Crystal Unveils Its Third Annual Wellness at Sea Retreat Voyages for 2026

Crystal has announced the return of its Wellness at Sea retreats, revealing two 2026 voyages aboard Crystal Symphony that place balance, vitality and deep restoration at the heart of the experience.

Timed for National Wellness Month, the sailings offer a curated programme of movement, mindfulness and nutrition, wrapped in the refined comforts of one of the world’s leading ships.

The first voyage runs from August 17-24, travelling from Vancouver to San Diego. The second follows immediately from August 24 to September 5, sailing from San Diego to Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Guests may book either journey individually or combine them for a continuous Pacific wellness experience.

Leading the programme once again is Dalila Roglieri, Crystal’s wellness ambassador and registered nutritionist, whose Mediterranean-inspired approach has underpinned the retreat since it launched.

“These voyages represent wellness at its most complete, where every sunrise, every movement, and every meal becomes part of a greater harmony. It’s an invitation to reconnect with yourself and the world, surrounded by the exceptional elements that define Crystal,” said Dalila.

She will be joined by returning specialists Jenni Demus, yoga and mental well-being specialist; Mandi Appelberg, fitness and yoga specialist; and Magnus Appelberg, cold exposure expert, somatic therapist and yoga and meditation teacher.

The team is further strengthened with the addition of Chef Abbie Gellman, MS, RD, CDN, a nationally recognised culinary nutrition authority and director of Teaching Kitchen and Culinary Medicine at SBH Health System in New York.

Across both voyages, guests can expect a series of immersive Wellness at Sea sessions ranging from yoga and meditation to functional training, sound baths, breathwork and mind-reset classes including Wake Me Up Breath and Master Your Mind. A two-day detox at sea encourages digital mindfulness and invites guests into a deeper state of rest.

Longevity science is again central to the educational programme, with lectures focused on ageing well, cognitive sharpness, emotional health and maintaining long-term physical vitality.

Culinary wellness is a major pillar of the retreat, with Crystal expanding its plant-rich menus created under Roglieri’s guidance.

Dishes balance flavour and nourishment, featuring daily options including wellness-driven juices, smoothies, toasts, soups, appetisers, dips, mains and desserts. Hands-on culinary workshops and demonstrations led by Gellman and Roglieri blend nutritional insight with gastronomic flair, while individual nutrition consultations and blind tasting sessions offer a personalised and sensory-rich experience.

This commitment to wellness cuisine recently earned Crystal a place in the Women’s Health 2025 Travel Awards for Best Healthy Food.

To complement the restorative programme, onboard pickleball instruction is also available, offering guests a social, active way to stay moving at sea.

From late 2026 and into 2027, PONANT Explorations Group will base two ships in French Polynesia, offering travellers a choice between a culturally immersive classic and a far more exploratory deep-Pacific experience.

The move builds on more than 25 years of operating in the region with the iconic m/s Paul Gauguin, while introducing the expedition-focused Le Jacques Cartier to venture into lesser-known waters.

Together, the two vessels will cover all five Polynesian archipelagos — the Society, Tuamotu, Austral, Gambier and Marquesas Islands — as well as the remote Pitcairn Islands.

THE PAUL GAUGUIN: CULTURAL IMMERSION, POLYNESIAN STYLE

Long regarded as the benchmark for cruising in French Polynesia, m/s Paul Gauguin will remain based year-round in the region.

Renovated in 2025, the ship continues to focus on relaxed, culturally rich journeys with extended port stays designed to allow guests to experience daily life across the islands.

A defining feature of the onboard experience is the presence of the Gauguins and Gauguines — Polynesian hosts who share local traditions through music, dance and hands-on workshops, including weaving and craft demonstrations.

The atmosphere is deliberately intimate and internationally minded, catering to travellers seeking depth rather than distance.

Across the 2026–27 seasons, the ship will operate 66 departures, primarily across the Society Islands, Tuamotu and Marquesas, with select voyages extending to Fiji, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

LE JACQUES CARTIER: EXPLORATION AT THE EDGE

Le Jacques Cartier introduces a more adventurous dimension to PONANT’s Polynesian offering, with itineraries focused on the least visited corners of the South Pacific.

The ship will debut three new “Discovery” itineraries, each 14 nights in length, which can also be combined into a single, extended 42-night voyage — the most comprehensive Polynesian itinerary currently available.

In total, the combined journey spans six archipelagos, 23 islands and the Pitcairn Islands, a British Overseas Territory rarely included on cruise itineraries.

Unlike the Paul Gauguin’s cultural focus, Le Jacques Cartier centres on exploration.

Each day includes one guided activity led by local experts, with excursions conducted via tenders, local boats and zodiacs. Scuba diving is available on board, supported by a resident instructor.

Across the 2026–27 period, the ship will operate nine departures, offering a deliberately limited and low-impact presence in some of the Pacific’s most isolated communities.

THREE NEW DISCOVERY ITINERARIES

The new itineraries aboard Le Jacques Cartier include:

– Secret Polynesia: Unexplored Tuamotu, the Gambier Islands and the Austral Islands
– From Confidential French Polynesia to Pitcairn Island
– Polynesian Bliss: Marquesas and Tuamotu

Each voyage departs from Papeete, with prices starting from $15,840 per person.

SCOUTING THE PACIFIC’S MOST REMOTE COMMUNITIES

In preparation for the new itineraries, PONANT Explorations Group undertook extensive scouting across the Austral and Tuamotu Islands to develop activities in collaboration with local communities.

José Sarica, the group’s R&D Expedition Experience Director, worked directly with residents to design experiences including welcome ceremonies, cultural workshops and visits to marae, the region’s sacred open-air temples.

Six new ports of call have been confirmed as part of this process, spanning both the Tuamotu and Austral archipelagos.

SIX NEW PORTS OF CALL CONFIRMED

New stopovers include:

– Mataiva, known for its rare mosaic lagoon
– Hikueru, home to one of the largest lagoons in the Tuamotus
– Makemo, noted for its red-footed boobies and frigatebirds
– Raivavae, famed for its crystal-clear lagoon pools
– Tubuai, rich in marae and spiritual heritage
– Rurutu, known for limestone caves and seasonal humpback whale sightings

A DUAL EXPERIENCE, ONE DESTINATION

By pairing its long-established cultural voyages with expedition-led exploration, PONANT Explorations Group is positioning French Polynesia not as a single experience, but as two distinct journeys — one grounded in tradition and comfort, the other pushing into the furthest reaches of the Pacific.

For travellers seeking either immersion or discovery, the South Pacific is about to feel both familiar and entirely new.