Best wellness cruises for 2025 and 2026

Wellness cruises are the ultimate way to rest, reset and reconnect – mixing like a fresh mocktail the healing calm of the ocean with spa-level luxury and mindful living. From yoga at sunrise and detox rituals to plant-based dining under open skies, the best wellness cruises for 2025 and 2026 redefine how travellers unwind.

“Wellness cruising is no longer a niche option and is instead fast becoming a mainstream choice,”  Tony Andrews from travel agency cruise.co.uk told Sailawaze.  “Cruise lines have recognised this and we’re seeing more sailings built around health-focused itineraries, longer port stays, spa-integrated programmes, partnerships with wellness brands and onboard lectures with experts in the field.”

In fact, wellness travel is one of the fastest-growing areas in the industry and is forecast to pass $1.4 trillion by 2027.

MSC Cruises’ VP of International Sales, Antonio Paradiso, shared: “We’re continuing to see strong demand for wellness-focused cruising, with spa and wellbeing package bookings up by around 20 percent year on year across the UK and Ireland. Wellness is no longer viewed as a ‘nice to have’ – many of our guests now see it as an essential part of how they holiday, and cruising offers the ideal environment to recharge and reset while exploring multiple destinations.”

Even just being on a cruise can help: a 2024 neuroscience study aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 found that just five days at sea can boost memory, focus and problem-solving by up to 125 percent, proving that ocean travel genuinely enhances mental clarity and emotional wellbeing.

Andrews advised: “For anyone thinking about a wellness cruise, my top tip is to look beyond the buzzwords: check the daily schedule for structured wellbeing activities, see whether shore excursions support active exploration, and ask what the cabin and dining options are like for a more holistic experience.”

Tempted? Below, we explore the top cruise lines bringing health and wellness to sea – from large premium ships with fitness studios and spa facilities to boutique river and yacht lines offering wellness cruise retreats that focus on balance and renewal.

What is a wellness cruise?

A wellness cruise centres around physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, offering tailored spa treatments, fitness programmes and nutritious dining. Expect state-of-the-art gyms, sea thermal suites, floor-to-ceiling windows framing meditation spaces and wellness packages designed to relax and recharge.

Many cruise lines now offer dedicated wellness packages – multi-day programmes featuring swanky spa treatments, aqua therapy and mindfulness classes. Virgin Voyages cruises, for example, include HIIT, barre, yoga, pilates, spin and a bungee workout. Or book shore excursions ahead of departure that include a hike in the countryside.

Alternatively, you could try Pickleball on Cunard’s Queen Anne, for instance, or try a new watersport such as standup paddleboarding, on one of the two small luxury SeaDream Yachts – it’s included! Meanwhile, Princess Cruises has introduced ‘Amore Princess Zero Alcohol Collection’, a premium non-alcoholic drinks alternative included on selected packages.

Windstar Cruises has even partnered with Vishen Lakhiani, founder of the global personal growth platform Mindvalley, to launch a seven-night wellness voyage focused on rejuvenating mind, body and spirit at sea. It promises “a rare opportunity for entrepreneurs, changemakers and lifelong learners to unplug from routine and reconnect with purpose”.

Premium and contemporary cruise lines

These major cruise lines deliver strong spa, fitness and lifestyle offerings, combining state-of-the-art wellness spaces with balanced dining and expert-led activities.

Celebrity Cruises

Celebrity Cruises continues to set the standard for wellness at sea, especially on its Edge Series ships — and the new Celebrity Xcel takes it up a level. The Spa brings together the Sea Thermal Suite’s saunas, aromatherapy steam rooms, heated loungers and sensory showers with ELEMIS therapies, IV treatments, acupuncture and a full MedSpa menu. The Persian Garden features on select ships, while the gym hosts complimentary yoga, Pilates and cycling sessions with ocean views. Xcel also debuts an expanded Salon with a blow-dry bar and bubbles bar.

New for 2025, Xcel introduces the Hydra Room, a water-led sanctuary with massaging jets and heated loungers, plus the outdoor Vitamin D Deck designed for slow, restorative time in the sea breeze. Jeannette Coto Dou, VP Product Development, told Sailawaze: “With more than 120 therapies plus our first-ever Hydra Room and the new Vitamin D Deck, we’ve created everything guests need to nourish mind, body and soul on Celebrity Xcel.”

