Caribbean Princess’ Lotus Spa: An Experiment Returns to Steiner
The Lotus Spa aboard Caribbean Princess was the first in-house cruise ship spa created with sea-based treatments and services designed for both men and women, with even some special services for teens, and custom staff uniforms designed by Los Angeles fashion designer Sue Wong. However, this year the spa was retooled for Steiner, which provides spa services for most of the industry s other ships.
rincess Cruises Caribbean Princess, as its name indicates, is dedicated to the Caribbean year round the 3,100-passenger ship has 1,200 crewmembers and is too large to go through the Panama Canal.
When the ship debuted last year she was the focal point of an experiment: Princess was going to have its own branded spa on board. The issue has been raised a number of times by different lines in recent years as spas have become a much larger. The Lotus Spa aboard Caribbean Princess was the first in-house cruise ship spa created with sea-based treatments and services designed for both men and women, with even some special services for teens, and custom staff uniforms designed by Los Angeles fashion designer Sue Wong. However, this year the spa was retooled for Steiner, which provides spa services for most of the industry s other ships.
The question of whether it is worth the problems of staffing, training and overseeing the spa to take the whole profit is one the cruise ships have been examining, and on some ships spa revenues have moved up to similar levels as casino and drink revenues. Some cruise lines are affiliated with other land-based spa operations, particularly the luxury segment of cruising, but the overwhelming majority use one form or another of Steiner which is based in London and recruits worldwide.
Retooled Back To Steiner
Dispensers provide really wonderful water infused with a combination of fruits; strawberries tint it a delicate pink and it is delicious enough to encourage guests to drink the fluids they need after their treatments.
The ship entered service in April, 2004, and by the time I sailed early in 2005 the new Princess proprietary spa had been taken back into the fold of Steiner Leisure which, in one form or another, heavily dominates the cruise ship spa experience.
Goran Matkovic, the spa director, said that during the six weeks he had been on board the spa had shown far greater profit than before and that the experienced proficiency of the Steiner operation produced optimal results. Matkovic s task was to retrain staff concerning Steiner s products, way of doing business and to reorganize the schedule of spa services and specials to keep the operation top of mind for the passengers.
They had special rates, but they were uniform, he stated, with a level for time at sea and another (lower level) for time in port. We, instead, offer all kinds of specials although of course, we offer lower rates in port when business is not so heavy because many passengers are on shore.
The physical organization of the spa hasn t changed according to shipboard staff, and the services are quite similar to those offered by the independent operation. Facilities include 14 massage therapy rooms, a thermal relaxation suite with heated ceramic lounges, steam and sauna. The lounge area is set up along a hallway opening into treatment rooms, more convenient in general for guests than the waiting room outside the complex of treatment rooms, where finding your way can be a problem. Dispensers provide really wonderful water infused with a combination of fruits; strawberries tint it a delicate pink and it is delicious enough to encourage guests to drink the fluids they need after their treatments.
The standard Steiner spa treatments on board are very well done and the spa has a really outstanding massage therapist, Daniel Trovato, who takes massage well beyond relaxation and pleasure (although there are plenty of both) into healthcare. A massage from Trovato, followed by a relaxing period supported on the warm water in the spa s flotation device, has very lasting effects and is guaranteed to produce one response: the desire to book the whole thing again.
The rest of the Caribbean Princess experience is consonant with the spa, with some really wonderful touches. Passengers spend a great deal of their time outside, with the Calypso Reef and Pool area the magnet for food, dancing, sun and fun in the water. Even movies are brought outdoors with the new and unique Movies Under the Stars, which has turned into Movies Under the Sun as well, as the 300-square foot Times-Square-style LED screen high above its poolside bar shows family oriented shows and short films by day, full features at night, when passengers reserve chaise lounges (at no cost) and receive tickets, popcorn and even plaid wool throws on cooler nights, along with the movie.
The ocean-view fitness center includes 35 cardiovascular stations, 17 weight-strength training stations, 17 personal LCD flat screens, and 12 spinning cycles. The outdoor jogging track, sports court and golfing program showed heavy use, as well, generally in mornings and late afternoons.
Both the fitness center and spa are extremely popular. There was hardly a moment between in the day when there wasn t a substantial number of passengers using the resistance equipment, booking massages, facials and wraps, and taking yoga, aerobics and Pilates classes.
Visit www.princess.com for more information.
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