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Shipboard spas have evolved over the years. Remember the old days when you were limited to one or two kinds of spa treatments?
Today, though, if you're considering a cruise and want to include a spa as part of the experience, you have lots of choices.
To help you decide which cruise line is the best fit for you, we reached out to a few of the industry’s high-end cruise lines — from big ships to river cruise ships — to get the latest details on their spa offerings. Here are some of the best.
Sumptuous Crystal Cruises knows how to pour on the spa delights at its Feng Shui-inspired Crystal Spa and Salon. The spa offers guests high-end spa products and treatments — massages, acupuncture, body wraps and facial services — and has introduced Medi-Spa Cosmetic Treatments to its menu of services: Target Wrinkle Treatments, Dermal Filler Treatment, and the Thermage CPT. Guests can also attend informational on-board seminars on topics such as non-surgical face lifts and liquid face lifts, as well as the latest in facial rejuvenation and skin tightening.
Crystal has also unveiled a Quartz Crystal treatment bed, with warm crystals that mold and shape around the body to release muscle tension, detoxify and promote a deeper relaxation. Two new specialty massages make use of this technology — a hot mineral body massage and a poultice-powered muscle release massage.
For true spa aficionados, Holland America Line’s new ship, Koningsdam, which debuted in April 2016, features the Spa Suites and Staterooms that passengers have come to know on other Holland America ships, including Eurodam, Nieuw Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Statendam and Veendam. The Spa Staterooms and Suites, which are located near the Greenhouse Spa and Salon, offer guests easy access to the spa and feature in-room spa amenities such as yoga mats, an iPod docking station, and a plug-in water fountain that enhances in-stateroom serenity. These staterooms also facilitate exclusive spa treatments.
Ultra-luxe guests sailing on a Seabourn cruise should opt for the Penthouse Spa Suites. The all-suite cruise line features these accommodations that provide complimentary full-day access to The Spa at Seabourn, plus each suite includes spa amenities, spa concierge services, a spacious full tub and shower, a complimentary in-suite bar stocked with guest’s preferences, and 24-hour complimentary room service. The Penthouse Spa Suites also offer guests products from Molton Brown, L’Occitane, Hermes, Salvatore Ferragamo and Baudelaire.
In addition to a relaxing onboard oasis, some cruise lines offer wellness-focused programs, such as the one aboard Silversea’s Silver Discoverer. The line’s Wellness Expedition voyages are offered on the ship’s 10- to 18-day sailings through Southeast Asia and the South Pacific. For these wellness-focused itineraries, Silversea partnered with Technogym to create a complimentary program that includes yoga and Pilates, both conducted on board or ashore depending on the location; water aerobics, stretch and tone sessions; gym sessions led by personal trainers; and a choice of a complimentary spa massage treatment. Guests can also participate in daily lectures and cooking demonstrations.
Guests sailing aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 750-guest Seven Seas Explorer, which will debut this July in Europe, can take time to relish at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub. The spa will offer a selection of ultra-luxurious treatments developed by Canyon Ranch in conjunction with beauty experts Red Flower, and Regent calls it "the most luxurious spa at sea."
Before treatments, guests can relax on heated loungers with seating surfaces contoured to promote ergonomic relaxation and warm the skin and tissue for a deep relaxation. Guests are then taken to one of eight treatment rooms where they’ll experience one of Red Flower’s signature treatments designed exclusively for the Seven Seas Explorer. Afterward, guests can “soak in” the spa’s amenities: the thermal suite, where hot-to-cold experiences such as an infrared sauna soothe muscles; the aromatic steam room, which eases muscles into a sense of healing and relaxation; the cold room, which mimics cold plunges thus stimulating circulation; and a soothing shower room. Other spa amenities include a private deck with lounge chairs and an infinity-edge plunge pool. Several of the treatments wiil premiere on Explorer before transitioning to other ships in the fleet.
High-end cruise line Scenic offers a Wellness Center on its ships where guests can get a treatment while sailing some of the world’s most beautiful rivers. Guests can opt for the 30-minute River Breeze Facial; ideal for those on a time crunch, it includes a cleanse and exfoliation mask, followed by a massage. For those who have more time, there’s the 90-minute Diamond Signature Facial or the 60-minute full-body Aroma Oil massage.
The line has also added Vitality pools to its two new ships, Scenic Opal and Scenic Jasper.
On board Ponant’s newest ship, the 122-stateroom and -suite — and very chic — Le Lyrial, guests relax at the 2-treatment room Ponant Yacht Spa. Included in its array of facial and massage treatments is the 3-hour Odyssey treatment, which includes an anti-aging Collagene Hyaluronique treatment, a customized peeling and modeling combined with an aroma of choice, a moisture treatment, and a hands beauty ritual. Guests can unwind before or after the treatment at the hammam.