For a fully integrated experience, AquaClass staterooms include yoga mats, a spa concierge, access to the Thermal Suite and exclusive dining in Blu with lighter, health-forward cuisine.

Why Celebrity is great for wellness travellers: A holistic wellness ecosystem combining luxury spa treatments, plant-based dining and restorative spaces designed to balance body and mind.

Cunard

Cunard’s new Queen Anne introduces Mareel Wellness & Beauty – a reimagined approach to wellness at sea with spa therapies, hydrotherapy pools and The Pavilion Wellness Café serving plant-forward dishes and low-alcohol drinks.

In 2026, Cunard will host its first Harper’s Bazaar Wellness at Sea voyage featuring Olympian Katarina Johnson-Thompson and a line-up of wellbeing experts. Guests can join inspiring talks, energising classes and tailored spa treatments using premium ELEMIS products.

Why Cunard is great for wellness travellers: A thoughtful combination of luxury, science and serenity through expert-led programmes and partnerships that put wellbeing at the forefront.

– READ MORE: We tried a Cunard wellness cruise — what happened? –

Oceania Cruises

Oceania Cruises’ Aquamar Spa + Vitality Center has become synonymous with wellness at sea. Guests can enjoy wellness discovery tours, nature walks, meditation sessions and restorative spa treatments inspired by local ingredients.

Menus feature Vitality Cuisine options and detox-friendly dishes crafted for balance. Oceania’s focus on longevity and holistic health positions it as one of the top cruise lines offering wellness programs for health-focused travellers.

Why Oceania is great for wellness travellers: A holistic approach to wellness blending spa treatments, mindful shore excursions and nutrition-led dining.

Princess Cruises

On the new Star Princess, wellness is central. The two-storey Lotus Spa includes saunas, aromatherapy steam rooms and thermal pools, while the SkyDeck features open-air sports courts, a jogging track and shaded relaxation areas.

Wellness programmes include sunrise yoga, Pilates and fitness classes led by expert instructors. Spa treatments cover everything from aromatherapy facials to seaweed wraps.

Why Princess is great for wellness travellers: An ideal mix of activity and relaxation with some of the best ocean views in cruising.

– READ MORE: What to expect on brand new Princess Cruises ship –

P&O Cruises

P&O Cruises makes wellness accessible without sacrificing quality. Ships such as Iona and Arvia feature light-filled spas with hydrotherapy pools, sensory steam rooms and infrared saunas. You’ll find a dedicated jogging track on these vessels.

Guests can take part in wellbeing workshops, mindfulness sessions and stretching classes or simply relax with rejuvenating spa treatments using ELEMIS products.

Why P&O is great for wellness travellers: Affordable yet sophisticated spa experiences designed for travellers seeking rest and recovery.

MSC Cruises

MSC Cruises combines Mediterranean flair with advanced spa innovation. The MSC Aurea Spa offers Balinese massages, body scrubs, yoga and personal training alongside the Wellness Experience package, which includes nutritional consultations and access to a private thermal area.

Facilities include whirlpools, snow rooms and saunas, while onboard menus highlight fresh, health-conscious Mediterranean cuisine. Heather Durnall, Head of Spa, MSC Cruises, told Sailawaze, “Our approach focuses on treatments that support long-term wellbeing, including our LPG Endermologie body treatments – a cruise industry first – which has fast become a standout for guests seeking visible results during and after their cruise.”

Durnall added, “We’re seeing more guests wanting to continue their wellness journey beyond their holiday, whether through home-care rituals, beauty tools or supplements so they can feel and look their best after their holiday. For those planning a wellness-focused cruise, I always recommend building in time to slow down – whether that’s a thermal suite session before a massage, or a sunrise yoga class. These small moments can make the experience especially restorative and memorable.”

Why MSC is great for wellness travellers: Tailored fitness and nutrition combined with serene spa facilities and beautiful ocean views.

– READ MORE: What happened when we sailed on MSC’s latest ship? –

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian’s Mandara Spa & Salon is one of the most stylish at sea, with a thermal suite featuring heated loungers, salt rooms, saunas and plunge pools.

Guests can join spin, HIIT or yoga classes in the fitness studio, while new Prima-class ships include open-air wellness decks and fresh menus focusing on lighter, plant-forward meals.

Why NCL is great for wellness travellers: A balance of high-energy fitness and tranquil recovery spaces ideal for modern wellness seekers.

