SPIRITED AWAY
On long sea days, when there’s
not that much to do but gaze at
thehorizon,the ship’s bar is a place to
gravitate.Given recent overhauls, most are
nowplacesyou won’t want to leave when
lastdrinksare called. Dimly lit and super
stylish,TheBonded Store (below) was
bornthrough a recent partnership
betweenP&O’s Australian-homed shipPacific Explorer andSydney-based
distillers, Archie Rose(inset).Ordera
gin-based cocktailandpondertheroster
of events, which includeginandwhisky
masterclasses amongothers.
Prepare for yourportat Norwegian
Cruise Line’s Svedka& InniskillinIceBar,
cooled to 17 degreestopreservethe
sculptures, chairsandglasses,allchiselled
from ice. There’s a45-minuteand
two-drink limit here– morethanenough
time for a coupleofSvedkavodkaor
Inniskillin ice winecocktails.
Royal Caribbean’sBionicBarconcept
sees your beverageshakenandservedby
a robot, while thesamebrand’sRisingTide
will have you levitating– literally.This
Oasis-class bar ‘floats’overthreefloors,
offering a movingperspectiveoftheship’s
interior while yousipyourdrinkofchoice.12
WELL AND GOOD
Wellness tourism is now so mainstream
that if your ship doesn’t offer on-board
yoga, meditation and crystal healing,
you’re probably in the Zodiac. Most liners
come equipped with state-of-the-art
fitness centres, day spas and medical spas,
and restaurants dishing up healthful
cuisine that is low in calories and high in
antioxidants. Many more are inking
partnerships with celebrity health and
fitness experts (think trainers, nutritionists,
dieticians), and some are introducing
buzz-worthy spaces including oxygen bars
and cryotherapy chambers.
Blue World Voyages will debut in 2021,
the line featuring wellness cruises – and
nothing else. Some of the things you can
look forward to include active shore
excursions, TRX studios and a seawater
lap pool. And when it comes to food,
executive chef Tim Andriola will sling out
wholefoods, such as the healthy crab soup
(above, left) and creative desserts using
cacao and avocado to avoid sugar. He will
also source ingredients in each destination
port, bringing a unique local influence to
onboard menus.
delicious.com.au 19
CRUISING TRENDS.