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On shore and on board: five wellness experiences for every kind of traveller

A P&O Cruises holiday offers the all-important chance to unplug from the daily stresses of life and to take stock and concentrate on ourselves for a little while.

3 min 05 Jul 2021

Editorial Team

Author

When combined with a little TLC, holidays can be restorative, and with Mental Health Awareness week taking place from 9-15 May, there’s never been a better time to book a soothing on-board spa treatment or plan a relaxing adventure in your favourite destination. Yoga in the Andalusian hills, anyone?

Enjoy yoga and a home-grown breakfast in Malaga, Spain

Start your day with a healthy experience for the body and mind on the Eco Breakfast & Yoga shore experience in Malaga, Spain. Visit a traditional Spanish finca tucked away in the stunning Andalusian countryside to gather the ingredients for your fresh breakfast of zesty citrus fruits, tomatoes and rustic bread. Next, you’ll meet on the mat to ease tensions and stresses away with a gentle yoga class – the perfect way to round off this soothing Spanish experience.

View cruises to Malaga here.

Beautiful Andalusian landscape

Escape to St Lucia’s natural sulphur springs

Said to be a salve for all kinds of ailments (from sunburn to eczema, arthritis, sore joints, and more), the sulphur springs of the La Soufrière volcano in St Lucia is a deeply relaxing combination of mud baths and hot springs that leave you feeling rejuvenated and with baby-soft skin. On The Amazing West Side shore experience, you’ll bask in naturally warm waters heated by underground geothermal activity and have fun covering yourself from top to toe in mud. Wash it all off again under the cooling cascades of the 15 metre-tall waterfall, which pours over a cliffside into a pretty pool surrounded by lush greenery and landscaped gardens.

View cruises to St Lucia here.

St Lucia

Indulge your senses in Corsica, France

If you find scents soothing, you’ll love the fragrant island of Corsica on the Essential Oils, Honey Farm & Farmers Market shore experience. Sit back and enjoy a ride through the beautiful Corsican countryside and marvel at the charming terracotta-roofed homes of the hillside commune of Ocana, where at Maison des Senteurs aromatherapy distillery you’ll learn how their 13 organic essential oils are created using plants from the famously fragrant Corsican maquis. After a stroll and a tasting at Le Jardin des Abeilles honey farm, you’ll find yourself back in Ajaccio at the Farmers Market, where you can taste your way around the stalls before returning to the ship feeling calm and energised.

View cruises to Corsica here.

Corsica, France

Try a couple’s spa treatment on Arvia

Arvia’s well-being innovations at Oasis Spa and Health Club include a therapeutic cool room, a restorative salt sauna and an invigorating Kneipp Walk, which combines a pebble foot massage with hot- and cold-water treatments to stimulate circulation and boost vitality. Also new to Arvia are the two private VIP wellness suites, each boasting a hammam and steam room. Perfect for couples or friends looking to enjoy a rejuvenating treatment in tandem.

Spouses Receiving Relaxing Beauty Treatment Enjoying Aromatherapy Or Waiting For Exotic Back Massage Lying With Eyes Closed At Luxury Spa Center. Wellness And Body Relaxation. Selective Focus

Unwind in an alfresco cabana at The Retreat

If you’re looking to unwind while on-board, head to the alfresco spa terrace on Arvia, Azura, Britannia, Iona and Ventura to take advantage of spa treatments with a view, taken in the privacy of your very own shaded cabana. You can also visit in the evening and order a glass of something sparkling while you relax in a setting with twinkling lights and cool ocean breezes. Places at The Retreat are limited, giving it the feel of an exclusive day spa, and with complimentary smoothies and fruit platters plus cold flannels, drinks, and snacks to be enjoyed on the day beds, you’ll soon sink into a deeply relaxed state.