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Ship Shape
Take a fitness-focused cruise for a change of pace.
By Wendy Paris
If you think the only exercise options on a cruise ship are shuffleboard and plate-loading at the midnight buffet, you haven’t been on one of today’s action-oriented cruises. "A lot of ships now have state-of-the-art fitness facilities and tons of fitness classes including pilates and yoga," says Karen Bohning, of the Cruise Line Industry Association. "There are also great deals right now, and more ships leaving from more U.S. ports." ;
Take to the seas with one of the following cruises:
Royal Caribbean International
Go rock-climbing miles away from land. Each of Royal Caribbean’s two new glass-walled ships, "Brilliance of the Seas" and "Radiance of the Seas," has a rock climbing wall rising high above the 13th deck, overlooking an outdoor pool and the ocean beyond. Like floating recreation centers crossed with destination spas, each super-airy, 2,000+-passenger cruiser also has a huge, ocean-view fitness center with the latest equipment and classes, as well as a jogging track, miniature golf course, and half-court basketball and volleyball court.
Indoors, life-sized stone elephants face another pool, next to the full-service spa that offers facials, massage, hydrotherapy treatments and downtime in the steam room or sauna. Other thoroughly modern amenities include excellent cappuccino at the coffee station in the nine-story main atrium, glass-walled elevators, an Internet center, art gallery, two discos, a movie theater, 24-hour room service and five restaurants offering vegetarian and low-fat options. Not that the old-style cruising is gone forever; each ship also has a casino, live theater and, of course, midnight buffet.
Off board, forget the old-style activities like shopping for trinkets at over-crowded ports. Instead, try active Caribbean options like sea kayaking off the coast of Antigua, taking a canoe safari along the rugged coastline of Curacao or mountain biking in St. Martin and Barbados. In the summer, go glacier-trekking, sea kayaking or dog-sledding in Alaska, or hike through ancient ruins in the Greek Isles.
Singles (based on double occupancy) start at $599 for seven nights in the Caribbean. Rates include all meals, on-board activities and entertainment. Airfare, guided shore excursions, alcohol and spa treatments are extra. Call 800-327-6700 or visit www.royalcaribbean.com.
Royal Caribbean also has the three largest cruise ships in the world. "Voyager of the Seas," "Explorer of the Seas" and "Adventure of the Seas" each have all the above fitness facilities and an indoor ice-skating rink, in-line skating track and full-court basketball court, and serve 3,835 guests.
Windstar Cruises
Work out in the ocean. Cruising on this upscale line feels like vacationing on someone’s very large private yacht that happens to have a drop-down water sports deck for swimming, water-skiing, windsurfing, snorkeling, kayaking and banana boat riding in the shimmering sea.
On board your sleek "sailing cruiser," huge white sails ripple overhead (while engines purr below deck on windless days). You’ll also find a full-service fitness center and spa with as many classes as your local (very posh) gym, as well as weights and cardio machines, a walking track, two pools, two Jacuzzis and a sauna. Ships also have teak-wood decks, all ocean-view rooms and less than 300 guests at any one time.
Because of their small size, Windstar yachts can visit more remote, less developed destinations than mega-cruisers can, including the lush, remote, white sand island of Mayreau in the Grenadines and the medieval, cliff-side town of Port Vendres on the border between Spain and France. Once ashore, you’ll get directions to local hiking, biking, walking and snorkeling. Or try a more exotic adventure like racing on an America’s Cup sailing yacht in St. Martin, scuba diving in Tahiti or swimming with the dolphins in Moorea, French Polynesia.
Singles (based on double occupancy) start at $1,495 for seven nights in the Caribbean. Rates include all meals, water sports (except scuba), on-board activities and entertainment. Airfare, beverages, special excursions and spa treatments are extra. Call 877-827-7245 or visit www.windstarcruises.com.
Crystal Cruises
Zen and the art of cruising? Sure. This spa and fitness center of this luxury line’s brand-new "Crystal Serenity" ship, and those on the "Crystal Harmony" and "Crystal Symphony" ships were designed according to the soothing properties of Feng Shui, the Oriental art of placement. Bamboo reeds, tall candles, gurgling fountains and a Zen rock garden are part of the calm-inducing decor.
Classes and treatments take their cue from the East, too. You’ll find "chi-energizing" classes such as Step Harmony, Aqua Moves and Cardio Ki-Bo; "chi-balancing" classes including Pathway to Yoga, Inner Harmony and Sunrise Chi Walk, and one-on-one holistic fitness therapies such as Chakra Balancing Capsule and pilates. Spa treatments such as Yin Yang Facial and Japanese Eye Zone Therapy also use Eastern techniques and ingredients.
The spa and ocean-view fitness center also have traditional options, including free weights, a full range of cardio machines, two pools (one for laps), a jogging track, a paddle tennis court, driving range and putting green with Callaway golf equipment.
Off board, canoe the turquoise lagoons of French Polynesia, take a heli-glacier trek in Alaska or snorkel along the Ningaloo, one of the Indian Ocean’s most pristine reefs in Australia. All three ships hold approximately 1,000 passengers and also travel to the Caribbean, Antarctica, Hawaii, Asia, Erope, New England/Canada, South America and the Mexican Riviera.
Singles (based on double occupancy) start at $1,715 for a seven-day Mexico cruise. Rates include all meals, on-board activities and entertainment. Airfare, guided shore excursions, alcohol and spa treatments are extra. Call 310-785-9300 or visit www.crystalcruises.com.
Other fitness-focused lines:
Carnival Cruises: AKA "Fun Ships," Carnival’s mega-cruisers have some of the largest fitness facilities at sea. The "Paradise" is an all non-smoking, family- and fitness-oriented ship. Call 888-CARNIVAL or visit www.carnivalcruises.com.
Holland America Line: Known as the pioneer in Alaska-based cruises, HAL’s shore excursions include heli-hiking on glaciers, sea and river kayaking, and mountain biking in the Southeast Alaska. On board you’ll find fitness classes and a full range of workout equipment. Call 877-SAIL HAL or visit www.hollandamerica.com.
For more information on these and other healthy cruising options, visit the Cruise Line Industry Association at www.cruising.org.
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