FULL DISCLOSURE: I AM A FAN OF integrative medicine guru Dr. Andrew Weil. So I had high expectations for an enriching experience as I settled onto my yoga mat at his Crystal Sound Bath class, covered myself with a blanket, applied an eye pillow and retreated from the world around me. After welcoming us to what promised to be a deeply meditative experience, our instructor/wellness guide proceeded to create a sequence of varying sound wave vibrations with three different crystal bowls, also known as singing bowls. As the atonal, haunting sounds of the bowls filled the room, the vibrations seemed to harmonize with each other and flow into my being. I lost consciousness of time and slipped into a trance-like state. When I emerged 50 minutes later, I felt relaxed and renewed.
This was not just a unique spa treatment; it took place in an unexpected setting: aboard a cruise ship. Luxury lines routinely offer pampering spa services, but in 2016 Seabourn expanded its onboard wellness offerings with Dr. Weil’s Mindful Living program, bringing seminars, lectures and curated treatments inspired by his research and best-selling books on nutrition, spontaneous healing, healthy aging and mindful living to the fleet.
I experienced the crystal bowl session on Seabourn’s newest ultra-luxury vessel, Seabourn Ovation, and became a daily visitor to its serene spa and wellness center. The facility, though compact, offers six treatment rooms, saunas, a steam room, a motion studio and a fitness room—everything you need to sustain a restorative routine at sea.
Each day the spa schedule included meditation and yoga classes centered on rotating mindful-living themes such as compassion, flow, happiness, love, laughter and gratitude. The yoga sessions were tailored to balance mind and body while addressing specific physical goals, from chakra alignment to improving range of motion. I appreciated how quickly instructors assessed my limitations and guided me into postures safely. Among my enduring Seabourn memories were stretching and yoga classes led by fitness instructors Kyle and David, which felt personal and effective.
The Ovation’s attentive spa staff reflected a shipwide service culture that is warm and genuine rather than fussy. With 300 veranda suites across 12 decks, the Ovation is the fifth ship in Seabourn’s fleet and a sister ship to Seabourn Encore. I boarded the brand-new ship at the Genoa shipyard last May and was impressed by its elegant, modern interior design by Adam Tihany. The aesthetic blends refined yacht-like luxury with welcoming touches. A central feature is the sweeping Atrium, a curved staircase with polished mahogany handrails and vivid blue carpeting that creates drama and a sense of arrival. The ship is also enriched by a curated art collection of roughly 1,600 works by 120 artists, thoughtfully placed to engage the eye throughout the vessel.
Spa treatment room © SEABOURN
Even the standard veranda suite was surprisingly generous: a walk-in closet, a marble bathroom with a full-sized bathtub and separate shower, and a large, visually private veranda. As a first-time Seabourn guest, it took me a day or two to learn the layout, but returning passengers will find the deck plan familiar and easy to navigate.
While the ship’s design leans toward classic elegance, many onboard experiences feel contemporary. The Ovation offers an onboard coffee roaster, a creative sushi restaurant, homemade gelato and a poolside al fresco dining concept called Earth & Ocean serving Moroccan tagines and global dishes. Among the many inviting spaces I enjoyed were the luxe cabana apartment on the 12th-floor Retreat, available as an upgrade for a private interlude, and the spacious lounge at Chef Thomas Keller’s The Grill. As a coffee lover, I also appreciated Seabourn Square, an open-plan information hub and casual café where freshly roasted coffee is served and guests can relax and socialize.
Day after day I returned to the spa for both exercise and quiet restoration. The spa’s design purposefully avoids showiness; instead it offers a tactile, neutral backdrop that fosters calm. Light, airy color schemes and gently curved walls create an atmosphere of understated luxury and ease.
One practical note for fellow wellness travelers: while many excellent spa services are available on the Ovation, not all fall under Dr. Weil’s Mindful Living program. If you want classes, treatments or seminars directly associated with Dr. Weil’s approach, look for the “Mindful Living with Dr. Andrew Weil” heading in the spa brochure to find sessions and offerings bearing his endorsement.