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15 Things You’ll Really Want To Know About The Cruise Spa

By: Author Elaine Warren

Posted on Last updated: April 7, 2024

Categories Amenities , ONBOARD EXPERIENCE

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Visiting the cruise spa has become a standard offering on the menu of cruise activities on most ships. Make the most of your cruise spa experience with our set of 15 practical tips.

If one of your primary goals on your vacation is to relax, then you’ll want to be sure to check out the cruise spa. While cruise ship spas may vary in terms of size, price and luxuriousness, you will certainly find at least some basic standard services that can help you unwind and indulge your senses.

If you are inclined to maximize your relaxation opportunities by visiting the cruise spa, keep the following tips in mind so that you can make the most of the experience.

1. Visiting The Cruise Spa For An Open House Or Tour Is Actually Worth Your Time.

If you think you will be at all interested in getting spa services at some point during your cruise, you should make a point of visiting the spa on embarkation day . Usually there will be some type of open house or tours offered. This gives you a chance to see parts of the spa that otherwise require payment to access. And, it can give you a better idea of what services may actually be attractive.

Typically, you’ll find almost anything a spa-junkie’s heart could desire. Massages and facials of a wide variety. Some you will be familiar and some not. A variety of other body treatments (think seaweed and mud), thermal suites, different types of pools, ice rooms saunas, steam rooms, and more.

If your ship offers a thermal suite area, be sure to check it out. On newer ships with the more opulent spas, you will find thermal suites with heated ceramic loungers positioned before panoramic ocean views, tropical rain showers, thalassotherapy pool, whirlpools, saltwater hydrotherapy pools, salt rooms, snow grotto or ice room, and various aromatic experiences.

Often times the spa may be running specials that can only be purchased the first day. And, you won’t necessarily find out about these unless you visit the spa. So, for instance, on a recent sailing of Celebrity Edge there was a one day opportunity to purchase an all-cruise pass that allowed you full access to the premium areas of the spa for the entirety of the cruise. It was offered at a price substantially lower than what has previously been advertised online.

This also gives you the chance to assess the appointment situation. If you see services and times that you like available, you should go ahead and make a reservation. You will have a window to cancel or re-schedule without penalty.

2. The Onboard Cruise Spa Provides High Quality Services.

If you have never visited a cruise ship spa before, you might be skeptical as to the quality of service. But there’s no reason to worry. The spa has its own dedicated personnel. The companies that staff the cruise spa typically have training requirements that exceed those found in most state and local jurisdictions.

I have never been disappointed in a massage I received onboard.

3. Most Cruise Spa Services Are Strikingly Similar Across Cruise Lines .

Perhaps one reason you will find consistently good services is that most cruise ship spas are not actually run by the cruise lines. Rather, they are operated by companies that specialize in providing such services.

Although spa themes, decor and philosophy may differ across cruise lines, the menu of services and prices will be largely the same for many major lines because they are operated by the same company. Many cruise lines have all of their ship spas operated by Steiner Leisure (OneSpaWorld). Steiner works with more than 16 different cruise lines around the world, and operates spas on more than 130 different cruise ships. Some of its cruise partners include Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Disney.

Several other cruise lines feature Canyon Ranch spas. You can find a Canyon Ranch cruise ship spa on Cunard, Oceania and Regent Seven Seas.

4. The Onboard Spa Offers High-Quality Products.

You will also find an abundance of spa products for purchase. Notably, Steiner has its own brands of high-quality beauty and spa products, such as  Elemis and La Therapie. And Canyon Ranch sells its own line of products as well.

Generally, these products are quite good. Indeed, I found my all-time favorite body wash at a cruise spa. And, I make a point of stocking up whenever I am onboard a ship.

5. Onboard Spa Products Can Be Surprisingly Expensive.

But, be aware that these very fine products can also be quite expensive. In recent years when I have gotten a facial, most of the recommended products came with a price tag in the price range of $100 – $150 per item. And some items exceeded that price by a very large margin.

You should also know that all of the spa technicians have been trained to sell products at the end of every session. So don’t be surprised. Of course, you are not required to buy anything. And, if you know that you won’t be purchasing anything and aren’t interested in hearing about products or seeing products, you can say so at the beginning.

6. Appointments Book Very Quickly.

Due to high demand, popular spa appointments fill up quickly. For instance, passengers may snap up all sea day appointments before embarkation day .

7. Look For Port Day Discounts And Specials.

Prices for spa services will usually be lower on days that the ship is in port than on sea days. And, you will often find special port day promotions that can offer good deals as well. For instance, pre-defined combinations of services for a reduced fixed price.

