The world’s top luxury resorts and destination spas are known for their innovative wellness offerings. But these trends aren’t only found on land: A handful of cruise ships are raising the bar for wellness on the water, developing new and innovative spa facilities and treatment offerings that rival some of the finest around the globe.
For clients seeking elevated wellness at sea, these cruise lines’ spas are notable options worthy of recommendation. These are design-forward facilities with features like thermal suites, saunas, salt caves, heated loungers and floor-to-ceiling windows. They offer a range of tricked-out treatments, from med-spa procedures (think cosmetic injections, acupuncture and healing IV therapies) to soothing modalities inspired by destinations all over the world (from Scandinavian snow bathing to Turkish baths).
Read on for a look into some of the best spas available on cruise ships now — including facilities on Celebrity Cruises, Crystal, Princess Cruises, Explora Journeys’ debut ship and Viking’s sea and expedition vessels — plus tips for successfully booking cruise ship spa experiences for clients.
Tips for Booking
When advising clients on the best cruise option, “consider their preferences for intimacy versus adventure, and the extent of spa facilities they desire,” said Scenic Group Vice President of Sales Elizabeth Fettes.
Generally, many larger ocean-going vessels have fully equipped spas, whereas smaller and more intimate river cruise vessels may have limited or no spa facilities. “Travel advisors should highlight the unique aspects of each type of cruise to match their client’s expectations and desires, ensuring they choose the perfect cruise that aligns with their wellness and travel aspirations,” Fettes said.
Lauren Doyle, president of the Travel Mechanic, a member of Ensemble, further notes that most cruise ship spa experiences can be booked via app prior to sailing, so she sets up a reminder email that goes out to each client prior to their trip. “A simple reminder can help them make sure they have a better cruise experience,” she said. She also notes that pre-booking has distinct advantages for clients, “especially if they can use shipboard credits, which are offered when you book through a consortium like Ensemble or a host agency.”
Explora Journeys’ Ocean Wellness
Launched just last summer, the high-end Explora Journeys cruise line offers an expansive Ocean Wellness spa experience, with more than 7,500 square feet of space dedicated to luxury wellness, including spa, fitness and beauty facilities, plus a space for classes and programs. (Explora I is the first ship for the luxury brand owned by the MSC Group, with five more Explora ships slated to launch by 2028.)
There are 11 treatment rooms, including one dedicated to specialized med-spa treatments using Dr. Levy Switzerland’s stem-cell products, a sensorial therapeutic circuit and two private spa suites, each with their own outdoor relaxation area. The facilities also include a hydrotherapy pool, steam room, Finnish sauna, salt cave, experience shower, ice fall and heated marble loungers. The starting treatment price for massages and facials is less than $200; passengers can also access the spa facilities without a treatment booked.
Overall, Explora’s first ship “had the feeling of a luxury hotel on the sea,” said Lou deLisser, owner of Lou deLisser Travel, an affiliate of Brownell Travel and Virtuoso member, who sailed on its maiden voyage in August 2023. She noted its “exquisite decor and spacious, well-designed outdoor spaces.” But even still, “it was the spa that set Explora I apart from other ships,” she said. “I opted for a facial that rivaled any I’ve had in Paris or New York City.”
Princess Cruises’ Lotus Spa
Princess Cruises recently introduced its new ship, Sun Princess, which has its largest Lotus Spa at sea. The wellness facility now spans two full floors, with the spa facilities and beauty and barber services located on a separate deck to diversify the experiences. (In a first for Princess, the beauty salon and barbershop on this ship are a standalone offering on Sun Princess’ top deck.)
Lotus Spa offers a full suite of more than 30 services, from traditional treatments like facials and massages to medi-spa offerings like Restylane and Dysport injectables and its popular Retreat thermal spa with hydromassage, steam room, saunas and a plunge pool.
Guests can purchase a one-day pass for the Enclave portion of Lotus Spa for $49 or pay $149 for access during the full cruise when booking online or $199 for the full cruise when booking onboard.
Celebrity Cruises’ SEA Thermal Suite
The SEA Thermal Suite on Celebrity’s Edge series ships infuse elements of salt, earth and air across eight therapeutic spaces. Highlights include heated tile loungers with panoramic views, an infrared sauna, a salt room and a steam room.
The spa offers more than 120 treatments, many inspired by the destinations to which Celebrity sails. Highlights include Elemis BIOTEC technology facials, plus personalized IV therapies and nutrient injections — meant to help support cruise passengers’ common concerns like hydration, immunity and nausea relief.
Additional beauty and fitness options on board include the Kérastase Institute — the first of these premium salon concepts available at sea — with services and a specialty color bar; plus, the fitness centers on Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Beyond offer an F45 training studio specializing in high-intensity group workouts.
Even guest accommodations on Celebrity get into the holistic wellness atmosphere: Elements are infused throughout AquaClass and Aqua Sky Suite stateroom categories, which offer top-end cashmere mattress and pillow menus, clean and healthy cuisine options, a spa concierge, a fitness pass, preferential rates on spa packages, a yoga mat for use on board and access to the SEA Thermal Suite.
Doyle says she and her clients appreciate the multiple unique spaces within Celebrity’s spa offering on the Edge ships — varied enough to spend a whole day or pop in multiple times for a different experience each time.
For her wellness-motivated clients, Doyle also calls out the integration of the spa experience across guest accommodations as a way to have a holistic wellness experience at sea. “I love that if you upgrade to the AquaClass stateroom, you get access to the thermal suite complimentary, depending on cruise dates,” she said.
The fee to use Celebrity’s spa amenities (for non-AquaClass guests) depends on the ship and duration of the cruise, but the costs do not fluctuate when the ship is at port versus at sea. For example, rates to access the SEA Thermal Suite on Edge-class ships can begin at $99 on shorter sailings.
Viking’s LivNordic Spa
A standout feature of Viking’s well-equipped LivNordic spa, available on its oceangoing and expedition vessels, is that the facilities are open to all guests without an additional fee. The spas feature a sleek and attractive design — clearly reflecting the Scandinavian influence — meant to channel fire, ice and natural elements. The look features stone finishes in soothing gray tones and even a faux fireplace for ambiance. The co-ed spas feature a resistance pool, a sauna, heated tile loungers, a snow grotto and an ice shower.
For an additional fee, cruise passengers can opt to add treatments to their experience, including a bathing ritual that dates to the Viking age: Based on the Russian banya, it contrasts the heat of the sauna with an invigorating jaunt in the cold, either in the snow room or under a cascade of cool water — meant to evoke the Scandinavian tradition of following a hot sauna with a roll in the snow.
Crystal’s Aurōra Spa
Among the updates that are part of its recent relaunch, Crystal (formerly known as Crystal Cruises), has a notable new spa concept. Inspired by the Goddess of Dawn, Aurōra has a new design and sunrise-inspired signature treatments led by expert therapists.
The spa offers an abundant selection of med-spa treatments with a menu you might expect to sooner see at a land-based spa: think Restylane dermal fillers, Dysport wrinkle treatments, microneedling, teeth whitening services, Chinese herbal medicine consultations, acupuncture, cryo-facials, Ionithermie for reducing the appearance of cellulite and LED light therapies.
Crystal Serenity features 12 treatment rooms, and Crystal Symphony features 10 treatment rooms, with steam rooms, saunas and a relaxation room on both ships.
Originally appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of The Compass magazine
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