Gloss Find: Mandara Spa Aboard the Norwegian Epic

Posted on November 21, 2010 by Aly Walansky

Friends, brace yourself.

I – Aly Walansky – have gone to a GYM.

It was such an epic experience — no pun intended – that I even asked for access to the FitGLOSS section of the site just to share this brief moment in time with you all.

You see, I was on a press trip aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Epic ship this past week, and took my good friend Kristin with me. Kristin is a fitness aficionado, and recently ACE certified as a group fitness instructor, so she knows her stuff.

Me, on the other hand? Occasionally I watch the Shimmy belly-dancing series on cable while drinking in bed.

(Yes, I have no idea why she continues to want to be my friend either.)

Anyway, when I invited Kristin on the trip, she made me promise we’d go to the gym at least three times during the 8-day journey. I agreed, and hoped she’d be too hungover to remember the promise.

Then, something sort of funny happened – I actually sort of liked it.

Cruise ships are notorious for copious amounts of food danger (i.e. everything is fatty/oily/fried), and a whole lot of sitting around and not moving. This equals superfast weight gain. The week before Thanksgiving (And three weeks before my birthday, followed by Christmas), who needs that?

Norwegian Cruise Lines recently had asked me to come aboard the Norwegian Epic, bring a friend, and sail around the Caribbean (gratis!) for a week, for the purpose of reviewing the ship.

As a beauty editor, I was wooed by them having the largest spa facility and fitness center at sea, totaling more than 31,000 square feet.

It’s pretty amazing: Mandara Spa features 24 treatment rooms, two private couple’s villas, two exotic steam Rasul rooms, a DIY Scrub Experience, Hydrotherapy Courtyard & Thermal Suite, full-service salon, fitness center and barber shop.

Before I talk about the gym — unfamiliar ground for me – my favorite aspect was the Hydrotherapy Thermal Suite. Any cruise guest can get a day pass to this for only $30,  and it features separate men’s and women’s areas equipped with sauna, aromatherapy steam, experience showers and heated ceramic loungers.

It’s also a bit romantic (were I not there with a girl!) and has the feel of a tropical garden communal setting, chaise lounge seating, a pool with massaging jets and waterfalls, a whirlpool and an outdoor relaxation deck.

But there’s a lot of other fabulous options going on at that spa — I was intrigued by the Rasul room, a purpose-built steam room that soothes and detoxifies the body, with organic muds, exfoliants and oils to purify and nourish. To complete the ritual, a warm tropical rain pours down from the dome of the rasul to wash away tension.

Can you get any more tropical paradise than that?

Mixologists aren’t just for the bar — onboard, there’s also a SPA mixologist, who for each guest will create personalized sugar or salt exfoliating scrubs using herbal blends to use during treatments or within the Rasul rooms.

Also cool: Even the spa is kid-friendly on this cruise! On the menu, you will find stuff like the signature ME! Bath® Ice Cream Manicure and Pedicure, as well as the Mother-Daughter Paradise Massage and the Father-Son Chill Out Massage.

But that’s not the whole reason I am profiling this spa…

Half of the spa floor is dedicated to a Fitness Center.
(Ack! I know.)

The concept of working out is shamefully foreign to me, but it’s an important aspect for many people when traveling.

And, honestly, if you are going to go to the gym, shouldn’t it be overlooking a gorgeous ocean?

This is a pretty sporty ship: It has the the first rappelling wall at sea and the only U.S. rated climbing wall afloat. As for the gym, it has 37 treadmills and 18 cross trainers, extensive weight equipment and free weight areas, stretching areas and four distinct aerobic studios.

There’s even classes! Everything from kettlebell training to yoga and pilates and personal training sessions. It can make you feel a lot less guilty about those pina coladas…