Something to keep in mind about port day specials and discounts is that the pricing often runs for the entire day. So, you may have an opportunity to get a discount or promotional price before the ship arrives in port. Or, after it sails away. This can be particularly significant on days where you have an early departure or a short excursion planned. This is also a way to still get the services you want even if you were shut out for all of the sea days.

8. Pre-book Spa Appointments Online If Possible.

If you have the opportunity to book spa services in advance online, and you know you want them, you should go ahead and book them. You won’t necessarily save any money by doing so, but it allows you to lock down an appointment.

9. Confirm Any Pre-booked Appointments Once You Arrive Onboard.

If you made spa reservations before you boarded the ship, you should confirm with the actual personnel on board.  Either call or stop by on your first day. There is a high likelihood that the spa will reach out to you to confirm, but either way make sure it happens.

Mistakes do happen. Sometimes time zone discrepancies can confuse people. Or, there may be technical difficulties that result in double booking or dropped appointments.

If a mistake has happened, it is fairly easy to sort it out on board. Just make sure you make time to do so.

10. A Missed Appointment Is Not Necessarily A Total Loss.

When you book an appointment, you will see a notation about the spa cancellation policy. For instance, failure to cancel at least 24 hours could result in a 50% or more charge. But, this policy is not necessarily strictly enforced. If something happens and you need to change an appointment once the deadline has passed, or even if you actually missed your appointment completely, the spa may still be willing to try and accommodate you.

Although you may not be able to get away with something like that on land, for whatever reason, the spa seems loathed to miss the opportunity to actually get you in there for your appointment. On more than one occasion, I have completely missed an appointment. Either because I was overly ambitious about an early morning start, or other plans ran over. In those instances, the spa folks graciously allowed me to reschedule after the fact without any penalizing fee.

So, if something unexpected happens, don’t be shy about calling to see if something can be worked out.

11. Your Bill Likely Already Includes Some Gratuity.

Most cruise ship spas will add an automatic 18% gratuity to your bill, so you should factor that in when reviewing your bill and deciding whether to leave anything additional. If you pre-booked online, you should note whether that price also included the automatic gratuity. (Most likely it did.)

12. You May Have Several Ways To Save Money On Cruise Spa Services.

If you have previously sailed on the same cruise line, you are likely a member of its loyalty program. Check and see whether your status entitles you to any kind of discount. Even the lowest tier membership may receive a discount or promotional pricing.

If you are sailing with someone else who is a loyalty program member, see if they plan to use their discount. If not, you can have them book an appointment for you. It will be charged to their cabin, but you can repay them in kind.

To date, I have not seen any restrictions on the ability to book appointments for other people and still receive the discount. And, I have personally done that for others as a gift (e.g., on Christmas cruises ).

You should also check the daily newsletter for special promotions or freebies. Sometimes the spa will host demonstrations where one or more of the attendees may be able to get a mini-version of the featured service for free.

13. Some Cruise Ships Offer “Medi-spa” Services.

Do you know what a medi-spa is? It’s short for “medical spa” which is basically a hybrid between a traditional spa and a medical clinic. A medical spa will offer some specialized services that you would more typically find at a dermatologist’s office or the office of another medical professional.

You can now find Medi-Spas at sea. Some larger ships have medi-spas with certified staff trained to provide Botox injections, teeth-whitening, and acupuncture.

14. Your Older Kids May Be Able To Enjoy The Cruise Spa Too.

Most spas have age restrictions, but some have services for tweens/teens. For example, Royal Caribbean has its YSPA program for guests 13 to 17. Teens can choose from a curated menu of massages, facials, hair treatments, and fitness classes.

15. Know The Difference Between Spa Services and Salon Services.

On most ships, the Spa will include some type of salon area for hair and nail services. This will either be in the spa itself or adjacent to it. Usually, you will find a full array of mainstream services for hair and nails that you would find at a land-based salon. (You will often find a gym or fitness center adjacent to the spa area as well.)

Something to be mindful of, however, is that both the spa and the salon will likely offer their own version of manicures and pedicures. The spa versions of the manicures and pedicures will be much more elaborate and likewise more expensive. If all you really want is for your feet to look good by the pool, or you want to touch up some acrylics, be sure to specify that you want salon services.

Taking a relaxing break in the spa can be a great way to slow down a hectic itinerary filled with excursions and activities. Or, if your entire cruise vacation centers on rest and relaxation, it can be a nice change from lounging on the beach or by the pool. Either way, take some time to check out what the cruise spa has to offer.

