23 Jan 2025
Tags: Cruise, Health, Wellbeing, Fitness, January, Sailing, Running, Swimming
A New Healthy View of Cruising
Whilst it can be hard to hold onto a healthy regime whilst cruising, Iglu Cruise has come up with its top 8 tips for 2025 for those keen to combine travelling with a focus on health and wellbeing.
- Book into a wellness or exercise class or take a hike on shore
- Choose one of the many healthy or lighter dining options
- It's not all about the alcoholic drinks package!
- Plan a port run or opt for an energetic excursion
- Plan an open water swim
- Use the gym or dedicated track for running
- Look for onboard sports such as Pickleball or crew vs guest water volleyball
- Avoid the lifts and use the stairs
From Dave Mills, Chief Commercial Officer at Iglu Cruise:
Book an exercise class or take a hike
Keep an eye on cruise line apps where you'll find out how you can participate in exercise classes. Try Virgin Voyages for example, who include HIIT, barre, yoga, pilates, spin and a bungee workout. Log onto the app on boarding and sign up to the classes you fancy. Or book shore excursions ahead of departure which include a hike in the coastal countryside, for example up Torghatten mountain in Norway.
Try, The Coastal Express from Bergen, for 11 nights from £932 per person, based on two sharing an inside cabin, full board, on Hurtigruten's MS Polarlys, departing Bergen on January 1, 2026.
Look for healthy dining options
If you choose the AquaClass cabins on Celebrity Cruises, you will enjoy smaller portions and healthier dining in Blu restaurant, plus free fitness classes. These days, lighter options are available in almost all restaurants so are much easier to find!
It's not all about the alcoholic drinks package!
In fact Princess Cruises has just introduced 'Amore Princess Zero Alcohol Collection', a premium non-alcoholic drinks alternative included on selected packages (Princess Plus and Princess Premier) for sailings from the end of March 2025. Lines including MSC Cruises also offer delicious fresh fruit drinks, smoothies and protein shakes for your post-gym pick-me-up.
Try, Hamburg Getaway from Southampton, for 5 nights from £460 per person, based on two sharing an inside cabin, full board, on Sky Princess, departing Southampton on October 14th, 2025.
Plan a port run or energetic excursion
With many hours in some ports, there's plenty of time to fit in your usual 5k around the area. It's a really great way to get a glimpse of the destination, to keep fit, and to set you up for a great day ahead. Jump back onboard for a shower before heading out for the rest of the day. It's even possible to be a Parkrun tourist when the timings work out. Just be aware of local conditions and leave plenty of time to return to the ship before sailaway. Try the flat pavements, riverside paths and large parks in Antwerp, with the ship in sight of the town. Use apps such as mapmyrun to help you plan in an area you are unfamiliar with. Many organised tours will let you know which are more energetic or involve a brisk walk or jog.
Plan an open water swim
Whilst the pools on cruise ships don't usually lend themselves to swimming lots of lengths, you can always plan an ocean swim when you visit a private island, or at an appropriate beach in the itinerary. With the growing trend in wild swimming, here is another opportunity to swim in a new destination. Try Perfect Day at CocoCay in the Bahamas, on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Use the gym or dedicated track for running
Almost all modern cruise ships have a separate track for running on deck. For example on P&O Cruises' Arvia and Iona, you'll find a dedicated jogging track. What's more, many lines offer state-of-the-art gyms, many with stunning ocean views. No need to skip your gym habit whilst cruising. Try P&O Ventura, known as one of the best gyms at sea, not only well-equipped, but with fabulous ocean views from its spot on Deck 16.
Look for onboard sports such as Pickleball or volleyball
A holiday is a brilliant opportunity to try something totally new, without any obligation to ever do it again. You could try Pickleball on Cunard Queen Anne—a mixture of tennis, badminton and table tennis—or a new watersport such as standup paddleboarding, on one of the two small luxury SeaDream Yachts - it's included!
Avoid the lifts and use the stairs
There's one sure-fire way of upping your step count on board and that's to use the stairs and avoid the lifts. Ships can be the length of a few football pitches, so there's plenty of space to take a walk, especially on sea days when you'll also get fab views as you move around the ship and often discover wonderful artworks and installations along the way. Try Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas, the world's longest cruise ship. It's great to set a daily target - and stick to it!
Ends
About Iglu.com
Iglu.com is Europe's largest online travel agent of cruise holidays, trading as Iglu Cruise in the UK, and Planet Cruise across the UK and Europe. Independent since its launch 25 years ago, pioneering, multi-award-winning Iglu Cruise offers millions of holidays from 3,000 ports to 30 incredible destinations worldwide, and is the primary partner for all major cruise lines. Crowned Cruise Agency of the Year, Best Specialist Cruise Agent and Best Online Agent 2024, Iglu offers unique, fast and easy online search and booking, and personal, unbiased advice from the 100-strong expert team.
Iglu Cruise is an ABTA-bonded travel agent selling cruises and ATOL-bonded fly-cruise packages, and works with the industry to support sustainable travel. Awarded a customer satisfaction score 97% or higher by Feefo.
Tel (7 days): 02037 335 557
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Louise Newton
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