I'm a cruise expert: here's my Ultimate Guide to the best luxury spas on the high seas – and the ships YOU need to book now

Importance Score: 15 / 100 šŸŸ 

Luxury cruises are evolving beyond opulent buffets and Broadway-style shows to become havens of onboard wellness. Passengers are increasingly seeking restorative experiences, embracing soothing spa treatments and engaging in revitalizing yoga and Pilates sessions. As a cruise authority with a passion for rejuvenation, I present my curated selection of premier spas afloat.

Crystal Cruises: Aurora Spa

Crystal Cruises’ spa menu features advanced treatments like Thermage FLX for facial rejuvenation.

Indulge in a massage with breathtaking ocean views at the Aurora Spa.

Step into the glamorous Aurora Spa on Crystal Serenity and feel transported to a world of cinematic elegance. A starlight ceiling twinkles above the serene salt crystal ambiance. The spa’s extensive menu includes cutting-edge treatments such as the non-surgical Thermage FLX, designed for facial skin tightening, priced at Ā£3,500 with results lasting up to six months. Guests enjoy complimentary access to steam rooms and a variety of fitness classes, including yoga, Pilates, and spinning.

Embark on a Wellness Voyage:

  • Crystal Serenity: Three-night Barcelona round-trip departing May 20.
  • Price: From Ā£900 per person.
  • Inclusions: All meals, beverages, Wi-Fi, and gratuities. Flights are not included.
  • Booking: Secure your escape by April 30 (crystalcruises.com).

Saga Cruises: Boutique Spa & Thermal Suites

Saga Cruises’ spa facilities include a hydrotherapy pool, heated loungers, steam room, and infrared sauna for guest relaxation.

Saga Cruises’ boutique ships, Spirit of Discovery and Spirit of Adventure, each boast expansive spa and thermal suites spanning 5,382 square feet. Guests can freely enjoy a hydrotherapy pool, heated-stone loungers, a steam room, and an infrared sauna. The spa menu features Elemis facials and revitalizing leg therapies to enhance well-being.

Experience Nordic Serenity:

  • Spirit of Discovery: 16-night ā€˜Northern Lightsā€™ no-fly cruise departing from Portsmouth on February 22, 2026.
  • Price: From Ā£5,976 per person.
  • Inclusions: All meals, drinks, gratuities, chauffeur transfers, and a shore excursion in every port. (travel.saga.co.uk).

Regent Seven Seas Cruises: Serene Spa & Wellness

Regent Seven Seas Cruises provides complimentary wellness offerings such as fitness classes, Pilates, yoga, and meditation sessions.

Guests can fully benefit from the rejuvenating hydrothermal suite experiences.

Every Serene Spa & Wellness treatment on Regent Seven Seas Cruises commences with a soothing warm eucalyptus wrap, allowing guests to inhale calming aromas as their muscles unwind. All vessels offer complimentary access to the hydrothermal suite, fitness engagements, Pilates, yoga, and meditation. Enriching wellness excursions feature Tai Chi at Viharn Sien Park in Bangkok and seaside yoga sessions in Tenerife.

Discover Asian Wellness:

  • Seven Seas Explorer: 20-night ā€˜Coastal Wonders of East Asiaā€™ voyage from Tokyo to Bangkok, departing November 8.
  • Price: From Ā£10,869 per person.
  • Inclusions: All meals, beverages, gratuities, unlimited shore excursions, and laundry service. Flights are excluded (rssc.com).

Viking Cruises: Nordic Spa Rituals

Viking cruise spa menus, inspired by Scandinavian traditions, offer detoxifying and deep tissue Swedish massages.

Viking ocean ships provide guests with an authentic Nordic bathing ritual. The thermal suite’s complimentary hot and cold therapies, including hydro pool and sauna dips followed by snow grotto experiences, enhance circulation. The Scandinavian-inspired spa menu highlights mindful detox treatments and deep tissue Swedish massages.