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[…] Woop woop! I love visiting the spa on land but have never chosen to do so on a cruise.  On a Viking cruise I would definitely be taking a trip to the spa for some much needed relaxation and rejuvenation after busy days in port.  How inviting does the spa look? Find out more about cruise ship spas here. […]

[…] Other extras include the the casino, treats and snacks such as gelato and the spa. For tip on how to save money at the spa see Family Cruise Companions post; 15 Things You’ll Really Want To Know About The Cruise Spa. […]

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Celebrity Reflection Spa

Linda Garrison

The cruise ship spa on the Celebrity Reflection is called the AquaSpa and features Elemis products. The spa is operated by Steiner Leisure. The AquaSpa is large and includes a wide array of services. In addition to traditional spa and salon treatments, the AquaSpa has many diverse rooms that offer an interesting mix of sensory experiences. Guests can experience hot and cold, wet and dry, or just quiet places to rest and rejuvenate.

The AquaSpa has rooms for massages , facials, and other body treatments. For example, the AquaSpa includes the following experiences:

Persian Garden

The cold room.

In addition, the AquaSpa includes:

• Infrared Sauna
• Aromatic Steam Room with a mixture of warm steam and aromatherapy
• Sensory Showers with a wide range of shower experiences including warm and tropical or arctic-cold. The showers are complemented by soothing sound, light, and scent.
• Acupuncture
• Salon Services
• Fitness Center with the latest fitness equipment, personal trainers, and classes such as boot camp, spinning, yoga, Pilates, and Zumba

Cruise Spa Basics

Many cruise travelers are very busy when they are at home, so they like to use some of their cruise vacation time to visit the spa and/or fitness center on the cruise ship.

First-time cruisers need to recognize that sea days are when most of their fellow cruise mates book their spa appointments. If you really want to maximize your time ashore but also want a spa treatment, consider booking online before your cruise or on the first day onboard. Since all cruise ships have the same issue, the spas are very likely to offer a discount on many treatments when the ship is in port. Cruise travelers can often get a great discount if they are willing to give up time ashore. The other best time to schedule a spa treatment onboard is early in the morning or in the evening when most people are at dinner.

Cruise ship spas like the one on the Celebrity Reflection are very popular with those who have never visited a spa ashore. Since the cruise ship spas are familiar with spa "newbies", they are a great place to have your first spa treatment. If you've never had a massage, facial, or some sort of rejuvenating body treatment, a cruise ship spa might be a great place to spend some of your cruise vacation time. However, it's important to familiarize yourself with proper spa etiquette before your appointment.

The 883-square foot Persian Garden is the relaxation room in the Celebrity Reflection's AquaSpa. It features tiled beds that are curved and heated and is larger than the Persian Garden rooms on other Celebrity cruise ships. The Persian Garden is a wonderfully relaxing peaceful retreat for guests to use before or after their spa treatment or as part of a circuit of sensory experiences that include the nearby infrared sauna, steam room, cold room, and sensory showers.

Hammams are traditional Turkish baths that usually feature full-body exfoliations and visits to a series of rooms with varying temperatures. The Hammam on the Celebrity Reflection is a different twist on this experience​ since spa guests relax on a heated stone slab while relaxing in a cool, quiet space.

The 52-degree Cold Room in the Celebrity Reflection AquaSpa is a stark contrast to the much hotter infrared sauna and aromatic steam rooms. This cold room is designed to tighten up pores that were opened and cleansed in the hot rooms.

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Carnival Cruise Spa Prices

What is the cost of Carnival Spa - look at the prices, Spa Carnival menu of all services and products, Beauty Salon services and shipboard Fitness prices.

Comparing Spa prices on Carnival cruises to the rates of any land-based facility is both irrelevant and wrong. If you choose one of the so many Carnival Fun Ships for your sea travel vacation, you choose a floating resort. The Carnival's "floating palaces" feature along with all their unique activities & amenities, also the Spa Carnival retreat - your perfect world of tranquility, beauty, rejuvenating relaxation and well-being at sea. Integrated with Cloud 9 Spa Carnival prices and our Carnival Cruise Lines prices information hub about what is the price of fun when you choose to travel with the cheapest cruise line in the world.

Carnival Spa products

The Spa Carnival services in the Health&Wellness centers on all Carnival ships are managed by Steiner Leisure Limited (STNR). Steiner is a leading company for spa services and products, established in 1934. As of February 2012, the Steiner spa company serves a total of 152 cruise ships of 19 of the world's most famous cruise line companies .

The general range of Carnival Spa prices is from US$25 up to around $300, but keep in mind that the onboard facilities you're using, besides their glamour, also have their huge cost to build. Everything on a vacation ship is much more expensive as a building cost than its analogs ashore. So indulge yourself by spoiling your body with some of the best Spa treatments at sea, using top-line luxury spa products provided by the leading British spa brand Elemis.

