Relaxing Cruises

We love letting our hair down, stocking up the old schedule, and getting into party mode, but now and then, taking it easy is worth taking time out for. And word on the seas is that 2023 is the year for relaxing holidays – something you absolutely deserve after the past few years.

Struggle to de-stress even on your hols? Relaxing on a cruise is easy. It’s hard not to when you’ve got miles and miles of pure blue ocean surrounding you, more spa treatments than you can shake an incense stick at, and all the time you need to do as little as you like.

If you’re thinking of turning that to-do into a do-nothing list, you’re in the right place. Below, we’ll shine a spotlight on the best cruise lines, destinations and – best of all – private islands, so you can put your feet up in style at prices you’ll love.

Relaxing Holiday Destinations

Everyone has their own definition of downtime. On a cruise holiday, that might mean sipping on your favourite tipple, exploring rugged, winding trails amid Norwegian fjords, or a relaxed, care-free meal against a Greek sunset.

Whatever your way of relaxing is, our selection of destinations make the perfect backdrop to do it in. Down in the Caribbean, it’s hard to beat the Bahamas when it comes to just sitting back and forgetting your cares. Soaked in sunshine, expect warm welcomes and a chilled-out vibe that’s impossible to resist.

The same goes for a Hawaii. Quite simply, one of the world’s best places to lei back and relax (pun fully intended, btw), it’s paradise personified, with an easy-going feel and crescents of white-sand beaches for you to hang loose on. Traditional or touristy, Hawaii has something for all budding beach bums looking for pure, uninterrupted relaxation.

Or maybe it’s the Mediterranean you’ve got your eye on. We don’t blame you. For a start, there’s Greece. Competition for the best Greek island for relaxing on might always be a hot debate, but for our money (and yours) Agistri, Schinoussa, and Aegina are closing in on the title.

Who said a cruise had to be sunny? A relaxing Norwegian fjord cruise might be more your thing instead. From the comfort of your cruise ship, sit back and enjoy the sights of plunging cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and landscapes as far as the eye can see. Alaska’s spirit, meanwhile, may be wild but there’s still plenty for the take-it-easy crowd to enjoy too. Observing wildlife from your deck, lazy strolls in its beautiful backcountry, and locals who are more than happy to tell you tales of this incredible part of the world over a beer.

Private Islands for you to relax on_back

Private Islands for you to relax on

There’s another way to take your lounging up a level – by relaxing on a private island! Your own personal hideaway on an exclusive slice of paradise? It’s pretty much the perfect way to give your hol a little extra VIP upgrade.

From Princess Cruises’ Princes Cay to Norwegian Cruise Line’s Great Stirrup Cay, some of the biggest cruise lines going have their own private islands to tempt you away to. Sprawling and sun-kissed, these isolated isles are big enough to find your own little nook on.

So, while everyone else is busy zooming down ziplines, taking the plunge with some snorkelling or parasailing the skies, you can turn up the relaxation levels your own way. Think sun lounger sessions, grabbing a cocktail at a beachside bar, and romantic horseback rides with your other half. You can even retire to a private cabana for some truly exclusive lazing about.

And when you’re done with all of that, be sure to grab a plate of delicious BBQ, expertly prepared by people who know what they’re doing: your destination’s locals.

Cruise Holiday Relaxation Tips

If you ask us, there’s a way to get relaxation right. Knowing how to relax on a cruise is a bit of an artform; once you know what you’re doing, letting all your troubles melt away is a truly special feeling.

Found yourself asking “are cruises relaxing?” With these top tips, they most definitely are…

Relaxing Cruise Lines

Looking for the best of the rest (and relaxation)? These cruise lines know just how to make their guests slow down, sit back and properly put their feet up…

Relaxation on different cruise lines

Cunard Cruises

Relaxation isn’t hard to find onboard a Cunard cruise. In fact, it all starts with their White Star service. Putting you at ease from the first hello, your ship’s staff are a warm and friendly bunch, ready to greet you by name and more than a match for any request you have – they’ll set the tone for everything else that’s to follow.

Whether you’re nestled in a quiet nook, or enjoying the view on its many open spaces, Cunard’s shipbuilders have created a fleet that’s all about warm welcomes and satisfied sighs.

At the centre of it all is the Mareel® Wellness & Beauty Spa. A stress-free sanctuary that puts everything else on the back burner for the time being, this incredible area makes you the main focus. In the Aqua Therapy Centre, you’ll have access to saunas, steam rooms and a range of other healing H2O features designed to revive and revitalise, inside and out.

