Breakaway $170 Massage Then Refused Spa Shower w/o Spa Day Pass Purchase?

[mjkacmom]

But what I do think is ridiculous, is that a shower in the locker room is denied after a massage. I have had a massage combined with facial and scalp massage and believe me I was one greasy mess from head to toe when I walked out of there. I may have frightened a few small children on my long walk back to the cabin.

 

I'm curious how they denied you. I assume your clothes were in the locker room, and you had to return there to get changed. Did they tell you not to take a shower? Could you use the restroom?

[medicalma'am]

Usually you change right in the treatment room while they step out for a few minutes, so your clothes are not in the locker room. As someone who purchases the Spa Pass for the week, I would resent someone getting to use the whole Thermal Suite for a day with any Spa treatment. Using the shower does not seem unreasonable, though.

 

I seldom see the showers occupied when in the Spa. I always wear a cover-up or something I do not plan on wearing again when getting a massage.

[njhorseman]

Isn't part of the problem that the actual spa service is owned and run by a seperate entity, Mandara or something, and the Thermal Suites is owned by NCL? It would be nice if they worked out an arrangement between them for at least a couple hours of relaxation before or after your massage, but if they do not choose to do that, so be it.

 

But what I do think is ridiculous, is that a shower in the locker room is denied after a massage. I have had a massage combined with facial and scalp massage and believe me I was one greasy mess from head to toe when I walked out of there. I may have frightened a few small children on my long walk back to the cabin.

 

Even here in Northwest Indiana, my little ole day spa/beauty shop provides a very nice shower room complete with hair dryers so that you can put yourself back together before going back out in public.

 

While I agree that ideally you should be allowed to shower after a treatment, once they let someone into the thermal suites area, how would they monitor whether they're just showering? There would be nothing preventing you from using all the thermal suite facilities.

 

One would just assume that anyone who offers spa treatments would also provide the opportunity to shower off afterward. It is just such a basic thing. Put a coin box on the shower door if they must, and charge a quarter for the darn thing.

 

No..that's not part of the problem. NCL owns the entire spa...Mandara (Steiner) is the concessionaire that runs it. It's NCL's decision how the facilities are to be used, and years ago they did allow passengers getting treatments to make use of the other facilities.

 

The problem is that once they let you into the thermal suites area to shower there would be no way to prevent you from staying and using the other facilities.

Edited June 1, 2014 by njhorseman

[punkincc]

I'm curious how they denied you. I assume your clothes were in the locker room, and you had to return there to get changed. Did they tell you not to take a shower? Could you use the restroom?

 

It has been awhile, but I believe I was just escorted straight to the treatment room where the therapist spoke to me and I was then left alone to get undressed and on the table. Same afterward. No offer of shower. Maybe the OP can detail exactly what happened with her.

 

This differs from most spas I have been in where you are first shown to the locker/shower area where you place your things in a locker, put on a robe and walk to an adjacent relaxation room where you are met by the therapist who then escorts you to the treatment room. Afterward, of course, you can shower before dressing.

[mjkacmom]

It has been awhile, but I believe I was just escorted straight to the treatment room where the therapist spoke to me and I was then left alone to get undressed and on the table. Same afterward. No offer of shower. Maybe the OP can detail exactly what happened with her.

 

This differs from most spas I have been in where you are first shown to the locker/shower area where you place your things in a locker, put on a robe and walk to an adjacent relaxation room where you are met by the therapist who then escorts you to the treatment room. Afterward, of course, you can shower before dressing.

 

That's crazy. I never get treatments (since I can get them for a lot cheaper at home, and there are tons of day spas here), but folks should be able to take a shower after spending all of that money. When I purchased the spa pass, I think there was only one time I noticed someone using one of the showers in the locker room.

[punkincc]

Usually you change right in the treatment room while they step out for a few minutes' date=' so your clothes are not in the locker room. As someone who purchases the Spa Pass for the week, I would resent someone getting to use the whole Thermal Suite for a day with any Spa treatment. Using the shower does not seem unreasonable, though.

 

I seldom see the showers occupied when in the Spa. I always wear a cover-up or something I do not plan on wearing again when getting a massage.[/size']

 

I totally understand not having access to the thermal suites, but it does seem a little ridiculous to deny use of the shower area afterward if you want or need to use it. It is not a very luxurious or relaxing experience if you have to put on your clothes over your oiled up body. Frankly, I have not purchased a spa treatment since, and probably will not in future.

[DevonianCruiser]

On earlier cruises with different lines I used to have spa access after a treatment, but it's been a few years. I don't tend to have treatments anymore as I think the prices have become exorbitant for what they are and the pressure tactics to flog any old tat on to your treatment are a joke. On one cruise on Celebrity in in 2004 or 2005 the girl doing the treatment 'advised' me to have $450 worth of stuff - I actually started laughing and said I know you have to try and sell this but does anyone buy that much? She said the odd person.

 

I've come across quite a few people who don't return to the spa as they don't like sales pressure.

[welove2cruise2014]

An old- ish thread but my $0. 02 : when I was on the Dawn, I got a massage and that did not entitle me to the use of the other spa facilities. I just want to add that the treatment room did have a nice enough shower where I could rinse off between and after the massage treatment(s) ... the masseuse left the room, of course!

[Nola26]

You asked direct question, so a direct answer. The use of the spa on all NCL ships has a charge, there is no "free" use of the spa. Getting a massage and utilizing the spa are not related. It should not be much of a surprise as the cost of using the spa is pretty well publicized.

 

That wasn't my experience on the Sky in November. When given the tour prior to leaving port I was shown the locker room and told I could use. I believe I used the shower ahead of my massage. The room is just a small locker room with a couple of showers, but I had access. With gratuities my package was $200 so I can feel the OP's expectation!