doc_klc

There's a newer thread with some very detailed info from another couple who were on last week's eastern route, and I've commented there as well. Unfortunately, our experience was that it was noisier than last time on Oasis (three years ago), with some very obnoxious groups moving around constantly, talking loudly, spraying water everywhere, and at one point spending nearly 10 minutes taking flash pictures of themselves.

 

When it was quiet, at least it was pleasant then. The sauna worked well, as did the aromatherapy room, but the plain steam room wouldn't get hot unless you squirted some cold water on the sensor inside. Glad I figured out that trick sooner rather than later.

 

We're done with Oasis/Allure, now that we've tried each and have come to the conclusion that we enjoy Voyager and Freedom class ships much more, even though the entertainment on the former is incredible and far beyond what is available on the latter.

Thanks for your info. When it comes to shared facilities, I always worried to come across inconsiderate individuals. The experience often gets spoiled just by this few guys. I shall suggest RCI to post up prominent behavioural guidelines. With that in place, at least we can make a big legitimate 'Shhhhhhhhhhhh' :mad:

:)

I just got off of the Allure yesterday, so sad it's over :(. On sailaway day I decided to tour the spa. The Thermal Suite on Allure consists of 3 steam rooms: 1 was an aromatherapy steam room (my favorite), 1 dry heat room (like Arizona, a dry heat and took some getting used to), 1 regular steam room; as well as 4 thermal chairs and 2 rain forest showers. The showers had buttons you could push to give a thunderstorm effect (lighting & heavy rain downfall) and waterfall effect.

 

The price offered on sailaway day was $99 for the week for an individual or $179 for a couple. You could also pay by the day for $30/day. Some spa treatments also included use of the thermal suite for the day. DH was not interested, so I purchased the individual for $99. Of course, I had to promise DH that I would use it every day to get the most bang for my buck.

 

Wear your swim suit and take flip flops. When you check in at the spa desk, they will give you a key for a locker in the changing room as well as a robe and a pair of very uncomfortable slippers if you don't bring your own. Sometimes I wore my swim suit under a coverup and sometimes I wore regular clothes and changed into the swim suit, which allowed me to change back into regular clothes rather than walk around with wet clothes with swim suit underneath.

 

My first visit, the spa rep walked me in and explained how to get the best experience. Take water in with you as it is important to stay hydrated during your visit. Visit the rooms in order of right to left (aromatherapy, dry, regular steam). After visiting the first room (10-15 minutes), step into the rain forest shower for a few minutes (I guess to cool down a bit??), then dry off with towel and lay on the thermal chair 10-15 minutes. Repeat the process moving on to the 2nd steam room (dry heat), shower, chair, and then move on to the 3rd steam room, shower, chair. That process took me about 1 1/2 hours. There is no clock in the suite, as time is irrelevant during ultimate relaxation. Keep this in mind if you have show or dinner reservations and if you are crunched for time.

 

Sometimes I skipped the shower in between each steam room, but always found it the best experience to go to the thermal chairs after visiting each steam room. I went at various times each day, trying to find the best time with low amount of traffic. I found that first thing in the morning (between 8-10am) to be the best fit for me as there were not many others using the suite at that time. End of the day might seem like the best time, but that's when everyone else wants to go too. There's also relaxing zen-like music playing in the suite, which is great until some chatty people walk in and start conversations. I liked it best when all was quiet but I guess others view it as social hour.

 

Some info on the thermal chairs. They don't seem hot at first, but lay on a towel because you will get toasty buns & legs if you don't have a towel underneath and if you lay there for an extended period of time.

 

I liked to use 3 towels on the chair: 1 underneath me, 1 rolled into a pillow for under my head/neck, and one rolled into a pillow under my feet. I also used one of those same towels to dry off after each shower. After I finished with chair time, I hung 2 of those towels on a wall hook and took the 3rd towel into the steam room. The dry heat room's benches were hot to me, so sitting on a towel helped me avoid toasty buns.

 

Be courteous when you exit the thermal chair, you should remove your towel and not leave it on the chair in order to attempt to "save" it until you are ready for it again after visiting the steam room. It's not fair for others who are ready for the chair at that moment. My first visit two of the chairs were "saved" for 15-20 minutes at a time but when there are others present, it is rude to do that. After that first visit, I did not hesitate to remove the towels and take the chair. Sorry if that seems rude, but I paid good money for the suite just like everyone else and I wasn't about to let someone suck up that chair as if it is personally reserved for only their use.

 

There were times that being in the suite was not relaxing, like when too many people were in there and having only 4 chairs is obviously not enough for everyone at the same time. But for the majority of my visits it was a wonderfully relaxing experience.

