You really want to go on a cruise, but you also want to go to a spa to get in shape and maybe a little pampering. In today’s world you can do both. Years ago she was lucky enough to find a spa on a cruise ship. If there was one, it was in a really remote part of the ship. In terms of physical fitness, there was very little equipment and most of them were tired. As people became more conscious of their appearance and health, cruise lines revised their thinking. Cruise voyages can now double as a spa vacation, along with learning a new fitness program.
The newer cruise ships have gone out of their way to accommodate the cruise passenger who also wants to beautify and tone up. Cruise lines have installed state-of-the-art equipment, added numerous exercise classes, and offer the newest beauty treatments available. Many of the cruise lines have relocated their gyms to the upper decks of the ships with lots of windows so you can have a view while you’re on the treadmill, biking, or lifting weights. Tucked away in the corner is a large TV so you can watch the news from home. The cruise ships now have three distinct areas, one for fitness, one for spa treatments and one for the beauty salon.
As mentioned, gyms on cruise ships are now something to behold. All of them will definitely have treadmills, Stairmasters, free weight rowing machines, and bikes. Some cruise lines even have complete Nautilus machines. Popular exercise machines, especially on sea days, may require you to sign up for a particular time of day and will limit the amount of time you can use the machine.
If you want to use your cruise voyage as a vehicle to start a fitness regimen, there are fitness trainers on board. Their services, however, will cost you more. The trainer will ask you many questions about your health and diet, and then develop a personalized regimen for you. He or she will then set aside times throughout the week for you to work together.
All cruise lines offer exercise classes, yoga, aerobics, dance, water aerobics, even Pilates and kickboxing. Some of these may require a small fee. To find out when these classes are held, check your daily bulletin for times and fees, if applicable.
Now, you’re thinking why should I start a fitness regimen while on a cruise, especially since they serve all that food 24 hours a day? Well, along with the newest, shiniest, and best facilities, the cruise lines have also instituted what they call a spa kitchen. Every day they will offer a “lighter” menu if you are really serious about your new fitness regimen.
Don’t assume if the ship is older it won’t have a decent gym and spa area. Check with your cruise travel agent to find out what facilities are on board your chosen cruise ship. For example, the QE2 is an older ship but has a beautifully equipped spa with great staff. Celebrity’s slightly older Century has a thalassotherapy pool for the enjoyment of her passengers and has become quite popular with her cruise ships.
When you board your cruise head to the spa area. Usually on the first day, the staff will explain their treatments and occasionally demonstrate how it’s done. Sometimes they will raffle treatments, so go to the demo for that reason alone. If you have definitely decided that you are going to have some treatments, book them on the first day to get the best times. Any salon appointments should be made at that time as well, formal evening hair appointments go very quickly.
Many times the spa and beauty staff will discount their services on the days the ship is in port. If you are going to some cruise destinations that you have already visited before, take advantage of these offers. You will find that you can choose the time of day to perform these treatments with little to no competition. If you are an early riser, choose a date in the morning and then get off the boat to enjoy that port. Or, conversely, disembark early to explore your new port, then return to the ship in the early afternoon to take advantage of discounted treatment.
When you go to your spa appointment, don’t wear jewelry or fancy clothes. Most treatments are a bit complicated, and you don’t want to ruin any of your belongings. It is best to wear a robe. When you get there, an attendant will give you a towel and a private locker to store your things. You may then be asked to wait in a room. Your technician will come out to take you to the designated room for that particular application. You will also fill out a form about your health and any surgeries you have had. The room you are in will most likely have a shower. It will definitely have a sound system to play relaxing music and there will be a variety of exotic oils and creams.
Cruise ship spas have gotten pretty creative. They now offer couples massages where you and your partner are in the same room with different masseurs. Then there are the four-hand massages where two people work on you at the same time. Some of the cruise lines offer in-suite massages and some even have massages on deck.
By far the highest percentage of staff are women, but there are a few men. If you have a preference between male or female spa technicians, please indicate this when making your appointment. Some people feel uncomfortable lying naked on a table with a therapist of the opposite sex. Please refer to the cruise ship’s policy on gratuities. Some cruise lines automatically add a 15% charge to your bill, while others may require you to pay in cash. To avoid embarrassment, check when you make your appointments.
There are three lines that allow you to do your spa reinforcements before boarding the ship. Princess, Windstar and Celebrity offer this option. In some cases they even have packages that you can book in advance. Be careful here though, you might get some appointments very early in the morning which means you have to go and change them on the first day. This is not the best policy as they should give you prime appointments to book in advance.
Beauty salons will offer a full range of services. You can get your nails done, hair dyed, or hand and foot treatments, plus a simple trim. Most beauty salons have European staff. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. Places like Austria require their beauty students to attend the equivalent of our university.
See, it’s possible to turn your cruise into a spa vacation or a week of fitness. Just follow what your trainer or your beauty techniques tell you and eat the spa kitchen. You’ve just achieved three goals, a little pampering, an exercise regimen, and a light, healthy diet. This may be a new way of looking at cruise travel.
Happy cruising!
Copyright © Maria Hanna, All Rights Reserved.
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