sauna and steam on Dawn & Sky - pay for this?

[tbmrt]

I thought one had to pay for the sauna and steam room on NCL's ships, but just read this which surprised me.

What's the scoop?

"The Sky has a nice free sauna and steam room at the Fitness Center."

[LOWTYD]

I beleve it used to be free but on my Dawn sailing in October, you had to get the spa pass in order to use it. Not sure if each ship is different. It would be nice if they kept it free as some people only want the steamroom and sauna and don't use the rest of the facility. Perhaps a reduced rate for just these 2 items would be nice?

[Richie2pies]

There is very little for FREE on NCL.

[sparks1093]

Originally Posted by Richie2pies

There is very little for FREE on NCL.

As opposed to all of the other cruise lines that are clamoring to give away free stuff .

[dagtoking1]

Most of the NCL ships I've been on have had a free area with steam or sauna or both in the dressing (locker room) of the Fitness Center. Sky has a nice one; sauna, steam, and multiple showers. Pearl has the worst one which is why you may opt to pay $99.00 pp for a weekly spa pass while on the Pearl.

[funcky]

Look like RCCL Oasis of the seas is doing same thing.

[jame_g]

The Sky is an "older" ship with a small spa area. There are no spa pools or thermal suites. You can use the sauna/steam room without a charge.

On the newer ships, they have a larger spa area or thermal suite that includes the locker room, showers, sauna, steam room, relaxation area, spa pool, and whirlpool. Some of it is divided into separate men/women's areas, and the pools are in a public area. Some ships have heated tile loungers, tropical rain showers or plunge baths.

The ships with these larger spa areas sell a weekly or daily spa pass to use this adult only area. NCLs competitors with similar spa areas also charge to use them.

[flashdog_1]

I imagine it varies. For instance, on the Celebrity Millenium class ships, the saunas, steam room & T pool are free to all adult passengers(men's side and women's side), but you have to buy a pass to the Persian Gardens (heated benches? and aromatherapy? & that's coed). On the Century class ships, you have to buy the pass to use the T pool (of course they removed the T pool from Century, and Galaxy is sold, so that leaves Mercury only).

Let's hear what the competition does.

[F5Loar]

Now I'm confused. One person says the Pearl has an area with free sauna/steam and another says you got to pay to use it. Which is it?
I've been on 35 different ships. Everyone of them had a free locker room with either a sauna or steam room or both and shower stalls.

[yahootelemundo]

Originally Posted by Richie2pies

There is very little for FREE on NCL.

no more comments , wow

[sailandcruise]

I was on the Sky over Halloween weekend. There is a free sauna and a free steam room. You go to the spa reception area and give them your room card as a deposit for a locker key. There was a locker room with towels, several showers, and the sauna and steam room. The sauna was two levels of seats. The steam room had room for 6-10 men. I assume that there were equivalent facilities for women, but obviously didn't see them.

[kwokpot]

Originally Posted by F5Loar

Now I'm confused. One person says the Pearl has an area with free sauna/steam and another says you got to pay to use it. Which is it?
I've been on 35 different ships. Everyone of them had a free locker room with either a sauna or steam room or both and shower stalls.

On the Pearl, the Fitness Center, which is free to use, has a SMALL mens & womens locker rooms, inside contains a handful of lockers, toilet,shower stall, and a tiny steam room(2,3max).

The spa has much more extensive facilities, which has a fee to use.

On NCL new builds, they thought out the gym/spa facilities, so if you don't want to pay for the spa, but still want to use the gym and have access to a locker room with a steam room, you have that without paying any extra fees.

[MagnoliaBlossom]

The Star now charges for steam and sauna. Only freebie in the spa is the shower and toilet. I was quite surprised by this, as it was my first experience w/ no complimentary steam or sauna, so I went all the way up the chain of command to make sure I was not being misinformed, and the very rude spa manager (what is it about those people?) that she had served on 3 NCL ships and none of them offer free steam or sauna.

My guess is that it is a decision made on a ship to ship basis.