Spas and Wellness

Spas and Wellness

The “feel good factor” is alive and well aboard the latest cruise ships, which offer a growing array of body-pampering treatments to renew your sense of well-being

As we constantly move in “fast-forward” mode we create stress, our energy becomes impaired. Muscles become taut and knotted. So, taking time out to pamper ourselves is a good way to combine “me” vacation time with moments of indulgence.

Land-based health spas have long provided a range of body treatments and services for those who wanted to hide away at a venue (health farm) in the countryside. With the increase in awareness of the body beautiful and the importance of well-being has come a whole new array of shipboard spas to rival those on land, particularly in the range of body-pampering treatments available. Today’s cruise ships have elaborate spas where, for an extra fee, whole days of almost continuous treatments are on offer. Once the domain of adult women, spas now cater almost as equally to men.

A visit to the ship’s spa will help you to relax and feel pampered. Many people not used to spas may find some of the terminology daunting: aromatherapy, hydrotherapy, ionithermie, rasul, thalassotherapy. But don’t worry, spa staff are used to first-time users, and will help you choose the massage or other treatment that best suits you and your needs. It’s a good idea to visit the spa on embarkation day, when staff will be on hand to show you round, and answer your questions.

Facilities
Large resort ships will have a large gymnasium with ocean views, saunas, steam rooms, rasul chamber, several body treatment rooms, thalassotherapy pool, relaxation area, changing/locker rooms, and a beauty salon. Some ships even have acupuncture treatment clinics, and some have a built-in juice bar.

Thermal suites
Thermal Suites (no, they’re not specially insulated cabins) are private areas that provide a combination of various warm scented rain showers, saunas, steam rooms, thalassotherapy (saltwater) pools and relaxation zones offer the promise of ultimate relaxation. While most ships do not charge for use of the sauna or steam room, some make a per-day charge (examples: MSC Musica $30; Norwegian Gem $20; Queen Mary 2, $25).

Spa suites
Some ships have “spa suites,” which include spa access and even a treatment or two (whereas regular cabin occupants pay extra to use the sauna/steam room/relaxation rooms), and special spa amenities (examples: Costa Concordia, Costa Luminosa, Costa Pacifica, Costa Serena, Europa), and even a special spa-food-menu-only restaurant (examples: Celebrity Solstice, Costa Concordia, Costa Serena).

Spa design
The latest sea-going spas have Asian-themed decor as an aid to relaxation, with warm woods and gently flowing water to provide a natural aesthetic environment aimed to caress and soothe, with therapy staff dressed in Balinese attire. But interior designers often forget to include dimmers and mood lighting, particularly in reception areas, where lighting is often too bright.

Pampering treatments
Stress reducing and relaxation treatments are featured, combined with the use of seawater, which contains minerals, micronutrients, and vitamins. Massages might include Swedish remedial massage, shiatsu, and aromatherapy oils. You can even get a massage on your private balcony aboard some ships.

Having body-pampering treatments aboard a cruise ship can be wonderful, as the ship can provide a serene environment in itself; so, when enhanced by something like a massage or facial, the benefits can be more therapeutic. Ship interior designers do, however, need to pay more attention to soundproofing so that facilities can be used at all hours (lighting dimmers are also essential – it’s surprising how often this simple, but essential, item is overlooked). Examples of poor soundproofing include the treatment rooms aboard Golden Princess, Grand Princess, where they are located directly underneath a sports court. So, before you actually book your relaxing massage, find out if the treatment rooms are quiet enough.

Unfortunately, treatments are usually available only until about 8pm, whereas some passengers would welcome being able to have a massage late at night before retiring to bed (the problem is that most shipboard spas are run by concessions, with well-being treated as a daytime-only event). Also, be aware that the latest ‘con’ in the revenue game is to charge more for treatments on days at sea, and lower on port days. Check the daily program for “port day specials” and packages that make prices more palatable.

