There was a time if you went on a cruise, you were pretty much guaranteed to put on 1lb a day. But a new type of cruiser is emerging – leaner, trimmer and fitter – because of the range of activities and healthy options on board the liners.
The experts at Cruise 1st have rounded up 10 of the best healthy experiences to try in 2015, both on the open seas and when the ship has docked.
Canyon Ranch SpaClub – Celebrity Cruises
Found on board 10 Celebrity Cruises’ ultramodern luxury liners, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub has a stunning Persian garden with heated loungers, aromatic steam rooms, herbal sauna, Finnish sauna, ice fountain and sensory showers – the perfect way to unwind and get into the spirit of a cruise break. The fitness centre is a hub of activity with everything you’d expect from a modern gym with some top class trainers on hand to devise personalised fitness regimes.
GO: A 15-night cruise and stay onboard Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Constellation (above) from Fort Lauderdale to Rome starts from £1,399 per person including a complimentary balcony upgrade. Price is based on April 7 departure and also includes flights to Fort Lauderdale where guests will enjoy a two night stay and return flights from Rome to London Gatwick. Ports of call include Funchal, Madeira; Gibraltar; Alicante, Spain and finally, Rome, Italy.
Solarium Bistro – Anthem of the Seas
Serving up a mouth-watering selection of spa inspired cuisine, Anthem’s Solarium Bistro is a health lover’s paradise. Resident chef Devin Alexander, of The Biggest Loser fame, lends her expertise to menu options which offer diners full on flavour with a slashed calorie count. Healthy wraps, garden fresh salads, scrumptious steaks and even diet friendly chocolate chip pancakes are just some of the delicious dishes available.
GO: Eight nights on board Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas in an inside cabin start from £999 per person on a complimentary all-inclusive basis and includes free gratuities. Price based on departure date of April 22 and ports of call include the Spanish cities of Vigo, Gjon and Bilbao, as well as Le Harve, France before returning back to Southampton.
SportSquare – Carnival Cruise Line
Found on the top decks of Carnival Breeze, Magic and Sunshine, the Sport Square offers passengers the ultimate workout hub. With an outdoor ropes course, weightlifting area, exercise machines and jogging track, guests can burn calories while soaking up the breathtaking view of the open ocean.
GO: A 15-night cruise and stay with Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Liberty starts from £1,399 per person based on an inside cabin on a full board basis, departing September 23. Ports of call include Barbados, St Lucia, St Kitts, St Maarten, San Juan and St Thomas. Price also includes a seven-night hotel stay in Barbados. Return flights from Gatwick are included.
Aurea Spa Experience – MSC Cruises
New for winter 2014-15, MSC Cruises has introduced a number of fare categories designed to help guests enhance their cruise experience. Ideal for guests looking for pampering and peace of mind, the Aurea fare offers a series of relaxing benefits for the body and soul. A spa package which includes a welcome cocktail, a Balinese massage, tanning shower, private wellness consultation and unrestricted use of the adults-only thermal area throughout the cruise. Guests will also receive complimentary bathrobe and slippers, as well as wellbeing products, free time dining in a reserved area of the restaurant and unlimited complimentary drinks with each meal.
GO: Seven nights on board MSC Cruises’ MSC Fantasia, departing May 17, starts from £1,449 per person. Price is based on an inside cabin and includes free return flights to Genoa from London Gatwick. Ports of call include Genoa and Naples, Italy; Messina, Sicily; Valetta, Malta; La Goulette, Tunisia; Barcelona, Spain; Marseille, France. Price includes return flights to London Gatwick.
Fun Filled Fitness – Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean’s Voyager, Freedom and Oasis vessels are an activity haven. Kitted out with world first features such as rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, surf simulator, boxing rings and in-line skating tracks, there is no excuse for cruisers not to have a get-up-and-go moment.
GO: A 16-night stay and cruise on Royal Caribbean’s Explorer of the Seas starts from £1,699 per person based on an inside cabin. Price is based on October 21 departure from Gatwick and includes flights to Dubai and return flights from Singapore. Guests will spend two nights in Dubai before boarding the cruise which calls at Goa, India; Penang, Malaysia; Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Singapore where guests will disembark and enjoy a two-night stay. Guests will receive free drinks and gratuities if booked before 31 January.
Zumba Classes – Princess Cruises
As the first cruise line to offer Zumba at sea, Princess leads the way in fitness innovation. Passengers enjoy access to several classes a day which include a mix of innovative activities including TRX suspension training courses, Tour de France themed spin classes and there is even a two lane jogging track if guests need to burn off extra energy.
GO: A 19-night cruise and stay onboard Princess Cruises’ Sapphire Princess starts from £1,799 per person in an inside cabin. Price is based on April 7 departure flying from Gatwick to Beijing. The cruise will call at Incheon, Korea; Osaka, Japan; Shanghai, China; Okinawa, Japan; Taipei and Kaohsiung, Taiwan and Hong Kong. Price also includes a two night stay in Beijing and a two night stay in Hong Kong.
Water Fitness – Allure of the Seas
Home to four different pool venues, including the spectacular Aqua Theatre, Allure of the Seas offers a fantastic variety of water related fitness options. The aptly named Sports Pool is dedicated exclusively to laps in the morning while the afternoon sees it full of passengers playing water badminton and polo. At a depth of almost 18 feet, the kidney shaped Aqua Theatre is the largest and deepest freshwater pool at sea, making it perfect for getting off those pool loungers and diving in at the deep end.
GO: A 16-night cruise and stay with Royal Caribbean’s Allure of the Seas starts from £999 per person based on April 15 departure in an inside cabin. Guests will fly to Orlando from Gatwick for a four night hotel stay before embarking on a 12-night cruise to Barcelona, calling at Malaga along the way. Price also includes return flight to Gatwick from Barcelona.
Indoor Excitement – Norwegian Spirit
The Norwegian Spirit comes with a full sized basketball court, so perfect for honing hoops skills or even getting a team together for a full game. For those that can’t jump there are plenty of options that are a little easier on the knees including yoga and Pilates.
GO: A ten-night cruise and stay with Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Spirit starts from £499 per person in an inside cabin. Flying from the UK to Barcelona, guests will board the Norwegian Spirit calling at Casablanca, Morocco; Funchal, Portugal; Tenerife, Canary Islands; Lanzarote, Canary Islands and Malaga, Spain before disembarking the ship in Barcelona. Departure based on February 4 from Gatwick.
Active Shore Excursions – Holland America
Holland America has some stunning shore excursions for fitness fanatics and those who want to stretch their legs a little further. In their many ports of call, there are a range of activities on offer including hiking trails and riding horses to kayaking through nature reserves and snorkelling with stingrays.
GO: Seven nights onboard Holland America Line’s MS Ryndam starts from £1,199 per person in an inside cabin. Price is based on a departure date of May 16 from Harwich, UK. The cruise will explore Norwegian delights including Oslo, Norway; Kristiansand, Stavanger and Ulvik.
Cycle Crazy – Thomson Cruise
Thomson may be a small UK based line but it blows its competitors out the water when it comes to cycling facilities. Budding Chris Hoys and Victoria Pendletons can take advantage of a huge on-board stock of mountain and touring bikes for guided bicycle tours in a range of destinations.
GO: A 14-night cruise and stay with Thomson Cruise’s Thomson Spirit starts from £999 per person based on an inside cabin on a full board basis. Highlights of the itinerary include Marmaris, Istanbul, Bozcaada, Kusadasi in Turkey and Athens and Thira in Greece. Price includes return flights from Gatwick and is based on May 4 departure.
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