Spa Carnival menu prices of services and treatments

The Carnival Spa menu prices in the table below are available on the following Carnival ships: Conquest, Ecstasy, Elation, Fantasy, Fascination, Freedom, Glory, Imagination, Inspiration, Legend, Liberty, Miracle, Paradise, Pride, Sensation, Spirit, Triumph, Valor, and Victory. Tip: Spa services are at discounted prices while the ship is in port.

Carnival cruise ship Fitness prices

Note: The following pricing is for a course and inclusive of consultation with the fitness program.

• "Personal Training" (60 min) - $103 $85 or course of 3 ($253 $209)
• "Pilate's" (1 hr) $85
• "Zone Diet" (nutritional consultation, 60 min) $103 $85
• "Body Composition Analysis" (30 min) $43 $35.
• participating in CLASSES for $14 $12 pp (Yoga, Pilates, Cycling).
• Fitness package prices (the "Unlimited Class Pass") - on 3-4 day sailings ($49) and on 5-7 day sailings ($69).
• "Chakra Balancing Capsule" - 25min ($45) and 50min ($60).
• Excepting the classes, using the Fitness equipment is free of charge.

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Steiner –the onboard spa ...

The COE are so excited to announce the recent developments with Steiner-The Onboard Spa. We were fortunate to have Elizabeth Newman from Steiner come and deliver a fantastic presentation about life on-board luxury cruise ships as a hairdresser or beauty therapist and the students were so excited.

The Steiner program is an exceptional platform for a different career path in these trades and the COE is humbled to be a part of this process. This means that our graduates have the chance, with mentoring, to secure an interview with Steiner, and if successful, will then travel to England to commence Steiner-the Onboard Spa Academy. Once they graduate they are then assigned their 1 st 9 month contract on a cruise ship. What an amazing way to see the world and earn a living!

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Easy instalment plans are available to assist students if required. Please contact 03 8638 8900 and [email protected] for further details.

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Cruise Ship Jobs with The Onboard Spa by Steiner

As a division of Steiner Leisure, The Onboard Spa by Steiner operates the Spa Department onboard most of the major cruise ships at sea. Their website claims that they employ “over 2,000 spa, salon and fitness professionals every year”.

Their cruise line partners include Carnival Cruise Lines, Costa Cruises, Crystal Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean International, Silversea Cruises, Windstar Cruises and many others.

Steiner’s history includes opening its first hair salon at sea on board Cunard’s Queen Mary in 1967, followed by the Queen Elizabeth II. Over the years, Steiner added treatment rooms to their salons and then fitness facilities, which marked the origin of its commitment to overall beauty and wellness. In 1994, Steiner purchased Coiffeur Transocean and became known as Steiner Transocean Limited and is now known as The Onboard Spa by Steiner.

Today, Steiner-operated spas are exquisitely designed relaxation facilities that emphasize spa treatments for the face and body, comprehensive fitness programs, and alternative health care such as Acupuncture, Chiropractic services and medi-spa treatments.

Their largest spas include Thermal Suites, Thalassotherapy Pools, Relaxation Areas, 20 treatment rooms that overlook the ocean, couple’s rooms, large fitness centres, barber shops, and hair and nail salons.

Steiner only hires fully-qualified staff in the positions of Spa Manager, Hair Stylist, Barber, Beauty Therapist, Nail Technician, Massage Therapist, Acupuncturist, Medi-Spa Physician, Spa Receptionist, and Personal Trainer.

Onboard Spa recruits globally and offers interview dates throughout the year. For more information about Onboard Spa by Steiner, visit their website.

Website: The Onboard Spa by Steiner

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Spa & Wellness With Dr. Andrew Weil

