Nicko Cruises is adding a wellness twist to its upcoming season. German cruise operator nicko cruises has booked health expert, lecturer and author Awai Cheung to sail alongside guests on three Vasco da Gama departures between autumn 2026 and early 2027, and the extras won't cost you a cent.
Cheung specialises in traditional Chinese movement arts. On board, he'll run free group courses and workshops teaching the fundamentals of Tai Chi and Qigong, with practical sessions woven into sea days and port rotations. He'll also draw on material from his new book, which guests will get a taste of during the programme. For anyone who has wanted to try these disciplines but felt intimidated by a gym class, a ship's deck at sunrise is arguably a better classroom.
The three itineraries are very different trips. First up is a North Cape cruise running October 19 to November 3, 2026, sailing round trip from Hamburg to Norway's far north. Expect calls at Bergen, the Geirangerfjord and the Lofoten Islands, with Honningsvåg as the northern turn before the ship works its way south via Trondheim, Nordfjordeid, Stavanger and Arendal.
Second is a Pacific Coast voyage from December 12, 2026 to January 4, 2027, starting in Panama City and finishing in Chile. It hugs the coast of Ecuador with stops in Guayaquil and Puerto López, then works down through Peru — Callao, Paracas Bay and Matarani — before reaching Arica in Chile by New Year's Eve and ending at Puerto San Antonio. This one doubles as a Christmas-at-sea trip: the ship will be decorated for the holidays, and on Christmas Day a Peruvian group from Trujillo performs on board.
The third sailing is the big one for bucket-listers. From January 4 to 22, 2027, Vasco da Gama heads from Santiago de Chile into the South Pacific: Easter Island and its Moai statues, the remote Pitcairn Islands, then the Tuamotu archipelago with lagoon-and-reef stops at Fakarava and Rangiroa, before Raiatea and a finale in Tahiti at Papeete.
Why care? The wellness programming is free and included in the fare — a genuine value-add compared with cruise lines that charge separately for fitness classes. And the three routes sit at opposite ends of the price-and-effort spectrum: a manageable Norwegian autumn cruise, a festive South American Christmas, and a once-in-a-lifetime Polynesian itinerary. Pairing slow movement practice with long sea days actually makes sense — Tai Chi and Qigong are low-impact, need no equipment, and suit travellers of all ages. If you've been eyeing any of these itineraries, the dates above are your window to sail with Cheung on board.
Credit: Cruise Industry News
