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New Cruise Ship Celebrity Edge Takes Fitness to the Next Level

12/3/2018

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Smith machine weights on Celebrity Edge
The Smith machine is a great piece of equipment available on Celebrity Edge.
By John Roberts

With the launch of Celebrity Cruises' first new ship in a decade, Celebrity Edge, the hype and excitement has been focused on new hi-tech capabilities and innovative design features that stand out as cruise industry firsts.

Sure, the Magic Carpet floating deck on Celebrity Edge and the cruise ship app that allows passengers to use their phones as a room key and to control the blinds, lights and temperature in their cabins are exciting new features.

But I'm here to take a look at the fitness center, which also is a cut above your average cruise ship facility. The gym on Celebrity Edge offers a large amount of space, as well as the most modern and popular equipment for cruisers who want to try something new or stick with their training methods and classes that they enjoy back home.
Peloton bikes on Celebrity Edge
Kettlebells and rowing machines on Celebrity Edge
The gym on Celebrity Edge offers modern workout equipment like kettlebells for dynamic workouts.
Celebrity Edge has six Peloton bikes, and passengers in certain suites can reserve them for use in their staterooms throughout their cruises. Otherwise, passengers can also reserve use of the Peloton bikes in the fitness center.

In addition to the gym's dozens of pieces of cardio equipment, such as treadmills, rowing machines, ellipticals, stair climbers and stationary bikes, Celebrity edge offers an area outfitted with kettlebells and plyometric jump boxes for more sport-specific training and explosive workouts.
Celebrity Edge cardio equipment in fitness center
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Treadmills on Celebrity Edge
The cardio and resistance-training machines are all TechnoGym equipment. I was pleased to see ample space set aside for free weights, and equally impressed that the dumbbells went up to 100 pounds (not that I am ever pressing up a pair of those). Most cruise ship gym weight sets that I've used over the years go up to 50 pounds and prove to be a bit limiting for people who train seriously with heavier weights.
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Celebrity Edge also offers a Smith machine (picture at top of post) with high-quality rubber-covered weight plates that go up to 45 pounds. These machines are fantastically versatile and allow you to squat, bench and expand the overall number of free-weight exercises to target all muscle groups.
Weights on Celebrity Edge
Motion Studio B on Celebrity Edge
Motion Studio A spin class on Celebrity Edge
The ship features to studios that are dedicated spaces for fitness classes (for a fee). Motion Studio A is filled with cycles for the intense Ryde spin class, and Motion Studio B is the space used for several other classes, including bungee training, aerobic sessions and TRX.

All of this stuff is fantastic and gives the gym on Celebrity Edge the feel of a top-notch land-based fitness center. Even the most avid workout fanatics will have little problem finding a way to keep up with their training regimens.
Jogging track on Celebrity Edge
Jogging track on Celebrity Edge
But the jogging track on Celebrity Edge is perhaps my favorite fitness-focused amenity. Prior to my cruises, I always have a romantic notion about how I will wake up and take nice morning runs on my ship's jogging track, ticking off the laps as I breath in the fresh air and watch the sun rise in the Caribbean or Med.

Yeah, right.


Instead, the tracks typically prove to be frustrating. The laps are too short, but even more problematic are the layouts. I mean jogging tracks that trace their routes through busy areas with people pulling loungers out onto the running space or past designated smoking spots.


Not on Celebrity Edge. The ship's running track is an innovative design, spanning two decks on 15 and 16. The layout is such that it is never crowded, offers a clear lane direction and paths for both runners and walkers. Furthermore, you get a little bit of hill work with the course gradually and gently sloping from Deck 16 back down to its starting area on Deck 15 before another stretch of incline that takes you back up to Deck 16. The route also is varied and curving, not a simple mind-numbing circle. It'
s 4.5 laps per mile.
The Spa Cafe and Juice Bar on Celebrity Edge is a nice place to get a smoothie or light healthy meal.
The Spa Cafe and Juice Bar on Celebrity Edge is a nice place to get a smoothie or light healthy meal.
Also, the wellness options on Celebrity Edge don't end with the fitness center and jogging track. The ship has a nice spa with a thermal suite, as well as the Spa Cafe and Juice Bar in the Solarium pool area.

Overall, Celebrity Edge is a great ship if you are a traveler in search of a nice wellness vacation or are someone who really strives to keep up with your workouts whether at home or away.


Thanks for reading, and always travel fit!


Cheers,

JR

Video Tours: Celebrity Edge Cabin and Full Ship Tours

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Fort Lauderdale Beach is Fantastic for the Fit Traveler

3/16/2016

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Fort Lauderdale Beach basketball courts and outdoor fitness area
Fort Lauderdale Beach features plenty of opportunities for fitness-inclined travelers. Run along the wide beachfront sidewalk, play hoops at the courts or dive in to a body-weight workout at the outdoor gym on the sand.
By John Roberts 

If you're going to hold a convention in sunny South Florida in the middle of March, you can be damn sure that I am going to go exploring to find out what the beach is like. 
 
Welcome to Fort Lauderdale, home to the annual "all things cruising" convention known as Seatrade. I snuck away from the stuffy confines of the convention center to get outside for a day of play. I took a leisurely run from my hotel down to Fort Lauderdale Beach. I say leisurely because that is all I could muster. This New Jersey guy -- visiting the Florida heat and humidity -- will need a few days to get properly acclimated. 

