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There is an on-board fitness center on the Mariner on deck 7, right under our room which is on the 9th deck. The center has a nice range of workout equipment, including weight training machines, treadmills, elliptical machines and six brand new spinning bikes (stationary bikes that are used for, of course, Spinning classes). There is also a nice sized workout room that is equipped with fitness balls, hand weights, mats and enough room to hold aerobics and yoga classes. The fitness instructor is Emmanuelle and she teaches regularly scheduled group classes as well as private training classes on a per hour basis. My goals on this trip is to gain flexibility, upper body strength and not gain any weight. Margaret’s goals are to gain flexibility, strengthen her lower back and lose a few pounds.
There are at least two classes a day and up to four classes on sea days. Throughout the cruise I’ve been going to at least one class every day plus, when I can, one other class. Upper body, lower body, Yoga, Pilates, YogaLates, arms, spinning and body conditioning. Emmanuelle is pretty tough, keeps you from “cheating” and does more sets that I would certainly do on my own. Yesterday she somehow got me to do a total of 100 pushups between the two classes. Classes are either 30 or 45 minutes and most have been very well attended.
When possible classes are held on Deck 12, the top deck of the ship so, for instance, we could watch the ship’s departure from Puerto Limon, Costa Rica. It was pretty hot but it was a beautiful way to experience the sunset and watch us pull away from the coast. The yoga is getting more and more challenging but I am feeling great and we are all getting much more flexible and developing a stronger core.
Margaret and I have also started using a foot exercise technique called Yamana which uses a plastic device that looks like a 6” half ball with little knobs on it. You stand on it with different parts of your foot for a few minutes each day to stimulate your feet. Hurts at first but gets easier every day. More on that later.
Definitely an added bonus of a cruise is that you get a fitness instructor who comes along for the ride and takes a personal interest in your fitness! It is also a nice way to meet people and have a good time while you sweat.