Some of the smaller, more upscale ships now offer “Spa Days” with a whole day of body-pampering treatments (often termed “wellness packages”). Expect to pay up to $500 a day in addition to the basic cruise cost.

Fitness centers
A typical large resort ship spa will include a gymnasium, probably with ocean-view windows. Virtual-reality exercise machines and weapons of mass reduction are found in the techno-gyms aboard most large resort ships, with state-of-the-art equipment muscle-pumping and body-strengthening equipment, universal stations, treadmills, bicycles, rowing machines, and free weights.

Most fitness centers are open only until early evening (one exception: NCL ships, whose gyms are open 24 hours a day). And if you’ve forgotten your workout clothes, you can probably purchase new items on board.

Typical exercise classes
These include aerobics (for beginners, intermediate, and advanced), high intensity/low impact aerobics, step aerobics, interval training, stretch and relax, super body sculpting, fab abdominals, sit and be fit, and walk-a-mile.

Group exercycling, kick-boxing, pilates and yoga classes, body composition analysis, and sessions with a personal trainer, will cost extra.

Massage
Having a massage aboard ship is a treat that more people are discovering. Today, many ships have suites and cabins with a “private” balcony, although you’ll need a balcony with plenty of space in order to set up a proper portable massage table and allow the masseur/masseuse room to walk around it and work from all sides. It can be a real stress-busting experience, but if it’s not right it can prove frustrating, and expensive.

Here are some of my favourite massages (always taken in the late afternoon or early evening, preferably just before sundown):

Aboard Celebrity Constellation, Celebrity Infinity, Celebrity Millennium, Celebrity Summit (on the balcony of a Sky Suite).
Aboard Royal Clipper (in a private massage hut on an outside deck).
Aboard SuperStar Virgo (on the floor of a junior suite bedroom).
Inside a beach cabana ashore on Castaway Cay or Half Moon Cay in the Bahamas, or as part of the beach, caviar and champagne experience of ships such as SeaDream I and II in the British Virgin Islands.

Make appointments for a massage as soon after embarkation as possible, so you can obtain the time and day of your choice. Large resort ships have more staff and offer more flexibility in appointment times, although cruises tend to be shorter than those aboard smaller, more upscale ships. The cost averages $2 a minute. In some ships, a massage service may be available in your cabin (or on your private balcony), if it is large enough to accommodate a portable massage table.

While it’s easy to telephone and make an appointment for a massage or facial or two (some cruise lines let you do this online), do watch the cost. When you charge treatments to your onboard account, remember that gratuities are often added automatically (typically 10–15%). Elixirs of youth, lotions and potions, creams and scrubs – all are sold by therapists, typically at the end of your treatment, for you to use when you get home. But be warned, these are expensive items; beware of falling for sales talk.

A whole range of treatments and styles has evolved from the standard Swedish Remedial Massage. The most popular are:

Swedish Massage: There are two main effects of massage – a reflex effect and a mechanical effect. There are four basic movements in this general massage: effleurage (the stroking movements that benefit the circulation of lymphatic fluids and drainage), petrissage (the picking, kneading, rolling and wringing movements), friction (the application of circular pressure) and tapotement (percussive tapping, flicking and hacking movements that stimulate circulation).

Well-being Massage: This is really another term for general Swedish Massage but with more emphasis on effleurage movements, the use of complementary, warmed aromatic (aromatherapy) oils and four-hand massage (two therapists working rhythmically in unison).

Shiatsu Massage: This literally means “finger pressure” and in Japan for thousands of years has been applied to the pressure points of the body as a preventative measure. It typically promotes a peaceful awareness of both body and mind, and is administered in a calm, relaxed environment, without oil.

Hot Stones Massage: The therapist places 24 to 36 smooth basalt volcanic stones of varying sizes in a special oven. These are then applied to various key energy points of the body, using the stones to gently massage specific areas and muscles. The heated volcanic stones are then left in place while the therapist works on other parts of the body. The heat from the stones helps the body to achieve a sense of deep relaxation.

