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Men's Spa Facilities on Cruise ships: Which ones do you think are the best?

GigglewolfOfTheSeas
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Pat&Paul

Pat&Paul

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Anyone ever cruised the Pride of America? What are the Men's facilities like? Is it Co-Ed or Men's / Ladies Steam or Sauna? Anyone have pictures?

 

Thanks,

 

Pat

 

OK, we just sailed the POAm last week and here is the lowdown.

 

There are small to medium sized saunas and steam rooms in both the men's and women's locker rooms. I would say about 5-6 guys could fit in the sauna and about 4-5 in the steam room. There are also two showers, one is regular sized (about the same size as your cabin) and the other is a HUGE disabled sized shower that give you plenty of room to move around. In fact we showered down there more often than not becuase the cabin shower was so cramped for guys of our ... uh hum... size. :)

 

I did not take pictures becuase there was never a time when it was unoccupied on my cruise. I'm sure the guys wouldn't want me taking pictures as they were relaxing in the sauna or steam or changing in our out of their clothes; sorry... :(

 

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

Pat

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GigglewolfOfTheSeas

GigglewolfOfTheSeas

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Thanks (very much) for the detailed info on NCL's Pride of America in Hawai'i!! We don't often hear about that ship, so it's refreshing to get current info on the spa facilities layout.

 

I've never been to Hawai'i and I'm thinking that a cruise on the POA would be a great way to first experience those amazing islands and decide which one I might want to come-back and get to know better. And cruising the lava fields as they glow at night sounds like a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

 

While the spa facilities don't seem as elaborate as those on the NCL Pearl or Gem, at least they are not co-ed and seem reasonably comfortable.

 

Thanks again!!

 

Gigglewold O' The Seas

:p

 

P.S.- Returned last week from a short cruise aboard RCI's Liberty of the Seas and can report that the men's spa & gym facilities were in excellent condition and THOROUGHLY relaxing. As some of you may be aware, this vessel is scheduled for drydock in early 2011, but I do not believe they will be making any changes to the spa area; just to some of the more public venues in the ship's promenade & pool deck. Bon voyage!!

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AZAaronBoy

AZAaronBoy

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Stumbled on this thread looking to see if Princess offered Male therapists for spa treatments. I am a big fan of steam/sauna and prefer non co-ed so I can be naked or just a towel. Glad I can make a contribution. Ok on to the EPIC.

 

I was onboard during a cruise industry event in July when it first reached the states. It has been a few months so I will do my best. The spa and gym area's are very impressive however they utalize 2 seperate locker rooms.

 

Gym and it's locker room are free, no time to work out so only waled through this locker room briefly. I know there were no saunas or steam just 2-3 showers, restroom facilities, and maybe lockers.

 

For access to the spa/locker room you had to be booked in the appropriate cabin spa access category. (Possibly suites also included check with your travel agent) OR purchase a day/full cruise pass. I think mine for just me was $30-$40 for the 3 days. This also gave me access to the co-ed area that will be covered later. My boss was also on this cruise and we were shocked to find this access was not incuded as part of a spa treatment. Hopefully this has changed as I like shower/steam before any treatments. (I'm sure my therapist apprecates this as well)

 

The locker room was very large to get a locker key you exchange it for your room key. 2 regular showers and 1 larger disabled stall. Steam was large enough to seat 8 comfortably, more if people sat closer together. Didn't seem to get to hot but there were still last minute details being worked out on this sailing. Dry sauna was very small and different configuration. To enter you walk in and turn immediatly to the left were there are two benches. If anyone is seated there they have to move or you climb over them to sit on the bench.

 

Also inside the locker room was a small seating area with cold water. There was a connection for a TV or Flat screen monitor but it had not been installed.

 

Co-Ed Area

 

In this area your are expected to wear a swimsuit. It is in the rear of the ship with 6-8 heated loungers facing an exclusive outdoor deck area with daybeds and chase lounges. There was the biggest tholassatherapy pool I have ever seen. It was broken out into a few different areas within the larger pool. Hard to explain but very nice with different jets/bubbles to relax away the stress.

 

Within the co-ed area there were 2 dry sauna's, both explained what the differences were but I don't remember. A floor to celing glass wall provided great views. Plenty of seating but not sure on how many. The steam sauna was also very large, much hotter than what was in the locker room.