Seabourn is pleased to announce in partnership with The Onboard Spa by Steiner, we have created a fleet-wide mindful living program offering guests a holistic spa and wellness experience that integrates physical, social, environmental and spiritual well-being. The new Spa and Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil program will be the first-ever of its kind at sea. The new program will be led by the newly established position, The Wellness Guide. The Guide, will be a certified yoga and meditation practitioner who will inspire and educate all guests through various complimentary classes and gatherings throughout the voyage. Guests who choose to participate in this new program will have a cruise experience that is further enhanced by a holistic mind and body perspective. The program kicked off with Dr. Weil sailing on Seabourn Encore's inaugural cruise in January 2017. The program will be rolled out throughout the entire Seabourn fleet in 2017, including Seabourn Ovation in spring of 2018. Dr. Weil will sail on a different Seabourn ship each year where he will deliver a 60-minute lecture for guests and will also offer smaller informal group discussions. A separate team of wellness experts will also make regular visits to spa facilities throughout the Seabourn fleet. Central to the program is the daily practice of meditation and yoga through a selection of complimentary sessions. Guests can experience Mindful Meditation, which will introduce positive affirmations and mantras they can reflect on throughout the day. There will also be daily restorative yoga classes which will continue to focus upon the mantra and positive affirmations. Yoga classes will be varied, offering guests the ability to choose classes that focus on various physical issues, such as yoga to heal back and joint pain, headaches and body alignment, as well as yoga to enhance creativity, mental focus and happiness. Classes will focus on mind, body and spirit over a period of seven days, and will change daily with a new theme. Integral to the wellness program are enriching complimentary Mind and Body seminars designed to educate guests on philosophies and practices that are aligned with the program's mission. Each presentation will aim to empower guests with ideas and practices that enhance well-being and increase the awareness of connection between mind, body, environment and wellness. Seminars are created by Dr. Weil and Steiner's Wellness professionals, many of which will be based upon Dr. Weil's teachings, and will explore the fields of the healing arts. The launch of the Mind and Body Wellness Program with Dr. Andrew Weil deepens the already wellness-focused Seabourn spa program that offers a wide range of body massages, facials, fitness and beauty treatments. Lending itself to the program is the powerfully aromatic Thai Poultice massages that use the traditionally prepared steamed herbs of Camphor, Kaffir Lime, Prai, Turmeric and Lemon Grass in muslin poultices to melt away stress and tension, or nourishing desecrated Coconut that nurtures the body with soothing fats and lipids. Guests will also find Deeper than Deep Hot Stone Massage, Bamboo Massage and Freestyle Massage to engage their minds and bodies.

Onboard Activities

Each day on board offers delicious dining options, world-class entertainment and enriching activities.

Seabourn Conversations

The art of conversation has always been central to the Seabourn experience. Daring explorers, heralded chefs, learned scholars, celebrated performers and renowned experts from every arena share your journey on our intimate ships.

Our Conversationalists participate in the daily social scene, sharing meals, adventures ashore and casual chats throughout the voyage.

We have created a fleet-wide mindful living program offering guests a holistic spa and wellness experience that integrates physical, social, environmental and spiritual well-being. The new Spa and Wellness with Dr. Andrew Weil program will be the first-ever of its kind at sea.

Meeting Rooms

For meetings and gatherings, our ships offer meeting rooms that can accommodate up to 40 guests. The meeting rooms can be arranged to guests’ specifications including theater-style or with tables; and each of the rooms have large-screen TVs for presentations. Guests may also reserve the Card Room when available. Our crew members are happy to assist guests with meeting room reservations and setup.

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Work, Travel, and Live Abroad

Spa and Fitness Jobs on Cruise Ships

Working Abroad Magazine always goes to the source when it comes to finding out what a particular work experience is truly like! Many adventurous sorts, who love travel, think that they’d love to work on a cruise ship. But do they really? We interviewed Daniel, 23, to find out how he got his cruise job and to learn what he thinks of the career move!

He is the Spa and Beauty Manager on the M/S Insignia, part of the fleet managed by Oceania Cruises.

How long have you been working on cruise ships?

Since I was 19, I have been working onboard a number of ships before joining Insignia. I had an 8 month contract with Carnival Destiny, 8 months with Royal Caribbean Enchantment of the Seas, 2 contracts with Disney Magic, as well as contracts with Voyager of the Seas and Oceania Regatta. I have been to some fantastic places around the world, including the Caribbean, East Coast of USA, Canada, Mediterranean, South America and Antarctica.

Cruise Ship Spa and Salon Jobs

What job(s) were you doing?

I started out as a hairdresser in the Spa for 3 contracts. For Disney I also worked as a Spa Receptionist, before being promoted to Manager after 6 weeks of my second contract.

Why did you choose to work on cruise ships?

I was at a dead end in the UK. I was living alone, the cost of living in England was really expensive, so I was looking for something different. I sent my CV to so many salons in the UK before I applied to Steiner through the “Hairdresser’s Journal.”

So what happened at the interview?

Steiner gave a 2 hour presentation giving all the details of working life on cruise ships and the career opportunities available. It was really useful because it was very direct about the reality of what it is really like to work on a cruise ship. It didn’t hide anything about hours, potential earnings and the bare facts that you most want to know before considering a career at sea.