Royal Caribbean

Royal Caribbean’s Vitality Spa & Fitness Centre may serve thousands of guests daily, but it still feels indulgent. Expect world-class spa therapies, acupuncture, hot stone massages and relaxation rooms with sea views.

The line’s latest ships feature upgraded spa menus, mindful dining options and wellness-focused activities like sunrise yoga and aqua cycling. Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas is the world’s longest cruise ship so you’ll get your steps in just walking around!

Why Royal Caribbean is great for wellness travellers: Comprehensive spa and fitness options with the bonus of variety and innovation across a global fleet.

Viking

Viking’s LivNordic Spa embodies Scandinavian serenity. Its snow grotto, saunas and plunge pools create a hot-and-cold experience inspired by Nordic bathing traditions.

The tranquil design, infused with natural materials and aromatherapy, enhances the calming atmosphere, while healthy Nordic cuisine and meditation sessions make wellness effortless.

Why Viking is great for wellness travellers: Pure Scandinavian calm combining design, nature and ritual for deep relaxation.

– READ MORE: I bathed in Greek radioactive waters to live to 100 –

Luxury and ultra-luxury cruise lines

Smaller ships and refined experiences mean wellness is easily integrated into every aspect of these voyages – and there are fewer people to fight over sauna bench space with – while boutique yacht lines are unveiling their most innovative concepts.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent’s Serene Spa & Wellness offers treatments using marine ingredients and amber quartz beds, alongside wellness shore excursions to yoga gardens and natural springs.

Guests can enjoy plant-based menus, meditation sessions and bespoke spa therapies that target both physical and emotional balance.

Why Regent is great for wellness travellers: Ultra-personalised wellness with global spa traditions and world-class cuisine.

Silversea Cruises

Silversea’s Otium concept draws on ancient Roman wellness ideals, celebrating balance and pleasure. Spa treatments include aromatherapy rituals and skin therapies complemented by indulgent touches like champagne and chocolate pairings.

The spa’s design centres on light and tranquillity, with saunas and sea-facing relaxation rooms enhancing the restorative atmosphere.

Why Silversea is great for wellness travellers: A luxurious, sensory approach to wellness that balances indulgence with rejuvenation.

– READ MORE: Inside our voyage on Silversea’s new Silver Ray –

Seabourn

Seabourn’s Spa & Wellness with Dr Andrew Weil programme integrates mindfulness, movement and meditation into daily life on board.

Guests can join yoga, sound baths and lectures on integrative medicine, while the spa offers aromatherapy, massages and acupuncture.

Why Seabourn is great for wellness travellers: Thoughtful, evidence-based wellness designed to nurture mind, body and spirit.

Explora Journeys

Explora Journeys, the luxury lifestyle brand from MSC Group, has placed wellbeing at the core of its philosophy. Every ship in the fleet is designed as a floating sanctuary where guests can disconnect, slow down and focus on self-renewal.

The Ocean Wellness programme combines physical vitality, spiritual balance and connection to nature, with spaces that promote calm and clarity. The spa features thermal areas, salt rooms and hydrotherapy pools, alongside holistic rituals inspired by global healing traditions. Guests can also join sunrise yoga, meditation and fitness classes, or enjoy tailored nutrition options focused on balance and vitality.

Why Explora is great for wellness travellers: Explora Journeys takes a mindful approach to luxury cruising — encouraging guests to live well, sleep deeply and embrace the restorative rhythm of life at sea.

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection’s upcoming Luminara will feature The Ritz-Carlton Spa, with ESPA and 111SKIN treatments, 11 serene rooms and therapies inspired by Asian healing traditions.

Holistic rituals like bamboo massages and detox therapies complement its plant-based fine dining and tranquil pool decks.

Why Ritz-Carlton Yachts are great for wellness travellers: A sophisticated, small-ship sanctuary offering transformative luxury wellness experiences.

Orient Express Sailing Yachts

Launching in 2026, Orient Express Sailing Yachts will introduce one of the most anticipated wellness concepts at sea – the first Guerlain Spa aboard a sailing yacht. Orient Express Corinthian, debuting in June 2026, will pair French elegance with holistic wellness rituals crafted exclusively by Guerlain.

Rather than single treatments, these are immersive sensory ‘odysseys’ inspired by the elements, the rhythm of the ocean and the spirit of exploration. Expect bespoke ceremonies, sea-led relaxation and refined wellness spaces designed to feel like a floating sanctuary. After a Mediterranean summer, Corinthian will sail the Caribbean from October 2026.

