I ate, drank what I wanted on this cruise without losing my routine or gaining weight
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Virgin Voyages offers a cruise experience that combines indulgence with wellness, allowing guests to enjoy food and drinks while maintaining a fitness routine.
The cruise line provides a variety of fitness classes, a well-equipped gym, and active shore excursions.
Virgin Voyages focuses on made-to-order meals and offers low-alcohol and non-alcoholic beverage options.
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Cruises can often be synonymous with indulgence. With endless buffets, poolside cocktails, and sun-drenched lounging with little movement beyond a slow shuffle to the next meal, it's easy to overdo it.
However, on my recent Virgin Voyages' Western Caribbean Charm sailing, it wasn't difficult to indulge while maintaining a fitness routine. After a week, I disembarked the Scarlet Lady without feeling sluggish and overfed. This wasn't just about working off the excess. Virgin's programming and dining are geared toward wellbeing without being prescriptive.
'We know that people are here to enjoy themselves, but that doesn't mean they have to compromise on their well-being,' said Nicole Huang, SVP Fleet Experience at Virgin Voyages. '(At Virgin) it's a choose-your-own-adventure kind of thing ... some come to detox, retox or both.'
Travelers are increasingly looking to integrate wellness and fitness options into their trips. According to a 2022 Hilton survey, 50% of the 1,000 travelers surveyed said they seek experiences that align with their holistic wellness goals. Similarly, 55% of consumers expressed a willingness to pay more for wellness activities during future vacations, as reported by American Express.
What happens when you bring your son on an adults-only vacation
Cruise lines, like AmaWaterways and Windstar Cruises, have recently announced wellness-focused sailings.
Here's how Virgin Voyages' bet on wellness pays off for travelers who want to indulge and stay active.
Do people really work out at sea?
Yes. Very much so on a Virgin Voyages sailing. Most early morning HIIT (high-intensity interval training) and spinning classes were fully booked throughout the week.
The wellness offerings ranged from relaxing to entertainment. There was sunrise yoga, bungee workouts, Zumba and dance classes, pickleball and even dodgeball.
Playing dodgeball at sea was definitely a highlight. I play in a dodgeball league back home, but it's a different experience to do it in the middle of the ocean. It was competitive, ridiculous and fun.
'Before we even launched Virgin Voyages, we looked at what was missing in the cruise industry when it came to wellness. Traditionally, cruise fitness spaces have been small, tucked away, and often an afterthought. We wanted to change that,' Huang told USA TODAY. 'Our wellness spaces, from the B-Complex Gym to our Redemption Spa, are premium real estate onboard. We designed these areas to be inviting, with state-of-the-art equipment and inspiring classes that keep people engaged.'
And they deliver on that promise. The B-Complex Gym had everything needed for full-body workouts as well as free weights and boxing bags. Huang said they even added heavier weights after guests requested them.
Royal Caribbean International, Holland America Line and Celebrity Cruises also offer pickleball courts on their ships. Royal went a step further adding SeaPlex, an indoor, air-conditioned sports complex on its Quantum class ships.
Does everyone gain weight during cruise sailing?
It depends on what you want to focus on.
Despite enjoying multi-course meals, desserts and the occasional cocktail, I didn't gain weight on this trip.
"Everything is made to order, so portions are fulfilling,' Huang said. 'It's all-inclusive so no one will stop you from ordering more, of course!'
Virgin doesn't do buffets, and all restaurants (which are included in the fare) offered alcohol pairings with low-ABV or non-alcoholic options, giving me a way to enjoy the flavors without overdoing it.
'One of the things we're continuously working on is enhancing our beverage program to include more wellness-focused options,' Huang added. 'We also know that many of our sailors are looking for lower-ABV and non-alcoholic beverage options, so we've made sure to include those in all of our restaurants and bars.'
Note: Virgin Voyages does not offer drink packages; rather, passengers charge beverages to their cabins. Drinks are moderately priced, from $6 to $15, with higher-end beverages around $29. On a seven-day cruise, $300 could equal about five drinks a day.
While the restaurants were great (shoutout to Extra Virgin), one of my favorite meals was an Indian-style butter chicken from The Galley. Even with a sweet tooth, I never felt the temptation to mindlessly grab a plate of pastries. By making brunch and dinner reservations at times I knew I wanted to eat, every meal felt intentional.
Are there wellness options at the destinations?
Yes. There were several shore excursion options for each of the stops.
In Roatán, I hiked the mountains of Honduras and followed it with ATV rides. At The Beach Club at Bimini, there was the option for a guided meditation session on the sand before diving into crystal clear waters. There were active ways to explore each destination without feeling like I was skipping a workout.
Is the cruise only focused on wellness?
'We're always looking at what's trending and how we can bring new, exciting wellness experiences onboard. For instance, we recently started talking about how K-pop dance classes are becoming really popular. We asked ourselves, 'Do we have the talent to offer that? Is it something our sailors would enjoy?'' Huang said. 'That's part of what makes us different — we're open to trying new things. And if something doesn't work, that's OK. We believe in experimenting, seeing what resonates, and making adjustments accordingly.'
I know it sounds like I spent the entire sailing working out, but I promise it was only one hour of my day. Rest assured, most of the time, I was by the pool. I've returned from vacations before feeling like I needed another vacation just to recover. This time I felt refreshed, strong and balanced — as if I had just completed a wellness retreat disguised as a high-energy, indulgent cruise. I didn't lose strength, I didn't feel sluggish, and my routine back home picked up without missing a beat.
The reporter on this story received access to this event from Virgin Voyages. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.
Josh Rivera is USA TODAY's Travel Editor.
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