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Trade excess for mindfulness on these 2025 and 2026 wellness cruises

Feb. 07, 2025
10 min read
Woman having a professional  massage at a wellness spa.
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If overindulgence makes you feel more sluggish than rested and relaxed after your vacation, it's time to find a new way to cruise. You're in luck — several cruise lines are offering 2025 and 2026 wellness-themed sailings that are bookable now as you kick off your self-care goals for the year.

Whether you're hoping to head to romantic Paris to engage in yoga or sound bath meditation, listen to motivational speakers as you sail through the stunning Norwegian fjords or relax in more beachy destinations in the Caribbean or South America with spa treatments and healthy restaurant menus, these special dedicated voyages have you covered.

Here's which lines are running them, where to book and what to do if you'd rather have a wellness experience on a regular nonthemed cruise.

AmaWaterways

Giant chess set and seating area on AmaLea river ship's top deck
AmaLea on the Danube. AMAWATERWAYS

River cruise line AmaWaterways is one of the best for active travelers. For years, it has outfitted its ships with fleets of onboard bicycles for passengers to use in port. Its "wellness hosts" offer active excursions and other ways to relax and be mindful. As an extension of its existing wellness offerings, the line will host two "Celebration of Wellness" river cruises, setting sail Aug. 2 and 9, 2025.

Both sailings feature enhanced tours — including extended hikes, bike tours and guided runs — designed for active travelers; at least six daily host-led wellness classes like Champagne yoga, core strengthening, stretching and circuit training; special healthy menus; a morning juice bar and onboard wellness talks.

The first itinerary, "Melodies of the Danube," will sail from Budapest, Hungary, to Vilshofen, Germany, for seven nights (Aug. 2-9) on AmaLea, plus a two-night precruise stay in Budapest and a three-night postcruise stay in Prague. Prices start from $3,489 per person, including port charges, for an ocean-view cabin. Travelers will visit Bratislava in Slovakia and Vienna and Linz in Austria, among other Danube destinations.

The second route, "Paris & Normandy," is set to run from Aug. 6-19. AmaDante will sail round-trip from Paris, plus guests can explore the city with a two-night precruise stay in Paris. Ports include France's Le Havre (the port for Normandy) and Rouen. Fares begin at $3,839 per person, including port charges, for an ocean-view room.

Crystal

Crystal Symphony cruise ship anchored in the ocean with blue sky overhead
Crystal Symphony. GETTY IMAGES

Revived premium cruise line Crystal is offering two options for wellness voyages aboard its Crystal Symphony ship in late 2025. The 606-passenger vessel features the amenities you'd expect from a modern cruise ship but with a more intimate feel, making it perfect setting for cruises that the line says will include yoga, fitness, mental well-being, nutrition and scientific education seminars led by world-class specialists. There will also be wellness excursions and spa treatments available.

The sailings, both dubbed "Africa & Indian Ocean" itineraries, are set to depart on Nov. 26 and Dec. 11, running for 15 and 12 nights, respectively.

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The first voyage — sailing from Lisbon, Portugal, to Tema (the port for Accra) in Ghana — will include stops in Portugal, Spain and Cape Verde. Prices start from $7,600 per person for an ocean-view cabin.

The second voyage departs immediately after the first one concludes and is scheduled to travel from Tema to Cape Town, South Africa. Other stops include ports in West Africa, Sao Tome and Principe, Angola and Namibia. Prices start from $5,600 per person for ocean-view accommodations.

Cunard

A close-up of the hull of Cunard ship Queen Anne
Cunard's Queen Anne. GENE SLOAN/THE POINTS GUY

Looking for wellness with a side of high fashion? Cunard is teaming up with luxury beauty publication "Harper's Bazaar" to bring cruisers a summertime "Wellness at Sea" sailing in 2026.

Departing July 5, 2026, on the line's newest ship, Queen Anne, the weeklong voyage will travel through the Norwegian fjords. Passengers will have access to seminars led by editors from the magazine and a chance to book one of three special spa packages (which are also available on regular sailings) designed to help travelers recover, reenergize or relax, depending on their goals.

Queen Anne will sail round-trip from Southampton, England, and call on Stavanger, Alesund and other Norwegian ports. It also will cruise through some of the country's most breathtaking areas, offering stunning views of mountains and tiny fishing villages and setting the scene for serenity. Prices start from $1,129 per person for an inside cabin, including all taxes and fees.

Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours

Heated loungers surrounded by gauzy curtains in spa relaxation room on Scenic Eclipse cruise ship
Senses Spa on Scenic Eclipse. SCENIC LUXURY CRUISES & TOURS

For those who prefer to be pampered in the lap of luxury, Scenic is hosting two "Wellness Cruises" in 2026, both on Scenic Eclipse. The catch is you have to be OK with a sailing full of sea days because the two cruises do not stop at any ports.

