Spa Stories
Read about places our team has been to.
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Seabourn Odyssey - Spa At Seabourn - by Joanna Hall
There are many reasons why people take a cruise. Experienced cruisers have many things on personal checklists which they expect to tick off, from having a stateroom with a balcony, to destinations the ship visits, a choice of dining venues, and more.
In recent years, however, a visit to the spa has become a key activity while cruising the high seas.
When it comes to cruise ship pampering, however, the days when a simple rubdown would suffice are thankfully long gone.
Today’s cruisers demand the facilities and menus they come across at any land-based spa, and thanks to burgeoning competition between cruise lines, their calls appear to have been answered.
Spas take pride of position on board many cruise ships, boasting relaxation areas, private pools, and treatment rooms with ocean views. Many are also operated by acclaimed land-based spa companies, offering treatment menus including exotic facials and body treatments, as well as tooth whitening, wellbeing programs, and even Botox shots.
One of the newest luxury ships to take to the high seas is Seabourn’s stunning Odyssey. Launched in June last year, she was the first ship to join Seabourn’s luxury fleet in 15 years, and carrying 450 guests, she is more than twice the size of her older sisters.
First impressions are that you’re boarding a boutique hotel rather than a cruise ship, as Odyssey’s decor is subtle and tasteful with elegant marble, soft lighting, and understated colours, creating a sophisticated atmosphere. There’s also a younger crowd on board. On a recent cruise from Sydney to Hong Kong, I had the opportunity of trying out the Spa at Seabourn for some pampering.
Odyssey's overall design has shifted from traditional cruise ship builds on many fronts, and the spa set up is also different from the norm. The split-level facility has seven private treatment rooms, a fitness centre, and offers a variety of wellness consultations including metabolism testing, kinesis training and tai chi. The treatment menu also features indulgent facial and body experiences by Elemis and SkinCeuticals.
Seabourn has also taken the concept of indulgence to new heights where Odyssey is concerned. On this ship you can hire one of two exclusive spa villas for a couple of hours or an entire day. In this private haven at the rear of the ship, there’s a double bed for lounging, a dining area, a sitting area, a sun deck, a spa bath for two, and two treatment tables.
I opted for an old favourite treatment which is relatively new to spas at sea. A 75-minute Asian-accented Thai poultice massage combines a traditional full body massage with warm oil and a hot Thai herbal poultice for acupressure points.
After a quick tour of my impressive villa, I was left to prepare for my treatment. It was a divine experience, not just because of the enticing aromatic herbs contained in the poultice, but in this case also because of the serene backdrop, coupled with the hypnotic sound of the ocean waves and salty sea breeze lapping against my skin.
Afterwards I had the time to enjoy some herbal tea, and a leisurely wallow in the spacious spa bath which watching the scenery slip by. Eventually it was time to give up my haven for another lucky spa goer. It was hard to drag myself from the spa bath but on this ship, as I quickly discovered, there’s always another way to pamper yourself waiting around the corner.
Spa Files
Renting a villa on the Seabourn Odyssey costs from US$650 for two-and-a-half hours. The 75-minute Thai Herbal Poultice Massage costs US$ 213.
The Seabourn Odyssey spends much of her year cruising in Europe and South America, Sister ship, the Seabourn Sojourn, will be cruising through Australia in February 2011. For more information, visit www.seabourn.com , or call 13 24 02.