Princess Encourage Sleeping beauties

Do you remember the fairytale, The Princess and the Pea? Basically, a dishevelled young girl arrives at a palace claiming to be a princess. The Queen disbelieves her, and tests her claim by secreting a pea under a huge pile of mattresses, as only a real Princess would feel it. Of course, the Princess’s royal heritage was established as she could sense that little legume which gave her such a restless night.

Well, Princess Cruises are determined that no such fate should await their guests and that we should all sleep soundly in our stateroom beds. They therefore commissioned some research to establish the quality of our holiday sleep. Now, the results are in and I think you will be as surprised as me at what they show.!

The headline is that a huge 70% of Brits say they frequently struggle to get a good night’s sleep while on holiday. This means that us Brits overall are more sleep-deprived than other countries surveyed. 66% of us are getting less sleep than required on an average night, which ranks the poorest when compared to the likes of the US, Australia and China. At least I now have an excuse for those bags under my eyes.

What are the main reasons For This?

Princess Cruises 2019 Relaxation Survey

The commissioned Princess Cruises 2019 Relaxation Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research (www.wakefieldresearch.com) among 1,000 nationally representative adults aged 18+ in the UK between July 19 and July 30, 2019. 

As you can see from the infographic above, the most popular reason given was being too hot or cold, which affects over half of us (55%).

However 45% of us (1 in 2) find that an uncomfortable bed is the main culprit, and although this is common across all age groups, it is particularly true for the over 55s (55%). 

27% recognised that having an irregular bedtime wasn't helping and neither was having an afternoon siesta or nap (15%). Jet lag was the reason given by just 15%.

Surprisingly, the findings also reveal that - despite holidays being the perfect time to unwind, sleep in and relax - almost 1 in 4 (23%) employees take at least a week off per year just to catch up on sleep. This equates to around a quarter of their paid leave. 

Also only 1 in 5 (21%) of employees appear to be taking their full annual leave entitlement, contributing this to heavy workloads (40%) and lack of time (31%).

Princess Cruises to the rest-cue

In order to combat this holiday sleep deprivation, Princess Cruises has collaborated with sleep expert Dr. Michael Breus (pictured above), who in addition to providing hints, tips and guidance to guests on getting better sleep, has helped develop the Princess Luxury Bed,. Combining scientific knowledge with the latest comfort technology, this luxury bed will ensure a good night’s rest. 

About Dr. Breus
Michael J. Breus, Ph.D., is a Clinical Psychologist and both a Diplomate of the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a Fellow of The American Academy of Sleep Medicine. He was one of the youngest people to have passed the Board at age 31 and, with a speciality in sleep disorders, is one of only 163 psychologists in the world with his credentials and distinction. 

Dr Breus said: “Lack of sleep can really affect our mood and wellbeing on a day-to-day basis, whether at home or on holiday. That’s why it’s so important for us to be able to switch off our brains once our heads hit the pillow. When we’re away a comfortable bed and mattress are absolutely vital for a deep sleep. They’re often overlooked when we book a break but should clearly be considered alongside other holiday essentials. And don’t let jet lag hamper your holiday. There are many things you can do to sync your body when travelling across different time zones and to recover more quickly. I recommend staying active to energise the body as this will help adjust to the new bedtime and try to avoid that afternoon nap if you can.”

“A restful holiday is an absolute must, so don’t leave sleeping arrangements to chance when you’re looking for your ideal getaway.” 

Other onboard Facilities to aid RELAXATION

Princess Cruises has also designed a range of facilities to improve wellbeing and relaxation onboard, including spas offering a range of treatments and designated adult-only areas. Sleep-friendly evening meals and snacks are available to order via the 24/7 complimentary room service. Plus, on the latest MedallionClass ships you won’t even need to disturb your rest as you can order it all conveniently from your OceanMedallion!

Guests who stay in the onboard suites receive a complimentary gift bag containing sleep-friendly items such as linen spray and an eye mask. I personally never travel without a lavender pillow spray and a tub of gorgeous ‘Sleep’ cream.

Tony Roberts, Princess Cruises vice president UK & Europe, said: “Not getting enough sleep on holiday can be really problematic, especially when you’ve booked your getaway to spend quality time with a partner, friends or family. 

“That is why we are focused on helping guests recharge and rejuvenate. Whether cruising the Mediterranean in the peak summer months or sailing the icy straits of Alaska, all staterooms temperatures can be adjusted, while the luxury bed is perfect for getting the best possible night's sleep.” 

Top 5 Sleep Tips

Dr Breus’s top tips for a good night’s sleep on holiday are: 

1. Stick to your normal bedtime if possible as consistency is key. When sleep has a regular rhythm, your biological clock will be in sync and your body will continue to operate normally. 

2. If you’re in warmer climates give the sun ‘a high.5’ first thing. Getting outside in the sun for 15 minutes each morning – within 15-30 minutes of waking up – helps to regulate the production of melatonin, the sleep hormone. Your internal body clock (the circadian rhythm) runs on a 24-hour schedule and functions best when you are exposed to a regular pattern of light and dark. 

3. No alcohol within three hours of bedtime. While alcohol can make you sleepy, it doesn’t help you achieve restful sleep. In fact, alcohol prevents you from reaching the deep stages of sleep, dehydrates you and awakens you in the middle of the night (usually to go to the bathroom). 

4. Staying active can help speed the transition of your body clock and make you more prepared to sleep at your new bedtime. Whether that’s a brisk walk around the promenade, a tranquil yoga class, or a high-powered spin class. Avoid exercise within three to four hours before bedtime as it can stimulate the mind and energise the body in ways that interfere with sleep. 

5. To unwind before bed, choose a relaxing activity such as taking a warm shower or reading a book to put you in sleep mode. If you do read, choose a paper book instead of an e-reader as they emit light that can stimulate your brain and keep you awake. Before bedtime, skip TV and computer games which can also be too stimulating.

   Try the luxury bed for yourself
   

   The Princess Luxury Bed is available on all cruises and includes fine linens, enhanced mattress support and individually wrapped coils, as well as different types of king size pillows with feathers or anti-allergy Oh, and definitely no peas!,

   There are some great offers currently available. For example, Princess Cruises is offering a 7-day Scandinavia cruise on Crown Princess, sailing roundtrip from Southampton. Departing Saturday July 4, 2020 ports of call include Kristiansand (Norway), Copenhagen (Denmark), Skagen (Denmark) and Oslo (Norway). Prices from £749 with up to $250 onboard spending money available per person. 
   
   For more information or to book visit www.princess.com, speak to your local travel agent or call 0344 338 8663.