From Buenos Aires To Lisbon – Holistic Wellness Retreat At Sea

Your adventure starts in Buenos Aires, the lively capital of Argentina. Stroll through the city’s beautiful parks and admire the well-preserved Italian and French Belle Epoque architecture before maybe taking tea at one of the city’s old cafés.

In the evening, dine out at one of Buenos Aires’ many first-class restaurants, or treat yourself to a cut of high-quality protein, the famous Argentinian steak. The city is also home to the tango, and you can watch this sensuous and expressive dance at a show or visit a local milonga for a more authentic dancehall experience.

Buenos Aires is an exciting and vibrant city with much to offer. If you have time to spare, it’s definitely worth spending a few days exploring the city and sights before your wellness cruise. Join our Pre-Programme, with two nights in Buenos Aires and two nights in Iguazu, to visit the largest and most impressive waterfalls in the world!

Once you’ve soaked up the sights, sounds and delights of Buenos Aires, it’s time to board MS Fridtjof Nansen. For the next 19 days, you’ll experience an entirely different sensory journey, centred on your personal self-care.

Your first day at sea is one of transition. It’s time to relax and unwind as you begin the process of letting go of life on land and settling into the ocean’s rhythms and life aboard the ship. As you embark on a few exciting weeks focused on your personal growth, you can use this time to register your emotions and open your mind to the possibilities.

Take some time to orientate yourself with the onboard facilities… the gym, pool, spa, decks and lounges. You will meet your Wellness Team, experienced health and fitness professionals, handpicked for your retreat. They will introduce you to the programme, and to the range of nutrition and lifestyle activities that you can take part in.

It’s also a chance to get to know your fellow guests. Each of you will have your own motivations for joining this retreat. It could be to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle; you may be looking to disconnect, destress and detox; for some this may be an introspective journey to find a better life balance.

Simply spending time out on deck has immense benefits as the sea air is full of negative ions, which are good for your wellbeing. While not a miracle cure, studies have shown that negative ions have a positive effect on reducing stress, boosting mood and immune system function, as well as regulating circadian rhythms, helping you sleep better.

Your time at sea will also be an opportunity to connect with nature. Increasing our awareness and appreciation of the natural environment around us is an important key to mental and physical wellbeing. Our naturalists, experts in ornithology and marine biology, will also be available to guide your discovery of nature on your ocean voyage.

The structure of your holistic vitality programme is based around the concept of cycles, a central tenet in the philosophy of yoga. Cycles are a fundamental part of life and each cycle has a beginning, middle and end. When we are able to connect with the cycles of our life, we can achieve balance.

The programme spans the core nine days of your wellness journey and is divided into three parts. Today, you’ll begin the first phase… Cleanse.

Over three days, you’ll focus on cleansing your mind, body and spirit - letting go of stress, cleansing toxins from your body and releasing negative thoughts and emotions. You’ll be invited to take part in lectures and activities designed to release negative energy and clear physical and mental blockages.

Start your days early with one-mile walks to clear your mind or join special yoga and stretching sessions to loosen joints and muscles. You can also visit our massage therapists to help you release tensions and relax. Our nutritional experts will show you how to use food to clear your body of toxins, and can also advise you on the best nutritional options to support your goals.

As part of the programme, we’ll serve a range of healthy and delicious menus in our onboard restaurants. You’ll have a wide choice of tasty vegetarian dishes and plant-based options. Nutritious fish and meat options will also be offered. You’ll also be able to choose from a range of vegetable juices, smoothies and herbal teas, each containing healing properties that best serve your cleanse goals.

Digital dependency is a vice of the modern age. Decluttering our minds helps us to create space to reflect and find clarity. You’ll be encouraged to disconnect from the internet and undertake a digital detox during the voyage, to support your holistic cleanse and allow you to connect more fully with nature.

Now that you’ve cleansed your body of toxins, let go of your stress and released negative emotions, you are ready for the second phase of your vitality programme… Renewal.

The focus will be on changing negative habits and creating positive ones that promote self-care and more mindful behaviours. Over these three days, all activities and lectures will be centred on the renewal of mind, body and soul, to re-energise your life.

Our wellness professionals will give lectures and workshops on how to change habits that are not working for you and create new thought patterns and routines that support your mental and physical wellbeing.

You’ll learn about the principles of yoga and how they can help you to achieve a healthier state. You can then put these into practice in your daily yoga classes. These are open to all levels and your instructors will guide you through sessions centred on opening up and strengthening your body.

Our experts will introduce you to the guiding principles of nutrition and how to nourish your body. You’ll learn the fundamentals of a healthy, plant-based diet and how to use food as medicine at workshops and science of food sessions. Discover the benefits of natural ingredients and raw food in workshops with our chef and nutritional experts.

