| You really want to take a cruise but you also really | | | | Many times the spa and beauty staff will discount their |
| want to go to a spa for physical fitness and maybe a | | | | services on days when the ship is in port. If you are |
| little pampering. In the world today you can do both. | | | | going to a few cruise destinations that you have |
| Years ago you were lucky to find a spa on a cruise | | | | previously visited, take advantage of these offers. You |
| ship. If there was one, it was in a really remote area of | | | | will find that you can pick your time of day to get |
| the ship. As for physical fitness there was very little | | | | these treatments done with little or no competition. If |
| equipment and most of it was tired. When people | | | | you are an early riser, choose an appointment in the |
| started to become more conscious of their looks and | | | | morning and then get off the ship to enjoy that port. |
| health the cruise lines revised their way of thinking. | | | | Or, conversely, disembark early to explore your new |
| Cruise travel now can double as a spa vacation as | | | | port, and then return to the ship in the early afternoon |
| well as learning a new physical fitness program. | | | | to take advantage of a discounted treatment. |
| The newer cruise ships have gone to great lengths to | | | | When you go to your spa appointment, do not wear |
| accommodate the cruise passenger who also wants | | | | jewelry or fancy clothes. Most treatments are a bit |
| to beautify and tone up. The cruise lines have installed | | | | messy and you don't want to ruin any of your |
| state of the art equipment, added numerous exercise | | | | belongings. It is best just to wear a robe. When you |
| classes, and offer the newest beauty treatments | | | | get there an attendant will give you a towel and a |
| available. Many of the cruise lines have relocated their | | | | private locker to put away your things. You may then |
| fitness centers to the top decks of the ships with lots | | | | be asked to wait in a room. Your technician will come |
| of windows so you can have a view while you are on | | | | out to take you to the room designated for that |
| the treadmill, bike, or lifting weights. Tucked up into the | | | | particular application. You will also fill out a form on your |
| corner is a big TV so you can watch the news from | | | | health and any surgeries that you have had. The room |
| back home. The cruise ships now have three distinct | | | | you are in will most likely have a shower. It will definitely |
| areas, one for fitness, one for spa treatments and one | | | | have a sound system to play soothing music and |
| for the beauty salon. | | | | there will be an array of exotic oils and creams. |
| As mentioned, the fitness centers on cruise ships are | | | | The cruise ship spas have gotten quite creative. They |
| now a thing to behold. They all will definitely have | | | | now offer couples massages where you and your |
| treadmills, Stairmasters, free weights rowing machines | | | | partner are in the same room with different massage |
| and bikes. Some cruise lines even have complete | | | | therapists. Then there are four hand massages where |
| Nautilus machines. Popular exercise machines, | | | | two people work on you at the same time. Some of |
| especially on sea days, may require you to sign up for | | | | the cruise lines offer in suite massages and some |
| a particular time of day and will limit the amount of time | | | | even have massages on the deck. |
| you can use the machine. | | | | By far the highest percentage of staff are women but |
| If you want to use your cruise travel as a vehicle to | | | | there a few men. If you have a preference between |
| start an exercise regime there are physical trainers | | | | male or female spa technicians, state it when you |
| onboard. Their services, however, will cost you extra. | | | | make your appointment. Some people are |
| The trainer will ask you lots of questions about your | | | | uncomfortable lying naked on a table with a therapist |
| health and diet and then will come up with a personal | | | | of the opposite sex. Check the cruise ships policy on |
| regime for you. He or she will then book times through | | | | tipping. Some cruise lines automatically tack on a 15% |
| the week for you to work together. | | | | charge to your bill while on others you may have to |
| All cruise lines offer exercise classes, yoga, aerobics, | | | | pay in cash. To save embarrassment, check at the |
| dance, water aerobics, even Pilates and kickboxing. | | | | time you make your appointments. |
| Some of these may require a slight fee. To find out | | | | There are three lines that allow you to make your spa |
| when these classes are held consult your daily bulletin | | | | appoints before boarding the ship. Princess, Windstar |
| for times and fees, if any. | | | | and Celebrity all offer this option. In some cases they |
| Now, you're thinking why would I start a physical | | | | even have packages that you can book in advance. |
| fitness regime while on a cruise ship, especially since | | | | Be careful here though, they may give you some very |
| they serve all that food, 24 hours a day? Well along | | | | early morning appointments which means you have to |
| with the newer, shinier and better facilities the cruise | | | | go and change them on the very first day. This is not |
| lines have also instituted what they call spa cuisine. | | | | the best policy since they should be giving you prime |
| Everyday they will offer a "lighter side" menu if you | | | | appointments for booking ahead. |
| are really serious about you new physical fitness | | | | Beauty salons will offer a full array of services. You |
| regime. | | | | can have your nails done, your hair colored or hand |
| Don't assume that if the ship is older, it won't have a | | | | and foot treatments aside from just a trim. Most of the |
| decent fitness and spa area. Check with your cruise | | | | beauty salons have Europeans staffs. That is not |
| travel agent to find out what facilities are onboard the | | | | necessarily a bad thing. Places like Austria require their |
| cruise ship you have chosen. For instance, the QE2 is | | | | beauty students to go to the equivalent of our college. |
| an older ship but it has a beautifully outfitted spa with a | | | | See, it is possible to turn your cruise into a spa |
| large staff. Celebrity's slight older Century has a | | | | vacation or physical fitness week. Just follow what |
| Thalassotherapy pool for their passenger's enjoyment | | | | your trainer or your beauty technicians tell you and eat |
| and it has become quite popular among their cruisers. | | | | the spa cuisine. You've just achieved three goals, a little |
| When you board your cruise ship go to the spa area. | | | | bit of pampering, a fitness regime, and a light and |
| Usually on the first day the staff will be explaining their | | | | healthy diet. This may be a new way for you to view |
| treatments and occasionally demonstrate how it is | | | | cruise travel. |
| done. Sometimes they will raffle off treatments, so go | | | | Happy Cruising! |
| to the demonstration just for that reason. If you have | | | | Copyright © Mary Hanna, All Rights Reserved. |
| definitely decided that you will be doing some | | | | This article may be distributed freely on your website |
| treatments, book them on day one to get the best | | | | and in your ezines, as long as this entire article, |
| times. Any beauty salon appointments should be made | | | | copyright notice, links and the resource box are |
| then too, hair appointments for formal night go very | | | | unchanged. |
| quickly. | | | | |