The Spa and the Azamara Journey

The Spa and the Azamara Journey *Overall a spa vacation at sea combines the best attributes of being on a cruise with the pampering of a spa and various destinations for sightseeing along the way* Linda Allen MBA MCC (May 4, 2010) Spas and Different Markets One of the best kept secrets is the beauty of a spa vacation at sea. Whether it is a single traveler escaping for a solitary indulgence or a group seeking to meet the divergent needs of multiple personalities and interests a cruise offers a unique chance to fulfill many different expectations. Cruises in recent years have been catering to different markets but all of the major cruise lines are now offering healthy lifestyle options for dining, gym and tours. Many cruisers frequently develop their own ship routine that allows them to maintain their exercise goals and their waistline. Cruise vacations have long been popular with women who appreciate the fact that even if traveling with a family she no longer is in charge of meals, entertainment or cooking. All of these things are attended to by the cruise staff leaving her to enjoy her vacation and perhaps even some R&R in the spa and salon. For couples many of the spas at sea offer couples experiences. For mother and daughters some even offer special spa and salon experiences for the younger set like the Royal Caribbean's Generation YSPA. Spas on ships are not limited to megaliners as an example the Windsurf is the largest of the tall masted sailing ships in the Windstar fleet and she has a spacious, elegant spa in an adult oriented small ship romantic environment. At the other extreme is the Oasis of the Seas, a true megaship catering to families with a spacious spa and family friendly features such as a nursery for infants over 6 months as well as a full kids and teens program. Many of the North American oriented cruiseships have Steiner as their Spa provider; however some do have Canyon Ranch as the Spa provider. In addition to the ships mentioned above here are other suggestions: Celebrity Solstice Class AquaClass cabins with special spa amenities and Holland America's Spa categories on the Eurodam and the Nieuw Amsterdam. Our luxury cruise lines lend themselves to the overall pampering that allow you to enjoy the entire vacation experience including the relaxing spa experience. Look to Seabourn, Silversea and Crystal for a traditional cruise and to Seadream if you would like to discover a little known treasure. The Azamara Journey Whatever your needs solo, girl's trip, family vacation or multigrnerational group there is a wonderful ship with a pampering spa awaiting you. I had the pleasure of personally sailing on the April 1, 2010 voyage on the Azamara Journey part of the Azamara Club Cruises fleet which are small adult oriented ships. The first order of business for me upon embarking the ship was to visit the spa to set up my appointments for the 10 day cruise. This itinerary was perfect for relaxing as it had 2 full sea days on either end and I set up only afternoon tours so that I could sleep late every morning and have a leisurely breakfast in my cabin each morning. By booking my appointments on the first day I was able to set up treatments for every sea day at 2 PM with the same massage therapist. She was excellent and after the first firm Swedish massage I retired to my cabin and had a nice restful nap. I found the Frangipani Hair and Scalp Conditioning Treatment equally relaxing. The Collagen facial was relaxing with long lasting results. I was very impressed with my therapist when I expressed concern about trying a seaweed wrap due to multiple food allergies she provided a skin test which happily went well and I proceeded on the next day to one of the most relaxing treatments I have ever had the pleasure to experience an Elemis Aroma Spa Seaweed Massage. As a solo traveler I found the spa experience on the Journey to be the perfect way to de-stress and relax, but most of the other spa patrons on this sailing both male and female were traveling with others. I found the bundled packages to be the best value and it did encourage me to try treatments that I might not otherwise have considered. The spa staff could not have been more helpful and their advice as to treatments was perfect. Everyone in the spa and salon was professional and very personable. I loved the steamroom on the Journey and found the rainfall shower very pleasant. Although I did not try the hydrotherapy pool it looked divine and the location at the bow of the ship afforded wonderful views. My Opinion Overall a spa vacation at sea combines the best attributes of being on a cruise with the pampering of a spa and various destinations for sightseeing along the way. With worldwide cruise destinations there is sure to be a perfect ship and itinerary for most spa enthusiasts. For further information: Azamara Club Cruises