In recent years, cruising has transformed from indulgent escapes centred on dining and entertainment into holistic wellness retreats. Offering a blend of relaxation, fitness, and enrichment, wellness at sea has become one of the fastest-growing segments in the travel industry, and at the heart of this trend are luxurious onboard spas.
Embarking on Norwegian Cruise Line’s enormous Viva for a ‘wellness on the waves’ experience while sailing from Barcelona to Rome, I was not prepared for the extent of what was on offer. As I entered the Mandara Spa and Salon with its two-storey waterfall and marble staircase, I knew I was in for a treat.
“Wellbeing takes many forms, from connecting with family and friends to exploring new destinations, finding quiet moments with a book, or dancing under the stars. Norwegian Cruise Line brings all these experiences together, giving our guests more to see, more to do and more to enjoy to truly create an enriching vacation,” explains Nirosha Sidat, NCL country manager, South Africa.
And there really is more to see and do. At the Mandara, you’ll find treatment rooms, a hair salon, nail bar, and a medi-spa for aesthetic treatments, while down the corridor is the Pulse Fitness Centre where you can go to a boot camp, indoor cycling, or yoga class, as well as a fully equipped gym with 270-degree ocean views. If hydrotherapy is your thing, the Thermal Suite has a salt room, aromatic steam room, flotation pool, ice and snow rooms for cold therapy, and multiple saunas – including a dry heat Finnish sauna and the world’s first charcoal sauna at sea, which helps detox, increase circulation and relieve muscle tension.
And it goes without saying that the treatments are on another level. During the innovative Zero Gravity Wellness Massage, for example, your body is suspended on a treatment table in eight positions, enabling each muscle group to be reached for tension release and improved body mechanics. The highly effective Elemis Biotec 2.0 facial uses a combination of actives, touch, and bio-electric technology to ‘reawaken’ the skin. The five technologies (from one machine) include an ultrasonic peel, microcurrent lift, galvanic rejuvenation, light therapy, and oxygen infusion. The result is visibly energised skin, and being treated by a fellow South African – skincare therapist Lindiwe Tovela – was an added bonus. A ‘Gautenger’, Lindiwe told me that many South Africans work on the ship (I met another three) and the thing they miss most, besides family of course, is local food, adding that the kitchen staff sometimes creates a taste of home to curb homesickness.
Norwegian Viva also offers a selection of wellness workshops hosted by experts in various fields to help guests cultivate healthier habits and connect with their inner selves. We had the opportunity to spend time with skincare expert and make-up artist Nathalie Eleni, who shared her techniques for her famous Get the Glow facial. She took us through a deep cleanse, exfoliation, and lymphatic massage routine – ideal after a long flight when skin is dull and dehydrated.
“Spa sailings are a balanced antidote for relaxation and adventure,” says Nathalie, who believes that due to the hi-tech treatments and equipment, these spas could rival some of the best wellness escapes around the world.
The challenge, of course, is choosing what to do and allocating time and budget, keeping in mind the list of other onboard activities. A ship the size of Norwegian Viva, which carries more than 3 000 passengers at double occupancy, has no shortage of entertainment options – a theatre, gaming hall, shops, interactive mini golf, a three-level racetrack, 10-storey slide, kids aqua park, and a casino. During the day, you can disembark to explore local ports and towns, and a variety of fully customisable excursions are available too.
And then there’s the food… With over 12 restaurants and cafés, every taste is catered for. One of the most entertaining meals I’ve ever had was at Teppanyaki, where it’s as much about the show as the food. Chef John expertly prepared our meal in front of us with flair and sizzle, belting out tunes and juggling eggs and knives.
All this may sound exhausting, but the allure lies in the luxury of choice and the ability to combine self-care with discovery. Imagine starting your day with sunrise yoga as you sail into port, disembarking for an exploratory cycle through a medieval town, experiencing the local cuisine at a family-run eatery, indulging in a restorative spa treatment onboard in the afternoon, enjoying live entertainment in the evening, and then journeying to a new destination overnight. It’s the perfect balance of activity and indulgence, and a break that will leave you feeling better than when you arrived.
A boutique hotel within ship
If the height of luxury and privacy are more in line with your expectations, consider The Haven. Located on top of the ship, this exclusive space is the ultimate luxury retreat with its own bar, lounge, restaurant, elevators, 24-hour dedicated concierge, butler, infinity pool and private sun deck. You can order just about any premium spirit that the ship stocks if you are on the Premium Plus beverage package while enjoying all the other services and amenities on the rest of the ship.