Mediterranean Relaxation Awaits:

  • Viking Vela: Seven-night ā€˜Iconic Western Mediterraneanā€™ cruise departing from Rome to Barcelona on January 3, 2026.
  • Price: From Ā£2,590 per person.
  • Inclusions: Flights from the UK, all meals, drinks, gratuities, Wi-Fi, and a shore excursion in each port (viking.com).

MSC Cruises: Aurea Spa & Thermal Experiences

Guests in MSC Cruises’ Yacht Club suites benefit from complimentary access to whirlpool baths, an ice room, and a salt room.

MSC Cruises also features Finnish saunas, steam baths, and innovative shower circuits in their spa facilities.

Traditional Balinese massages using fragrant aromatic oils are a signature offering in MSCā€™s Aurea Spas. The facilities also include Finnish saunas, steam baths, and invigorating shower circuits that alternate between warm tropical cascades and refreshing cool mists.

Whirlpool baths, an ice room, and a salt room are available without charge to guests staying in Yacht Club suites. Other passengers can purchase spa passes in advance of their voyage.

Explore the Iberian Coast:

  • MSC Cruise (Ship unspecified): 12-night ā€˜Iberian Coast, Canary Islands & Madeiraā€™ no-fly cruise from Southampton, departing October 4.
  • Price: From Ā£1,149 per person.
  • Inclusions: All meals, kidsā€™ clubs, and entertainment (msccruises.com).

EXPLORA Journeys: Ocean Wellness Retreat

EXPLORA ships provide extensive spa facilities including treatment rooms and private spa suites with a hydrotherapy pool, Finnish sauna, and salt cave.

Wellness retreats on EXPLORA include chakra healing meditation and enchanting gong baths under the starry sky.

Both EXPLORA I & II feature expansive Ocean Wellness areas with 11 treatment rooms, including two exclusive private spa suites. These suites offer a hydrotherapy pool, Finnish sauna, salt cave, steam room, and heated marble loungers with ocean vistas. Wellness retreats encompass chakra healing meditation and celestial gong baths conducted under the stars.

Journey to the Caribbean:

  • EXPLORA I: 13-night ā€˜Barcelona to San Juanā€™ cruise departing on October 7.
  • Price: From Ā£4,350 per person.
  • Inclusions: Dining experiences, beverages, gratuities, and Wi-Fi. Two-day Depths of Exploration retreat available from Ā£277 per person. Flights are excluded (explorajourneys.com).

Norwegian Cruise Line: Mandara Spa & Thermal Suite

Enjoy panoramic views from hot-stone loungers in Norwegian Cruise Line’s thermal suite relaxation zone.

Enhance your cruise experience with a romantic couples massage at the Mandara Spa & Salon on Norwegian Cruise Line. Afterwards, unwind while absorbing ocean views from hot-stone loungers in the thermal suite’s tranquil relaxation zone. In the vitality pool, massage jets alleviate tension, followed by a refreshing cool down in the snow and ice rooms. A thermal suite pass is available for purchase at Ā£76 per person in advance due to limited capacity.

Bermuda Bliss Awaits:

  • Norwegian Aqua: Seven-day ā€˜Royal Dockyard Bermudaā€™ cruise from New York, departing Sept 13.
  • Price: From Ā£2,835 per person.
  • Inclusions: Flights, all meals, and entertainment (ncl.com).

Oceania Cruises: Aquamar Spa Terrace

Oceania Cruises Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms offer complimentary access to the open-air Aquamar Spa Terrace.

Guests in Concierge Level Veranda Staterooms on Oceania Cruises receive complimentary access to the open-air Aquamar Spa Terrace. The maiden voyage of the new ship Allura features shore excursions complementing wellness. One such excursion includes a visit to the Igalo Institute health resort in Montenegro for hydromassage treatments using mud from the Bay of Igalo.

Mediterranean Wellness Journey:

  • Oceania Allura: Six-day ā€˜Trieste to Athensā€™ cruise, departing July 18.
  • Price: From Ā£2,409 per person.
  • Inclusions: All meals and beverages or Ā£460 onboard credit. Flights are excluded.

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