Just got back

[Badger]

My wife and I took a week to relax on a 7 day cruise just to use the fitness room, Thallasotherapy pool, steam rooms, and heated lounges. There are only a few ships that have what they call Cloud 9 Spa rooms that give you access to the limited use facilities. We have done this before and figure this would be the last time for this cruise line as well as cruises to the Caribbean. We have done those enough and been to all the ports a few times. This particular cruise line is noted for their party atmosphere which is a bit too much for us. Too many drunks. Fortunately most of them were enjoying the ports while we stayed on board so we had a good time doing our thing while they did theirs. I also had good news this morning as I had my post cruise weigh in. I enjoyed all the meals and snacks but didn't over do them and for the first time I didn't gain any weight. Woo Hoo!

We have been on other cruise lines and will probably use them for a cruise to Norway in the future.

Cheers!

 

[Danmar]

Agree that the fitness/spa facilities are a prime reason for cruising. Many ships have world class facilities. To be honest, once you have “done” the Caribbean a few times, the ports are not very interesting.

We crossed the Atlantic on the QM2 last September and the dining/fitness/spa services were superb. They obviously need to be as there generally aren’t any ports of call.

 

[hopefullyoneday]

Congrats. Cant wait to go on another cruise. We have done mexico a few times but want to do Alaska next. Just need to pay a few things off first and find someone to watch the dogs.

 

[Red Badger]

I enjoyed all the meals and snacks but didn't over do them and for the first time I didn't gain any weight. Woo Hoo!

Cheers!

Moderation in everything - - - including moderation.

 

[flyingaway]

We took one week vacation in Los Cabos from January 2 to 7 and brought flu back.

 

[kramer]

If you are a guy, what exactly is a spa for? I really have no idea.

 

[Danmar]

If you are a guy, what exactly is a spa for? I really have no idea.

I use them mostly for massages. But many people get manicures, pedicures, haircuts, etc. DW uses them more than I do, so I get to hang out at the bar.

 

[Ronstar]

If you are a guy, what exactly is a spa for? I really have no idea.

A spa is a great place - to store your SO/DW while you pursue activities that she has no use for. Or hotels with spas have decent bars to relax in for a couple of hours.

 

[Badger]

If you are a guy, what exactly is a spa for? I really have no idea.

In this case the spa was use of a limited access hot tub (about 10'X24'), steam rooms, rooms with heated tile lounges, and quiet rooms in a semi-isolated area next to the facilities and the fitness area. We spent the day (other than meal times) exercising then off to the hot tub, steam rooms and lounges for a couple of hours twice a day. I also read two books in their quiet relaxation room in the front of the ship with a view of the ocean. All this kept us pretty much away from the drunks and crude behavior.

It was not a package of massage, mud masks, and manicures. We don't spend much on a cruise after the initial costs. We did take one excursion to Chacchoben Mayan archeological site with a guide not affiliated with the cruise ship.

Cheers!

 

[Bamaman]

We got off a cruise a couple of days before Christmas--with a 6 year old. We've been on so many Caribbean cruises that the special has long since worn off.

We now take cruises only when the price is ridiculously low. Our Ft. Lauderdale to Rome repositioning cruise in April cost $80 per day for both of us.

For those tiring of party cruises to Mexico and the Bahamas, I suggest looking into cruises out of Rome or Venice to the Greek Iles and around the Mediterranean or Adriatic Sea. Another great cruise for us was out of Copenhagen to all the Scandinavian countries and St. Petersburg.

The entry of Norwegian Air Shuttle and a couple of other budget airlines allows you to fly to/from Europe for half the price of two years ago. We flew from Budapest to the U.S. in April to $238 each. As long as Norwegian can purchase more Boeing 787s, they are coming to more cities in middle America. This is a great boon to those cruising out of Europe that don't want to spend a fortune on their trip.

 

[Winemaker]

I used to get mud masks and sweat a lot when I was employed in the coal mine, except they paid me!

 

[Sunset]

OP - What was the cost of using this Spa facility ?
I've never even considered them as I figured they would be expensive, and there are hot tubs all over ship that aren't used when in port.

 

[Dreamer]

OP - What was the cost of using this Spa facility ?
I've never even considered them as I figured they would be expensive, and there are hot tubs all over ship that aren't used when in port.

I am interested in this also and for the same reason. I assumed they would be too expensive. I think that I am going on the same party cruise line the beginning of Feb, so maybe I should consider this.

 

[frugal-one]

My wife and I took a week to relax on a 7 day cruise just to use the fitness room, Thallasotherapy pool, steam rooms, and heated lounges. There are only a few ships that have what they call Cloud 9 Spa rooms that give you access to the limited use facilities. We have done this before and figure this would be the last time for this cruise line as well as cruises to the Caribbean. We have done those enough and been to all the ports a few times. This particular cruise line is noted for their party atmosphere which is a bit too much for us. Too many drunks. Fortunately most of them were enjoying the ports while we stayed on board so we had a good time doing our thing while they did theirs. I also had good news this morning as I had my post cruise weigh in. I enjoyed all the meals and snacks but didn't over do them and for the first time I didn't gain any weight. Woo Hoo!

