Spas and Luxury at Sea
Vivian Holley, Recommend Magazine

More Luxury from Celebrity
Already racking up plaudits for gleaming Millennium-class spa treats like its thalassotherapy pool - think aqua-massage by underwater body jets - Celebrity is upping the luxury ante with its new Concierge Class.

"Celebrity Concierge Class presents an extensive series of little extras that make a big difference," says Dietmar Wertanzl, s.v.p. of fleet operations.

"Little extras," indeed.  Among the array of goodies greeting passengers in their staterooms are chilled champagne, fresh fruit and flowers, afternoon canapes, personalized stationery, a handy tote bag, plush duvets, and a menu of pillow-type choices.  In the bathroom, they get a fluffy bath rug, big towels and bathrobes, two hair dryers, and a selection of upscale shampoos, soaps, and lotions.  On the verandah await furnishings designed for comfortable al fresco dining, including large tables, cushioned chairs, and high powered binoculars for soaking up the passing scenery.  Introduced aboard Millennium, Infinity, Constellation and Summit over the past two months, Concierge Class fares vary depending on the ship and itinerary selected.

New Spas
Fresh from an elegant inaugural ceremony in Monaco on March 31, 2003, Radisson Seven Seas' Seven Seas Voyager is making a luxurious splash of her own thanks to $200 million dollars' worth of assets, including the line's second shipboard restaurant to be permanently directed by Le Cordon Bleu and a sleek Judith Jackson Sea  Spa that specializes in aromatherapy treatments.

According to Mark Conroy, president and CEO of Radisson Seven Seas, Voyager sports the spacious all-balcony suites (356 sq. ft. of living space, with private balcony and walk-in closet) of Seven Seas Mariner, and the handsome, marble-appointed bathrooms (full bathtubs and separate shower stalls) of Seven Seas Navigator.

Which clients best fit the upscale picture?  "We tell agents that it's the customer who has taken a cruise before, who vacations in Europe, who travels first or business class,"  Conroy points out.  "What these travelers don't do on vacation is change their lifestyle.  They want proper linens, nice fabrics, a variety of foods and attentive service.  We give them a nice level of comfort, privacy and quiet."

Adds Conroy, "When agents are selling, they should get the client to consider what they spend on board, and point out how much we include in the ticket price.  We are more price competitive than some may think."  Voyager will sail eight 7-night Copenhagen-Stockholm voyages in July and August before returning to the Med for more 7- and 9-night sailing along the sun-sparkled coasts of Spain, France, Italy, Morocco and the Canary Islands.

El Dorado, christened after the storied golden city once sought by adventurers, is the spiffy new spa aboard Norwegian Cruise Line's Norwegian Dawn.  Operated by Mandara, the 11,302 sq. ft.  El Dorado Spa serves up serious pampering with treatments that combine Eastern and Western philosophies.  Included in the mix are 21 treatments rooms (one specifically designed for couples), hydrotherapy baths, a lap pool and Jacuzzi area, and sauna and steam rooms.  Massages are also offered in staterooms, poolside, and on secluded beaches during private island visits.

Awash in Waterford and Wedgwood (its own exclusive patterns, of course), Cunard's regal new flagship, Queen Mary 2, will boast more than 90,000 pieces of glassware and porcelain when it debuts next January.  The china features the Cunard logo in gold for the Britannia Restaurant, a different pattern for the Todd English restaurant, and a "show plate" with accent pieces fo rthe main tableware.  Passengers will be able to purchase the signature table setting, made from Connaught bone china adorned with gold and platinum borders.

In QM2's Canyon Ranch SpaClub clients will be ablet to choose from 60 rejuvenating spa treatments, from the 50-minute Canyon Stone Massage.  Spread over 20,000 sq. ft. on two decks, the SpaClub will have the latest facilities, including a thalassotherapy pool with neck fountains and deluge waterfall - adjacent ot a thermal suite with a herbal sauna and a Finnish sauna, and an aromatic steam room.

With next month's glittering launch of 1,080 passenger, 68,000 ton Crystal Serenity, Crystal Cruises promises an expansion of spa services over those of sisters Crystal Symphony and Crystal Harmony.  Not to mention a higher space per guest ratio, a greater number of penthouses, larger staterooms, and expanded areas for athletic, cultural, and intellectual pursuits.  It will be hard to top the line's existing spa lures, such as the free yoga and pilates classes offered on all 2003-2004 Crystal Harmony and Crystal Symphony sailings.

Also on tap in the luxury line's feng shui designed facility is a selection of therapies from 10 Eastern cultures.  Choices include Chi-balancing classes such as Inner Harmony, and themore aerobic Chi-Energizing sessions such as Step Harmony, Aerobic Symphony, and Aqua Moves.

Holland America Gets Fit
Savvy agents who are busily lining up sales strategies for 2004, take note: Holland America is spreading its Caribbean wings, with plans to sail more than 150 departures next year.  HAL is also expanding itinerary selections.  It's a matter of "new ships," according to David Giersdorf, senior v.p. of marketing and sales.  Ships slated to ply clear Caribbean waters next year number nine, including Zuiderdam, Oosterdam (set for an August debut), and Westerdam (scheduled to bow in April 2004).

Along the way, HAL has expanded its fitness picture, adding activities that range from aquarobics and step-classes to Ki-bo and yoga toning.  "The fitness center on Holland America ships is a haven for mind, body, and soul," says Johan Groothuizen, v.p. of marine hotel operations, "and we are always looking for ways to offer our guests more choices.  New therapies developed by Steiner Spas help to relax and de-stress our guests, while our fitness program will enhance posture, flexibility, and cardiovascular capacity."

Copyright 2007 International Tours and Cruises