 

I would recommend the thermal suite, if you can swing the expense and commit to going at least once per day. I would have loved to go once in the morning and once in the evening, but just wasn't able to make that work for my schedule. The spa opens at 8am everyday and most nights it stays open until 10pm, but there are a few days it closes at 8pm. Check the daily compass for hours.

 

Enjoy :)

Kim

Thanks to you for the very detailed information. It is so kind of you.

I shall also thank others providing great info about the thermal suite. The info here is definitely more than anywhere on the internet, not to say RCI's site.:)

thanks

We used the thermal suite on Oasis for the same price (plus gratuity, of course). Given that they do not have the free sauna/steam in fitness center locker rooms like many of the other RCI ships, we found the thermal suite to be a necessary evil. We do like our sauna and steam on a cruise! With the location in the spa area, there's no convenient cool-off or easy access to a whirlpool if, like we do, you want to add that to your spa routine. On other ships, you can go from the sauna in the fitness center out to the solarium pool to cool off, or get cool shower. The two "fantasy" showers in the thermal suite are nice, but only provided hot or warm water (often scalding hot!). The heated ceramic lounges were nice, though often other patrons would leave their towels/robes or other items on or near one they'd been using (Oasis's thermal suite did not have robe hooks when we were on board--I don't know if they've added them). So there was a kind of "chair hogging" going on. The steam room, sauna, and aromatherapy rooms on Oasis were rather small--in the steam room, because of the steam jet, you could only reasonably seat 3 or 4 people. You could hear a lot of noise when sitting in these rooms, banging from another area of the ship, which did not aid in relaxation. Neither did the spa employees habit of bringing people through the area on "tours," during which they would invariably open the sauna/steam room doors to look in and thereby disturb the occupants and let the heat out. The policy for use of the area is you must wear a bathing suit, presumably because it is mixed men and women. But steam rooms and saunas are best used nude, so this is a drawback. And chatty couples in this area made it difficult to relax as well. It can be hit or miss as to how busy the area is. If fewer people are using it, it's fine, but when it's crowded (locker rooms included--they are cramped), it's less than enjoyable. Because of the way we like to cruise, we will use the thermal suites on Oasis and Allure, but only as a poor substitute for the much more spacious and better facilities on the other ships.

I noticed that you are just now cruising on Allure. Love to know your experience and more details about the thermal suites on Allure.:)

Can we purchase day pass(for singles or couples)? If so, how much is it?

How much is that for a day pass(for Single or for Couple)?

Hi all,

We are new to NCL and have no idea about their staterooms.

We are a couple, no kids joining us this time, choosing between balcony and mini-suite. Also pondering the Spa version of them.

It seems that mini-suite is just a slightly bigger balcony.

While the Spa counterparts provide entry passes to the Sauna etc, no other privileges are offered.

Anyone can advise us on the options?

Thanks and happy cruise.

All the food is free but All drinks incur a charge even if you have a package. Just FYI.

Thanks.

no service charges -- many people (or most) tip the person who brings it, if not your steward.

 

$2 is very common -- there are big spenders who tip more and others who don't tip at all. Sometimes you have t be quick with it or they''re out the door.

 

If you steward brings it, keep him in mind and add additional tip if you'd like at the end of the cruise. Pardon me, if the room steward never brings it -- we sail several different lines

 

Have a wonderful cruise! :)

Thanks for your swift advice. That's exactly what I want to know.

Enjoy your cruise in April.:)

I am new to cruising. Celebrity states that Room Service is complimentary, but, I wonder whether it incurs any service charge or anything else?

BTW, is a tips of US$1 or 2 good enough for the staff delivering the room service?

Charlie is correct - you can eat in MDR for lunch on sea days - except for the day the Brunch is offered (in our case it was on Thursday). We usually try to have lunch in MDR at least once, but somehow ran out of time!

I would highly recommend lunch at The Porch, worth the $5 pp IMO.

Thanks Sandi & Charlie.

I am new to cruising and thus lot of queries in mind.

Follow up question: I don't mean I am a big eater, theoretically, am I allowed to dine in MDR at early evening and have a second dinner in Blu later in the same evening?

Anyway, I don't think I can bear with 2 dinners! :p

Thanks for all your effort in this superb review.

We have booked the AQ class and shall be dining in Blu. However, we are also interested to experence the MDR. Can we have lunch in it?

Awesome review of the Reflection. We were booked for the March 9 cruise but your review is so thorough that reading it for the last 3-4 days made us felt like were have already been on it. Now we don't have to go so we cancelled our cruise. Thanks for saving us a lot of money.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just kidding ;)

we are looking forward to our trip

Hi,

Initially, I really think that you have quit.

We are going on 30 March. Most happy to hear your experience when you are back.

Enjoy your cruise.