Thermal Suites

[editor@cruisecritic]

Whether for-fee or for free, I'm very curious to hear what you think of thermal suites (other names include sauna-and-steam, Persian Garden) on cruise ships. Would love to know which line (and which ships within fleet) have the best, which offer co-ed steam/sauna, which charge fees. Frankly, just interested in anything you have to say about the thermal suite (not fitness facilities or thallossotherapy pools or spa or salon treatments). Please feel free to weigh in -- and vote in this poll!

 

Thanks....

 

Carolyn

 

 

Carolyn Spencer Brown

Editor in Chief

Cruise Critic

[kimmiekaz]

I enjoyed the Princess thermal suites. You could positively fall asleep on the warm tile beds, and their aromoatherapy sauna cleared up sinus' in an instant. I'd never been in an aromatherapy steamroom before, but, really, what a great idea!

[LEESRE]

This was posted on another thread on this site thought it might be useful.

 

 

 

 

 

When cruising I make extensive use of the Spa and Gym facilities. I am not loyal to any cruise line and will usually lean toward cruise ships offering better Spa/Gym facilities. I also prefer gender segregated spas.

 

The following is a list of the SPA facilities from some of the major cruise lines. I went to each cruise lines web site and looked at the deck plans for the gym/spa layout. Some deck plans are more detailed than others.

 

The list is based solely on my interpretation /observation of the deck plans as of July 31 2009.

　

Princess

Caribbean - separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Coral - two saunas -not listed if they are gender specific

Crown -separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Dawn- one Sauna (appears to be co-ed)

Diamond -separate men’s & women’s steam and sauna

Emerald -separate men’s & women’s steam and sauna

Golden - two Saunas one Steam room not listed if they are gender specific

Grand -two Saunas one Steam room not listed if they are gender specific

Island two saunas -not listed if they are gender specific

Ruby -separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Sapphire separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Sea -one Sauna (appears to be co-ed)

Sun - one Sauna (appears to be co-ed)

Star -separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

 

Holland America

Amsterdam-two saunas -not listed if they are gender specific

Eurodam -one sauna ( appears to be co-ed)

Maasadam -Can’t tell by deck plans

Nieuw Amsterdam -one sauna ( appears to be co-ed)

Noordam-Can’t tell by deck plans

Oosterdam-Can’t tell by deck plans

Princendam -separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Rotterdam-two saunas -not listed if they are gender specific

Ryndam-Can’t tell by deck plans

Statendam-Can’t tell by deck plans

Veendam-Can’t tell by deck plans

Volendam-two saunas -not listed if they are gender specific

Westerdam -Can’t tell by deck plans

Zaandam-two saunas -not listed if they are gender specific

Zuiderdam-Can’t tell by deck plan

　

　

　

　

　

Norwegian

Dawn-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Gem-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Jade-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Jewel-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Majesty-One sauna Appears to be co-ed

Pearl- separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Sky -Steam & Sauna -Not listed as to gender

Spirit-Can’t tell by deck plan

Star-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Sun- Sauna & Steam rooms not listed as to gender

Pride of America- Can’t tell by deck plan

 

 

Royal Caribbean

Very simple deck plans- Can’t tell

 

Carnival

Holiday class-

Holiday-Can’t tell by deck plan

 

Fantasy class-

Fantasy-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Ecstasy-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Sensation-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Fascination-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Imagination-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Inspiration-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Elation-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Paradise-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

 

Destiny class-

Destiny-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

 

Triumph class

Triumph-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Victory-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

 

Splendor class

Splendor- separate saunas - co-ed thermal suite

 

Spirit class

Spirit-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Pride-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Legend-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Miracle-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

[GigglewolfOfTheSeas]

While I have yet to travel on NCL's newest ships, with their elaborate thermal suites, it would seem from the various descriptions and the enthusiasm with which folks have described them that they offer the best facilities.

 

I've always wondered why it's often so difficult to get detailed descriptions of the thermal suites & spa facilities from the cruise lines. One would think familiarity with these amenities would be a great selling-tool to entice folks to sail. However, more often than not, trying to get a clear answer from the cruise line Customer Service folks is virtually impossible (not their fault; this information is often not shared with them, unless they themselves have traveled on a particular ship).

 

Clear deck plans help, but, frankly, the most reliable source I've found for thermal suite & spa descriptions has been here, on CruiseCritic.

 

I've traveled extenstively on RCI's ships and have enjoyed the thermal amenities on their larger vessels (Voyager & Radiance-class). Voyager has been my preference, as they are gender-segregated and quite extensive (even though they don't have true "thermal suites", the sauna & steam facilities are quite nice). I'm eagerly awaiting info on the Oasis of the Seas thermal amenities!

 

Use of these facilities is a VERY relaxing component of my cruise vacation experience and is a deciding factor for me when selecting a cruise line & ship.

 

Cheers!

:p

[editor@cruisecritic]

This is terrific, thank you!

