But when you sit down at your computer to research your next cruise vacation, you might very well want to know where to find the best spas at sea -- and we'll be there to help.

1. The Spa, Celebrity Cruises

First up is the The Spa, on board the ships of Celebrity Cruises. These are the spa cruises you want to book a spot on if you are looking for a luxurious and complete wellness package. Whether you want to clear your mind, fine-tune your body, reinvigorate your spirit—or all of the above—The Spa is a luxurious sanctuary where you can do it all.

For thousands of years, people have found that moving water and temperature variations provide relief for muscle and joint issues, speed the release of toxins from the body and promote deep relaxation. The Persian Garden pass includes use of the aquatherapy environments from aromatic steam to tropical rain showers for a rejuvenating experience. AquaClass guests enjoy unlimited access to The Persian Garden. Available on Millennium Series and Solstice Series ships.

Everyday is filled to the brim with a variety of enjoyable activities, where you can experience the relaxing treatment you deserve and need. To really give you the holistic experience of a spa cruise out at sea, most of their treatment room are equipped with floor-to-ceiling windows, giving you a view of the splendid deep-blue sea, adding another layer of tranquility on top of all the others.

Tip: Try out The Spa's signature treatments Enhancing Vitamin Therapy facial, a powerful treatment that purifies, micro-exfoliates and rehydrates the skin, or the Stone Massage, where they perform careful pressure point treatment with warm, smooth basalt stones.

 

2. Liv Nordic Spa, Viking Ocean Cruises

Next in line is the Liv Nordic Spa on the Viking Ocean Cruise ships. These spa ship cruises tie every aspect of the experience back to Nordic roots and traditions. This is prominent in their spa offering, where they experiment with the balance between hot and cold therapies. Liv Nordic Spas’ most notable feature is it’s snow grotto/snow room. The snow grotto gives you the experience of standing in a light snowfall where snowflakes fall from the ceiling through chilled air, a cooler alternative to the traditional sauna.

The Liv Nordic Spa brand and concept is developed and directly managed by Raison d’Etre. It’s innovative thinking and fresh perspective bring out the most of the cruise ship spa experience and infuse both heart and soul into the cruise ship spa industry. From the success of the Liv Nordic Spa on the Viking Ocean Cruise ships, several other cruise ship spa operators have since approached Raison d’Etre to further develop their own branded spa cruises based on the same values of refined services, authentic wellness and passion for storytelling you can experience in a Liv Nordic Spa.

Tip: You HAVE to visit the snow grotto/snow room, followed by slipping into the hot sauna to warm up. This is an opportunity of a lifetime where the mix of hot and cold therapies are said to stimulate the circulatory system and can be repeated as many times necessary.

3. Aurea Spa, MSC Cruises

Aurea Spa is, in their own words: “The Sea at its most Relaxing”. It offers a wide range of spa cruise treatments, including body treatments such as thalassotherapy and aromatherapy body exfoliation, different kinds of massages including Balinese, Thai, hot stone and Himalayan sea salt and much more. The spa-goers also get access to an impressive sun deck, with a whirlpool and outdoor cabanas where you can book a relaxing massage session.

In contrast to the all-in-one salon you usually see on a spa cruise, the Aurea Spa is instead divided into four separate sections for all their services including nail salon, makeup room, Jean Louis David hair salon and a barbershop for men. The spa cruise also features a high-tech gym with state-of-the-art equipment and machines, where you can hop on the spinning bike, partake in yoga sessions or practice Thai boxing, either by yourself or with a personal trainer.

Tip: We recommend visiting Aurea Spas’ impressive thermal suite area. It’s the ultimate place for relaxing and includes several features such as Finnish saunas, thalassotherapy pools, steam baths, snow grottos, salt rooms, aromatic showers, whirlpools and a relaxation room with a view of the sea.

4. Mandara Spa, Norwegian Cruise Line

When you want some “me” time and want to unwind both in the mind and body, the Mandara Spa on the cruise ships of the Norwegian Cruise Line will not disappoint. It offers over 50 different specialty treatments on their spa cruises, ranging from classic to luxurious. It is one of the most innovative and accommodating spa cruises, which prides itself in its freedom and flexibility.

The Norwegian Cruise Line also has some of the most attractive spa cruise ships in the industry, with colorful, refreshing and unique hull designs we personally love.

Tip: Book a session with Mandara Spas’ signature treatment: The Mandara Four Hands Massage. Indulge in the luxurious treatment and experience having two professional massage therapists perform a synchronized massage, helping you relax in ways you’ve never experienced before.

5. Lotus Spa, Princess Cruises

Last, but certainly not least, is the Lotus Spa on the cruise ships of Princess Cruises. Lotus Spa offers a wide range of different spa cruise treatments, where you can book each one either individually, or spoil yourself for a whole day. There’s a plethora of activities to take part in onboard the ships of Princess Cruises, where you can practice your golf put in the golfing simulator or their 9-hole golf court, exercise in their gym filled with state-of-the-art equipment and machines, play some shuffleboard, basketball or volleyball or just simply relax in the spa area.

Tip: The one place we highly suggest you visit when you’re in the spa on one of the Princess Cruise ships is their Scrub and Shine Bar in the Enclave, the home to Lotus Spas’ largest-ever thermal suite. In the Scrub and Shine Bar you can “order” a salt or sugar scrub from Lotus Spas’ spa mixologists where the scrubs are specifically tailored to your skin type, leaving it soft and smelling like what you’d imagine heaven smells like.

 

 

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