When it finally comes to the day of your cruise, you’ll be rushed off your feet (believe it or not); the journey down to port, queuing for embarkation, settling into your cabin, taking that first excitable tour of the ship, rushing to get ready on the evening because you’re just too excited for your first onboard meal.
All of this is part of the cruise experience and it’s one you won’t forget, but we all need a break (even on holiday), but we’re talking about a certain type of break: a spa break. Whether it’s a soothing massage you need, a refreshing facial, some telling reflexology or even just a bubbling jazuzzi with a glass of bubbly to match.
Every cruise line knows what you need so narrow down your choices with our definitive guide to cruise ship spas- you’ll leave with all your questions answered and a craving for a full body wrap that you probably didn’t have before…
Carnival
Spa Carnival
For Carnival, relaxation starts with your first step into the spa where the soothing ambiance will hit you. Your revitilisation begins with premium beauty and wellness therapies where hot stone massages, aromatherapy and full-body wraps are at your fingertips.
Medi-Spa
Whilst Carnival encourage that your beauty comes from within (and will feel more so after a massage or two), there are Botox or Dysport treatments on offer with a Medi-spa physician and licensed medical doctor. The non-surgical, anti-wrinkle procedures will give you results in a matter of days and last for months so you can keep that holiday feeling going past the day you disembark your Carnival cruise.
ZSpa
Carnival are attuned with their guests’ needs so have a special spa just for teenagers. The ZSPA features trendy hairstyles and pedicures with the chance to try your hand at yoga and other various specialized fitness classes, but don’t worry if the teens just feel like indulging in some simple relaxation, Carnival guarantees that here too.
Cloud 9
Carnival designed guests an area that is strictly a place to unwind from the excitement of the ship and indulge in ultimate relaxation. The secret ingredients include massages, body wraps, facials, thermal suites and more.
And for the icing on the cake, choose out of Carnival Breeze, Carnival Dream, Carnival Magic and Carnival Splendor for the Thalassotherapy Pool designed to treat and relax the muscles and joints.
Explore everything else about Carnival here…
Celebrity
Canyon Ranch Spa Club
One of the world’s leading spas offers you world-class treatments and a legendary experience you won’t forget. Whether you start with an energising facial or a restorative hot stone massage, you’ll find every treatment has that Canyon Ranch special touch.
You can start with some relaxation in the Persian Garden to embrace the reason behind its design: there is a belief that dates back thousands of years that moving water and changing body temperatures are beneficial for the body. It’s a peaceful oasis that offers aquatic experiences, from aromatic steam to tropical showers.
No doubt your cruise will be fun-filled and jam-packed so at some point your body will need a treatment! Canyon Ranch offers you a Detoxifying Ritual that will be immersive and multi-sensory with Moroccan mint tea, lemons and olive stones to detoxify the skin; along with the use of clay to draw out imperfections before a soothing massage.
Or opt for an Aromatherapy Muscle Soother designed to release tightened muscles and ease tension, or an Awakening Massage will awake both your mind and body.
After touring the whole ship for a few days your feet will need some TLC, so with the Canyon Ranch Healthy Feet treatment you’ll enjoy a herbal salt bath before an experienced and friendly technician gets to work on your tired toes.
Discover more to Celebrity cruises by clicking here…
Cunard
Royal Spa
Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria present to you the Royal Spa and invite you on a journey of self-discovery. Head to the Royal Bath House for the Thermal suite (inspired by ancient healing practices), and the Hydrotherapy Pool for bubbles that’ll make you feel brand new.
Couples can make the most of the Chakra Rasul where an ancient Eastern cleansing ritual offers a herbal steam chamber to withdraw impurities and boost the skin.
Canyon Ranch Spa Club
Queen Mary 2 Remastered champions this sanctuary of calm where their signature massages, treatments and facials will have you feeling renewed in no time. The classic Canyon Stone Massage and Rasul Ceremony will grant you a steam room, thrones and romantic glow of tiny lights to top everything off.
Thai treatments, aqua therapy and organic body wraps are all available for guests using the Canyon Ranch Spa Club.
Everything you need to know about Cunard can be found by clicking here!
Disney
Believe it or not, this line isn’t just focused on kid-friendly activities and Disney-themed-everything! A Sanctuary for the Senses presents to you the Senses Spa & Salon where adults can dive into their own kind of bliss.
The adult setting features a rainforest-themed aromatherapy steam room, a dry sauna fashioned after a Roman bath and private luxury villas.
There’s a Chill Spa for teens aged 13-17 and all beauty and spa treatments are available for some simple, guaranteed relaxation, but how about the Rejuvenation Spa? You’ll start with a 30-minute consultation to determine which of the four groundbreaking treatments is for you- your spa experience is tailored to you.
Delve into the rest of Disney here!
Fred Olsen
This line understands a spa needs to be something special on a fleet of small, friendly ships; welcome to Atlantic Spa. Fred Olsen want to tailor every treatment to you so rest assured that every facial, body or massage treatment will ease away your personal tension, rejuvenate any aching muscles or joints, and create a sensual experience for the mind.
You can choose from hair styling and colouring, manicures and pedicures, waxing and tinting if beauty treatments is more up your street for your cruise, and if this is something you want to treat someone else then feel free to book one of the Atlantis Spa treatments are the perfect gift for a friend or family member a few days before you travel.
If you want to know more on friendly Fred Olsen, click here…
HAL
Let your inner beauty flourish at the Greenhouse Spa & Salon where Holland America’s renowned spa rituals and healing touches from around the world. The line welcomes you with signature treatments like their sensory scalp massage (with essence of aromatherapy), bright eyes treatment (a hydrating treatment for tired eyes), and a revitalizing tired foot and ankle massage (a cure for soreness and sluggish ciculation).