Connecting with nature is a powerful way to reconnect with yourself. Invigorate your mind and body by joining outdoor activities or enjoy the solitude out on deck, focused solely on the sound of the wind and the waves. Weather permitting, there will be daily walks out on deck, meditation and yoga sessions, bird and sea observations with our naturalists, as well as stargazing into the night skies.

Equilibrium is the cornerstone to health and happiness. Having identified the positive behaviours that will support you best, during this phase, you’ll learn the tools and techniques that can help you sustain a healthier lifestyle. The lectures, activities and talks in this phase focus on helping you to achieve greater balance in your life through better management of your time and energy.

Our yoga workshops will be geared towards teaching breathing and energy exercises to cope with stress and negative emotions. Learn to centre yourself with tai chi practices that improve your stability, flexibility and concentration. In your meditation classes, you’ll use mindfulness and breathing techniques to help you be more present.

Learn mantras to clear your mind and elevate your spirit or join special relaxation sessions. You can experience special music, sound healing and storytelling sessions or simply relish the sounds and views of the Atlantic’s sapphire waters.

Sustainability is central to healthy living and it is also a core belief in Hurtigruten’s travel philosophy. Our Expedition Team will explain Hurtigruten’s commitment to the environment and our steps towards becoming a leader in sustainable travel. We all have a role in protecting our planet, and our hope is that this retreat will inspire you to become an ambassador for sustainable travel.

Congratulations on completing the core vitality programme of this holistic retreat. Today, we bring some of our practices and sessions to a close. As we sail towards the Cape Verde islands, off the coast of Africa, we hope you’re feeling calm, restored and energised.

You can spend some time reflecting on your experiences or discussing what you’ve learned so far with your fellow guests, as you look ahead to the next stage of your journey.

Located off the west coast of Africa, Cape Verde is an archipelago of 12 subtropical and volcanic islands. A few guests will be leaving the cruise here. Cap Verde´s national motto is ‘No stress’, making it the perfect place to end your wellness retreat and transition back to life on land. 

We sail in to Praia, on the island of Santiago, in the late afternoon. As you enter Praia Harbour, you’ll see Farol de Dona Maria Pia, a lighthouse on the headland of Ponta Temerosa at the southernmost point of the island. Built in 1881, this white, octagonal tower is named after Maria Pia of Savoy, the queen of Portugal at the time.

Praia is the largest city and capital of the Cape Verde archipelago, and offers a beautiful view over the bay. Platô, the plateau on which Praia’s UNESCO-listed historic capital Cidade Velha sits, can be seen from the ship on a clear day.

Catch the sunset over the island from the ship and say goodbye to our departing guests. There won’t be much time to explore as we arrive late in Praia, andit’s generally not advised to wander around independently after dark. If you’re continuing your journey with us, notice the effect that our brief interlude in Praia has on your senses before we return to the tranquillity of the seas.

It takes time to form new habits; these next few days at sea will give you the focused time and space to practice your new skills and make them a part of your daily routine. Progress with yoga and meditation classes out on deck and enjoy mindful eating in our restaurants.

This next phase is about Reconnection. Reconnecting with yourself and with nature. Consider what has changed for you in the past two weeks as you embrace your newfound learnings and self-discoveries. And explore further how you intend to continue your wellness journey after you have returned home.

Nature has a curative effect. A growing number of studies show that regularly interacting with and spending time in nature makes us healthier and happier. The more time we spend in nature, the more we are in awe of it, and so we begin to reconnect with nature in a deeper and more meaningful way.

Where better than deep out at sea, away from all the distractions of everyday life, to experience the solitude of nature, uninterrupted. Where you'll find awe in the movement of a wave, the subtle whistling of the wind, or the shapes of clouds above you. Scan for wildlife out on deck. You might catch sight of dolphins, flying fish and rare seabirds. Observe the harmony of their rhythms and motions.

You’ll learn about our symbiotic relationship with nature. Research has found that connecting with nature encourages us to behave in ways that protect the health of our planet, for instance through recycling or conservation. Explore what actions you can take in your own life to maintain this virtuous circle.

As we sail towards Lisbon, feeling nourished in mind and body, relax and enjoy the moment.

Early risers will be rewarded with beautiful views of Lisbon as we cruise up the Tejo river, ending our wellness journey in Portugal’s laidback capital.

Emerging revitalised and enriched from your transformative experience, you’ll take home a deeper understanding of your wellness needs, the self-care tools and practices to support a healthy lifestyle, and a greater connection to nature.

If you would like to explore Lisbon and its surroundings before you return home, we recommend joining our two-day Post-Programme. Not only will you see Lisbon’s fascinating historic districts, you’ll also explore the royal resorts outside the city, including the UNESCO town of Sintra, Monserrate Palace and the beaches of Cascais city during a guided excursion. Afterwards, you’ll return to Lisbon where you’ll spend the night.