Anyone NOT like the Surial Bath? [Archive] - The DIS Discussion Forums

shmoogrrrl

08-25-2002, 12:16 AM

My husband and I were just sitting here chatting and I was reading him some of the posts on the board. He asked me a question that I thought I'd post to get the answer to.

Was anyone else, besides my husband and me, NOT impressed with the Surial Bath?

We did it on our second cruise in Feb. of 2001 and while the mud stuff was cool, that steam room was PAINFULLY hot to me. It burned my skin! OUCH! My husband thought that it was "OKAY" until it came time to rinse the mud off and he had trouble. All-in-all, it just didn't do anything for us.

Yes, I know what some of you are thinking.......You are thinking that we probably didn't enjoy it because we didn't really take part in all the "Wink, wink, nudge, nudge" stuff (trying to keep the message PG here!) and you'd be right. Trust us, we are not prudes (card carrying members of the Veranda Club! Well, okay...So there isn't really a card for it...) but neither of us found it the least bit appealing as a place for the good ol "wink, wink, nudge, nudge." All that cold marble just didn't do it for us. The Mud was fun, but we could have done a variation of THAT in our room!

Anyway, after reading the boards for a few years, we have come to the conclusion that we are the only two people in the world who actually were not impressed!

Anyone else?

Kathy

P.S. Edited to add another hubby question.....The Surial Bath is equiped for three. He is wondering if anyone has ever taken them up on that! *laugh* Wait...Maybe he doesn't wanna know.....HEHEHEHE!
:Pinkbounc :bounce: :Pinkbounc :bounce: :Pinkbounc :bounce:

akterrye

08-25-2002, 04:39 AM

Kathy, you and your husband aren't alone...we never bothered to sign up for it because the description of it didn't even appeal to us. We have a two person jacuzzi in our master bath, so we could do a home version of the Surial Bath (and then some) for a lot less. We found other things to spend our money on that we could both participate in and enjoy together.

imgoingtodisney

08-25-2002, 06:09 AM

How would drugs (v) work in here? Would I be putting DH up for a heart attack?

shmoogrrrl

08-25-2002, 07:23 AM

Originally posted by imgoingtodisney
How would drugs (viagara) work in here? Would I be putting DH up for a heart attack?

Ummmm.....are you worried about a medical condition? I don't recall seeing anything that said it was unsafe for anyone, but if you are worried then talk to the spa folks when you get there.

Kathy

:jester: :smooth: :jester: :smooth:

shmoogrrrl

08-25-2002, 07:26 AM

akterrye,

Oh Good! At least we are not total freaks! We are quite fond of the Couples Cabana Massages though! Of course, I guess those don't lend themselves to the same "alone" time, but they are SOOOOOOOO relaxing!

Thanks for letting us know we are not alone!

Kathy

:p :p :p :p :p

Just Chip, No Dale

08-25-2002, 09:17 AM

This is actually "chip's" husband, Dave, not Chip. The Surreal Baths were pretty disasterous for us. It was so hot and steamy that my wife felt sick and had to leave. She passed out once we got outside, and they had to bring a medical team up to the area to treat her! She was okay after about an hour and everything was back to normal, but on our 9-21 trip next month we will definitely NOT be going back there! I liked it, but I like saunas. My wife probably has low blood sugar, and if she hasn't eaten all day...look out!

It's great, though, if you can take the heat!

Dave

aseafish

08-25-2002, 10:08 AM

Glad to know others out there feel somewhat the same as we do. I read the descriptions to DH, and he just kept asking "Why?". My reaction was about the same, though I know some people are quite pleased with it.

BeanoC

08-25-2002, 10:13 AM

We weren't very impressed. It was in fact the only opportunity we would have for a time of intimacy, but the uncomfortable marble benches don't much lend themselves to that. We couldn't join the verandah club because of our 2 children almost always being around - and this year, our verandah is on the very stern of the ship and visible from deck 9! Exhibitionists we're not!! ;)

We have no intention of doing the surial bath again; maybe a massage or something but the surial was not worth 70 bucks.