Take yourself off to the social relaxation centre onboard that goes by the name of the Greenhouse Retreat where therapeutic mild sauna and steam grottos and showers are there for you to move between as you wish, before relaxing on heated ceramic lounges.
All you need to know on Holland America can be found here!
MSC
An authentic Balinese Spa is just what you need onboard an MSC cruise with each spa itself boasting an exotic interior of natural stone, precious woods and rich mosaics.
You’ll feel renewed from head to toe after choosing from the extensive range of money-saving spa and beauty treatments, not to mention the traditional Barber shop and nail boutique that’ll offer you something outside of the general spa experiences you may have had before.
MSC go that little bit further than your regular spa too- you can enjoy an ‘Enjoy the colour’ exclusive wellness cocktails in the Spa bar based on the concept of the five colours of nature; Teenage Kicks are 11 super-value treatments especially for the teens; and electroportation, a non-invasive, anti-ageing treatment.
If you want to know all about MSC Cruises, then click here to find out more!
NCL
Once voted ‘World’s Best Spa‘ by the World Spa Awards, this is Mandara Spa. You can choose from over 50 speciality treatments and onboard spas that range from classic to ultra-luxurious.
Slip into serenity with a thermal suite pass that is based on the concept of Turkish baths and where you’ll find heated ceramic lounge chairs, Thalasso Therapy pool, hot tubs, steam rooms and tropical showers.
Some salon favourites include an Elemis Frangipani Conditioning Hair and Scalp Ritual where the oil used is legendary for its ritual uses in Tahiti, and the Elemis Sole Delight with Pedicure where warmed aromatherapy oils will nourish and condition your feet and nails, instantly kicking some healing action into your feet.
All is revealed on Norwegian Cruise Line if you click just here…
P&O
P&O offers you pretty much every treatment you could wan onboard your cruise, including access to some Hydropool Water Therapy onboard Arcadia and Britannia for high-powered jets to invigorate, renew and relieve; Thermal Powers aboard Arcadia, Azura, Britannia and Ventura to purify the skin with an aromatic sauna and tropical shower; steam rooms and saunas on Arcadia, Ventura and Azura for guaranteed relaxation.
The Oasis Teen Spa boasts exclusive treatments tailored for teenagers and designed to combat concerns whilst enhancing on-trend tastes. But if the adults fancy something with a slight edge, head to The Retreat for some alfresco pampering onboard Britannia, Ventura and Azura. The panoramic views will make for a brilliant backdrop to sea day/spa day combined.
Note that numbers are limited with a pass to The Retreat so get in quick and you’ll have your very own sun lounger, VIP service from the Retreat stewards and your own bathrobe, slippers and towels to relax in whilst you’re served complimentary smoothies and snacks.
Discover everything else you need to know about P&O Cruises by clicking here!
Princess
The Lotus Spa
Named the Best Spa On A Cruise Ship by Spa Finder Wellness 365 , this offers you the likes of aroma stone therapy massages and detoxifying ocean wraps for the ultimate relaxing cruise activity. A manicure or pedicure is waiting for you in the salon with all the attentive service you need to tailor this beauty treatment to your personal needs.
And the relaxing moments go further than a massage onboard Princess Cruises; renew your mind, body and spirit with some yoga on deck, or eve Tai Chi to make the most of the flowing moments on your cruise.
The Sanctuary
This adults-only retreat takes over the top deck for a spa-inspired area for everyone needing to relax. Guests can enjoy plush lounge furniture, attentive Serenity steward service, soothing music, healthy beverages and even an open-air massage on your own private cabana.
If you want to know more about Princess Cruise Line, click here for more info…
Royal Caribbean
Royal knows that vitality begins at the spa, along with your personal transformation. With a spa philosophy that echoes the wellness culture you can expect to feel zen-like.
Massages range from an Elemis Aroma Stone Therapy where the spicy, sensual aromas of the Orient will be used with traditional techniques to release muscular tension, to a Reflexology Massage that works on the Asian philosophy that the vital organs of the body are mirrored upon the soles of the feet so the use of pressure will help to rebalance and cleanse the organs.
Salon favourites including the Elemis Frangipani Conditioning Hair and Scalp Ritual and Elemis Sole Delight Foot Treatment with pedicure will use aromatherapy oils to soothe your skin and leave you feeling revitalized for days.
The rest of what you need to know on Royal Caribbean is revealed here…
Marella
Your timing for choosing your cruise ship spa couldn’t be better with Marella. The line is about to unveil Marella Explorer in May 2018 and the spas onboard will be three times the size of Marella Discovery 1 and 2! With the largest spa in the fleet, this ship could be your perfect peaceful haven for every massage, hot tub, whirlpool and beauty treatment you need to top off your cruise (not to mention a sunbathing deck strictly for adults…)
Spa packages are available on every Marella ship as an upgrade and extra with professional stylists ready to polish you to radiance and the menu ticks off hair and facial treatments, as well as hand and foot care, body scrubs and therapies like reflexology and shiatsu to really tailor the treatment to your needs. You’ll leave the ship feeling a million pounds…
Find out everything you need to know about Marella cruises here…
That was your definitive guide to all cruise ship spas! Which is your favourite? Have you experienced any of them yourself? What’s missing from cruise ship spas? Or do you feel there’s every treatment and experience offered on every ship? Leave us your comments and take a look at some more of our useful guides below…
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