 

Pro's

Option of seperate or co-ed steam/sauna areas, locker room areas no views.

Large locker room with plenty of lockers.

Water Fountain or cups of cold water avalable. Refreshments in co-ed area, juice, tea, etc.

 

Con's

Fee based or must be booked in premium category

Seperate Gym/Spa locker rooms - Not as much socalizing unless people pay.

When I was onboard booking a spa treatment did not give you access to these amenities.

3 Showers were enough but for such a large area might not be enough.

 

Let me know if you have more specific questions that might jog my memory.

 

Since PAT&PAUL touched on an NCL ship (Pride of America), I'd also like to ask if anyone's sailed the Epic and can provide a detailed description of the men's sauna and steam rooms.

 

I've scoured the NCL boards for a description, but, as usual, they are sketchy & confusing at-best. What I've pieced together: I believe there is a for-fee/co-ed area with a jacuzzi, balcony and co-ed steam & sauna rooms. However, I'd also like to know if there are complimentary (read: FREE) NON-co-ed sauna or steam rooms in the men's locker room (???).

 

It appears the layout of the sauna & steam amenities on the Epic differs from the Pearl & Jewel (which I intend to visit someday soon, as they sound GREAT), so it would be nice to understand (clearly) how they are different.

 

Much obliged in advance,

Gigglewolf O' the Seas

:p

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GigglewolfOfTheSeas

GigglewolfOfTheSeas

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Great post on the NCL Epic, AZAaronBoy!! Very comprehensive description of the facilities on that ship.

 

However, based on this description, I believe I'll have to agree with Waldorf that it seems NCL's Jewel-class ships (ie. Jade, Jewel, Pearl, Gem) seem to have more elaborate offerings in each of their men's & women's areas, even if they are for a fee.

 

It doesn't seem as if the Epic offers very much in the way of amenities (even after paying?!) and to not include access for guests booking spa treatments just seems wrong (perhaps this was only during the inaugural events??).

 

On a side-note & TOTALLY unrelated to cruising, I just returned from Las Vegas this week and can COMPLETELY endorse & highly recommend to all the men's spa facilities at Caesars Palace QUA SPA. This venue offers a fantastic variety of amenities, all of which are well executed. And you don't need to be a guest of the hotel or having a spa treatment to access; they offer day-passes for $45...just thought I'd share :p

 

Bon voyage!!

Gigglewolf O' The Seas

:rolleyes:

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Mermen

Mermen

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Thanks Gigglewolf, that's good info...and following your lead, I just got back from a business trip from Reno. I stayed at the Atlantis Casino and Resort. The men's facilities there are amazing. That's the only word for it...what I would love to see on a cruise ship. The shared facilities are great - but the men's area (steam, dry sauna, lounge area, showers, etc.) is amazing.

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happytraveller

happytraveller

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Well another 8 weeks and will be on the Star Princess which am really looking forward to. We have a number of days at sea so it will be nice to enjoy the facilities of the steam room and sauna and hope others will be there too, not too many, but its just great to enjoy and put the world to rights. Really enjoy the single sex ones, just more comfortable than the mixed ones.

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Angliham

Angliham

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Hi Guys

 

Just to give you a quick update on the facilities available on the Emerald. I just used the male only steam and sauna. Overall, the sauna was not warm enough and the steam was too hot!! Whilst it was hot for us guys just wearing towels, I dread to think as to how hot it was for the guy in his full exercise gear, including trainers!!

 

I was on a ten day cruise and found that there was not much use made of the facilities - just the same few guys at the same time every day!!:)

 

Overall, the facilities were well kept and maintained.

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kwokpot

kwokpot

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Anyone been on the Oasis of the Seas or Allure of the Seas and have any info please.

 

One word: BAD!!!!

Gym is EXCELLENT, tons of cardio, separate free weight area, many weight machines. Locker Room is in the lower level, NO complementary steam/sauna, not too many lockers, 1 toilet room,couple of urinals, about 3 individual showers/glass doors; 1 handicapped with curtain.

 

Thermal suite avail for fee; but definately NOT worth it- coed, only 4!!!!! heated tile loungers (for 5400 passengers????) steam, sauna in a small, small claustrophobic space -what were they thinking????

