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Sheila Venancia – Perspectives – REAL Beauty

Cruise Ship Luxurious SPA Experience

By Sheila Venancia

Cruise ships take several different approaches to their onboard spas. The newest approach, innovated by Costa, is to turn part of the cruise ship into a “destination spa” where passengers can immerse themselves in the spa experience, as they would in a land-based spa resort. Specially designed spa cabins create a more Zen in-cabin experience with easy access to the spa facilities. Spa restaurants serve light and healthy cuisine in keeping with the wellness theme. If you want, you can spend nearly your entire cruise wrapped in the relaxing spa atmosphere and enjoying luxurious hair salon facilities.

As you lie on a massage table, legs tucked into a soft sheet, hot stones soothing the tired muscles of your back and arms, you will most certainly not be thinking about cruise ship spa ratings. Nonetheless, 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.

Celebrity Cruise Line
Found On: Solstice-class ships, Eclipse, Equinox, Reflection, Silhouette & Solstice
Standout Features: The Canyon Ranch SpaClub is a superb complex that extends beyond the physical spa to include AquaClass spa cabins, the AquaSpa Cafe and Blu (two dining venues dedicated to healthy fare like smoothies, salads, lean meats and fish).
Inside the Spa: The Canyon Ranch SpaClub itself offers more than 20 exclusive facial and body treatments, such as the Environ Enhancing Vitamin Therapy, which is a powerful treatment created to purify, micro-exfoliate and rehydrate your skin. The Persian Garden is a coed sauna and steam room, with a tropical rain shower and heated relaxation chairs that offer views of the ocean. The spa’s Solarium is the most gorgeous at sea, with two pools and whirlpools, soaring glass ceilings and whimsical light and water shows. A fully stocked and staffed gym sports all the newest fitness machines, as well as a jogging track to get your heart rate up before or after a blissful session in the spa.

Costa Cruise Line
Found On: Costa Serena, Costa Pacifica, Costa Luminosa, Costa neoRomantica, Costa Fascinosa, Costa Favolosa, Costa Deliziosa and Costa Diadema
Standout Features: Costa’s beautiful Samsara Spa cabins and suites feature bamboo-effect doors and calming color schemes, along with sumptuous bedding, eco-cotton bathrobes, herbal teas, Elemis bath products and a special scent diffusor. Samsara cruisers may dine at the exclusive Samsara Restaurant — with its focus on a la carte and light menus — at breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Inside the Spa: The two-level Samsara Spa — four levels on Costa Diadema — sports an Asian-inspired design, complete with rice paper walls, bonsais, wind chimes, teak Buddhas, lantern lighting and dragons. The facility offers a huge variety of treatments, including proper ayurvedic therapies — using oils, herbs, salts — by a qualified practitioner and treatments tailored to men and couples. A Japanese tea ritual ends each spa visit — not a sales pitch. Cruisers also have access to steam and sauna rooms, sun beds and rainforest showers.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line
Found On: Freedom-class ships, Independence, Freedom and Liberty of the Seas
Standout Features: The spas on Royal Caribbean’s Freedom-class ships stand out for their enormous gym complexes. These are among the largest of any cruise ship fitness center. The ships offer cruising’s first-ever boxing ring; it’s used as much as an advanced aerobics style workout as it is for boxing.
Inside the Spa: The spa offers pretty much the usual range of Steiner Leisure treatments: massages (Swedish, hot stone and couples), reflexology, facials and body wraps. Acupuncture is also now available. The salon, tucked off to one side, features hair cutting and styling, manicures, pedicures and teeth whitening.

If you cannot say “I love my hair”, then maybe it is time for a new hair stylist.

Sheila Venancia International Hair Stylist – (941) 822.2152

Sheila Venancia has over a decade of distinguished international experience. Originally from Brazil, she trained with leading international hair professionals in London, Spain, Brazil and the USA. In Brazil, Sheila rose among the top-ranking hair and makeup artists, catapulting her into the celebrity arena. Sheila’s work has been featured on Brazilian television shows, newspapers and magazines. Her specialties are non-toxic Japanese hair straightening, laser hair extensions, and high-end modern styling. Sheila may be reached at (941) 822.2152 or sheilasvs@hotmail.com.