Then we had to have a practical examination with a model we had to bring with us. I had to do all sorts of different hairdressing styles, whilst I was asked questions about things like my experience and why I wanted the job, etc.

What do you need to get past the application process?

To get an interview, you do need to have at least a NVQ from a spa and beauty college course. I did an NVQ Level 2 hairdressing course at Nelson and Colne College in Nelson, Lancashire. Of course spa and salon work experience always helps, yet it is not essential as Steiner do often take on recent college graduates.

Once you passed the interview, what happened next?

All successful applicants then have to go through the Steiner International Academy, based in London. The courses can last anything from 1 and a half weeks to 12 weeks. You are taught everything to do with the cruise spa and beauty industry relevant to you. I learnt new invaluable skills such as teeth whitening, as well as training on how to communicate with cruise passengers, customer service and retail. The length of the course really depends on how well you improve as the course goes on. We are all provided with food and accommodation at the YMCA, which is definitely an experience to start things off! You share dormitories and meal time with the other candidates ranging from hairdressers, massage therapists, nail technicians, fitness instructors, all sorts. It’s a handy jumping point to get used to a similar communal crew life on board a ship. This is also the one training base for all applicants around the world, so you also get to meet a complete mix of different people and nationalities.

What’s your day-to-day routine onboard?

I have to start quite early, at 7.30am, and first of all I normally hold a team meeting with the other staff to discuss the cruise/day/bookings, etc. Then our staff begin their appointments with guests from 8am and go until around 1.00pm. I spend time mostly on reception, controlling the bookings, guest inquiries, staff training,  there’s always something to do! After lunch we then have appointments until 7pm and break for dinner, before working until around 8pm on a port day, or 10:00pm on a sea day.

Wow, that’s a long day, do you get any time off?

It is a long day and it can get tiring, but it can go quickly for the team, especially if they are kept busy and have a lot of appointments. Normally staff such as the massage therapists are entitled to 1 and a half days off every 7 days, and can earn extra time off if they have good retail sales or a guest’s compliment on the end of cruise comment cards. I organise my own time off around the team’s different schedules, so I can normally allow few hours off here and there when we are in port. What’s the salary like?

It depends on how hard you are willing to work! As a manager, it’s pretty good but can still depend greatly on the level of sales and appointments made on each cruise. As for the beauty and fitness consultants, if you are pro-active and manage to do a good service and book a number of guests in, then of course you are able to earn big bucks. The salary here is commission based, so the more you sell, the more you earn! It really does vary according to the type of ship you are on (big or small) & the type of guests, and even the length of cruises (shorter cruises have a higher guest turnover). There is an element of retail sales after the treatment, and once you have mastered this, there really is great earning potential. I have friends that are doing so well that they have earned over $3000 (£1500) in 4 days! You also have the opportunity to earn from tips too, I once got a $200 tip for a haircut! It’s a lot about self-promotion and the passion for the job.

What’s the best and worst experience you have had whilst working on cruise ships?

The best is the lifelong friends I made and when I found out I was promoted to become manager on Disney Magic. The team were so close knit it was such a good feeling to know I did a good job!

The worst was when we were in the Caribbean for Hurricane Wilma on the Enchantment of the Seas (Royal Caribbean). The gales destroyed the dock at Fort Lauderdale so we couldn’t dock for 2 days and I had never been seasick until then. Then the next cruise we went back to Cozumel, Mexico, and the whole portside had been flattened by the storm. The bars where we were drinking at just a week earlier were then completely gone!

Can you describe what its like to manage a team of crew members from the spa and fitness centre?

Steiner Cruise Line Trainees

Well again it varies according to the ship. Here I manage a team of 9, whereas on Disney it was a team of 23. I have to advise our consultants on the right training, treatments, recommendations, as well as keep them motivated and ensure it’s a happy place to work! I have to keep discipline also. Even to my friends I’m ready to hand out written warnings if they are hungover or late for their shifts. We have to remember we are dealing with a 5 star luxury cruise line, so there are expected high levels of service and appearance. I have no problem with my staff going out and having a good time, as long as they can burn the candle at both ends, I say do it!

Are there any negatives to working on a cruise ship?

Of course, a long contract with these hours can eventually take its toll on you, and it is exhausting by the end. By the time it comes to my vacation I sleep for two days straight before seeing family and friends!

Living onboard a ship can somewhat distort your sense of reality occasionally too. On some ships I have worked on, there has been very little British news coverage. I didn’t even know Gordon Brown was the Prime Minister until I arrived home 3 months later!

Do you have to organise anything else before you start the job?

