I figure by October Carita will have taken over the spa, right? Are the prices about the same as land based spas (I'm thinking Canyon Ranch)? Any recos on paricular spa services? I'm thinking pedicure (yes, a pedicure :rolleyes: ) with anti-stress foot massage and a head neck shoulder massage thing.

And...do I have to get a service to use the sauna/steam rooms?

Hi, Robert - Since you mentioned Canyon Ranch-- Anyone have a preference for a well-worth-it land spa? We are looking for something outside of Florida and searching on the net doesn't give the benefit of personal impressions... Suggestions would be appreciated!! Mia

Hi. Canyon Ranch Lenox is almost flawless. They're having a women's weekend in May.

There's a small (I mean small) detination spa in Blowing Rock Carolina called Westglow. It's one of my favorite places in the world. No pressure, lovely hiking if you want to, and the services I've had have ALL been outstanding! Beautiful area right off the parkway. I used to try to go twice a year, but cruising has cut into that a bit......

It's sort of like a Radisson cruise - don't think I could go back to the mega-spas after that.

www.westglow.com

Editing to add for Robert - I liked the Navigator spa but that was before they changed. I did a couple of the tension buster upper body massages early in the cruise, then the aromatherapy bath and massage on sea days. Lovely. I was quite pleasantly surprised - I had been a bit disappointed with the spa services on Seabourn.

Don't hijack my post, Mia!!

I still want to hear about spa services on Nav, or by Carita in general...

;)

R

Robert,

Why wait for the Navigator to have spa time? (although I will not miss some time there on board ship) There is an excellent spa in Sherman Oaks (California) with full privledges wtih a service including a pedicure, which, they do offer for men! If Burke Williams in the Sherman Oaks Galleria or is not your cup of herb tea - let me know and I can direct you elsewhere locally.

Thanks, Kathy - LOVE Burke Williams. For pedicures I go to my local nail shop with girlfriends every 2 weeks or so. You know the drill...a bite to eat, a glass of wine, mani/pedi and gossip!!

Robert:

If you are ever in Sarasota we'll make an appointment!

Yikes, it's not California - no wine or food offered...we'll just bring our own!

I'm betting the prices will cover our "costs"!

Love to razzzze you! Let's take a cruise together! ooops, I hope Tom isn't reading this, he might not understand! :ohmy:

Hi, Robert--- No hijacking here ... I definitely plan to experience Navigator's spa in April and will share my impressions upon return. Your mention of Canyon Ranch, though, must have been karma! I'm planning a long spa weekend with my daughter and want it to be special -- Noonewillanswer and curiouscruiser--Thanks for your input! Mia

Robert,

Sounds like your nail salon is more fun than mine is - of course I go in at 8 am so only bagels and coffee. Maybe I can check out the pedicure and massage departments on the Navigator in June and I can advise you then.

Robert, your nail shop sounds fabulous! Can you ship it north? Open a franchise maybe?

Mia, investigate Rancho la Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, an hour from San Diego airport.

Cerinda

Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires is the location I'd recommend.

A beauty salon/bar/night spot opened up in Hollywood 2 years ago called the Beauty Bar. Manicure and martinis?!?

I've not been but it does sound like fun!

http://www.beautybar.com/HTML/lamain.html

My way require s a stop B4 the mani but it's only down the street and we shop in the little shops on the way to the salon.

I was only teasing, Mia!! ;)

Hi Robert

Re: your question regarding CArita Spa...I can vouch for the Mariner Services, since we availed ourselves of them just recently!

Peter got the regular manicure and the pedicure with "de stress foot massage", the mani was 50 mins for $35, the pedi was 60 mins for $50.

We got the "Traditional Therapeutic Massage" 60 mins at $95.

I also had Peter get a "Radiance Beautifying Treatment" facial, 30 mins for $45.

For both formal nights, I had updos. Their base price is $55, but since my hair is a little long, I was charged $67.

I found the services to be first rate and well done, and the prices very similar to what we would pay in San Francisco.

