Take A Mental Health Vacation With A Wellness Yacht Charter

Luxury charter yachts have everything you could possibly wish for – and that includes state-of-the-art gym equipment, yoga and pilates instructors, and resort-quality spas.

Fitness and opulence pair perfectly on a yacht charter vacation. Get in shape, eat healthily and relax completely, all while staying at the most exclusive and chic wellness retreat you’ll ever find – your own private yacht. Champagne-soaked parties, decadent meals and white glove service – yachting’s well-earned reputation for sinful bliss is getting a makeover thanks to the rising trend in wellness holidays. Charters are getting in on the action as a yacht is a ready-made luxe wellness retreat – many yachts have fabulous spas, high-end gyms and watersports centers, and their expertly trained chef and crew can cater to all your dietary and wellbeing needs. Or perhaps you’d prefer spa-hopping around the Med, playing football on deck or flying in an elite fitness instructor for a week? It’s all possible. Here are a few ways to make your yacht charter into the wellness vacation of your dreams…

Make the yacht into your own private retreat

You could travel all over the world to find the perfect retreat center, but most would pale in comparison to the privacy and luxury afforded by a superyacht – many of which have top gym and spa facilities. Charter companies know this well and have begun offering bespoke wellness services, bringing the retreat experience directly to your yacht.

Bring the gurus to you

Just because you’re leaving the real world behind for the week doesn’t mean your fitness routine has to go by the wayside. Why not take your favorite personal trainer or pilates instructor from home along so you don’t have to miss a beat? Or you can use the time away from home to sample a new expert, perhaps flying in a meditation guru who can curate a relaxation escape and help you unwind and enjoy the time away all the more. 

Find a yacht with a skilled crew

The latest must-have in crew credentials? Yoga, pilates, fitness and massage certifications. Owing to the demand for onboard wellness, charter crew who have any of these on their resume are abundantly hireable. Seek out a yacht that has these professionals on board, ready and waiting to give you an intense workout or a much needed Zen session.

Choose a wellness-bred yacht

Of course, one of the easiest ways to have the ultimate wellness holiday is to seek out a yacht that is already purpose-built for such an experience. Many brokers will help you to plan a wellness escape – they will recommend the yachts with the best gym equipment, spas or deck spaces that can double as a yoga shala. And the ever-changing views as you cruise from one beautiful place to another are hard to beat.

Detox on board

One of the joys of chartering is having a highly skilled personal chef to cater to your exacting requests. Yacht chefs are nothing if not flexible and will create a healthy and nourishing menu around any detox or diet fad you desire – from Whole30 to Paleo and more.

Revitalize

The downsides of traveling halfway around the world to visit an epic charter destination is the jet lag that goes along with it. But what if the moment you step on board the yacht you could start to be revived? Many yachts today are equipped with the latest wellness tech and chronotherapy experiences designed for revitalization. Enjoy an experiential shower with targeted light therapy and scents to bring you back to life, and have an aromatherapy anti-jet-lag massage, which will stimulate circulation and revive the senses.

Go spa hopping

A charter holiday is all about discovering new places and revisiting old favorites. Use the yacht as a conveyance to potter along the coastline of the Med, stopping off at the Metropole in Monaco then sailing on to the new Guerlain Spa at La Résidence de la Pinède in Saint-Tropez. Or enjoy a spa city break, relaxing in the spas at the Mandarin Oriental hotels in Miami or Barcelona.

Get active

Wellness isn’t all about Zen and detoxing – whatever your preferred active pursuit, a yacht can take you there. Set course for the best golf courses in the Caribbean, go heli-skiing in Patagonia or kite surfing off the Dominican Republic. After a day out enjoying active pursuits, return to the yacht for a much needed massage, time in the sauna and a wholesome meal.

Pick a yacht primed for sport

There’s no reason why being on a charter means you can’t shoot a few hoops or play golf. You can get as sporty as you want without even disembarking. Find a yacht that has a basketball and badminton court, or one with a golf set-up, which makes the entire sea your driving range as eco-friendly golf balls double as fish food.

Un-plug

There is something about being at sea that allows you to connect with nature and unplug from everything else. Take this seclusion a step further with a digital detox. While today’s charter yachts are equipped with the latest technology to keep you connected, there is something truly satisfying about turning off the phone and being unreachable – even if just for a few days. Perhaps go somewhere far-flung where you will be forced to lose signal and commune with nature, such as the further reaches of the Galápagos. Even better, charter a classic yacht and pretend you’re in a bygone era, before such nuisances as mobile phones were even imagined. Put on your away message – and mean it. Your brain will thank you.