Ayurvedic Head Massage: Using a selection of warmed herbal oils, the therapist will apply the oil to the scalp, neck and shoulders to stimulate circulation and nourish the hair (you’ll need to wash your hair afterwards, as it will be extremely oily). Shirodhara is the form of Ayurvedic medicine that involves gently pouring warm oil (made from tulsi, or holy basil) over the forehead (including the “third eye”). Ayurveda is a compound word meaning life and knowledge.

Underwater Massage: You soak in a large tub of warm water, possibly with rose petals floating around you, while the therapist massages joints and muscles.

Sports Massage: Typically provided by a male therapist, sports massage is a deep-tissue massage designed to unlock the kinks and knots.

Lomi-Lomi Massage: This is a more rhythmic massage inspired by Hawaiian healing traditions that restore the free flow of “mana” or life force; it is typically given using warm aromatherapy oils, and may be a two-hand or four-hand massage.

Lymphatic Massage: This massage is designed to improve circulation by releasing body toxins and nodes that build up in key lymphatic points. This massage is usually recommended for those who have poor circulation or suffer from exhaustion.

Thai Massage: Uses pressure points and stretching techniques to stretch and relax muscles, improve circulation, and reduce stress.

Chinese Tuina: This is a therapeutic massage based on a diagnostic evaluation, manipulation of the joints and muscle fibers, and identification and prevention of wrong body postures, habits and degenerative conditions.

Couples Massage: Sometimes known as a “duet massage,” this is typically a 90-minute session for a couple that includes a hands-on lesson from a massage specialist on the art of massaging each other.

Ultimate Massage: Two therapists provide a synchronized full body massage, using Swedish massage movements to provide the ultimate in stress-busting relief. But it can be less than good if the two therapists are even slightly out of sync.

Other Treatments
While massage is the most popular shipboard spa treatment, some ships offer a whole range of body-pampering treatments, such as facials, manicures, pedicures, teeth whitening – even acupuncture. Most treatments are based on holistic Asian therapies. Some examples: Bali or Java, Indonesia (ural and pijat massage; mandi lulur, a scrub made from herbs, essential oils and rice to soften the skin; Balinese boreh (a warm herb, rice, spice, galangal water and oil body wrap for detoxification); China (acupuncture); Japan (shiatsu massage; enzyme baths made from warmed finely shaved cedar chips, rice bran and vegetable enzymes to improve the metabolic system); Malaysia (Malay massage, which focuses on the body’s 600,666 nerves); Philippines (Hilot massage, using virgin coconut oil and banana leaves); Thailand (Thai massage, or nuad boran).
Typically, the spa will provide items such as towels, robes and slippers, but it’s best to store valuables safely in your cabin prior to your appointment.

Don’t worry about having to get naked; you’ll typically change into a robe and slippers in the men’s or women’s changing rooms. You then go to the treatment room, and the therapist will leave while you disrobe and lie down, placing a towel over your body, ready for massage. Some spas offer disposable panties for body treatments such as a Body Salt Glow or Seaweed Wrap. They may be optional, or mandatory.

Acupuncture
This can be used to prevent and remedy many maladies. Moxibustion is the treatment which involves hair-thin needles and heat transfer based on a special plant, the Artemisa Capillaris, placed into one of the more than 1,100 acupuncture points located along the meridians of the body.

Body scrub
The aim of this treatment is to cleanse and soften the skin, and to draw out impurities from within, using ¬aromatic oils, creams, lotions, and perhaps sea salt, together with exfoliation (removal of dead skin cells) using skin brushing techniques.

Body wrap
Often called a body mask, this treatment typically includes the use of algae and seaweeds applied to the whole body. The body is then covered in aluminium foil and blankets. There are many variations on this theme, using mud from the Dead Sea or Mediterranean Sea, or sea salt and ginger, or cooling cucumber and aloe, or combinations of herbs and oils that leave you with a warm glow. The aim of this treatment is to detoxify, firm and tone the skin, and reduce cellulite.

