FOR THOSE OF US PASSIONATE about wellness pursuits and who feel most at peace close to the sea, there’s nothing quite like the synergy offered by a floating spa integrated into the setting of a luxurious cruise ship. I’m sailing through the Mediterranean from Rome to Barcelona, discovering along the way that the Crystal Life Spa & Beauty Salon on board the Crystal Serenity provides not only the element of high-end indulgence but also the cruise line’s signature commitment to attention and service.
One of the defining structural characteristics of a crystal is its symmetry — a kind of harmony of composition that lies beneath the surface, providing a foundational framework for its beauty. Crystal Serenity’s spa carries that concept even further with respect to space. The spa itself was designed to incorporate the guiding principles of Chinese feng shui, with the careful placement of furniture and objects helping to establish an optimal flow of positive energy that greets and surrounds each guest who enters.
I’ve left my husband to oversee the chilling of a bottle of Prosecco while I make my way to the Sun Deck, the location of the spa. At the reception desk, Spa & Salon manager Sarah Armstrong tells me most of the treatment rooms have water views, designed to enhance the sense of place.
Beyond the windows of the relaxation area, a wide deck filled with a sort of beach comprising softly rounded stones enhances the connection to nature. The choice of artwork and sculpture on display makes the spa space even more peaceful: a water feature by English artist Allison Armour-Wilson, a lovely reproduction of an Asian chest, and a series of gold wood panels by John Newman of South Africa.
Armstrong seats me in the lounge with a fruited herbal tisane to sip while I peruse the menu of available treatment choices. I’m pleased to see Chinese herbal medicine consultations and acupuncture on offer, as I have regular treatments at home to deal with a difficult knee. But I’m on the Mediterranean, and the only sensible choice is an ELEMIS Aroma Spa Seaweed Wrap with Massage.
The detoxifying treatment begins with a heated seaweed mask applied from my neck down. Though I’d secretly worried there might be a fishy scent to deal with, I needn’t have wasted my energy. The ELEMIS scent is delicate and pleasant, and the wrap that follows the application of the seaweed and essential oil blend is warm and com- forting. I drift in and out of half-dreams until it’s time to rinse off and surrender to a full-body massage.
Inspired by the artwork in the spa — and with some time on my hands before pre-dinner drinks — I embark on a meditative solo walkabout to explore the ship’s art collection, concentrating on the displays arranged at stairwell landings and in the public spaces near the restaurants, cafés and bars on lower decks. The collection is enormous, and by the time I’ve arrived back in my penthouse suite to join my husband on our veranda for a glass of perfectly chilled Prosecco, my head is dangerously filled with home redecorating ideas.
The following day, I arrive early at the spa for a workout in the Techno Gym then enjoy a relaxing session in the steam and sauna baths and beneath the shower area’s mist and rain features. Access to both the fitness area and heat cabins is complimentary to all guests, with separate steam and sauna facilities for men and women, with swimsuits optional. The spa area also encompasses a full-service salon and barbershop, with four stylists ready to trim, style, shave and blow-dry. Teeth whitening is even offered, while the extensive options at the Medi-Spa include DYSPORT wrinkle treatments; Restylane dermal filler treatments; and non-invasive Thermage skin-tightening treatments for face, neck and tummy.
I’ve booked a Freestyle Deep Tissue Massage. After making my aromatic oil selection from choices that include muscle pain relief, relaxation, emotional balance and stress relief, my therapist does a light dry brushing, explain- ing this will prepare my skin for the most advantageous absorption of the oil’s healing botanical components. For the better part of an hour, I’m bliss- fully adrift as she kneads, stretches and works the tight muscles of my shoulders and hamstrings. By the end of the treatment, I feel delightfully loose and slightly floppy, and I lie with my eyes closed until I hear the music of tinkling chimes sounding the end of the massage.