One word about this beach area: Awesome!  

The Blue Wave-certified beach (a system that rates the cleanliness and environmental quality) was just coming to life around 9 a.m. when I finished my two-mile run down State Road A1A to the ocean. The sands are clean, in almost pristine condition, and I immediately shed my shirt and MP3 player and GPS watch to jump into the clear and cool waters.  
Runners, bikers and walkers will love that the main oceanfront road, as Seabreeze Boulevard becomes North Atlantic Boulevard, is wide and smooth.  

Along the four-mile stretch of sand, I discovered several items to entice the fitness-seeking traveler. After running to the beach and jumping in for a swim, how about shooting some hoops on the basketball courts? Right next to this is an outdoor fitness space, complete with pullup bars and plenty of other pieces of equipment that allow you to get a complete body-weight workout.
 
Fort Lauderdale Beach picnic area and playground
Fort Lauderdale Beach is ideal for picnics, with clean benches in a shady area under beautiful trees and next to a playground.
Wander farther along the boulevard, and you can find dozens of places to grab a bite to eat, from seafood, pizza, burgers and more. The oceanfront corridor is also lined with boutique shops to check out. 

I saw people enjoying paddleboarding on the calm morning waters. The beach features a lot of gorgeous trees that cast comfy shade over picnic areas, as well as at least one playground space for kids. It seems to be a family-friendly beach. Signs are posted stating that there is no alcohol allowed. But I'd bet that you can bring in a small cooler, be discreet, don't get out of control and be sure to pick up after yourself and no one will mind if you have a few cold ones during your stay. Lifeguards are on duty. (Regulars at this beach? Let us know how strict this rule is please.) 

The beach is free and open to the public, but parking is metered on the street. I have visited South Beach in Miami several times, and it's also very nice, with a great running path and outdoors fitness equipment. But I really like the feel of Fort Lauderdale Beach much more. It's more laid back. No creepiness at all compared with the attention-starved vibe that some South Beach regulars throw off. The people in Fort Lauderdale don't need your attention; they just need their quiet and blissful beach time, thank you very much.  

No wonder Fort Lauderdale has been a fast-rising beach destination. I was glad to get to finally check it out. 
 
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Chef Roy Yamaguchi is partnering with MSC Cruises to create a pan-Asian restaurant on the line's new MSC Seaside, which will start sailing out of Miami in December 2017. (Photo courtesy MSC Cruises)
Other News and Notes from Seatrade . . .

From the hive of competing cruise-related news and flash and glitz, I was able to sift through the news releases to find a few items of interest to you.
 
  
Well, I find them intriguing at least, so I'm going to go ahead and tell you about them. Got it?  
Here is what's new at Seatrade that's good for adventurous travelers who seek to venture beyond the sun decks and buffet lines. The right kind of cruise traveler can find time for food, sun and active fun. Just sayin'! 

Celebrity Cruises announced that it is acquiring two more vessels to expand its offerings in the Galapagos Islands. Celebrity Cruises acquired tour operator Ocean Adventures and its two ships, MV Eclipse and MC Athala II. Eclipse holds up to 48 passengers, and Athala II, a catamaran, holds 16.

Celebrity already operates its Celebrity Xpedition 100-passenger yacht in the Galapagos. The smaller ships expand the itineraries that Celebrity can offer in the pristine island region. The ships can venture to Puerto Villamil, Darwin Bay, Black Turtle Cove, Chinese Hat Islet and Wall of Tears.
 MV Eclipse and MC Athala II will continue with Ocean Adventure voyages until a drydock in January 2017. After the refresh, they will sail as part of the Celebrity Cruises fleet with signature elements from the line. Celebrity will have to rename at least Eclipse; the line already has another ship with that moniker. No word yet on the new name.

Crystal Cruises has plans to build a second expedition yacht, Crystal Endeavor, which will be the sister ship to Crystal Esprit. Crystal says Endeavor will be the world's largest megayacht when it debuts in August 2018. The vessel will be the first purpose-built polar class expedition yacht. Sounds great. I'm not sure what that means. I know that I've been told it will be 600 feet long and feature an incredible number of fitness-based activities you can enjoy during your voyages. 

The 200-passenger ship will carry two seven-person submersible subs and have 270-degree panoramic views for whale watching or spotting other wildlife in the exotic destinations it will sail. Yes, there will be a spa, Jacuzzi and a gym. It also will have two helicopters for flightseeing excursions, eight Zodiac boats, jet skis, wave runners, kayaks, fishing gear, paddleboards, snorkel and dive equipment, underwater scooter and an ATV. That ship will pack a lot of toys for your vacation. 

MSC Cruises announced a partnership with Chef Roy Yamaguchi, who helped popularize Hawaiian-inspired cuisine and founded dozens of Roy's restaurants. Yamaguchi will create a pan-Asian eatery that will offer a range of flavors in a teppan style. The cover-charge eatery will offer healthy fare on the new MSC Seaside, which will debut in December 2017 and sail voyages from Miami.

Thanks for reading. 
Travel fit! Travel happy! Travel often!
JR

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