Cruise – Sunshine Facts

If you have booked a cruise vacation, you might be wondering about some of the spa treatments that the cruise will offer. Can you get a massage, manicure, pedicure, haircut, or other types of spa treatments on a cruise ship? Yes, most all major cruise lines offer a full array of spa services, including massages, manicures, pedicures, haircuts, and facials. In this article we will describe some of the basic spa services you can expect on your cruise and how it is usually paid for. We will also cover some of the major cruise lines and talk about specific spa services they offer. Cruise Spa Treatment Here is a list of some of the general spa treatments you can expect from most major cruise lines. In the section after this we detail some of the specific spa treatments you can get with major cruise lines. Exfoliation - peels away top layer of dead cells for smoother, younger-looking skin. Manicure - Hands are moisturized and massaged. Cuticles are clipped. Nails are shaped, buffed and polished with preferred color choice. Pedicure - Feet are soaked, then massaged with moisturizer. Rough spots are sloughed away. Toenails are clipped and polished with preferred color choice. Massage - Muscles are rubbed and soothed. Massages vary by types. Most common types include: Swedish (gentle massaging meant to relax), Deep-tissue (to promote healing of injuries or ailments), hot stone ( heated stones strategically placed to allow warmth and increased blood flow to help manipulate the muscles). Haircuts - Hair is washed, cut and styled. Services can also include Brazilian blow-outs and moisturizing masks. Facials - cleansing and moisturizing of the face and neck areas. Can include clay masks, pore minimization, and facial massage. Other spa treatments can include hydrotherapy pools, seaweed wraps, detoxification masks for face and feet, hair coloring, weight-loss wraps, and hot/cold plunge pools. Other Spa Information Is the Cost Included? No. Most cruise lines offer spa treatments at an additional cost. The treatments and services can mirror (or exceed) prices found in land-based spas. Another important fact to know is that spa treatments include the tip in your total bill - there is no option for tipping. It is treated like the tip charged for bar services. You may choose to add more to the required gratuity if you feel your service was exemplary. Can Children Enter the Spa? There are strict policies from differing ship lines regarding children in the spas. Some cruise lines allow children 13-17 to enter the spa. Others do not allow children into the spa area at all. Check with your specific cruise line for their policies. Cruise Spas vs Regular Spas The prices will vary depending on the services selected even in a regular spa, so what your will experience regarding price will depend on what you experience in your local community. For example, a 60-minute massage in a spa in North Carolina will cost around $60, while the price in a Miami Florida spa is $165 for a 50-minute session. In the Carnival Cruise spa, a 50-minute Swedish massage starts at $103. A foot exfoliation and massage with oils will cost around $95 in Miami, while it will be just $65 in the cruise ship spas. As far as service, you can expect similar (or even better) service in a cruise spa than regular land-based spas.