'Beano':cool:

DopeyRN

08-25-2002, 11:07 AM

imgoingtodisney...I would definitely be concerned about the viagra and what appears to be too hot a steam room. Add in some exertion...I don't know that I would risk it.

The description of the surial did not appeal to me at all. Better to send DS to the kid program, grab a soft bed and a scented oil. Oh and kick the a/c down...DH and I are not really fans of heat...

Mtdewbuzz

08-25-2002, 11:29 AM

The only thing I didn't like about it was that the steam jets seemed to be somewhere near the floor, and it was VERY hot on the feet. Other than that, I enjoyed it!

inkkognito

08-25-2002, 11:30 AM

A hint for those who do not like the hard marble or tile...
bring EXTRA towels.
I have low blood pressure (normally 90 over 60), so I can only take steam for a limited time. To make the steam room more tolerable for me, I prop the door open a little bit to let some of it escape into the shower area, and I keep a stream of cold water dribbling on me (there are hoses by the seats in the steam area).
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

dznymom1

08-25-2002, 01:51 PM

You are not alone! When the girl discreetly knocked on our door with the 10 minute warning, we almost knocked her down in our haste to escape! The experience was good for a few laughs and probably will be for awhile. I'm not sorry we tried it, but we will not do it again.

cruisnfamily

08-25-2002, 05:03 PM

This thread is so Amusing!;)

Hubby and I are going on our 2nd cruise(a 4 day) next month for our 12th anniversary. It's been suggested that we try this "surial bath" thing but honestly, it doesn't sound like something I would want to do. The anecdotal "trip reports" about it are great to read and it sounds like it would be fun but I know us and I know we wouldn't enjoy this. Hubby isn't the "play with the mud" romantic type and I don't really think that I am either.

I'm glad to hear that not everybody thinks it's the fabulous. I really thought we were the only ones on the planet who didn't think this sounded enjoyable.

Thanks whoever started this thread!

Firefighter Mickey

08-25-2002, 05:32 PM

We thought it was ok, but not something we're worried about doing again.

One thing I do wonder about though - clearly those rooms were designed for more than 2 people; would it be more fun with 3 or 4?

shmoogrrrl

08-25-2002, 06:29 PM

Originally posted by Firefighter Mickey

One thing I do wonder about though - clearly those rooms were designed for more than 2 people; would it be more fun with 3 or 4?

We wondered this too. I believe the brochure says it is for two or three. I can't imagine three, but I wonder if anyone has taken them up on THAT?! Yikes!

Kathy
:p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p :p

aseafish

08-25-2002, 06:31 PM

When the girl discreetly knocked on our door with the 10 minute warning, we almost knocked her down in our haste to escape! This has got to be my all-time favorite quote from the DIS boards! :cool: :cool:

saturday97

08-25-2002, 06:53 PM

Funny, Verandah "action" never occurred to me!! I guess you'd have to get a Navigator's unless you really wanted to put on a show... this whole thread is hysterical!!

Limmer

08-25-2002, 08:16 PM

Shmoogrrl, Thank you! I was so disappointed in us (especially because it was our honeymoon!;) ) We couldn't stand it! The 1sy part with the mud was fun but when we went into the steam room I could not even get fully into the room it was so hot. And I don't mind saunas. It turned out to be ridiculous not romantic. I thought we were doing something wrong.:o

kimtenn

08-25-2002, 08:46 PM

What a hilarious thread! DH and I don't plan on doing the surial bath because I recently got over being anemic, and hot steam for a long period of time would possibly make me sick. Plus my tootsies are pretty tender, so I'd have to wear pool shoes, which are not exactly sexy. Plus, mud can go in the strangest places, especially if you're trying to get "friendly." Nope, didn't appeal to us either. We thought the cabana massage on CC rocks, though more expensive and you can't get "friendly" with each other.