Dry flotation
This hydrobath gives you the sensation of floating without getting wet; you lie on a plush warm blanket between your body and the water. A therapist then ¬gently massages your head and neck while you drift to somewhere beyond.

Facials

Aromatherapy facial: This treatment typically uses aromatic oils such as lavender, sandalwood and geranium, plus a rejuvenating mask and accompanying creams and essences to “lift” the skin and facial muscles.

Rejuvenation facial: Typically a classic French facial which utilizes the latest skin care products that may include essential plant and vitamin-rich oils. This facial aims to reduce lines and wrinkles.

Rasul chamber
This is a steam chamber (also known as Hammam) that is typically fully tiled, featuring a domed roof and Moorish decor. When you enter, you paste yourself or your partner (it’s a much better experience with a partner) with three types of mud, and sit down while gentle steam surrounds you. The various types of mud become heated and then you’re in a mud bath, after which you rub yourself (and each other) with large crystals of rock salt. Then shower, sit, and relax, all in the privacy of the chamber. Your skin will visibly glow.

Reflexology
The body’s energy meridians exist as reflex points on the soles of the feet. The therapist uses thumb pressure to stimulate these points to improve circulation and restore energy flow throughout the body.

Thalassotherapy
The use of seawater to promote well-being and healing dates back to ancient Greece. Today, shipboard spas have whole bath rituals involving water and flower petals, herbs or mineral salts.

Sample prices
Prices of body-pampering treatments have escalated recently, and are now equal to the prices you would find at land-based spas in the United States. You can expect to pay up to:

$195 for a 75-minute Hot Stones Massage
$120 for a 50 minute Well-Being Massage
$190 for a 75-minute Seaweed Wrap
$120 for a 50-minute Reflexology Session

Spa cuisine
Originally designed as low-fat, low-calorie (almost tasteless) meals for weight loss using grains, greens, and sprouts, spa cuisine now includes whole grains, seasonal fruits and vegetables, and lean proteins – ingredients that are low in saturated fats and cholesterol, low-fat dairy products, and reduced salt. These ingredients provide the basis for balanced nutrition and portion sizes while maintaining a degree of flavor, texture and taste. Spa cuisine should be about using natural, not artificial, ingredients, flavor enhancers, coloring mediums, preservatives, or foods laden with sodium. To eat healthier meals, choose steamed or grilled items rather than baked or fried items.

Sports facilities
Sports facilities might include basketball and paddle tennis (a sort of downsized tennis court), and electronic golf simulators. Aboard some of the boutique/small “luxury” ships, facilities include kayaking, water-skiing, jet skiing, wake boarding are all included in the cruise fare. In reality, however, the watersports equipment is typically only used on one or two days (or part days) during a 7-day cruise.

10 Great Shipboard Spas

AIDAbella
Asuka II
Celebrity Solstice
Crystal Serenity
Emerald Princess
Europa
MSC Fantasia
Ocean Village Two
Queen Mary 2
Silver Shadow

The 10 Rules of Spa Etiquette

It is important to wear proper attire (including shoes) in the gym.
Wipe the equipment off with a clean towel (or sanitized cloth) after you have used it.
Limit your time on the equipment or in the hot tub to a maximum of 30 minutes when others are waiting.
Most ships allow jogging on a designated deck or area at selected times which will be posted. Adhere to the times posted because cabins are usually located directly below the designated deck and you may disturb fellow passengers who are sleeping.
If there’s a mixed sauna, men should not shave in it – it’s unclean, and uncool.
Arrive at least 10 minutes before your appointment.
Take a shower or wash off all suntan lotions or oils.
It’s better not to talk during a massage – simply close your eyes, relax and enjoy.
Shipboard spas are no-smoking zones – so no quick drag in the sauna.
You can cancel an appointment up to 24 hours before your treatment time without charge. If you cancel within the 24 hours before your appointment time, you will be charged for the treatment you booked.

See menu (at left) for more valuable info from the Berlitz Guide available on Seasite.com.

		Berlitz 2010 Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships

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