April 1, 2023
Estimated time of departure is 4:00 PM

Your adventure begins in Buenos Aires, Argentina’s lovely capital. Stroll through its beautiful parks and admire the well-preserved Italian and French Belle Époque architecture before stopping in at one of the city’s old cafés.

In the evening, dine out at one of Buenos Aires’ many first-class restaurants, perhaps even treating yourself to a cut of high-quality, famous Argentinian steak. The city is the home of the tango. Watch this sensuous and expressive dance at a show or visit a local milonga for a more authentic dance hall experience.

Buenos Aires is an exciting, vibrant city with a lot to offer. If you have time to spare, spend a few days exploring the city and sights before your Wellness Cruise. Consider joining one of our Pre-Programs, either a short one with an overnight stay in Buenos Aires or a more extensive one that includes two nights in Buenos Aires and two more nights in Iguazú to visit the largest and most impressive waterfalls in the world!

After soaking up the sights, sounds, and delights of Buenos Aires, it’s time to board MS Fridtjof Nansen. For the next 19 days, experience an entirely different journey, centered around self-care.

April 2, 2023

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. Take stock of your emotions and open your mind during these few exciting weeks focused on your personal growth.

Take some time to familiarize yourself with the onboard facilities, such as the gym, pool, spa, decks, and lounges. Meet your Wellness Team, who are experienced health and fitness professionals handpicked for your wellness retreat. They will introduce you to the program and the range of nutrition and lifestyle activities you can take part in.

Take this opportunity to also meet your fellow guests. Each of you has your own reasons for joining the wellness retreat. Maybe it’s to jumpstart a healthier lifestyle, or to disconnect, de-stress, and detox. For some, it may be an introspective journey to find a better life balance.

Simply spending time out on deck has immense benefits—the sea air is full of negative ions, which are good for your well-being. We’re not saying it’s a miracle cure, but 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 get a better night’s sleep.

Your time at sea is also an opportunity to connect with nature. Expanding our awareness and appreciation of the natural environment around us is key to our mental and physical well-being. Our naturalists, who are experts in ornithology and marine biology, will be on hand to guide your discovery of nature on your ocean cruise.

April 3, 2023 - April 5, 2023

Your holistic vitality program is structured 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.

This program 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. Let go of stress, cleanse toxins from your body, and release negative thoughts and emotions. 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. Another nice option is to book our massage therapists to help you release tension and relax. You can also visit our massage therapists to help you release tension and relax. Our nutritional experts will show you how to use food to clear your body of toxins and can advise you on the best nutritional options for your goals.

This program includes a range of healthy and delicious meals in our onboard restaurants. You’ll have a wide choice of tasty vegetarian dishes and plant-based options to chose from. 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 with healing properties that will help serve your cleansing goals.

‘Digital dependency’ is a vice of the modern age. By decluttering our minds, we create space to reflect and find clarity. You will be encouraged to disconnect from the internet and undertake a ‘digital detox’ during the cruise. This will support your holistic cleanse and will allow you to fully connect with nature.

April 6, 2023 - April 8, 2023

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

The focus is to change negative habits and create positive ones that promote self-care and more mindful behaviors. Over three days, the activities and lectures will be centered on re-energizing your life by renewing the mind, body, and soul.

Our wellness professionals give lectures and workshops on how to change habits that aren’t working for you and to create new thought patterns and routines that support your mental and physical well-being.

You’ll also 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. Yoga classes are open to all levels. Your instructors will guide you through sessions centered on opening up and strengthening your body.

Our experts will also 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, as well as the 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. Join outdoor activities to invigorate your mind and body or enjoy solitude out on deck, focused on the sound of the wind and the waves. Weather permitting, there will be daily walks out on deck, meditation and yoga sessions, observations of the sea and birdlife with our naturalists, and stargazing sessions into the night skies.

April 9, 2023 - April 11, 2023

Balance is the cornerstone to health and happiness. After identifying the positive behaviors that best support you, during this phase, you’ll learn the tools and techniques to help you sustain a healthier lifestyle. This phase’s lectures, activities, and talks focus on helping you achieve a greater balance in your life by better managing your time and energy.

Our yoga workshops feature breathing and energy exercises to cope with stress and negative emotions. Learn to center yourself with tai chi practices that improve your stability, flexibility, and concentration. In 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. Enjoy the 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 is also a core facet of Hurtigruten’s travel philosophy. Our Expedition Team will explain Hurtigruten’s commitment to the environment and our steps to become a leader in sustainable travel. We all have a role in protecting our planet., and our hope is for this retreat to inspire you to become an ambassador for sustainable travel, and for personally living in a more sustainable way.

April 12, 2023

Congratulations on completing the core vitality program on this holistic wellness retreat. Today, we bring some of our practices and sessions to a close.We hope you feel calm, restored, and energized as we sail to the Cape Verde islands, just off the coast of Africa.

Spend some time reflecting on your experiences or discussing what you’ve learned with your fellow guests as you look forward to the next stage of your journey.

April 13, 2023

Cape Verde is an archipelago of 12 subtropical and volcanic islands off the west coast of Africa. A few guests will leave 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. You’ll see Farol de Dona Maria Pia as you enter Praia Harbor. This lighthouse sits on the headland of Ponta Temerosa at the southernmost point of the island. Built in 1881, its 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. From the ship on a clear day, you can see Platô, the plateau hosting Cidade Velha, Praia’s UNESCO-listed historic capital.

Catch the sunset over the island from the ship and say goodbye to your new friends. We pull into Praia late, so there won’t be much time to explore. Please note that it is generally advised that you do not wander around independently after dark. If you’re continuing your journey with us, you’ll appreciate how our brief interlude in Praia refreshes your senses before returning to the tranquility of the seas.

April 14, 2023 - April 18, 2023

Forming new habits takes time. These next few days at sea will give you focused time and the space to practice your new skills and incorporate them into 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 how you’ve changed in the past two weeks as you embrace your newfound knowledge and self-discovery. 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 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 it in a deeper and more meaningful way.

Where better to do that than deep out at sea? Get away from all the distractions of everyday life and experience the solitude of nature, uninterrupted. The awesome power of nature can take the form of a wave’s movement, the subtle whistling of the wind, or the shapes of clouds above you. Scan for wildlife out on deck. You might even 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 our planet’s health—through recycling or conservation, for example. Learn about what actions you can take in your own life to keep this virtuous circle going.

Relax and enjoy the moment with a nourished mind and body as we sail toward Lisbon.

April 19, 2023
Estimated time of arrival is 11:00 AM

Early risers can take in gorgeous views of Lisbon as we cruise up the Tejo River, ending our wellness journey in Portugal’s laid-back capital.

We hope that this transformative experience will leave you revitalized and enriched, and that your deeper understanding of your wellness needs and the self-care tools and practices you’ve learned will inspire and support you in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and enjoying a greater connection to nature moving forward.

Want to explore Lisbon and its surroundings before returning home? We recommend joining our two-day Post-Program. On this Post-Program, you’ll explore Lisbon’s fascinating historic districts and then resorts outside the city, including the UNESCO World Heritage town of Sintra, Monserrate Palace, and a guided excursion to the beaches of Cascais. Then you’ll return to Lisbon to spend the night.