elegance and intimacy reminiscent of the world’s most refined spas. The architectural elements, including metal canopies, lantern niches and undulating wall designs, subtly remind guests that, despite the luxurious and soothing atmosphere, they are still at sea and surrounded by the ocean.
The treatment rooms exude opulence and warmth, while the relaxation room creates an atmosphere of privacy and enchantment, evoking the feeling of being in a topiary maze. Outside, guests can unwind in three whirlpools and a lounge area while enjoying view the view.
Facials feature Elemis Biotec Technology to rejuvenate the skin. Body treatments use globally sourced, natural ingredients to nurture including a beautiful Sea Lavender and Samphire Body Polish. Beauty and grooming services are extensive from the Thousand Flower manicure and pedicure to a pro-collagen grooming treatment with shave.
To fully complete the wellness experience, guests also have the opportunity to savour global cuisine with Serene Spa & Wellness Selections in many of the ship’s restaurants. These culinary options encompass a wide range of innovative choices that promote healthy living and include dishes influenced by diverse global cuisines, including enticing plant-based offerings.
Must Try
Around the World
One hundred minutes of time-honoured treatments from around the world including Swedish massage, Moroccan argan oil scalp treatment, coconut poultices and volcanic rocks therapy.
Calming Rose Facial
This facial comforts sensitive skin with a natural blend of delicate rose absolute to intensely hydrate the dermis. Precious rose extracts smooth fine lines, strengthening and protecting the skin’s barrier, while a warm rose balm is massaged onto the hands and arms to induce relaxation.
Island Poultice Massage
Warmed and scented pure coconut compresses, rich in vitamins E and K, release natural emollients that moisturise the skin, while an array of Eastern and Western massage techniques and acupressure movements relax muscles and ease tension.
Seabourn
When Seabourn introduced its Spa & Wellness by Dr. Andrew Weil program in 2017 on the inaugural voyage of Seabourn Encore, it was a first-of-its-kind deep dive into mindful living, complementary therapies and treatments that simply couldn’t be found anywhere else in the cruise industry.
Dr. Weil, a well-known American doctor and author who advocates for the use of integrative medicine, developed a series of mind and body programs that guests could fully experience during their time on Seabourn’s ships. There’s no better time than two weeks at sea to dip a toe into acupuncture, meditation, abdominal breathing or the healing power of soundbaths.
The partnership has now come to an end, but the strength of the programs lives on in new treatment options that ensure travellers can relax and rejuvenate while onboard.
On a recent sailing on Seabourn Quest, appointments with the resident doctor of acupuncture were snapped up after an informative acupuncture walk-in clinic on embarkation day. Information sessions on detox for health and weight loss, Chinese herbs and back pain relief provided the opportunity to learn something new in an relaxed environment. Even more inviting? The promise of deep relaxation and renewed vigour from Mindful Living Massages at the spa. Surrendering to 100 minutes of Thai Herbal Poultice Massage, my limbs were stretched and my mind calmed as the gentle waves of the ocean rocked me like a baby.
The healthy choices continue on the plate, with each Seabourn ship offering a choice of dining venues and menus. All dining venues are complimentary. From delicious Mediterranean salads at Solis, to fresh nigiri and sashimi made to order in the sushi bar, eating well on Seabourn is all about good taste.
Must Try
Facial Rejuvenation Acupuncture
This is a non-invasive facial procedure that helps to lift and smooth the skin. Sterilised needles are applied gently and painlessly to the face, with the promise of a youthful, vibrant glow after just one treatment.
Elemis Pro-Radiance Superfood Facial
This is a crafted nutritional boost for stressed, dull skin. Rich in superfoods, essential minerals and trace elements, the Elemis products leave skin looking smoother, plumper and radiant.
The Serene Experience
Tired muscles will relax in the Aromatherapy Salt Steam Room and Infrared Sauna, while the heated ceramic lounge chairs are an invitation to let all the stress go and indulge in an afternoon nap.
Photographs: Oscar Farerra, Espen Mills.