The verandah club sounds MUCH more interesting, although DH and I have never had a verandah. If you truly have the privacy of solid walls on either side with no views from above, and it's a day at sea, it could be pretty interesting.;) I wouldn't do it if I was in port though (lol).

(calling into the other room) Honeeeee, can we book a verandah next time?? (followed by evil laugh)

Tee hee!

inkkognito

08-25-2002, 09:12 PM

Advice on the verandahs...
If you have a plexiglass one, you can construct a "tent" out of a blanket and the chairs & table. ;)
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.*****************

saturday97

08-25-2002, 09:23 PM

Why Barb-- sounds like you may already be a member of the "wink wink" verandah club-- no wonder you two take so many cruises!!;) :D ;) :D Hee hee!

quidam

08-25-2002, 10:35 PM

I was just on the Wonder last week and took my husband to the surial bath (I had read so much about it)... We enjoyed it, but would definitely not do it again. It was fine until we opened the door to the steam room; then I could hardly breathe and almost panicked. And as someone already said, it was SO HOT for the feet... We used plenty of cold water. What a waste of water! Altogether, it was fun to try, but I wouldn't do it again.

peagreenid

08-26-2002, 12:11 AM

I gave DH the option of both...........He liked the Idea of the Verandah club.....Way more. :smooth: :smooth: :smooth: We have teens.......After almost being caught.......we quickly learned to use the Deadbolt......... "and they just thought their keys no longer worked ;) ;) ;) "

this year we are in a cat 9........:(

smiles Patty

"regardless of where you are you have to be VERY careful. We were at Port and our verandah faced the ocean. I just walked out of the shower and was getting dressed in the room. The lights were off, but the curtains were open to the verandah. Much to my horror a CM rolled by our verandah on scaffolding, painting the rails......... :earseek: :earseek: :earseek: Boy did he get an eyefull!!!)

BuzznBelle'smom

08-26-2002, 06:44 AM

Too, too funy, guys! You are seriously making us reconsider the Surial bath. Perhaps we'll save the money and do somethign else, like the Palo's brunch which hadn't made my list (dinner had, but like I said, reconsidering now!). And I'm afraid to ven MENTION the verandah club to DH, he'll want to be "inducted" before the sailaway party (gee, which side of the ship are we on?)

I Luv Disney Cruise

08-26-2002, 07:14 AM

DH and I didn't enjoy it all last cruise.

Steam Room was way too hot, even leaving the steam room door open.

There is no way of having *wink wink * fun. The floor was flooded in the shower room, so that wasn't exactly appealing, and the bench is not enough room.

We ended up walking out real early, my blood pressure must have been really high because my heart felt as though it was jumping out of my chest and my face was as red as a beet. And I wasn't that way from * wink wink *, but from all the unbearable heat.

We won't ever be doing that again.

markmyboy

08-26-2002, 07:20 AM

DH & I tried the surial bath last October on the Magic

I was about 3 months pregnant at the time & the CM assured us it was alright for PG women. The mud was great fun, but the steam room was TOO much!! (I knew I didn't like steam rooms from our cruise the previous year when we went in thr rainforest room.) I could not get any relief from the steam..I think being PG made it harder for me to tolerate the steam. Putting the mud on & washing it off was fun, but I do not think we "enjoyed" it as much as those who give rave reviews!!

Overall it was a good (funny) memory ( & a nice break form our then 3 year old!!), but nothing we have the desire to do again!! The foot massage I had later that week , on the other hand...AAAHHHH... a little slice of heaven!!

BTW Kathy..your little girl is ADORABLE!!

SC Minnie

08-26-2002, 08:03 AM

We decided to do the surial bath in January- had read so many great things about it on this board and said why not. Because of the $$ it was the only spa thing we were going to do. We were ready to go way before the 10 minute knock. Putting the mud on was fun and interesting and the steam room was OK. I didn't really see where it could get all that romantic in there- maybe when you finished and went back to the room???;) but who needs to spend $70 for that???

