Ocean rhythms restore mind, body, and spirit on a transformative wellness voyage.
The ocean was in a good mood on our transatlantic journey. During nine days at sea, I observed its shifting personality: long swells gently rocking our ship like a cradle; glassy ripples shimmering under the sun; vanishing white crests; slate-gray waves turning to mercury under a moonlit sky. Our ever-shifting views were a painter’s palette of blues; the cerulean sky dotted with cotton-puff cumulus clouds, the cobalt ocean kissing the horizon.
In late April, I joined the inaugural Scenic Wellness Retreat Cruise hosted by Marcos Jassan aboard the Scenic Eclipse II, a luxury vessel born in Rijeka, Croatia. Helmed by Senior Captain Erwan Le Rouzic, we departed from Bridgetown, Barbados and sailed to Spain’s Canary Islands with 175 crew and 65 passengers. It was an epic journey.
I have a confession: This was my first cruise ever. I didn’t know what to expect, and I didn’t have a set itinerary. Every day was a surprise: When I turned on the television in my suite at night, the “Daily Wonder” displayed on the screen enumerated the following day’s events. The robust wellness programming featured yoga and wellness seminars with Guest Yoga Instructor Marcos Jassan; restorative sound healing experiences and Qigong-inspired SLO | YIN Flow with Jessica Sloyan, a Senior International Spa Associate at ESPA; and “Foot Health for Pain-free Lifestyle” and “Back Pain Free” seminars with Wellness Coach Tyron Joseph, in addition to a variety of fitness classes (Pilates, HIIT and circuit training, calisthenics and stretching).
Marcos Jassan’s seminars included “Standing Tall in-depth,” “Breath in-depth,” “Ayurveda in-depth,” and “Meditation,” in addition to interactive demonstrations like making “White Fire” ginger shots and “The Art of Body Brushing,” a tutorial on dry-brushing followed by ESPA body oils. Jassan also led a refined HIT “Momentum Practice” class focused on sculpting, detoxification, and spiral-based movements, designed to support muscle mass gain expansion, mental clarity, and energetic alignment (full disclosure: I skipped that one).
As a dedicated yogi for the past quarter century, I was especially interested in the Intermediate yoga classes offered onboard. Jassan has been practicing yoga for 30 years: Based in Mexico City, he is the creator of a yoga method and teacher training program that combines asanas, pranayama and the psychology of yoga philosophy, and his teaching is informed by his studies in architecture, history and philosophy. “My longest relationship has been with yoga,” he joked. “I was very lucky to let myself be abducted by yoga.” It was Jassan’s first cruise as well, and as we practiced yoga together in a light-filled studio with ocean views, we struggled to find our balance. I experienced a heightened awareness of gravity and how we administrate our bodies in space, gradually learning to navigate my proprioception on unpredictable aquatic terrain.
We were fortunate to cross the Atlantic during a Full Flower Moon in Scorpio, which lit up the sky like a spotlight. At an alfresco “Moonlight Breath Work Meditation and Sound Bath” on the bow, Guest Practitioner Jessica Sloyan sat surrounded by candles and luminous sound bowls. We laid on the deck on yoga mats and snuggled into blankets like burritos, lulled by the gentle sway of the ship, which Captain Le Rouzic had slowed down for this special event. In addition to the ethereal sound bowls, chimes, and therapeutic instruments, the waves acted as a natural sound machine, promoting a deep state of relaxation. Jassen walked around us, amplifying the auditory experience with a harmonizing singing bowl. I felt the vibrations deeply. The restorative experience was pure magic; we joked we’d departed with “moon tans.”
In addition to partaking in the wellness programming, I spent a lot of time in Scenic’s Senses Spa—particularly in the salt room and sauna. At a signature Sauna Honey Ritual led by Corporate Spa Manager Gabor Hermann, we donned our bathing suits and exfoliated with a sea salt scrub, then slathered our bodies with honey to nourish and rejuvenate the skin. I also indulged in a couple standout treatments including ESPA Bamboo Joint Release—a massage with heated bamboo—and an ESPA Natural Face Lift that left my visage glowing.
“Some journeys don’t take place over distance; they take place with your eyes closed,” said Jessica Sloyan during a sound bath meditation session. On this incredible wellness voyage, we journeyed into our inner selves as we traversed the ocean, navigating five time zones and continuous motion. “It was almost as calm outside as it was in our souls,” Le Rouzic commented at the Captain’s Farewell. This transformative voyage imparted in me a renewed inner calm, which I will strive to maintain as I reenter reality on terra firma.