To be honest there is a lot of outlay for your first contract. You have to make a one off payment for the Maritime Insurance Fee (£250), as well as obtaining your Visas, Seamans book and Medical papers. This is standard though for any cruise ship job, and once you have the documents you can use them for many contracts to come!

Do you think working on cruise ships has helped your career?

I think it has definitely helped me both socially and professionally. I have developed bags of confidence, as well as patience and other skills – the whole experience has been a huge learning curve. Also, I know that salons and employers in the UK have a lot of respect for people who have worked on cruise ships, as they are aware of the long hours, hard work and the essence of you earning commission and being proactive since it’s really like running your own business whilst working on a ship.

Cruise Ship Employment Resources

Steiner Training Academy Carnival and American Cruises Celebrity/Greek-American Costa and Italian Cruises Crystal/American

Harding Brothers Cruise Ship Jobs =>

Onboard Obsessions: From Chic Ship Libraries to Nordic Spas With Floor-to-Ceiling Windows

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Cruises can take you to amazing places, including bucket-list destinations like the Galápagos or Greenland and tried-and-true favorites like the Caribbean and the Med . But so much of the fun comes from being on the ship itself. Here, we’ve expanded on our long-running column Onboard Obsessions , spotlighting all the little things we’ve loved while cruising lately. From an unexpected plein-air performance and chic libraries to possibly the most unique New Year’s party of all time, these are the kinds of moments, big and small, that turn mere passengers into cruisers for life.

Sea Cloud Spirit is one of only a few cruise ships still powered by hand.

The infinite joy of the wind in your sails

We’d get on deck early. If the hoist happened at 9 a.m., I was sure to have breakfast beforehand. If it was later in the day, I would watch from the top deck of Sea Cloud Cruises’ Sea Cloud Spirit , chatting with my fellow passengers while we waited. Then it would happen: The crew members would get the sign and erupt into activity. There were 18 of them, and they moved fast, nimbly climbing the rigging, then scurrying across onto the yardarms, where, centuries ago, deckhands would be flung off in gusty weather, never to be seen again! They looked like tightrope walkers, harnessed in, moving in unison, and leaning forward from dizzying heights. A thrill to watch. Sea Cloud Spirit is one of only a few commercial ships still powered by hand, and many passengers book it for this spectacle alone. As the sails drop, the vessel starts to look like a ghost ship. Then they are up in their entirety, billowing and beautiful. When they finally caught the wind and I could feel the whole ship jump forward, my heart would skip a beat. The grand finale: Yes! Now we are sailing! —Belinda Luksic

Cruise ship libraries remain tried-and-true passenger favorites.

Find a nook, read a book

Viking Aton

I found a collectible copy of Agatha Christie’s Death on the Nile , its title in an Art Deco font, as we sailed the famous waterway. Viking partners with the London bookshop Heywood Hill on curating its on-ship libraries with destination-specific literature. How could I resist the chance to read such a classic as its namesake river lapped outside the window? —Megan Spurrell

Regent Seven Seas Splendor

Wooden bookshelves create small semi-private reading nooks in this hidden library, which was my favorite respite after clocking 10,000 steps in ports like Copenhagen. It was warm and inviting—exactly what I needed to bust through a reading list that hadn’t existed until I found the library in the first place. —Meaghan Kenny

National Geographic Explorer

The library atop this ship doubles as an observation deck, complete with expansive windows to gaze out on wherever we approached as we sailed from Argentina to South Africa. I may not have read many books, but the room became my happy place where I played board games with other passengers and lost myself watching for seabirds over the blue yonder. —Stefanie Waldek

In the Viking Polaris spa, passengers can soak in a traditional badestamp (a Nordic wood-sided hot tub) and alternate between the sauna and snow grotto.

Soaking in a badestamp, watching icebergs go by

Until I plunged into 28-degree water in Antarctica on my first trip south, I didn't understand the allure of thermal circuits in spas. Why would one want to subject themselves to intense temperature swings? But the surge of adrenaline as I hauled myself out of the iceberg-strewn sea and dashed madly to the sauna was intoxicating. I at last understood—and perhaps became instantly addicted to—the grand Nordic tradition.

Drawn to Antarctica again, I chose Viking Polaris as my home base in the Southern Ocean. And while the ship might not offer passengers a true polar plunge, it has the next best thing: a traditional Nordic spa with floor-to-ceiling windows, connecting you with the vast landscapes of the White Continent while you luxuriate. Bliss.

