willcan

2 hours ago, natefish95 said:

Agree with David (hi neighbor!). I feel like Carnival is overall friendlier followed by NCL and then Royal. I need to give Royal another shot since both of my cruises were heavily affected by COVID restrictions. 

I have been with both Carnival and Royal many time. I have found the guests on both lines to be very friendly. I've had many wonderful conversations in the men's area on both lines. Also had some great conversations with ship entertainment crew in the men's area. They are more relaxed when they are off duty I suppose. 

Yes I can confirm that Royal has opened saunas and steam rooms. At least in the USA. 

On 3/9/2022 at 5:14 PM, ouse456 said:

Any word about whether Royal Caribbean has opened up steam and shower for use yet? (-on the ships that offer them in locker rooms, I mean.)

 

Yes. Friend was on the Brilliance of the seas in January and the facilities were closed. He returned 2 weeks ago and everything was open. And the ship was mask free for vaccinated passengers. 

Currently on board Odyssey of the seas.  Sorry to report there are no free facilities at all on this ship. Not even a change room in the gym.  

8 hours ago, CntPAcruiser said:

These ships apparently have a thermal suite, which is only available for a fee and usually includes mixed-sex steam and sauna facilities, heated lounges, and specialty showers.

So no single sex and no free facilities. I was afraid of that but thanks for the information anyway. 

Has anyone been on Royal caribbeans' Quantum class ship? I'd like to know what facilities they have. Thanks.   

The mega sized Roya Caribbean Oasis class ships at the same problem. They can't even provide a change room.  Pathetic.

Thanks for pointing that out. Unfortunately that's not a good sign especially since I just read that Carnival will be bringing out two sister ships to the Mardi Gras. Could this be the being of the end with Carnival too?

Has anybody been on Carnival Mardi Gras yet? Curious if there is a seperate men's areas on their new ship. I hope they are not removing them like so many other lines. 

Thanks so much for the update. I'm glad they have not (yet) had time to ruin another ship. I have some great memories of this sauna and steam room. Some of the best facilities the industry if you ask me. 

I'm sorry you didn't get to enjoy them on your sailing.  Let's hope this shut down is temporary and short lived. 

2 minutes ago, TexasCruiseDude said:

Just off Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas out of Galveston, TX: Good news is this ship still has the full separate men's large dry and wet saunas. The bad news is they had them turned off the entire cruise due to covid restrictions! Makes no sense that the bar areas can be mask free for vaccinated passengers, but not the locker rooms?!

 

Hoping for better on Mariner in a couple of weeks. 

7 hours ago, alexdw said:

I can only speak for the Jewel Class ships(Jewel, pearl,Jade, Gem)

They all have free steam in mens locker room off the Gym. The fee paying spa is great as it has a men only section with huge windows and consists of sauna steam and hot tub.

Well worth the fee they charge.

Thank you that is very helpful

I have never been on NCL. Can anyone tell me about the different ship classes and which ones have the best men's sauna/stream and gyms? Also if there is an additional fee for use. 

On 6/16/2021 at 10:09 PM, CntPAcruiser said:

The current report (June 2021) from Adventure of the Seas is that the steam and saunas facilities are closed for social distancing purposes, and the fitness center likewise has social distancing signage.

I hope that is short lived.  If everyone is vaccinated why do the sauna and steam rooms need to be closed. 

2 hours ago, Wilkinson1 said:

 

Royal Caribbean's Independence of the seas, Explorer of the seas, Adventure of the seas and Marnier of the seas all have an excellent free steam room and sauna inside the men's locker room off the gym.  At least that was the case pre Covid. 

Yes I'd been thinking the same thing. Let's hope we are wrong. 

6 hours ago, Repositioner said:

 

Well, just to be clear; none of the four (NCL Jewel, Gem, Jade, Pearl) has a mens community whirlpool.  The Pearl once did, but it was removed.  That having been said, the elaborate facilities on these ships remain the best of their kind.  NCL's regrettable practice of charging $20 - $30 a day for thermal passes discourages many passengers from ever using them.  

Thanks for the explanation. Now I understand the amenities on each ship.  I don't understand why they charge such a high daily fee. If the fee was lower, say $10, they would probably get a lot more users and bring in more total revenue for the ship. Of course free would be better for us but we all know that's not happening.  

5 hours ago, steve3008 said:

Hi 

 

i just glanced back the last few pages but still not sure where things stand. Can someone update me on RC. Are explorer and Indy the only ones from those classes that still have the original steam sauna layout? If there are others are they schedule for dry dock this year for the refit ? Thanks in advance 

Independence still has it, so does Adventure and Mariner.  Explorer has it now but will be gone in a month. Mariner was the last ship to be amped and still have it. It's a good bet that any ship heading into retrofit will lose it in the future. 

Thanks for the information. That's good to know. It's to bad all of those lines are so expensive.  

It's a real shame that so many cruise lines have abandoned single sex steam saunas and even showers. I kind of understand the move to paid facilities but why are they all going coed. Can't they off a choice, even for a free?

I wonder if virgin will take a different approach than the other lines 

1 hour ago, VirginiaGuy4u said:

Does anyone know if royal Caribbean mariner of the seas still has free sauna and steam in mens locker room?

The floor plan plan does not shows any changes to the men's spa area on Mariner but it does for the Navigator, Explorer and Freedom (Royal has both the current and future floor plans up now). Based on that I think it is safe to assume the Mariner was spared just like the Independence. These were the first 2 ships to be "Amped".

4 hours ago, alexdw said:

NCL jewel class ships have free steam room in mens locker room. The spa has a great mens only area with sauna  Steam and jacuzzi. This is a fee paying area but well worth it.

Thank you for the information. Have you had some good conversation in both the free and paid stream rooms?  Do you have any idea what the price is for a week's pass in the paid area? 

On 3/29/2019 at 9:21 AM, polimb said:

Has anyone been on the Independence of the Seas and know the sauna situation since the refit?

I was on Independence after the refurbishment and can confirm the sauna and steam are still in place, single sex and free.

On 8/1/2019 at 12:09 PM, tonygcharles said:

I'm not sure the updated list is correct 

I've been on Adventure of the sea since its refurbishment 

Sauna /steamroom free

Rhapsody was too the last time I was on her just over a year ago

And shes had no refurbishment in that time that I know of ?

Just reading about the dry dock upgrade for Voyager OTS. It's seems Voyager of the seas is being "amplified" in September when the ship's wellness complex (Vitality Spa and Fitness Center) on Deck 12 will be enhanced and enlarged. The complex will be relocated from forward to aft". 

When that happened on the Navigator OTS the single sex free steam and sauna were replaced. My guess is it's now paid and coed but I'd like confirmation on that.  

Royal states they plan to "Amplify" the entire Voyager and Freedom class of ships. 

The independence and the Mariner were the first 2 ships to be "Amped" but neither of them had changed made to the spa and fitness center.  The trouble began with Navigator and it looks like the trend is going to continue.

I'd say by the end of 2021 the only ships in the Voyager and Freedom class' with a free steam and sauna will be Independence, and Mariner. Possibly Adventure will be spared too as it was redone just before the "Royal Amplified" program rolled out. 

I think Royal will lose my business.

Thanks for the information.