Need a bit more bliss? Cunard’s team of skilled massage therapists are on hand to soothe any tired muscles and sore spots on a strictly need-to-knead basis. The Spa even has its own salon, barbers and fitness centre too, so looking as good as you feel is easy.

MSC

MSC has plenty to get the pulse racing. But we’ll let you in on a little secret. While everyone else is at the Aquapark, 4D Cinema or the F1 Simulators, you have the perfect opportunity to slip away and enjoy some time to yourself.

Give yourself a total body refresh with a Balinese Massage over at the MSC Aurea Spa. Turn up the temperature in the Thermal Area and unwind sauna-style. Or treat yourself to a range of aesthetic treatments in your ship’s beauty salon for some much-needed pampering. Afterwards, be sure to swing by the Haven Lounge for a chilled (in more ways than one) glass of something special.

Plus, with MSC for Me, your very own hospitality app, you can connect to your cruise like never before, letting you plan everything you need in real time. And through daily notifications, you won’t miss out on promotions, events and offers that can help you de-stress even more.

Celebrity Cruises

From a range of outdoor areas and spa facilities, right down to the food you eat, Celebrity’s range of relaxation options is as A-list as it gets.

Let’s start outdoors. The Resort Deck is home to an outward-facing pool, high-ceilinged cabanas, two-storey hot tubs, and an adults-only Solarium that’s the perfect peace-and-quiet hideaway. The Lawn Club, meanwhile, is a real-grass top deck hideout built for lazy drinks, live music, and games of croquet (competitive side optional).

Well-versed in well-being, Celebrity Cruises’ spa options let the good vibes flow inside the ship. At The Spa, great escapes are easy. Destination-inspired treatments, cutting-edge tech designed for the ultimate detoxes and all manner of massages to have you blissed out from the second they start.

Don’t forget about the Sea Thermal Suite either. With eight spaces to unwind in, including a steam room, a sauna, and heated tile loungers, prepare to clear your schedule – and your mind – by booking in some time in this tranquil retreat.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line believe the only timetable you should be following is your own, and we couldn’t agree more! With so many ways to recharge, making all that me-time matter shouldn’t be a problem.

Over at The Waterfront – exclusive to their Breakaway and Breakaway Plus class ships – you’ll have a quarter-mile oceanfront promenade to sit, sip and eat your way across, all with gorgeous sunset views to gaze out on. Prefer to get your sweat on? The Pulse Fitness Centre can help with that. Weights, cardio, yoga or cycling class, everything you need to look and feel on point is right here.

But it’s the Mandara Spa that’s their main event. With over 50 speciality treatments available, there’s something to suit and soothe you, whether you’re going solo or coupling up. Untie those tough knots with a range of massages from across the globe, cleanse your pores with an anti-aging facial or tame that mane thanks to NCL’s team of hair styling professionals.

And in the Thermal Suite, you’ll have plenty of time to sit back, relax and let the heat do its thing. Just the ticket when you want to do nothing but still make it look like you’ve done something.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival might be where the fun runs riot from top deck to bottom, but for when Mum and Dad need some quiet time, it has a surprising amount of relaxation options to help unwind from all that hubbub.

So while the kids are at play, the pair of you can get away at Serenity. An adults-only retreat, it’s the perfect place to take your time, turn down the volume, watch the world go by or just do nothing. And of course, there’s a bar here too – you don’t need to ask.

For something extra uplifting, float away from it all at the Cloud 9 Spa. Sit back and sink into pure bliss as Carnival master massage therapists work their magic with a range of massages, facials, body wraps and more. At The Thermal Suite meanwhile, don’t touch that dial, because you’ll find everything’s set to soothe just to your liking – the perfect conditions to get your ooh and aah on.

Once you’re well and truly relaxed, why not head to The Library for a serene read from its storied bookshelves? You can even take it outside for a little al fresco page turning, with the sound of lapping waves in the background.

Costa Cruises

Onboard a Costa Cruises ship, you’ll have everything you need to look and feel your best. An at-altitude sunbathe on the top deck? Yep. Setting a personal best on the outdoor running track? You can do that. Letting the world pass you by while you get your spa on? Absolutely.

Stocked with the latest fitness equipment, lift, stretch and run your way to greatness in the indoor gym. There’s even a yoga area so you can nama-stay at peak condition while you’re here.

At Costa’s Beauty Spa Solemio, all manner of massages, facial masks, and opportunities to get pampered await – the perfect place to revitalise mind and body. Afterwards, make your way to Solarium Giardino Del Fiore, a top deck retreat that’s flush with cushioned cabanas and areas to sunbathe in. Grab yourself an aperitif and raise a glass to the fact you’ve just mastered relaxation.