If you think about it, a cruise ship is the perfect place to lock in. You’re in a single location, with time on your hands and a gym at the ready. Your food and nutrition is taken care of. And with everyone sunning themselves on the sundeck, there’s fitspiration aplenty. Nowhere is this more true than on Celebrity Cruises’ Edge Series ships, as Men’s Health editor-in-chief Clare Sanderson recently found out. “I was really impressed with the wellness offering,” Sanderson says of her stay. “I wasn't expecting the gym to be as good as the high-end gyms that I've used in London, the breadth of equipment available was truly outstanding.”
Celebrity Cruises has clearly recognised that today’s health-conscious travellers want more from a holiday than simply switching off. For Sanderson, what stood out the most was not only the high-tech, fully furnished gym, but the breadth of options available, with fitness classes, HIIT sessions, and the exclusive Retreat pool. “I love that you can run on a treadmill while looking out onto the ocean; it’s clear that wellness is a priority on Celebrity Cruises,” she says.
Being on a cruise didn’t mean she had to give up her usual routine, either. Sanderson knows the value of exercising before breakfast; it clears her head and sets up healthy habits for the day. On Celebrity Beyond, the Edge Series ship she travelled on, she was able to keep her gym streak going, working out every morning. In fact, Celebrity Cruises might be one of the few holiday options where you return home healthier than when you left.
If it isn’t obvious by now, this isn’t your grandfather’s cruise ship. For Sanderson, her time on the high seas revitalised her perception of what a cruise holiday could entail. “I had thought cruises were all about eating, drinking, and being unhealthy, but there are so many activities that you can take part in on Celebrity Cruises that offer a really different alternative,” she says. Looking for motivation? You can find accessible workout plans in the Men’s Health app, or on our YouTube channels.
After the workout comes the re-feed. On Celebrity Edge, Millennium and Solstice, you’d be remiss to ignore the exclusive restaurant Blu – reserved exclusively for AquaClass guests and also available on Millenium-Series and Solstice-Series ships – which has a focus on healthier dining and menus designed to help you max out your macro and nutritional needs. (The all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet is also great for those in bulk mode, FYI). “You eat as healthily as you want, without feeling like you’re depriving yourself,” says Sanderson. “It was incredibly easy to make healthy choices at every meal. If you love salads and fresh fruit and freshly cooked meat, it's a dream. Equally, if you want a pizza or a burger that’s there – it’s all about balance.”
Recovery is also prized on Celebrity Beyond, as evidenced by its 22,000 square foot spa. Yes, you read that right. Inside, you’ll find over 120 high tech treatments, including the Sea Thermal Suite, which features an infrared sauna, a salt room, a Middle Eastern-style hammam, and heated loungers. If all of that sounds a little bit too healthy, you can still indulge in the evening for a thoroughly good time without damaging your fitness. “Despite the fact that I had a few drinks and enjoyed myself, I felt great getting off that ship,” says Sanderson. “That's the beauty of cruising – it's the best of both worlds.”
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