Passengers on both of these voyages will have plenty of time to take advantage of the ship's next-level Senses Spa. The space includes an infrared sauna, a cold plunge pool and a salt therapy room. Special activities on these cruises include yoga and Pilates classes, meditation and sound-healing sessions, classes on healthy cooking and seminars led by wellness experts, nutritionists and holistic practitioners.

The first wellness cruise — a 10-day transatlantic sailing from Bridgetown, Barbados, to Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain — departs April 24, 2026. Prices start from $6,465 per person for a balcony cabin.

A second 10-day voyage, a South America coastal cruise from Panama City to Valparaiso, Chile, with no port stops, sets sail Oct. 26, 2026. Balcony accommodations start from $8,680 per person.

Virgin Voyages

Women lying on lounge chairs with setup of singing bowls
Healing sound bath class on Scarlet Lady. ERICA SILVERSTEIN/THE POINTS GUY

For a wellness cruise with a bit of sass, Virgin Voyages is offering a special "Elevate Voyage."

Designed to empower and uplift participants, the themed sailing will incorporate the line's signature rockstar edge with inspirational talks, immersive experiences like sound bath meditation and expert-led workshops.

The six-day Riviera Maya, Mexico, cruise aboard Valiant Lady will sail round-trip from Miami, departing April 20, 2025. Ports of call include Cozumel, Mexico, and the line's private beach destination, the Beach Club at Bimini, in the Bahamas. Fares start from $2,302 per person for an ocean-view cabin, including taxes and fees.

Windstar Cruises

The sailing ship Wind Spirit in Tahiti
Wind Spirit in Tahiti. WINDSTAR CRUISES

For wellness experiences on small, upscale ships, check out Windstar Cruises' 2025 "Mind, Body and Spirit Collection" — a series of four cruises hosted by life coach, inspirational speaker, author and yoga instructor Debbie Dixon.

Dixon will lead talks that focus on both mental and spiritual health; the sailing will also host daily meditation sessions and classes in breathwork and yoga. Additionally, passengers can enjoy a pop-up bar with healthy drinks as well as cuisine from the line's existing wellness menus, which include vegan, vegetarian and heart-healthy fare.

The first voyage, an eight-day Star Pride Panama Canal itinerary, is already sold out. The second sailing, an eight-day Rome-to-Barcelona cruise aboard Star Legend, departs Feb. 23, 2025. Ports include Livorno/Florence and Genoa, Italy, and Nice, France. Prices start from $2,079 per person for an ocean-view cabin with a porthole.

The third cruise, an eight-day sailing on Star Pride, departs Oct. 19, 2025. It will voyage from New York City to San Juan, Puerto Rico, offering an overnight in St. George's, Bermuda, along the way. Prices begin at $2,399 per person for a porthole room.

The final cruise is on Wind Spirit, one of Windstar's masted sailing ships. The 15-day sailing departs Nov. 4, 2025, from Lisbon, Portugal, and ends in Bridgetown, Barbados, after a transatlantic crossing with no port stops. Prices start from $2,599 per person for ocean-view accommodations.

You can find all four cruises listed on Windstar's theme cruises page.

Other onboard wellness options

A thermal suite on a cruise ship with tile loungers facing floor-to-ceiling windows
Thermal suite on Celebrity Beyond. MICHEL VERDURE/CELEBRITY CRUISES

If you're not interested in booking a cruise specifically themed to wellness but still want to reap some of the benefits, you have many ways to indulge.

Nearly every cruise ship afloat has an onboard spa and salon, where you can pamper yourself with for-fee massages, facials, manicures, pedicures, hairstyling and even more interesting treatments like acupuncture and teeth whitening.

Or, if saunas, steam rooms, plunge pools and aromatherapy experiences are more your speed, pay for a pass to your ship's thermal suite, where heated tile loungers and less crowded hot tubs can help melt your stress away.

Several cruise lines — including Azamara, Carnival, Celebrity, Costa, Holland America, MSC, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Seabourn — offer dedicated spa cabins. Book one of these rooms, often located near the spa, and you'll receive wellness-themed perks, such as complimentary thermal suite access, discounted spa treatments, entry to special dining rooms that serve healthy fare and in-cabin amenities, such as fruit, infused water and fitness equipment like yoga mats.

For fitness fanatics, cruise ship gyms are equipped with exercise machines, free weights and yoga mats, and instructors lead for-fee classes like yoga and spin. (Virgin Voyages is an outlier among mass-market cruise lines in that it offers its fitness classes for free.)

Bottom line

If you're seeking solace and well-being on your next cruise, you don't have to look far to find options to suit your relaxation and mindfulness needs. Whether your preferences include spa treatments, lectures, healthy food or ways to exercise at sea, these sailings are worth a look.

Read more about cruise wellness:

Featured image by FLASHPOP/GETTY IMAGES
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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