The best fitness cruises: today's ships offer the perfect vacation for losing weight, learning yoga and getting a fitness makeover - Ventureout

Shape, August, 2003 by Maryann Hammers

If your image of a cruise involves dining round-the-clock, sipping frothy pink cocktails adorned with paper umbrellas and reclining for hours in a deck chair only to return home in a muumuu because you couldn't zip up your shorts, well, you're missing the boat.

"People who cruise today are younger and more active," says Bob Sharak, executive director of Cruise Lines International Association, which represents 24 different major carriers. "They grew up with a focus on health and fitness. Cruises cater to them with light cuisine, spas that rival anything on land and gyms that probably beat the one you go to at home."

Not only will you be able to stick to whatever workout routine you already have, Sharak says, but you may find that a cruise is a great place to start -- or discover -- a new one. The large ships boast colossal fitness centers, complete with top-of-the-line equipment, personal trainers and scads of classes. Another bonus to being on a boat: Without the distraction of your daily grind, you actually can find time to hit the gym. And after several hours of vigorous activity, you can soothe those aching muscles with a massage, wrap or fragrant soak in a hot tub.

Prefer to play outside? Depending on the ship, you may find jogging tracks, volleyball courts, rock-climbing walls or inline skating rinks on deck When the boat docks, you can burn calories on mountain-biking, hiking, kayaking or snorkeling excursions that combine sightseeing, adventure and exercise. Bottom line: You definitely won't need to shop for larger-size clothes to wear home. But carve out some time to hit the onboard or on-shore shops anyway: You may want to buy a bikini!

Here's a rundown of the best health, fitness and spa programs offered by major cruise lines, plus four custom cruises focusing on fitness, yoga, wellness or running. (See sidebar, "Four Specialty Fitness Cruises," on page 48.)

*All prices are per person, double occupancy, unless otherwise noted, and include meals, lodging and the use of most ship facilities. Airfare, spa treatments, personal training, fitness testing and land excursions are not included.

Royal Caribbean International

Featuring 16 ships -- with two more debuting this fall and winter -- Royal Caribbean carries 1,600-3,114 passengers aboard each and has ports of call in Alaska, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Hawaii, Mexico, New England and the South Pacific (from $600 for seven nights: 800-327-6700, royalcaribbean.com).

Burn calories at sea. These ships feature enormous -- up to 15,000-square-foot -- health and fitness complexes, complete with rock-climbing wall, basketball and volleyball court, jogging track and nine- or 18-hole minigolf course. The line's Voyager-class ships -- the largest in the world -- have inline- and ice-skating rinks. Many ships feature an additional 10,000-square-foot adults-only solarium with swimming pool. Classes range from the gentle "Sunrise Stretch' to aerobic kickboxing and the ab-focused "Gutbuster." But getting fit isn't your only reward: Workouts earn you "ShipShape Dollars," which can be redeemed for T-shirts, water bottles, even "wet bag" backpacks -- perfect for soggy swimsuits or worko ut wear. Blast fat on land. Try heli-hiking (part helicopter ride, part hike) in Alaska's Tongass National Forest, or rock climb and rappel in the Klondike. Prefer warm-weather adventures? Caribbean cruises take you kayaking and snorkeling in the marine sanctuary of the Virgin Islands, hiking through a tropical rain forest on St. Thomas or mountain biking through the Pinones Reserve in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Feast on lowfat gourmet cuisine. Vegetarian, vegan, and lowfat, low-cholesterol choices are available in cafes and restaurants throughout the ship. Two deliciously light choices: chilled papaya bisque soup sprinkled with cashews and lowfat blueberry-custard pie.

Get totally pampered. The onboard spa has steam, sauna, whirlpools and a quiet indoor pool in the solarium. The most popular treatment is the 90-minute "Absolute Face & Body," which combines Eastern and Western massage techniques, deep-cleansing facial, Japanese scalp massage, and pressure-point facial massage.

Windstar Cruises

Small but mighty, Windstar's three sailing yachts each hold 148-308 passengers (tiny by cruise-ship standards); they cruise to 47 countries throughout the Caribbean, Europe and Tahiti. The largest ship, the Wind Surf, has a full-service spa and fitness center (seven nights, from $1,495; 800-2587245, windstarcruises.com).

Burn calories at sea. Enjoy the view from the Wind Surf's glass-walled fitness center on the top deck. It features topnotch equipment, fitness classes from Tae Bo to Pilates, personal trainers and a water-aerobics pool. Or lounge inside the egg-shaped "chakra-balancing capsule," which soothes with music and aromatherapy while vibrating rollers massage your back. But while at sea, you must get a wet workout. Water-skiing, windsurfing, kayaking, sail boating and snorkeling are complimentary on the entire Windstar line. So are those silly but hilariously fun "banana boat" inflated tubes that fly along the waves, pulled by a speedboat. Scuba classes and gear are offered for a fee.