Can a luxury wellness cruise truly help you switch off?

The sunrise yoga session on Explora I offered a profound sense of calm, where the rhythm of breath and the surrounding nature, butterflies and a rainbow, overshadowed the presence of nearly 800 other passengers. This moment of deep relaxation occurred on the second day of a four-day Ocean Wellness Retreat aboard Explora I, part of the Explora Journeys luxury fleet, designed to emulate a yacht.

Explora Journeys promotes its sailings as "ocean travel," described as a "floating hotel whose address is the ocean." The ship's design, featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, infinity pools, and outward-facing decks, aims to create a seamless connection with the water. Unlike traditional cruise ships, Explora I offers no interior cabins without windows; all accommodations are suites with private balconies. The dining experience also deviates from the norm, eschewing crowded buffets for a more refined approach.

While the ship boasts extensive wellness facilities, including gyms, a 7,500-square-foot spa, sports courts, and a running track, the author, a travel reporter covering the cruise industry, approached the wellness offerings with skepticism. Typically, cruises leave the author feeling overstimulated and craving healthier food, and there was a concern that the ship's amenities and destinations might detract from the retreat's goals of disconnection and restoration. Nevertheless, the journey began with an open mind, starting with a questionnaire led by British wellness practitioner Carlie Barlow to identify areas for improvement.

The retreat, titled "Step into Serenity," commenced after boarding in Spain's historic port city of Cadiz. The initial questionnaire, which included a question about how one spends the first and last 90 minutes of their day, elicited an amused reaction from the author, a full-time worker.

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is a floating hotel whose address is the ocean