It seems no five-star holiday these days is complete without a spa element, and yacht charter agencies have been quick to follow the trend. Following a recent study, the International Spa Association (ISPA) reported that there are two types of spa customer: the “spa-goer” who sees their visit as part of a long-term health and fitness regime, and the “spa-traveller” who seeks to indulge in new and different experiences while travelling.



At the forefront of charter innovation, CNI has developed the ultimate solution for both these types of spa customer. Now, you can enjoy every level of spa experience or health retreat while on board your yacht anywhere in the world. From occasional pampering treatments with local beauty experts, to full-time, on-board fitness and nutrition teams, you can travel in style and luxury, and return home in optimum shape.

Your Own Floating Spa
If you think about it, a yacht is the perfect place to optimize your health. The ocean can be one of nature’s most beautiful and peaceful environments, easily inspiring relaxation and reflection, yet it also has an inherent energy that can be harnessed by those inclined to activity. It’s an endless arena for water sports; its motion alone can help to tone muscles and improve core balance; and all that fresh ocean air and vitamin D–enriching sunshine is a tonic for mind and body.
   
There are two ways you can approach an on-board well-being experience. You can either opt to have a semi-spa experience, where CNI will arrange for local beauticians, hairdressers, massage therapists, and fitness trainers to come on board as and when you choose, or you can go for the full mind and body experience. The latter can also be tailored to whatever level you choose, and can work in one of two ways. Either you can bring on board your own personal dieticians, fitness trainers, and therapists for all or part of your charter, or you can leave it to your charter broker to commission a full team of experts to join you on your cruise and create a full mind and body program – just like any world-class spa. As an added benefit, if half your charter party want to take advantage of this option but the other half simply want to relax and indulge in a regular charter, your charter broker and captain can make arrangements to accommodate both extremes on the same yacht – ensuring both groups get exactly what they want from their holiday.

The Semi-Spa Charter
If you want an element of health and beauty on a charter, you can select a few treatments and perhaps choose to have some gentle exercise incorporated into your holiday. In addition, your chef can also tailor your diet to complement a healthy lifestyle. This is the best of both worlds, in that you can still enjoy plenty of gourmet treats and relaxation at the same time as being aware of your health. It’s really up to you to decide what you want, and how much of it; but as a guideline you may want to incorporate daily massages – either in your stateroom, on deck, or perhaps on the beach – or opt for the odd yoga or Pilates sessions on board under the guidance of a trained professional, or even have a specially tailored fitness program that will enhance your daily life on board. Alternatively, your broker can book treatments at destination spas and rounds of golf on the best courses in your charter area. Depending on the location, yoga lessons on the beach and a range of outdoor activities can also be arranged if you make your wishes known far enough in advance.

The Whole Deal
If you want to go for the complete well-being charter, you can again specify the extent of it, and bear in mind that anything can be arranged. For example, you could focus on fitness alone, under the guidance of experts travelling on board with you, or opt for a detox program that incorporates treatments and dietary measures, or you could decide to combine together fitness, detox, relaxation, and diet for maximum effect. In such a case, your charter broker would recommend a specialized team of experts joining you on board for some, or all, of your charter. For example, health experts in:spa has now launched in:spa bespoke and has teamed up with CNI to create an in:spa yacht charter experience that is totally unique. The full team consists of massage therapists, a nutritionist (who would liaise with your on-board chef), yoga or Pilates teachers, and personal trainers. Each is an expert in their own field, and prior to the charter, and during the charter itself, they will discuss with you your lifestyle, health concerns, expectations, and goals so they can tailor a program that will tackle the areas you want to focus on and achieve the results you desire – whether weight loss, improved fitness, greater flexibility, stress relief, detoxing, or simply a heightened sense of well-being.
   
Bear in mind, however, that this option is only realistic on board one of the larger superyachts, such as the 69m Sherakhan, where the accommodations allow for the team to accompany you as you travel.
   
If you opt for the in:spa charter, it will be quite far removed from the experience you may be used to. From the moment you arrive there is no alcohol, no caffeine, no salt, no dairy or wheat, no snacking, and no sugar, and the usual alcoholic or hot-chocolate nightcap will be replaced with herbal tea. What’s more, you won’t find your mini bar stocked with the usual spirits or sodas; instead water and juices will be provided, and your pillow will sadly not proffer a chocolate treat each night. However, despite this element of discipline and control with regard to your diet and daily routine, rest assured that the accommodation, levels of service, and facilities all honor the luxury standards you’d expect.
   
If you choose, you can still incorporate days where you visit exciting places or relax, after all it is your holiday, but a typical in:spa charter day will be something like the following.
   
A sunrise start may see you take part in a toning yoga session with a backdrop of the coastline on the horizon. After a fulfilling and well-deserved breakfast of fresh juices, herbal teas, fruit, porridge, rye-bread, and poached or scrambled eggs, it’s time for a more vigorous type of exercise. Daily activities depend on your location and preference, but may include a mix of running on the beach, swimming in the sea, hiking, cycling, and circuit training, interspersed with more yoga or Pilates sessions, and one-on-one time with each member of the team to focus on your own personal goals.
   
After the morning session you will be ready for the main meal of the day – all manner of soups, grilled vegetables, and organic salads, all fresh from the local markets. Homemade burgers, kebabs, couscous, rice and pasta dishes will be provided; for charter members who choose not to join the program, these can be served with the usual flourish and abundance. Your nutritionist will be on hand to help you identify your weaknesses, advise you on healthy alternatives, and keep your will iron-strong. This is a great opportunity to review your whole lifestyle, and your nutritionist will chat with each of you during one-to-one sessions to enlighten you about nutrition, blood-sugar levels, and digestion, and to offer you practical tips to make your diet work for you. If you want to take it to another level, the nutrition sessions can be backed up with demonstrations from the chef on how to prepare the appetizing meals you have been eating, as well as alternative suggestions for breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks – minus salt, flour or wheat – once you return home. Afternoons are spent having one-on-one sessions with your personal trainer to help you plan how to keep up the good work once you return home.
   
As well as all the hard work, you’ll be pleased to hear that massages, wraps, and facials can be included in the timetable to enhance the body/mind experience.
   
By the end of one week, after a combination of exercise, early nights, massages, and an amazing detox diet (which, despite eliminating cream, sugar, butter, and salt, tastes delicious) you will be feeling thoroughly re-energized, relaxed, and detoxified.