I found myself there regularly, cycling through the sauna, ice-cold bucket shower, steam room, and snow grotto—with a little relaxation in the warming cave or the hydrotherapy pool for good measure. But it was the badestamp that stole my heart, lingering in my mind long after I returned home. Tucked into a corner, the Nordic wood-sided hot tub sits in front of an open window, allowing you to breathe in the frosty air as it cools your rosy cheeks, steam swirling around you as it rises off the water. In the distance, you hear the calls of penguins, or the cannon-like boom of icebergs calving off glaciers, or, on occasion, pure silence. In the badestamp, I was balanced: hot and cold, yin and yang, separate from, yet connected to, Antarctica's raw nature. —Stefanie Waldek

Windstar is one of the few cruise lines that give passengers open access to the command deck.

The crew makes the cruise

On a particularly languid morning, as a cyclone pushed us off course in French Polynesia and the captain steered us to the sunnier climes of the remote Marquesas, I made my way up to the bridge of Windstar’s Star Breeze . This was a first for me; Windstar is one of the few lines that allow passengers access to the command deck. The innumerable controls made me think of Star Trek . I was mindful not to disturb the officers up there working, but then one spotted dolphins on the horizon and shared his binoculars so I could see them. That broke the ice. We spent the next 20 minutes chatting about the officers’ jobs, being away from home, and more. I have been on dozens of sailings and know that it can sometimes feel as if there is a wall between guests and crew. The open-bridge policy creates a great connection point; it is deeply humanizing. — Sarah Kuta

Regent Grandeur boasts a multimillion-dollar 1,600-piece art collection dispersed throughout the luxury ship.

The finest art at sea

I’d seen a Picasso before, but never while I was in the middle of the ocean. The master’s Toros y Toreros and two others adorn the nailhead leather walls of the steakhouse aboard the RSSC Grandeur . There are other masterworks too: I admired Walter Goldfarb’s 40-foot woven tapestry The Enchanted Tree on elevator rides to breakfast and one of the world’s 55 Fabergé eggs, which rotates in a vitrine on the fifth deck, while wearing a bathing suit and flip-flops on my way back from the pool. All of the ship’s multimillion-dollar 1,600-piece art collection , curated over two years by Regent art director Sarah Hall Smith, is displayed in this incidental way—you discover it as you go about your business. Perhaps the only thing I don’t love about museums is the dutiful traipsing through uncharted rooms. Here, Regent lets the art find you, imbuing those mundane in-between moments with a little magic. — Christie Galeano-DeMott

Some of the world's largest cruise ships offer a chance to watch Broadway-caliber performances at sea.

Day for night

Aboard the floating Oz that is Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas , the world’s largest cruise ship, I occasionally found myself overwhelmed by all the stimulation. But one afternoon on my way to the Overlook, a lounging station with two-story windows at the very front of deck 14, I discovered an unexpected respite. In the Aqua Dome above, music—Kenny Loggins’s Danger Zone —was starting and stopping over and over and over again, the same bit each time. Intrigued, I slipped upstairs to the Aqua Theater, where the night prior I’d watched from the window of the next-door seafood restaurant while a man suspended around 20 feet in the air pounded a timpani and divers hit their aquatic choreography with uncanny precision. The latter group was back but bore considerably less resemblance to Gina Gershon in Showgirls. Taking a seat on the wooden benches (populated mostly by older couples nursing afternoon cocktails), I watched a dozen or so men and women in Speedos run a five-second stretch of the piece, reset, run it again, reset, and run it again. As they rehearsed I found myself transfixed by the perfection of these athletes: not just their bodies, which were amazing, but also the immaculate cascades in which they dove into the water, one after the other, and their knack for keeping time and snapping out of it once each segment had been completed to the choreographer’s liking. It was like watching the Olympics . I couldn’t believe that they were just doing this for all to see and that I got to watch. — Charlie Hobbs

Avalon waterways lets passengers customize their mattress and pillows—combined with the gentle rocking of the river, you're guaranteed a good night's sleep.

Drifting off to sleep

My first words to my husband as I snuggled under the covers of my king-sized bed on the new Avalon Alegria was that I was never getting out of it. Beds have one job: to provide a good night’s sleep. Finding the right one when you’re traveling can be hit-or-miss. And a bad one can ruin your entire vacation. So, I was giddy to find out that I could customize Avalon’s Comfort Collection mattresses, with toppers that can be added or removed to offer very soft, soft, firm, or very firm foundations. Don’t like the feel of yours on the first night? Staff will cheerfully swap it as many times as you like until it’s perfect. A pillow menu (with three size and firmness options), and beds positioned to face floor-to-ceiling windows (never a wall) complete the suite’s dreamy feng shui. Goldilocks never had it this good. — Heather Greenwood Davis

This article appeared in the July/August 2024 issue of Condé Nast Traveler. Subscribe to the magazine here

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