When we left the spa DH and I looked at each other and said 'What was all the hype about?' It was nice to do once but it will not be on my must do list on future cruises.

We also questioned the 3 person deal- I wouldn't even think about going in there with anyone besides by husband!

RIDISNEYLOVERS

08-26-2002, 09:10 AM

I must be very very naive!! I wasn't sure what the first post about the "verandah club" meant, but I am just realizing after Barb's post!! We have a plexiglass verandah on the port side so do you think it is possible to be inducted into the "verandah club" on the four night wonder with a day at Freeport???

Also can your "neighbors" hear you?? The reason why I am asking is because we have an adjoining room with my parents (7080 and 7082) and on the other side is my Aunt and Uncle (remember we have a big family group going). We have already discussed the surial and everyone is looking forward to that, but this is the first time I have heard of the "verandah club".

We have a 2 1/2 DD so some alone time would be great!!

Anyone have any suggestions?

Lisa

shmoogrrrl

08-26-2002, 01:00 PM

Originally posted by RIDISNEYLOVERS
I must be very very naive!! I wasn't sure what the first post about the "verandah club" meant, but I am just realizing after Barb's post!!
Lisa

Hehehe! My husband and I were waiting for someone to post something like "Verandah Club? Are you automatically a member after sailing with a Verandah? What sort of discounts can you get? " *laugh*

There was a big deal made about the Verandah Club over a year ago, but it has sort of died down since then.

As far as anyone hearing you, I'd imagine not if you were quiet. :)

Kathy

nedleycan

08-26-2002, 08:06 PM

Are the walls on their side of the veranda solid and full length? I guess I always imagined that your neighbours could peek around the corner. I had already thought of the "Veranda Club" (and I am sure that my husband had too), but I didn't think it would be possible.
We will probably still do the Sureal Bath, just to try it out. Now that I hear all the negative, I am even more interested in trying it!!!!

Deb in IA

08-26-2002, 09:19 PM

We thought it was fun. DH ESPECIALLY like the steam room, but he's an ex-high school wrestler who loves to steam, sauna, and get really sweaty . . .
:rolleyes: :rolleyes:

One word of caution, however. After you get muddy, you are very slippery. If the boat is swaying quite a bit, well, let's just say that all I could think of was the Paul Simon song "Slip Slidin' Away . . ."

shmoogrrrl

08-26-2002, 09:44 PM

Originally posted by nedleycan

We will probably still do the Sureal Bath, just to try it out. Now that I hear all the negative, I am even more interested in trying it!!!!

Oh I definatly recommend that you try it! Just because we didn't like it doesn't mean you won't either! I've read so many posts on here from people who LOVE it that I certainly didn't mean to keep people from trying it with this post! :)

Have fun!!!

Kathy

twinmom1292

08-27-2002, 10:46 AM

This thread is great. I have been laughing the whole time. It is a family vacation, but hey you can't have a family without a HAPPY husband & wife!!!!!!
Same thoughts about the veranda, with my parents next door. Who knows maybe the will beat us to it!!! They have been HAPPY for 40 years!

Beth

peagreenid

08-27-2002, 04:15 PM

The one thing that Stopped us from doing the Surial Bath....was the fact that there were several reports before our sail date that the showers were not working.
People got all slathered in Mud.........and couldn't rinse it off.

IMHO.........

there is NOTHING romantic wearing DRIED MUD!! LOL

smiles Patty

Parrotheader

08-27-2002, 05:05 PM

We only had a Cat. 8 room (Oceanview Stateroom) so we didn't have a chance to joing the Verandah Club. Maybe next time ;)

We did enjoy the Surial Bath though. I do agree it was VERY hot in the Steam room which I personally liked. My wife even felt a little overheated about halfway through. So we got up and showered, left the door to the steam room wide open and then went back in. It was much nicer. And the steam coming from the floor WAS hot on the feet, but we got around that by having one of the faucets in the fountain stay on (i think it was busted) to basically flood the room.

