I’ve had quite a range of experiences with keeping a healthy lifestyle and watching my weight while on cruises. I usually make an effort to maintain a good gym routine, whether it’s burning calories daily on the onboard treadmill or jogging at the port. I’ve also tried to choose healthier options like the salad buffet over pizza and pasta whenever I can, often going for a fruit, low-fat cheese, and bran brunch instead of separate breakfast and lunch meals.
Most people on cruises, however, don’t follow this routine. Buffets can be quite the trap, especially for less experienced cruisers who go wild over the endless array of tasty food available around the clock. Typically, only fitness fanatics venture into the gym, while others opt for massages, steam baths, and beauty treatments instead of taking a pilates or spinning class.
I’ve witnessed fellow travelers indulge in sodas and towering plates of food, resembling a Scooby-Do sandwich, often resulting in noticeable weight gain by the end of their trip. For many, vacation means not just enjoying good food, but eating a lot of it.
Celebrity Cruises now offers a unique health and wellness package called AQUACLASS on their new Solstice-class ship, Silhouette. This package is perfect for those wanting a healthier vacation experience, with perks designed to help guests lose a few pounds and detox in comfort and style.
Benefits of booking the Silhouette’s Aquaclass include priority seating at a health-focused restaurant, aroma scent selections, daily bottled water and tea deliveries, free access to the spa’s steam rooms and saunas, tropical rain showers, heated ocean view relaxation chairs, and special wellness classes and programs.
Journalists have been testing these wellness packages, sharing their results for future health-focused cruisers. Veteran cruise journalist John Halliwell, known as Captain Graybeard, wrote detailed blogs about his experiences with spa treatments and personal trainers at Silhouette’s wellness center during a Mediterranean trip. His stories offer hope even for those who haven’t set foot in a gym for decades. Halliwell described feeling unreal after an ionithermie treatment that trimmed his paunch by a couple of inches in one session. He progressed from getting winded on the treadmill to managing 15 minutes on a stationary bike and picked up some useful muscle-toning exercises.
Meanwhile, Jessie Hewitson from the Telegraph tried the Aquaclass package on a one-week Dalmatian coast cruise. Her goal was to get fitter and perhaps shed a few pounds without missing out on holiday treats like wine or tasty dinners. Both Hewitson and Halliwell noted the trainers at Silhouette’s gym were stricter than they initially appeared. Hewitson was more committed than Halliwell, focusing on a healthier lifestyle during the cruise. She dedicated 20 minutes to the treadmill and 40 minutes to the weight machines daily, and also braved the ionithermie treatment, feeling like “Frankenstein’s monster” with all the electrodes. She didn’t find it uncomfortable, though she was uncertain about the long-term benefits.
Cruise ships offer a variety of healthy and delicious food options, making it easier to watch your diet. I’ve successfully followed a low-carb, flour-free diet plan on cruises, thanks to the plentiful vegetables, fruits, lean meats, eggs, and low-fat cheese available.
By the end of her cruise, Hewitson was delighted to have lost two pounds, all while enjoying her meals and workout routine. I believe it’s wrong—and nearly impossible—to give up pleasures like a glass of excellent wine or perfectly sautéed shrimp, but if you can burn enough calories at the gym to enjoy them guilt-free, that’s a great plan.
Moreover, working out on the ship boosts your energy for long walking tours around cities like Rome or Pompeii. Choosing a cruise that offers health and wellness packages along with great food and exceptional service is an excellent idea for anyone looking to combine a holiday with well-being and maintain a healthier lifestyle year-round.