The only thing is that I think the services aren't very varied. For example, they only have that one massage type. Their manicure is really only that one (they have a French one, but that isn't an option for the gents, is it??? ;) ). I seem to recall that the Judith Jackson Spa had different types of manicure/pedicure treatments e.g. hot wax, scrubs, etc. The facial was pretty basic as well, no deep cleaning or extractions or anything with gycolics. The other two they offer are anti-wrinkle geared and use some sort of Carita lifting maching (they use suction, perhaps???). They also did not offer make up, which was dissapointing for me because for big deals I like to get made up professionally. I can do my own, but you know what I mean...

Hope this helps

It does and thanks! I'm surprised that therre is not a laundry list of services. My nails are too short to sport a french! I go to great trouble to get the toxins firmly in place so I do not want extractions of any sort!

MiaPortia, haven't been in several years, but if you'd like to try somewhere completely different from "sunny Florida" and don't feel like Lenox -- in Santa Fe there's Houses of the Moon at Ten Thousand Waves. Very laid back and nuturing but not luxurious. Also had a nice spa weekend at Blackberry Farm in the Smokies -- but can't recommend their signature "Blackberry Mist" -- the only treatment not glorious. Wonderful food & service; lovely.

Margo - was just re-reading the thread and caught your comments! Not to worry about Tom, if he ever meets me he will want us hanging around together! I am very protective of my lady friends, except for my Harly ridin' girls (do the math) who protect me! :D

Sort of disappointing that the spa services are limited. I had a salt scrub followed by a massage on the Mariner (Judith Jackson) that was very nice. I too like the variety of different massages - Hot Stone, Shiatsu, Swedish, Deep Tissue. And surprised for Formal Night - no makeup services available? Although that could be the French Style. I do have a French Day Spa client and they do not like to do makeup after a facial service. Oh well, save the exotic for a spa weekend.

The Las Vegas Travellers can try Mandara at the Paris Hotel. I had a massage and Spa ped there. Of course there is also Canyon Ranch at the Venetian.

Loved CR at the V. After a night of carousing I went for a M and was sitting in the steam room after. Smelled like a martini - I must have sweated out a pint of gin! Lovely...

I agree that it's somewhat disappointing that they only have one type of massage available on the Mariner. Oh well ...

Masaki

Robert,

Isn't Martini a new scent by Chanel? (ha ha)

If it isn't Kathy, it should be!! LOL!

Re: Massage with Hot Stones

The Carita Spa offers this, but this is how they describe it:

Renovateur Revitalisant Corps

A unique and sensual (!! my exclamation points) treatment combining the Renovateur Technique, capped by body wrapping and stone massage. In this process, the face is nourished and gently smoothed with small cold pebbles for rejuvenation, while the body is massaged with a special technique using warmed volcanic stones, leaving you with a sense of deep relaxation - 90 minutes for $150

The have something scrub like sounding:

Renovateur Peau de Satin - The ideal treatment to attain that satin-like softness for your skin begins with our exclusive Renovateur exfoliation. This is followed by the gentle stimulation of your skin to begin its regneration process, leading to a healthy, youthful radiance 75 minutes $135

Is it possible to get a list of what's offered in the spa on Navigator prior to sailing?

If I can, I will try to post it. If not, I can send people copies if they want. It's not really that much of a spa menu, tho! BTW I've got the copy of the Carita Spa on the Menu, I would assume the Navigator is going the same way.

Gato,

If you can scan it, it can be posted! I am so ready for some spa time that I don't care how much it costs and what they call it!

Editing to add the link to the Spa Menu:
http://www.rssc.co.uk/Carita_treatments.htm

Only 3 more weeks of tax season!

ChatKat,

Looks like they got that link working finally...when I tried to access it before our cruise, it was not working.

That is the exact menu, so nothing is different. The only thing missing are the prices, so if anybody needs to know, I can tell them.

BTW I worked out of a job based in Camarillo 5 years ago, but stayed at the Hyatt Westlake Village!!

Yes, then you know my neighborhood. Too bad we didn't have the board going, you could have joined us for dinner! Or better yet, I know all the spas around here - we'd have had a really good time!

Thanks for the link!

Claudia