Maybe we were just having more fun with it since we didn't have a verandah as an outlet and since it was nice to be in a different intimate-style place than the same old, same old. Because we personally thought it was an extremely cool environment for . . . activities of that particular nature. Just bring some extra towels, leave the door open, run lots of water, and take a shower if you get hot. I personally could have stayed in there for several hours. For the price, it's the most affordable things you can do in the spa as a couple.

And being a red-blooded American male, I too wondered how many people have actually taken them up on 3 people at once in there?! The staff there has to have some interesting stories.

hnokes

08-27-2002, 05:31 PM

you posted GREAT pictures! Would you mind telling me what digital camera you used???

Thanks!
The Nokes:sunny:

Ashley24

08-27-2002, 05:45 PM

Parrotheader,
I enjoyed your pictures too! Which floor were you on? The view from your porthole was nice!
Ann

Parrotheader

08-27-2002, 05:53 PM

Thanks for the photo compliments :D Ashley24, we were on the forward, port side, in room 6020. Hnokes, the camera was a Samsung DigiMax 210SE (2.1MP, 3X optical.) I got it because it was dirt cheap at Kmart when they were going out of business here and too good to pass up since I needed something for the trip. The originals were all 1600x1200 and I used Photoshop to clean them up a bit and resize them down to a more web friendly 700x525. The camera takes decent photos, but there are better 2MP options out there at good prices these days. I wanted to take a LOT of photos to make a history of the trip (I took about 250 on digital and we had another 200 in film.) Organizing them all once we got back to a LOT of work.

Michelle

08-27-2002, 06:16 PM

Ummm, hate to be a party pooper folks, but this is a "family" board so let's try not to be quite so descriptive of the adult onboard "activities". :)

And for those considering the verandah, they are NOT PRIVATE at all, not only can your neighbors hear you (and peek at you if they are so inclined) but those several doors down can hear you as well. The sound carries. :)

Just a word to the wise. ;)

kapeppy

08-28-2002, 08:04 PM

DH and I did the surial bath last year and had a mixed reaction to it. First, let me say that we made the reservation the day before we actually went for the treatment so the only time available was first thing in the am. We woke up, brushed our teeth, threw on some shorts and headed upstairs. I really expected a more romantic experience, however, we found it to be very comical. We used the mud as face and body paint and boy did we laugh! I wish we had brought our waterproof camera to capture that moment! The steam room was barely warm so we didn't have the extreme heat that others reported but getting the mud off was tough! Half way through our treatment, the lights went out and was it ever dark! (What do we do? Open the door? Can't find our robes? Is this our 10 minute warning?) Finally, I must say that I loved how my skin felt after the treatment (shave your legs a day or two before you go because the salt is a killer!) but it is something I don't care to do again.

PiperG

08-28-2002, 11:12 PM

Parrotheader,

Your pictures were great, but your captions even better. I was laughing out loud. Thanks for posting those.

myfourkitties

09-03-2002, 11:55 PM

Our first time was great, except we bled red mud on our clothes for a day or so! The second time was definitely not good. The steam just about scalded my feet and made my asthma flare up. I couldn't breathe. It usually doesn't bother me. They must have turned up the heater or something. So no, I do not think you are crazy. I think it's probably one of those hit or miss things. So now I have one of each!

ducklite

09-04-2002, 08:00 AM

We enjoyed it, to an extent. They didn't tell us, we found it out on our own, the key to keeping the steam room comfortable is by turning on the water spigots with the white hoses attached.

One caveat--I have asthma, and could NOT tolerate the steam room when it was going full tilt.

We did have fun with the mud part, and liked being able to try all the various lotions and potions, but frankly I do'nt think we'll do it again.

To us, it was worth trying once, but not worth going back.

Anne