How to keep shipshape the Virgin Voyages way

Any company that boasts Jennifer Lopez as their Chief Entertainment and Lifestyle Officer needs to be in their best possible shape. But keeping up with J.Lo, who works out with two personal trainers at least five times a week, on board their fleet of stunning ships will be smooth sailing for Virgin Voyages.

The On The Floor singer has a feed full of gym selfies showing off exactly how she’s achieved those toned abs, and it’s through sheer hard work. Daily gym workouts which involve running on the treadmill, lifting weights, doing kettlebell swings, sit-ups, planks, push-ups, boxing and dance sessions are the norm for J.Lo to keep her body sculpted.

So it’s no surprise that the global superstar has partnered with the iconic cruise line that’s been busy doing things differently – the Virgin Voyages way – since making a splash with the debut of their first ship, Scarlet Lady last year.

Long before Jennifer, 52, was announced in her role as an ‘inspiring, empowering and entrepreneurial person’ who best embodies the brand, sweeping aside the old-fashioned notion of a Godmother, Virgin Voyages understood how important wellness was to its Sailors.

From the very inception of the brand, Sir Richard Branson and the Virgin Voyages team knew that in taking sea travel and their ships to the next level, they needed to make sure their Sailors got their dose of Vitamin Sea on board.

Deciding to do everything differently they made a few simple rules to ditch the cruise cliches once and for all: No buffet. No kids. No Limits. Oh, and no sweat. Only that last bit’s not true at all. While creating the glamour of a boutique hotel at sea, Virgin Voyages has made a sanctuary at sea for 18+travellers. But look closer and you’ll see plenty of Sailors sweating – and loving every minute of it.

Exercise makes us happy (it’s the endorphins, you know). So why stop doing it on a holiday? On board the line’s ships, Scarlet Lady, Valiant Lady, and Resilient Lady, who debuts in July, there are plenty of wellness and personal spaces for Sailors to relax, be pampered and restored.

But if you’re a sports fiend, run to clear your mind, or to obtain abs like Jenny from the Block’s – she was once called La Guitarra for her perfect hour-glass body – then there’s plenty of places on board to work up a sweat while having fun.

So along with 20+ eateries on board, yacht inspired cabins, RockStar Quarters, festival-style entertainment, and hopefully (we can all dream) J.Lo, there are first-class wellness facilities to exercise and relax. As Virgin Voyages say, whether you’re a ‘do nothing’, ‘do some things’ or ‘do literally everything’ there’s a space perfect for you.

‘From sun-rise yoga, to outdoor boxing, meditation, to HIIT workouts, and even specially curated hikes at our ports, our approach to working out is that it works for you,’ the company says.

Gym bunnies’ first stop has to be the Training Centre at Athletic Club. This outdoor training zone has a boxing ring, strength and gymnastics equipment along with plenty of fresh salty sea air and sunshine.

The Runway is a scarlet running track that forms a halo over the ship and has been declared the best at sea by cruise journalists who have taken their running shoes on ships all over the world.

Sailors can go for a spin at B-Complex where there are also yoga and cardio classes. If it’s retro tunes and neon headbands and leg warmers you fancy when you work out, try the VHS 80s Fitness Class which will have you laughing as well as feeling the burn. If that’s not enough, there’s always the on-demand fitness available through the state-of-the-art Technogym ARTIS.

After all that, it’s time to indulge in some pampering in style. The Redemption Spa is an oasis at sea with a mud room, salt room, sauna, hydrotherapy pool, cold plunge pools and treatments galore including Jen’s favourite, a hot-stone massage. There’s even a seaweed wrap and you can book a Spa party in the thermal suite at night if you want to keep it nautical but nice.

Back on deck, there’s a Well-being Pool with two plunge pools and a whirlpool. At the Aquatic Club, you can sip a cocktail while relaxing poolside, planning if it’s a blow dry you want at The Dry Dock beauty bar or a hot-lather shave at Stubble and Groom, offering the only male pedicure spa at sea with a porthole ocean view.

For an ever-lasting memory of your perfect holiday, check out Squid Ink, the first ever tattoo and body piercing studio on a cruise ship.

Now that J.Lo’s onboard, the energy just amped up. As well as introducing JLo Beauty, no doubt La Lopez will bring her own particular brand of well-being and fitness – as well as dance moves – to the party. As she says: ‘Let’s get loud!’