Ship Shape

It’s often said that calories don’t count at sea, but can you really get fit on a cruise? We sent self-confessed junk food addict Karen Pasquali Jones on a mini-break to find out…

- Karen Pasquali Jones

Sunday

The plane seat belt is let out almost to the maximum, and sits below my bump which, despite the smiles of strangers who inquisitively murmur “When are you due?” is not, in fact, a baby.

It is rather the result of a very expensive love of red wine and cheese. I’m a Merlot, pizza and pasta-loving vegetarian who has put on five stone over the past five years and is now desperate to lose it. That’s why I’m flying to Barcelona to board Norwegian Epic for a ‘healthy’ cruise around the Mediterranean. I may be taking in Naples and Rome along the way, but I’ve been challenged by Cruise International to see if I can get fit and lose weight at the same time.

It’s not going to be easy. This ship has 21 dining options, including Teppanyaki, French, Asian, Chinese and Italian restaurants, 20 bars and lounges, 24-hour room service and NCL’s Premium All Inclusive alcohol package.

Oh, and the restaurants offer freestyle dining so you can eat whenever and wherever you want. How will I ever be able to resist? Stay in my stateroom the whole time and ask for the mini-bar to be locked? Wear boxing gloves so I can’t use a knife and fork? Or take the hardest option possible and try to summon up some willpower? I know I had some once… before I married an Italian chef who thinks nothing of whipping up five-course banquets every night.

On board, I’m impressed. Norwegian Epic is a floating resort with an Ice Bar, bowling, comedy club, casino, an enormous theatre, and all those bars and restaurants. And, of course, it also has a fitness centre, jogging/walking track (it might have to be renamed the crawling track in my case), spa, sports complex, pools, and even climbing and rappelling – which you kind of abseil down – walls.