 

Carolyn

 

 

This was posted on another thread on this site thought it might be useful.

 

 

 

 

 

When cruising I make extensive use of the Spa and Gym facilities. I am not loyal to any cruise line and will usually lean toward cruise ships offering better Spa/Gym facilities. I also prefer gender segregated spas.

 

The following is a list of the SPA facilities from some of the major cruise lines. I went to each cruise lines web site and looked at the deck plans for the gym/spa layout. Some deck plans are more detailed than others.

 

The list is based solely on my interpretation /observation of the deck plans as of July 31 2009.

　

Princess

Caribbean - separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Coral - two saunas -not listed if they are gender specific

Crown -separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Dawn- one Sauna (appears to be co-ed)

Diamond -separate men’s & women’s steam and sauna

Emerald -separate men’s & women’s steam and sauna

Golden - two Saunas one Steam room not listed if they are gender specific

Grand -two Saunas one Steam room not listed if they are gender specific

Island two saunas -not listed if they are gender specific

Ruby -separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Sapphire separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Sea -one Sauna (appears to be co-ed)

Sun - one Sauna (appears to be co-ed)

Star -separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

 

Holland America

Amsterdam-two saunas -not listed if they are gender specific

Eurodam -one sauna ( appears to be co-ed)

Maasadam -Can’t tell by deck plans

Nieuw Amsterdam -one sauna ( appears to be co-ed)

Noordam-Can’t tell by deck plans

Oosterdam-Can’t tell by deck plans

Princendam -separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Rotterdam-two saunas -not listed if they are gender specific

Ryndam-Can’t tell by deck plans

Statendam-Can’t tell by deck plans

Veendam-Can’t tell by deck plans

Volendam-two saunas -not listed if they are gender specific

Westerdam -Can’t tell by deck plans

Zaandam-two saunas -not listed if they are gender specific

Zuiderdam-Can’t tell by deck plan

　

　

　

　

　

Norwegian

Dawn-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Gem-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Jade-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Jewel-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Majesty-One sauna Appears to be co-ed

Pearl- separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Sky -Steam & Sauna -Not listed as to gender

Spirit-Can’t tell by deck plan

Star-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Sun- Sauna & Steam rooms not listed as to gender

Pride of America- Can’t tell by deck plan

 

 

Royal Caribbean

Very simple deck plans- Can’t tell

 

Carnival

Holiday class-

Holiday-Can’t tell by deck plan

 

Fantasy class-

Fantasy-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Ecstasy-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Sensation-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Fascination-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Imagination-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Inspiration-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Elation-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Paradise-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

 

Destiny class-

Destiny-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

 

Triumph class

Triumph-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Victory-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

 

Splendor class

Splendor- separate saunas - co-ed thermal suite

 

Spirit class

Spirit-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Pride-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Legend-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

Miracle-separate men’s women’s steam and sauna

[editor@cruisecritic]

Thanks, Gigglewolf, for the shout out. IMHO, having toured (but not enjoyed) the suite on Celebrity Solstice, it was pretty fantastic. But the best I've experienced is easily the Norwegian Jade/Dawn/Jewel etc. Really gorgeous spas.

 

I got a very very quick glimpse at Costa's (Serena, Concordia, Pacifica) and definitely would like to try that one, too.

 

Carolyn

 

While I have yet to travel on NCL's newest ships, with their elaborate thermal suites, it would seem from the various descriptions and the enthusiasm with which folks have described them that they offer the best facilities.

 

I've always wondered why it's often so difficult to get detailed descriptions of the thermal suites & spa facilities from the cruise lines. One would think familiarity with these amenities would be a great selling-tool to entice folks to sail. However, more often than not, trying to get a clear answer from the cruise line Customer Service folks is virtually impossible (not their fault; this information is often not shared with them, unless they themselves have traveled on a particular ship).

 

Clear deck plans help, but, frankly, the most reliable source I've found for thermal suite & spa descriptions has been here, on CruiseCritic.

 

I've traveled extenstively on RCI's ships and have enjoyed the thermal amenities on their larger vessels (Voyager & Radiance-class). Voyager has been my preference, as they are gender-segregated and quite extensive (even though they don't have true "thermal suites", the sauna & steam facilities are quite nice). I'm eagerly awaiting info on the Oasis of the Seas thermal amenities!

 

Use of these facilities is a VERY relaxing component of my cruise vacation experience and is a deciding factor for me when selecting a cruise line & ship.

 

Cheers!

:p

[LEESRE]

Carolyn,

Perhaps in your capacity you could try and get some of the cruise lines to elaborate on their spa areas. Whether they are FOC or to be paid for.

In the past most of the steam and sauna areas were included in your cruise fare. But of late they seem to have this as a way of making extra money.

I know that I may be held to ransom but if they make us pay for the steam and sauna then why not the gym!!

Some people use the gym and others prefer the steam and sauna.

Thanks

 

Rex