M/Y NJORD and Chenot to create the most high-tech spa on the ocean

By Rachel Ingram

To call Chenot a spa on board the private residential superyacht M/Y NJORD would be doing it a disservice. A health wellness practice might be more accurate but even then, this isn’t inclusive enough to factor in the breadth of life-changing services available. The revolutionary facility – which will open when M/Y NJORD (the largest superyacht in the world) sets sail in 2024 – will be far more than a spa in the traditional sense of the word. Its purpose is to provide the superyachts’ residents with science-backed health programmes, ranging from medical-grade therapies and wellness practices to tailored fitness and nutrition to revitalise the body inside and out. It will run by a specialised team of doctors, health practitioners and therapists who live with residents as they sail around the world on the largest private superyacht on the sea. Like most good things, access is extremely limited – in this case to residents and vetted guests who fall into a limited scope of categories.

The centre will encompass 930 sq metres of Deck 10, not including the medical centre on Deck 3 – it stands out with its wealth of full-time staff and state-of-the-art technology. Alain Gruber, COO of Ocean Residences Development, the developer behind M/Y NJORD, says: “Even if you have a spa on the largest superyacht in the world, you don’t have a team of 15 health and wellness professionals, doctors, dentists, physiotherapists and nutritionists. Neither do you have so many different kinds of technology on board. Number one, you don’t have the space. Number two, there’s not the usage. We benefit from having both the space and the usage.”

Chenot has been a leader in preventative and rejuvenating care for 50 years and was chosen as a partner due to its science-backed principles. “People who invest in their health and wellness want to see results, so it was also important that we chose an experienced partner whose offering is based on true scientific results,” Gruber says. “Whatever you’d find at a top Chenot facility, from diagnostics and medical services to rejuvenation and detox therapies, fitness and nutrition, all of those things are present. It’s literally a floating Chenot.”

A firm favourite of the globe’s UHNW community, Chenot was the first company to introduce the concept of health wellness, and its spas around the world are known for practicing the legendary Chenot Method®. The philosophy is based on three key pillars – detox, energise and perform. When professionals meet a new client, they perform tests to work out their vitality index and create transformational programmes to stimulate, detoxify and rebalance the body and mind. When performed in correlation with the Chenot diet – an essential part of the journey – the method can have life-enhancing benefits.

Dr. George Gaitanos, Chenot’s Chief Operating and Scientific Officer explains: “Humans are designed to live til [they are] 120 years old with a full ‘battery.’ With our diagnostics collectively known as Chenot Lifestyle Biomarkers, we are able to discover how much energy you have in your battery (your Vitality Status) and understand how fast you are ageing. If an owner visits the boat regularly, we will be able to monitor his ageing process and give suggestions to extend his ‘battery life.’ We then provide treatments that shock the body into a positive reset.”

Being located on a floating residence offers unique challenges and opportunities. As M/Y NJORD is constantly travelling, professionals can tap into a passing country’s expertise. “As we travel, we will bring on board lecturers and leading people in the worlds of medicine, wellness and science to educate the community,” Gruber says. “It’s a very immersive hands-on experience that goes well beyond just a normal spa experience. It’s not only about providing health and wellness while on board, because we also offer activities off the vessel that contribute to fitness and nutrition.”

The challenge is presenting such services in an inviting way – another reason Chenot was chosen as a partner. “It’s important that when you come on board, you feel like you’re walking into your home – you don’t want to feel like you’re in a clinic,” says Gruber. “There’s a fine line between being on the cutting-edge of medicine, while still coming across as comfortable.”

Residents can rest assured that the programme was created with their investment in mind, Gruber says. “We do not want to be misunderstood – we are not offering cruises that anyone can join.”

Out of NJORD’s 117 residences, there will be a number of suites set aside for the programme, created in collaboration with Chenot. Guests can expect some surprises as Chenot encompasses some of its science-backed principles. “We are developing technology for the bedrooms,” Dr. Gaitanos says, describing a special linen containing minerals that collect body heat as you sleep and return it as infra-red frequencies. He also reveals a sound programme that helps guests fall sleep and wake up, with added benefits while they sleep: “When you’re sleeping, your eyes are closed but your ears are open, so we can tap into theses frequencies to ensure total relaxation.”

It’s clear that from the moment you board the facility to the time you disembark, you’re on a transformational journey of which every step has been carefully considered. When coupled with the mind-broadening benefits of learning and travel, M/Y NJORD becomes not just the most exciting experience on the ocean, but on the planet.

For further information about M/Y NJORD, go to www.my-njord.com and for further information about Chenot, go to www.chenot.com.