I sense the therapist stepping away, and though I can’t detect the sound of the door closing, I’m suddenly aware I’m alone. The vibration from the chimes lingers, briefly, in my muscles and tissues. I stretch beneath the blanket: first one arm, then the other, and come gently to a sitting position. The room is warm and sweetly scented. I sense the subtle movement of the ship as it glides through the Mediterranean toward Cannes and our next port of call, everything, including me, perfectly in balance.
Read This Next
By Land and Sea
November 2019
Nov 13, 2019Introducing
FX Excursions
FX Excursions offers the chance for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in destinations around the world.
#globility
Insta FeedDaily
Nov 13, 2024Discover the Birthplace of Cacao in Ecuador
Chocolate is made from cacao beans and Ecuador, the birthplace of cacao, has long been a significant player in the world of chocolate. Although historians once believed cacao was first used by Mesoamerican cultures, more recent studies from scientists around the world confirmed the cacao bean was first cultivated by indigenous tribes in what is now Ecuador.
Sponsored Content
Remarkable Medellín
Visiting Medellín in Colombia: The Country of Beauty is like stepping into a fantastic story — literally, as the city in the Western Colombian Andes region inspired Disney’s Encanto. Here, valleys, the world’s tallest palms, vibrant communities, colorful houses, garden-like balconies and more prove reality is more picturesque than anything on film. And it’s especially more tempting following Medellín’s remarkable transformation, shedding its troubled past and reawakening as a city of innovation, art, cultural richness, modern infrastructure, thriving tourism and resiliency.
November 2024
Nov 13, 2024Drink It All in During a Stay at Hotel Manapany on Swanky St.-Barth
Vacationers travel to the posh island of St.-Barth for its ritzy shops, tucked-away local beaches and elevated cuisine melding classic French technique with flavorful Caribbean ingredients. Guests staying at Hôtel Manapany, an eco-focused boutique property on picturesque Anse des Cayes beach, can also sip their way through beverages that showcase these two distinct yet remarkably harmonious cultures.
November 2024
Nov 13, 2024İstanbul Magically Integrates Past and Present, East and West
The breathtaking Bosporus Strait divides Europe and Asia in İstanbul, the former capital of the Roman, Byzantine, Latin and Ottoman empires, a city where trade has been intrinsic to the global bridge since the advent of the Silk Road and the Spice Route.
Sponsored Content
Extraordinary Egypt
ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME JOURNEY INTO THE ANCIENT WORLD OF THE PHARAOHS
eFlyer Reviews
Nov 13, 2024Hard Rock Hotel Marbella Review
Hard Rock Hotel Marbella brings the iconic brand’s mix of music-inspired glamor and the relaxed sophistication of Spain’s Costa del Sol. Just a short walk from Puerto Banús Marina, this lifestyle hotel stands out with real personality in an area already known for lavish resorts.
Why You Should Visit Grindelwald Christmas Market
Daily
Nov 13, 2024eFlyer Deals
Nov 13, 2024Snag Black Friday Deals at 2 San Diego Hotels
San Diego embraces Black Friday with exclusive deals at two popular upscale hotels. At Kona Kai San Diego, on the tip of the city’s Shelter Island, guests who book between Nov. 28 and Dec. 3 can receive either a refundable up to 25 percent off or up to a 30 percent non-refundable discount on the best available room rate.
Sponsored Content
Pick Your Paradise: Experience Bali at 3 Incredible Hotels
Bali is a name synonymous with island bliss. But there is more than just one side to this incredible place. Get a sense for the variety of experiences Bali offers by learning about three hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy® with distinctive opportunities for adventure and relaxation. With the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Card, earn points for free nights at each of these properties.
eFlyer Lead
Nov 13, 2024World’s Longest Flight to Receive Brand-New First-Class Cabin
Singapore Airlines is set to give its first-class cabins on its fleet of long-haul and ultra-long-haul Airbus A350 jets a major upgrade. These planes, operating the world’s longest flight from Singapore (SIN) to both Newark (EWR) and New York (JFK) at just less than 19 hours, will unveil its brand-new first-class cabins in 2026.
ShareThis