We have been on other cruise lines and will probably use them for a cruise to Norway in the future.

Cheers!

Not a cruiser so am wondering .... wouldn't it just be cheaper to go to a spa near where you live? Sounds like mostly all you did was exercise or read books? Not meant as a snark but don't get the incentive?

 

[FUEGO]

Heads up for those looking for a little less party atmosphere cruising to the Caribbean. We've sailed on the MSC Divina several times and really enjoyed it. It sails from Miami so you do get some of the Miami/Latin America/Cuba/S America crowd that likes to party but also a lot of international audience. I've found it to be relatively tame and a different feel vs the Carnival/NCL cheap cruises we've been on to Caribbean destinations.

MSC also just launched the MSC Seaside last month and it's supposed to be even nicer. We found a really good deal on the Christmas cruise next winter so we booked for the six of us (my mom is going too). I think they have at least 8 public hot tubs, plus the spa plus more hot tubs if you book in the "Yacht Club" experience (kind of like a luxury club onboard the ship - exclusive rooms, exclusive dining, exclusive recreation/swimming/bathing areas, priority boarding etc). Haven't done the Yacht club because 1) I'm cheap and 2) I'm pretty happy with mingling with the commoners

 

[Danmar]

OP - What was the cost of using this Spa facility ?
I've never even considered them as I figured they would be expensive, and there are hot tubs all over ship that aren't used when in port.

Depends on the line. Treatments are usually quite expensive for sure, but simply using the spa facilities, often not.

 

[CaptTom]

Not a huge spa fan myself, but I agree that a cruise can be a great vacation if you're a bit of a contrarian.

During the day, the masses cram themselves like sardines onto beach chairs around the pool and on the sun deck. I (and the OP) have the interior of the ship to ourselves, out of the hot sun and just relaxing.

At night, the lemmings swarm the bars and casinos. I get to walk the decks in peace, enjoying the stars and the ocean.

And, if the mood strikes, no reason I can't join the crowds once in a while.

 

[FUEGO]

At night, the lemmings swarm the bars and casinos. I get to walk the decks in peace, enjoying the stars and the ocean.

Contrarian is a good concept. We skip the hot tubs and pools in the middle of the day. Around 5 when everyone else is getting dressed up for dinner and a show we would head up to the hot tubs for a while then have dinner and a show a little later. Eating in the buffet at 11 or 1 was much more fun than trying to do so right at noon when everyone else decided it was officially lunch time.

 

[YVRRocketSurgery]

We love cruising but it's kind of too much of a good thing. So, we try to limit it to one every other year for now but will likely try to bump up the frequency once we retire.

Personally the spa thing is not for me but the missus loves it. There are some limited freebie that she takes advantage of and on top of that, she's got lucky 3 times during the spa raffles for additional freebies.

 

[CaptTom]

Another tip, while we're on the subject, is to pick cruises with a few "at sea" days. There's some self-imposed pressure to see whatever there is to see at every stop. With a few at-sea days, you don't end up missing out on just enjoying activities on the ship, or, alternatively, being able to do nothing without feeling guilty.

 

[YVRRocketSurgery]

I initially hated sea days, particularly on the shorter 7 day cruises. However, my perception has changed and I've been enjoying them.
For longer cruises, I agree that I found the sea days a needed break from trying to maximize our time in port. You wake up, get off the ship for the day, get back for dinner, see a show, prep for the next day in port, rinse and repeat... it's a bit hectic.
Cruise line and ship are kind of important to us because we find on the newer, bigger ships, there's so much to do that we want to try or check out. The sea days allow us to get some of these ship activities in.

 

[Danmar]

I initially hated sea days, particularly on the shorter 7 day cruises. However, my perception has changed and I've been enjoying them.
For longer cruises, I agree that I found the sea days a needed break from trying to maximize our time in port. You wake up, get off the ship for the day, get back for dinner, see a show, prep for the next day in port, rinse and repeat... it's a bit hectic.
Cruise line and ship are kind of important to us because we find on the newer, bigger ships, there's so much to do that we want to try or check out. The sea days allow us to get some of these ship activities in.

Agree. Our best cruises were the cross Atlantic ones. Lots of sea days. Often we don’t get off the ship when in port. The idea of taking a tour with 20-30 other passengers and waiting for “old aunt Matilda” to get back on the bus, never appealed to us.

 

[FUEGO]

Agree. Our best cruises were the cross Atlantic ones. Lots of sea days. Often we don’t get off the ship when in port. The idea of taking a tour with 20-30 other passengers and waiting for “old aunt Matilda” to get back on the bus, never appealed to us.

After 8 or 9 Caribbean cruises we're about the same way. Occasionally we'll go to a new port we've never visited so we'll make a point to do a bit of research and figure out something fun to do. Otherwise it's off the boat for a bit of beach time or just stay on the ship to enjoy the amenities. I love sea days too as there's zero pressure to get off the ship.

I'm also a huge fan of waiting about an hour after the ship docks before trying to get off. That way you probably won't have to wait in line to get off the ship. Also gives you an extra hour to sleep in, then hit the buffet for breakfast/brunch while everyone else is standing in line waiting to get off the ship