Do Spa Services come with a hard product sell?

[lsenquiz]

The last cruise I was on(2001 - Royal Caribbean) I signed up for some Spa services. Every one came with a hard product sell where I was forced to say no thank you throughout the service. I swore never to visit a Spa on a cruise ship again after that.

Do the Spa Services on DCL work the same way?

 

[jilljill]

If the spa person starts to talk about the products I ask them to write down the info so that I can look it over. I've also told them there was no way I could take the products on the plane in my carry on bags so there was no need for them to tell me about them. Both times that has worked well for me to get them to stop the sales pitch.

 

[moonvxn]

It depends I think. I'll speak from my personal experience. I just got off the fantasy on sat. I did not enjoy my stone massage- it hurt- i mentioned at the beginning it was hurting and the gentleman told me i was so tense he was working it out. The stones were wonderful-him not so much. At the end he spent almost 10 minutes trying to get me to schedule 3 more (!!) massages when I was not budging he was like well I'll offer you a discount. In my professional opinion you really need it. Also you should really buy this oil...and use it everyday on your back twice a day. $60 a bottle and you need at least 3, but I really recommend you buy at least a course of $240 to see any results and kept asking about the oil and then brought back up let's schedule those massages. I was fairly annoyed...and pretty uncomfortable. Then he was like oh well why don't you schedule a consultation with the acupuncturist and she can go over it. Uhhm no. Not to say the spa is bad...the young ladies there are very sweet, but in answer to your question I did feel a bit pressured. Which I guess, because it's Disney, I wasn't expecting because they really are so good about not doing that anywhere else on the ship. Just my personal experience.

 

[jilljill]

It depends I think. I'll speak from my personal experience. I just got off the fantasy on sat. I did not enjoy my stone massage- it hurt- i mentioned at the beginning it was hurting and the gentleman told me i was so tense he was working it out. The stones were wonderful-him not so much. At the end he spent almost 10 minutes trying to get me to schedule 3 more (!!) massages when I was not budging he was like well I'll offer you a discount. In my professional opinion you really need it. Also you should really buy this oil...and use it everyday on your back twice a day. $60 a bottle and you need at least 3, but I really recommend you buy at least a course of $240 to see any results and kept asking about the oil and then brought back up let's schedule those massages. I was fairly annoyed...and pretty uncomfortable. Then he was like oh well why don't you schedule a consultation with the acupuncturist and she can go over it. Uhhm no. Not to say the spa is bad...the young ladies there are very sweet, but in answer to your question I did feel a bit pressured. Which I guess, because it's Disney, I wasn't expecting because they really are so good about not doing that anywhere else on the ship. Just my personal experience.

Did you ask to speak with the spa manager especially since you told him you were being hurt and did not take that into account? I would have been so mad and spoken with the spa manager over everything that happened to you.
But keep in mind, the spa is not run or managed by DCL. It's run by Steiner Spas. Here's the link to their retail website: http://www.timetospa.com/ You should be able to find a link to their corporate website if you wish to write them to tell them about your uncomfortable/hurtful experience on the ship.

 

[wdwwishes]

The spa/salons are contractor vendors for the cruise lines. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with things however, every time I've had services on board, the sales pitch has been there and I consider them a bit hard and I've always walked away empty handed. What made me really shake my head was on our AK cruise in '11. My DDs did the offering in the salon for their ages one sea day. Well, they came back just glowing and had a great time but they had the list of recommended products for mom to come back and purchase for them. Really?! I guess it's just the way they operate but I'd rather not hear it.

 

[cruisecrasher]

Yep. We got that.

I found. "Where are the restrooms." Seemed to work.

 

[Fivepin]

When you're filling out your initial consultation sheet, just write on there please do not try sell any products to me. That seems to work. I've talked to a couple of others who didn't mark anything for problem areas, and there was no mention of products at the end.

Also, if they try, I just tell them to write the products down because the website offers discounts they cannot give.

 

[Gigi22]

It seems to vary. What I find works is telling the operator that DH agreed to pay for the cost of the service only if I agreed in advance not to purchase any products. An out and out fib, but if it saves me the hard sell, I'll fib.

 

[vtdoglover]

I was on the Fantasy last week and had a hot stone massage as well as a sweedish massage. Thoroughly enjoyed both of them. At the end I listened to the product recommendations and then said "No thanks" and that was it.

 

[RedSox68]

My DH and I always tell the person right in the beginning that we are not interested in any products. That way at the end we can relax and not dread the sales pitch.

 

[n8tivecaligirl]

I have had the same experience of them pushing products or more services. but if you don't want it don't buy it, though sometimes is easier said than done BUT don't be discouraged because the spa services are a nice treat for a vacation.

 

[chateau]

Teeth whitening did, to the tune of $150 -$300. It's to be expected to keep the pearly whites gleaming, I guess. (see his teeth... gleaming)!

 

[ImDMous]

I've found that just saying 'no' works fine. There's no need to dread it or cancel anything, it's not like they are going to hold you hostage until you buy something. They're doing their job trying to make money. They do have great products, but I buy them on their website when they have sales. I do ask them to write them down in case I want something later. That seems to take the edge off the 'no'.

 

[chateau]

I was on the Fantasy last week and had a hot stone massage as well as a sweedish massage. Thoroughly enjoyed both of them. At the end I listened to the product recommendations and then said "No thanks" and that was it.

Were the stones one of the choices? I have a crock pot at home that I could heat 'em in? There goes my weight limit for my luggage!

 

[Daniellenbella]

Yes, and sometimes they make it sound like it is included in the price of the service. I had a microdermabrasion facial and at the end the woman kept saying "I want you to have..." I knew it wasn't included, but the way she kept saying it made me think twice and I asked how much everything cost. It was $500 worth of products! I also read on here that a woman sent her daughter for a pedicure and they asked if she would like xyz with it and the girl said yes, she didn't know it would be extra. She found out when mom got the bill.

 

[jahber]

The last cruise I was on(2001 - Royal Caribbean) I signed up for some Spa services. Every one came with a hard product sell where I was forced to say no thank you throughout the service. I swore never to visit a Spa on a cruise ship again after that.

Do the Spa Services on DCL work the same way?

I had a great experience at the spa on the Fantasy. I put on my form that I had no problem areas. The therapist mentioned a product she recommended (which I might have bought if she had actually brought it to me! ) and that was it. She was very nice and I'd recommend her if I could remember her name!!! It started with an A, but I was too relaxed to pay attention.........

 

[Quicklabs]

This is in contrast to virtually every other cruise massage I've had. I do not like my time being wasted, so if they start a spiel, I interrupt politely and say that I am not interested in hearing about any products. That works well.

 

[sayhello]

I did the same as jilljill, and as soon as the salespitch started, I mentioned that there was just no way I could get any extra stuff into my suitcase. The pitch ended, and it was never brought up again.

Sayhello

 

[sambycat]

I will pretty much never go to any spa on Disney property land or sea for this reason. And WAY overpriced as well. If there would be an onboard special perhaps maybe. But I find the sales pitches intrusive and awkward. And they aren't always just at the end. I've had folks interrupt my service for a lecture.

 

[GRANDMOMMY17]

"Please do not try to sell me products, I just wish to relax. If I purchase products I will have to use the gratuity I have set aside for you to do so."