Anytime Fitness has become the first franchise operator to have a presence on all seven continents – following the launch of a gym onboard the Magellan Explorer ship.

The Magellan Explorer is the newest cruise ship operated by Antarctica21, a company offering tours of the world's coldest continent.

The gym is equipped with cardio and strength-training equipment from Life Fitness, along with a wide array of free weights.

Every guest aboard the ship will have access to the facility 24 hours a day.

Anytime Fitness is now the only franchise – beating the likes of food giants Subway, Pizza Hut and McDonald's – to have locations operating on all seven continents.

Having a presence on all seven continents is a long-time vision of Anytime Fitness Chuck Runyon.

"We're truly taking our mission, 'To improve the self-esteem of the world,' to another level," Runyon said.

"It's something our brand takes incredibly seriously, and it's up to our leadership team to make our vision a reality.

"Being the only franchise to operate on all seven continents and land a gym on the coldest, windiest, driest region of the world was no easy feat but was a necessary step in contributing to our mission."

Tickets sold out for the Magellan Explorer's inaugural sail in June of 2019, which left shore for its first voyage on Thursday, November 28.

Anytime Fitness was launched in 2002 and has since expanded rapidly. It currently has 4,500 locations around the world.