I Tried the NEW Xponential Fitness Classes on Princess: Find out what I Thought!

Introduction

Many people would rather stab themselves in the eye with a hot poker than exercise in regular life and most wouldn’t exercise on a cruise ship unless it involved a Victorian-style four poster canopy bed in the Captain’s quarters (I can’t be the only one with that fantasy). However, some (weirdos) enjoy keeping up with their fitness routine on vacation and some, like me, use an hour at the gym as justification for the 60,000 calories they eat each day on a cruise.

So on my last cruise aboard the Discovery, I was curious to try the new fitness classes being offered by Princess as part of a new partnership with Xponential Fitness, a global franchisor of boutique fitness brands. The first three classes were launched on February 20th, 2023 and are described by Princess as follows:

• Pure Barre: a full-body workout focused on low-impact, moderate to high-intensity movements that improve strength and flexibility.
• YogaSix: a full sensory yoga experience accessible to all, with a variety of classes targeting strength, agility, flexibility and balance.
• StretchLab is a unique wellness concept offering assisted stretching sessions with customized flexibility services.

Here was my experience with them…

Pure Barre

Cost: $30 (two complimentary fitness classes are included with Princess Plus and unlimited fitness classes are included with Princess Premier)
Class Length: 30 Minutes
Times Offered: Specific times will vary depending on ship and itinerary, but classes generally take place between 7-10am and 5-7pm. On my 5-day sailing on the Discovery Princess, there were 6 Pure Barre classes offered (either 1 or 2 classes each day).

Class Description: This workout, synchronized to music, combined elements of ballet, yoga, and pilates. It was low impact, but high intensity and targeted all the major muscle groups in a short period of time. We used a mat to work glutes and core, 2 lb weights to target arms, and a barre (think ballet, not adult beverages) to work legs. We were also provided with round resistance bands for stretching. Movements were small and repetitive and resulted in some serious burning. There were no breaks between exercises, with continuous movement for the full 30 minutes.

What I loved about Xponential Fitness’s Pure Barre class on Princess: This was a very efficient way to get a decent low resistance, full-body workout. The time went by fast (always a plus when it comes to exercise) and I enjoyed the music and instruction. The movements were easy to follow and the instructor made sure everyone’s alignment was correct, making adjustments when necessary.

What I didn’t love about Xponential Fitness’s Pure Barre class on Princess: The 2 lb weights provided were too light for me and I felt like the arm section wasn’t effective. A variety of different weight options would have been appreciated. I also thought 30 minutes was a bit too short, especially for the cost. Most non-cruise ship Pure Barre classes are 50 minutes.

Would I take a Pure Barre class again? Yes! In fact I did. I enjoyed this class so much, I signed up for a second session later in my cruise. I also wanted to see if the same series of movements was repeated (they were) or if each session was different. I would recommend this class if you’re looking for a quick, but effective workout, so you can spend more of your cruise doing what you’re supposed to be doing: eating and drinking and relaxing. However, I didn’t consider this class a very good value at the à la carte price. Most other cruise ship fitness classes are 45 minutes and closer to $20. That said, many guests on Princess will receive fitness classes as part of their cruise package (2 free classes are included with Princess Plus and unlimited classes with Princess Premier).

Thumbs up or down? Thumbs…up!

YogaSix

Cost: $30 (two complimentary fitness classes are included with Princess Plus and unlimited fitness classes are included with Princess Premier)
Class Length: 30 Minutes
Times Offered: Specific times will vary depending on ship and itinerary, but fitness classes generally take place between 7-10am and 5-7pm. On my 5-day sailing on the Discovery Princess, there were 4 YogaSix classes offered and they all took place from 9-9:30am.

Class Description: This 30 minute full-body Vinyasa yoga practice set to calming music featured popular flow sequences and poses. Participants included both newbies and experienced yogis. A mat and block were provided and the instructor offered breathing cues and pose adjustments.

What I loved about Xponential Fitness’s YogaSix class on Princess: It was yoga. And I love yoga (I don’t consider it exercise)!

What I didn’t love about Xponential Fitness’s YogaSix class on Princess: This was a short, basic yoga class and while I enjoyed it, it wasn’t comparable to what I’ve experienced in land-based classes taught by experienced yogis. Plus, most non-cruise ship yoga classes are 45-60 minutes. One other thing to note: balancing on a cruise ship, especially on rough sea days, ranges from challenging to near impossible. I looked like Bambie on ice. Only full-grown, not adorable, and possibly drunk.

Would I take a YogaSix class again? I would. Although less enthusiastically than the barre class, only because I do yoga on land and it’s so much better by comparison. I would recommend this class as a gentle introduction to yoga for newbies and a “better than nothing” experience for more advanced yogis. Like with the barre class, I didn’t consider YogaSix a very good value at the à la carte price. However, many guests on Princess will receive fitness classes as part of their cruise package (2 free classes are included with Princess Plus and unlimited classes with Princess Premier).

Thumbs up or down? Thumbs…up (but without the boldface and exclamation mark).

StretchLab

Cost: $30 (two complimentary fitness classes are included with Princess Plus and unlimited fitness classes are included with Princess Premier)
Class Length: 25 Minutes
Times Offered: There will be a sign-up sheet with 25 minute blocks. Sign up on the first day of your cruise as slots are likely to fill up.

Class Description: Unlike the other fitness classes, StretchLab is a one-on-one session with a trainer who will provide a customized stretch routine based on your individual needs. A massage table, stretch straps, and foam rollers were provided.

What I loved about Xponential Fitness’s StretchLab class on Princess: This private stretch session was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced on a cruise ship, which was the thing I loved most about it. It also left me feeling great, with some new stretching techniques to use at home.

What I didn’t love about Xponential Fitness’s StretchLab class on Princess: 25 minutes was too short. Five hours would have been more appropriate (it felt so good…more like a spa treatment than a fitness class).

Would I take a StretchLab class again? Yes! This was my favorite of the new Princess Xponential fitness classes and felt like the best value ($30 for a private session).

Thumbs up or down? Thumbs…UP! (all caps, boldface, AND exclamation mark)

Final Thoughts

If you’re interested in trying one of the new classes, be sure to stop by the fitness center on embarkation day to see the schedule and sign up. You MUST sign up in person for every class and some classes WILL fill up, so do it early. While I don’t feel comfortable enthusiastically endorsing any form of exercise, I appreciate the new offerings by Princess and look forward (I guess) to trying the others coming soon (ahead of the summer season – exact dates haven’t been released yet):

• Club Pilates: a low-impact, full-body Reformer Pilates workout with a variety of classes that build strength, mobility and stability.
• CycleBar: an inclusive, immersive and inspiring low-impact, high-intensity indoor cycling experience for all ages and body types.
• STRIDE Fitness: a treadmill-based interval training concept, delivering a total body cardio and strength workout.

And with that…

Class Dismissed!

Homework (10 points): Have you ever taken a fitness class at sea? Share your experience to the comments! Then go check out my summary of the newly updated Princess Cruise Packages (Princess Plus and Princess Premier).

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