Edited by kwokpot
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skimskim

skimskim

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One word: BAD!!!!

Gym is EXCELLENT, tons of cardio, separate free weight area, many weight machines. Locker Room is in the lower level, NO complementary steam/sauna, not too many lockers, 1 toilet room,couple of urinals, about 3 individual showers/glass doors; 1 handicapped with curtain.

 

Thermal suite avail for fee; but definately NOT worth it- coed, only 4!!!!! heated tile loungers (for 5400 passengers????) steam, sauna in a small, small claustrophobic space -what were they thinking????

only 4?sounds great.

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happytraveller

happytraveller

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Just back from the Star Princess, brilliant ship, a really good gym with plenty of machines to use. The sauna is good and used by 4 or 5 people each time I was in and same with steamroom. Sometimes even less in. Overall facilities are good on Star. Speaking to others they much prefer the single sex facilities rather than co-ed ones.

I am on MSC Orchestra in October and Oriana next January so I hope both these ships have good sauna/steam facilities and gym, and that the sauna/steam are single sex ones.

Anyone got information on these would be appreciated.

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Mermen

Mermen

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Hey guys-

 

We're headed to Southampton to board the new Eclipse for a September 28, 2010 sailing to Spain and Italy. Was curious if any men could comment on their perception and / or use of the men's sauna area?

 

In the past have very much enjoyed the M-class Celebrity ships layout. Hoping for something as nice, if not better. :cool:

 

Thanks!

 

Gary

 

lookain02@yahoo.com

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kwokpot

kwokpot

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Hey guys-

 

We're headed to Southampton to board the new Eclipse for a September 28, 2010 sailing to Spain and Italy. Was curious if any men could comment on their perception and / or use of the men's sauna area?

 

In the past have very much enjoyed the M-class Celebrity ships layout. Hoping for something as nice, if not better. :cool:

 

Thanks!

 

Gary

 

lookain02@yahoo.com

 

I assume you mean 2011. Unfortunately, the spa facilities on Solstice Class ships are the weakest part of an otherwise brilliant design in cruiseships.

 

The fitness center is well equiped with a good selection of cardio machines, wieght training machines, and a freeweight/dumbell area.

 

Thre is one locker room for the spa/fitness area, and that is the the spa's weakness. The locker area is the size of a small walkin closet , so it only accomodates Max 2 people changing/dressing. There are several individual shower stalls and 1 larger handicapped shower stall, and there is a small sauna that can comfortablely hold about 4/5 people. There are NO water fountains nor any place to sit and cool down between sauna sessions.

 

The co-ed Persian Gardens (costs extra) is OK, but not enough tiled loungers for the size of the ship. There are steam and sauna rooms in there too. Compare this area to NCL's newest ships and you will see it is undersized.

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FLSpaGuy

FLSpaGuy

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Said Id never sail carnival again but got a killer deal on a spa cabin on the Dream.... anybody have any details about her facilities???

 

I had a Spa Cabin last year on the Dream and the amenities were nice. The Steam Room is single sex and is located in the Men's locker room. Quite small and the steam is unpredictable at times. It has 3 benches and holds about 6-7 guys.

 

The Sauna is co-ed and while ok, not very convenient if you like to just wear a towel.

 

The Cloud Nine Spa area has a second mens bathroom with plenty of lockers and a couple private showers. There is a relaxation room with ice water with lemon and fresh fruit throughout the day. The Persian garden has 2 co-ed steam rooms, one with benches and one with heated tile loungers. There is also a common area with about 8 heated loungers. Being in a spa cabin is the best as they give you a rubber type wrist band to wear for the week like the LiveStrong bands.

 

Enjoy!

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waldorf

waldorf

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Just returned from a cruise on Norwegian Epic and purchased a spa pass.

 

When touring the ship on the first day, we were shown around the women's spa area and told it was the same as the mens!

 

It was not!

 

The sauna in the men's area is quite sad, not only was it not ever warm, never mind hot, the main difference was the size, the mens has the appearance of being squashed in a small cupboard, in contrast to the women's which was large and with a large window onto the sea.

 

The co-ed spa area had a sauna similar to the women's together with a sanarium and a nice whirlpool etc.

 

Disappointing overall, still prefer the Jewel Class ships.

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