Your favorite spa treatments?

[florida_mom]

My dh and I are leaving on the Zuiderdam this week, and I'm looking forward to a relaxing time. For those of you that enjoy the spa, what are your favorite treatments? Any tips on the spa in general? Do they have in-port specials? :)

[gatour]

Massages are my favorite. I like the basic 50 minute massage. I have tried the stone massage and wasn't too impressed. Just something to do once in a while. On my upcoming cruise, may do two massages since it is a 10 day cruise. If offered, one will be a aromatherapy massage.

[sail7seas]

Be prepared for the 'hard sell'. They will try to sell you every product under the sun. Some people have said it was so annoying it ruined their enjoyment. Come prepared with whatever response you wish to give in order for them to stop pressuring you and let you enjoy your massage.

[xznwfd]

I was on the Zuiderdam last February, and tried several spa treatments. Hands down, the best was the massage on Half Moon Cay! Don't bother with the pedicure - overpriced, and just not that well done. The Oxygen Facial was great, but they do try and sell, sell, sell. I just told them I had been on a cruise over Christmas and bought all kinds of things (true) and she did back off. I normally don't care for the massages as they tend to be too "light", but the one on the beach was perfect. Enjoy!

[gatour]

I also like "hard" massages and haven't had a problem at sea. The hard sell at the end has also gotten better in the last couple of years. There has not been as much pressure on my cruises in the last couple of years.

This brings up an interesting question, do the individual technicians get a commssion for each lotion sell or do they have quota? If it is the former then they are better off not trying to a hard sell on me. I have a tendancy on tipping more when I don't get the hard sell, with all things being equal.

[haras]

Last week, while on the Ryndam, I waited until the day we were in port to get a facial and massage. We got a discount (because of our group) while in port, only. They also had discounts during the first hour they were opened on sea days. What I thought was weird is that during the facial, they didn't do any extractions. So I was a little irritated, thinking I'd been cheated (b/c the price was discounted? :confused:) It could've been that I just didn't pick the right type of facial. The massage was very good. What I did like is that the same therapist did both the facial and massage, so I didn't have to leave the treatment room and drifted off into a relaxing snooze for 2 hours.

They didn't try to sell me any products, at all. Maybe it was because I fell asleep. :rolleyes:

[GirlInADaydream]

the massage on HMC... do you order that from the spa on ship and then just go to the massage hut on the island?

[Candy]

My favorite is Ionithermie (algae mud and electrodes), and I usually do 2-3 on a 7-night cruise. This last time Jim and I had the couples some-kinda full body exfoliation and facial, which was the best massage ever! The girls never mentioned product, and gave us a bottle of Elemis Cellutox as a gift. We left them $25 tip each, it was that good!

Don't forget the Thermal Suite. You get a free pass when you have a treatment, and the Eucalyptus Sauna was wonderful!

My dh and I are leaving on the Zuiderdam this week, and I'm looking forward to a relaxing time. For those of you that enjoy the spa, what are your favorite treatments? Any tips on the spa in general? Do they have in-port specials? :)

[xznwfd]

You book the Half Moon Cay massage through the spa, just like any other treatments. Be sure and sign up right away, as they were totally booked by the time we got to Half Moon. If I remember correctly, it was the same price as a basic massage on the ship, (but relaxing with the sounds of the ocean is WAY better than a recorded tape!).

[Queen of Adventure]

I've started telling the person who is doing the service as soon as we enter the room that I am not interested in purchasing any products:p

[Bookish Angel]

I've started telling the person who is doing the service as soon as we enter the room that I am not interested in purchasing any products:p


It is sort of like buying a car and letting the salesperson know up front that you don't want the rip-off extended warranty, undercoating, etc.