I'm a cruise expert: here's my ultimate guide to luxury spas - Daily Mail

[Lesley Bellew]

By LESLEY BELLEW

Published: 12:09 BST, 29 March 2025 | Updated: 12:10 BST, 29 March 2025


Cruises are known for their gargantuan buffets and lavish West End entertainment. But there’s now a shift towards onboard pampering as passengers go in for an array of soothing treatments and join yoga and Pilates classes. So, as a cruise expert and someone who’s never averse to a facial or massage, here are my top spas at sea.

Crystal Cruises​

You'll feel like a film star in Crystal Serenity’s glamorous Aurora Spa with its starlight ceiling twinkling over the salt crystal. The spa menu includes non-surgical Thermarge FLX that tightens facial skin, costing £3,500. Results last up to six months. Steam rooms are free to use and there are complimentary yoga, Pilates and spinning classes.

Book it: Three-night Barcelona round‑trip on Crystal Serenity, departs May 20. From £900pp including all meals, drinks, wi-fi and gratuities. Flights excluded. Book by April 30 (crystalcruises.com).

Saga Cruises​

The spa and thermal suite on each of Saga Cruises’ two boutique ships, Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure, cover 5,382sq ft with a free-to-use hydrotherapy pool, heated-stone loungers, steam room and infrared sauna. Beauty treatments include Elemis facials and revitalising leg therapies.

Book it: 16-night ‘Northern Lights’ no-fly cruise on Spirit of Discovery, departs Portsmouth on February 22, 2026. From £5,976pp including all meals, drinks, gratuities, chauffeur transfers and an excursion in every port (travel.saga.co.uk).

Regent Seven Seas Cruises​

Every Serene Spa & Wellness treatment on Regent Seven Seas Cruises begins with a warm eucalyptus wrap so guests inhale a calming aroma as muscles relax. All ships offer complimentary access to the hydrothermal suite, fitness classes, Pilates, yoga and meditation. Wellness tours include Tai Chi at Viharn Sien Park in Bangkok and a yoga class overlooking the sea in Tenerife.

Book it: 20-night ‘Coastal Wonders of East Asia’ voyage on Seven Seas Explorer from Tokyo to Bangkok, departs November 8. From £10,869pp including all meals, drinks, gratuities, unlimited shore excursions and laundry service. Flights excluded (rssc.com).

Viking​

Guests can experience a Nordic bathing ritual on Viking ocean ships. The free hot and cold therapies in the thermal suite boost circulation when dipping into the hydro pool and sauna before mixing snowballs with lavender in the snow grotto. The Scandi-inspired spa menu features mindful detox and deep tissue Swedish massages.

Book it: Seven-night ‘Iconic Western Mediterranean’ cruise on Viking Vela, departs Rome for Barcelona on January 3, 2026. From £2,590pp including flights from the UK, all meals, drinks, gratuities, wifi and an excursion in each port (viking.com).

MSC Cruises​

Traditional Balinese massages with aromatic oils are a favourite in MSC’s Aurea Spas. There are also Finnish saunas, steam baths and a shower circuit with jets creating warm tropical downpours to cool fine mists.

Whirlpool baths, an ice room and salt room are all free for those staying in Yacht Club suites. Other guests can buy a spa pass before boarding.

Book it: 12-night ‘Iberian Coast, Canary Islands & Madeira’ no-fly cruise from Southampton departs October 4. From £1,149pp including all meals, kids’ clubs and entertainment (msccruises.com).

EXPLORA I & II​

Both ships have 11 treatment rooms, including two private spa suites with a hydrotherapy pool, Finnish sauna, salt cave, steam room and heated marble loungers with a sea view. Wellness retreats include chakra healing meditation and gong baths under the stars.

Book it: 13-night ‘Barcelona to San Juan’ cruise on EXPLORA I on October 7. From £4,350pp, including dining experiences, drinks, gratuities and wifi. They also feature a two-day Depths of Exploration retreat, from £277 pp. Flights excluded (explorajourneys.com).

Norwegian Cruise Line​

Add romance to your cruise with a couples massage in the Mandara Spa & Salon on Norwegian Cruise Line ships before soaking up sea views from a hot-stone lounger in the thermal suite relaxation zone. In the vitality pool, massage jets relieve tension before a cool down in the snow and ice rooms. Buy a thermal suite pass (£76 pp) before boarding as there is a limit on numbers.

Book it: Seven-day ‘Royal Dockyard Bermuda’ cruise on Norwegian Aqua from New York departs Sept 13, from £2,835 pp including flights, all meals and entertainment (ncl.com).

Oceania​

A Concierge Level Veranda Stateroom grants free access to the open-air Aquamar Spa Terrace. On new ship Allura’s maiden cruise, shore tours compliment wellness such as visiting the Igalo Institute health resort in Montenegro for a hydromassage using mud extracted from the Bay of Igalo.

Book it: Six-day ‘Trieste to Athens’ cruise, departs July 18. From £2,409pp including all meals and drinks or £460 onboard credit. Flights excluded.