Active travel is a trend that we first embraced in 2006 when we decided to carry a fleet of 25 complimentary bicycles on board our European ships. With growing demand, we introduced guided biking excursions and last year, we added hiking options.
While on board our ships, I’ve seen more and more guests taking steps to maintain their wellness and workout routines while on vacation, so we decided to take our active cruises to the next level by introducing our very own “Sports Scientist” – meet Selina Wank. With a post graduate degree in Sports Science from Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University, Selina brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in varied sports such as horseback riding, yoga and Iron Man events but it’s her enthusiasm and ability to adapt to our guests needs that really has made her a stand out addition to the crew.
We are very excited to have Selina on board the AmaLyra on our Paris & Normandy cruises this year developing a totally new Wellness Program which includes morning stretches, jogging, yoga, circuit training, cardio and core strengthening classes as well as discussion groups on healthy eating and relaxation techniques. The guest participation has exceeded our expectations and the feedback has been exceptional. We are very excited to roll out the most popular elements of this program on selected ships in 2018 and potentially fleet wide in 2019.
In addition to these fitness options, we’ve also responded to guest requests by incorporating a wellness concept into our culinary offerings. Wellness doesn’t mean having to sacrifice good taste – for us it means sourcing fresh, local ingredients, providing guests with Gluten-free and vegetarian options and offering our Hydration Station – featuring infused detox water and gemstone water.
We are very happy to be able to offer our guests more fun ways of enjoying exercise in the fresh air and eating healthy while discovering Europe’s iconic rivers.