Why Orient Express is great for wellness travellers: A new benchmark for luxury wellness at sea with couture-level spa rituals and serene yacht-style sailing.

Other luxury lines

Crystal also expands its wellness offering in 2026 with its third Wellness at Sea retreat aboard Crystal Symphony, featuring expert-led yoga, meditation, breathwork and longevity sessions alongside plant-rich menus and hands-on nutrition workshops.

– READ MORE: What to expect from Ritz Carlton Yacht, Luminara – 

River and small-ship wellness cruises

River and boutique yacht lines bring mindfulness and movement to calm waterways, combining active exploration with holistic health.

AmaWaterways

AmaWaterways continues to lead the way in active and mindful river cruising. New for 2025, its Celebration of Wellness voyages along the Danube focus on physical and mental wellbeing with guided hikes, bike tours and runs designed for active travellers. On board, Wellness Hosts lead daily classes such as yoga, core strengthening and stretching, while menus feature fresh, balanced dishes and detox-friendly options.

AmaMagna even offers a full-size pickleball court – a first for river cruising. In 2026, AmaWaterways will expand its wellness offering on itineraries such as Melodies of the Danube, featuring new guided hikes including the Vienna Woods Walk and enhanced onboard classes across ships, including the new AmaSofia.

Why AmaWaterways is great for wellness travellers: A dedicated wellness programme with expert-led classes and active excursions that make the most of Europe’s rivers.

Avalon Waterways

Avalon’s Wellness Programme includes yoga, Pilates, strength training and guided morning stretches, supported by the Avalon Fresh menu created with health-focused chefs.

Why Avalon is great for wellness travellers: Accessible, relaxed wellness for travellers who enjoy gentle fitness and nutritious dining.

– READ MORE: How to keep fit on a river cruise holiday –

Uniworld Boutique River Cruises

Uniworld’s Serenity River Spa, yoga sessions and guided walks provide calm between destinations. Wellness coaches, seasonal menus and smaller ship sizes add to the sense of mindfulness.

Why Uniworld is great for wellness travellers: Boutique comfort and expert wellness guidance in stylish surroundings.

Emerald Cruises

Emerald’s river fleet features a Wellness Centre and dedicated Wellness Coach offering yoga, stretch and Pilates classes. Fitness areas, massage rooms and healthy cuisine ensure a balanced experience.

Why Emerald is great for wellness travellers: A laid-back approach combining relaxation, light activity and mindful dining.

Scenic River Cruises

Scenic’s luxury Space-Ships include vitality pools, a salt therapy lounge and spa facilities alongside wellness-led excursions.

Why Scenic River is great for wellness travellers: Elegant, design-driven wellness for guests who prefer serene luxury and gentle movement.

– READ MORE: What to pack for a river cruise –

Comparing wellness programs on different cruise ships

Mainstream and premium cruise lines like P&O, MSC, Norwegian, Royal Caribbean and Princess focus on accessible wellness, combining modern spas with flexible fitness options.

Mid-to-high-end lines such as Celebrity, Cunard, Oceania and Viking take a curated approach, blending nutrition, fitness and relaxation in integrated programs.

Luxury lines including Regent, Silversea, Seabourn and Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection weave wellness into every element of the voyage, from cuisine and design to bespoke treatments and shore experiences.

River cruise specialists – AmaWaterways, Avalon, Uniworld, Scenic and Emerald – champion mindfulness, movement and connection with nature, making them perfect for travellers who prefer small-scale serenity.

– READ MORE: First-ever lipstick blending bar at sea revealed –

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 your city port. 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.

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.

The future of wellness at sea

Wellness cruises 2025 and 2026 are setting a new course for mindful travel. With collaborations from Harper’s Bazaar, ELEMIS and Guerlain to plant-based dining and aqua therapy centres, cruise lines are proving that wellbeing belongs on the water.

Whether you’re exploring the fjords with Cunard, joining yoga on the Danube with AmaWaterways or detoxing in the sea thermal suite on Celebrity Apex, the future of travel looks healthier than ever.

Tony Andrews commented: “If you want a holiday that relaxes and revitalises, a wellness-cruise offers a uniquely structured option: fresh air, expert-led sessions, a contained environment and plenty of time to reset. In short, you’re not just going on holiday – you’re devoting time to yourself in a space that lets you do it properly.”