Cruise and Spa Story - Uniworld's River Princess

Read about places our team has been to.

............................................................................................................................................

Walking on Air - by Veronica Matheson

WHILE most ocean going cruise lines have designated spa areas, I didn't expect to find a massage therapist on a European river cruise ship.

But after talking to Nicola, the charming Swiss therapist working on Uniworld's River Princess while cruising along Germany's meandering rivers – the Moselle, Rhine and Main - I realize that it makes a lot of sense to have an on-board spa. After all river cruises stop at different ports each day and on board guests head out on walking tours of atmospheric old towns.

As Nicola points out there is often a lot of wear and tear on guests feet as they are not used to walking on uneven cobblestones through these medieval towns. As well, many guests still have swollen ankles and feet after long haul flights to join the cruise.

A leg and foot massage works wonders, and we see it visibly make a difference on a volunteer for a demonstration by Nicola in River Princess's lounge as we sail along postcard perfect scenery.

After a foot bath in cooling peppermint powder we see Nicola's nimble fingers drain fluid off one woman's puffy feet which soon look paler and far less swollen. Indeed Nicola is confident those magic fingers can work wonders on all needy feet.

Fortunately I do not need remedial treatment, but I cannot resist a reflexology treat when Nicola's sensitive fingers stimulate my feet.
Nicola tells me that problems in various parts of the body tally with sore points on the feet. Fortunately I don't experience tenderness and begin to feel so relaxed that I dose off during the treatment.

Nicola learnt massage back home in Switzerland's Italian speaking south, and takes a gentle approach by not using too much finger pressure on guests, just in case a health problem might be stirred up.

"People are on holiday and my intention is to make them feel relaxed and walking on air. I don't want to create pain, but to promote wellness."

By the end of our relaxing cruise - when we discover that sausages and beer are a German staple and that the wines are divine - there are more than a few of River Princess's guests walking on air, thanks to Nicola.

A nice touch on arrival on board River Princess at the start of every cruise is that guests are given a reviving neck and shoulder massage as they wait to check in.

Spa Files

RUniworld 's 11-day Paris & European River Romance cruise from Paris to Nuremberg on River Princess, sails along three of Europe's most picturesque rivers - the Moselle, Rhine and Main - and visits the German winemaking villages of Bernkastel, Traben-Trarbach, medieval Miltenberg and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bamberg, Trier and Wurzburg. The cruise, from $3,920 per person twin share, includes seven nights on River Princess, three nights in Paris in first-class accommodation, all meals onboard, complimentary fine wines and choice of beer and soft drinks during lunch and dinner onboard, 11 shore excursions and all tips and gratuities, www.uniworldcruises.com.au