Tell me about the spa/gym areas

[tigerchic89]

I've never explored the spa areas. I understand that they are only for use if you are 18+. What can you do that does not include a charge?
I heard there are large showers there, with room to get dressed and hair dryers, how does that work? DO you have to check in, ect?
What if you want to grab a quick workout, are there ellipticals, treadmills, bikes, machines, free weights? Is there a charge to work out? DO you check in?

I know there is a charge for massages and other services. What about the heated loungers? You can buys a day or length pass, right? WHat else does this pass get?

What else should I know to make the most of the spa areas? TIA

 

[Marthasor]

There is no charge to use the gym. They have all the basics - treadmills, ellipticals, free weights, machines, mats, etc. You do not have to check-in for the gym or to use the locker room.

The Rainforest pass gets you access to the Rainforest room and that's it. If you enjoy showers with colored lighting and heated loungers, go for it. I got bored within 10 minutes.

The spa and gym will offer "free" seminars. I would avoid at all costs. They are just ploys to try to get you to buy services.

 

[Neptune's Fork]

I'm always very curious about the gym on cruises because I don't get it. I exercise every single day, run, lift weights, etc., so I'm right there with the people that would be considered workout fanatics. But for as much money as I paid for a Disney cruise, and it's obviously vacation time, what the heck? I'm not going to fall apart in a week with no exercise. I do the Castaway Cay 5k and that's it. I seriously don't get this and I've been a competitive athlete and totally support regular exercise. I would love to hear a good explanation of this.

 

[Cackyschmackers]

I'm always very curious about the gym on cruises because I don't get it. I exercise every single day, run, lift weights, etc., so I'm right there with the people that would be considered workout fanatics. But for as much money as I paid for a Disney cruise, and it's obviously vacation time, what the heck? I'm not going to fall apart in a week with no exercise. I do the Castaway Cay 5k and that's it. I seriously don't get this and I've been a competitive athlete and totally support regular exercise. I would love to hear a good explanation of this.

Well, I certainly can't speak for myself since I border on being a couch potato, and the exercise I get walking from my forward cabin to the aft restaurants does it for me, but I will tell you my husband needs to work out almost every day for his peace of mind otherwise known as mental health. He exercises more for the way it makes him feel than how he looks. True story. ;-)

 

[FigmentSpark]

I'm not an exercising fanatic and admit I have to be coaxed many times to hit the gym, but the fact that my routine is so different on vacation makes the gym an option. Also, there's all that food to eat. Personally, I hate feeling stuffed, but I love to eat (double edged sword). I do find that some exercise (not a vigorous workout) after eating will help to settle my stomach/meal. It doesn't hurt to make a valiant effort to work off the extra calories, either.

 

[jenpink]

I'm always very curious about the gym on cruises because I don't get it. I exercise every single day, run, lift weights, etc., so I'm right there with the people that would be considered workout fanatics. But for as much money as I paid for a Disney cruise, and it's obviously vacation time, what the heck? I'm not going to fall apart in a week with no exercise. I do the Castaway Cay 5k and that's it. I seriously don't get this and I've been a competitive athlete and totally support regular exercise. I would love to hear a good explanation of this.

I enjoy exercise and working out. Vacation is about doing what you love

 

[Flossbolna]

I would recommend that you do a spa tour on embarkation day on your first cruise. They will try to sell you a treatment, but I never found them pushy. The advantage is that you will see everything there is.

The gym and the locker rooms are free to use and you just walk in. No need to check in or so.

The day passes for the Rainforest room (where the heated loungers are) are best ordered before your cruise. You can find them under "Gift and Amenities" on the website.

On the Magic and the Wonder they have a dry sauna in the locker rooms that you can use for free as well. Not sure if this survived on the Wonder after the refurb though. It was still available on the Magic in 2015.

The locker room showers are much nicer on the Dream class, the ones on the classic ships are still roomier than your stateroom shower, but still a bit small compared to a locker room on land. I often use the spa showers when we are getting ready for dinner as we then can get ready at the same time (and in case anyone now thinks I am inconveniencing the paying spa customers: At 7pm, when we get ready for late seating, the spa is a ghost town. Most of the times I am the only person in that locker room).

 

[Flossbolna]

I'm always very curious about the gym on cruises because I don't get it. I exercise every single day, run, lift weights, etc., so I'm right there with the people that would be considered workout fanatics. But for as much money as I paid for a Disney cruise, and it's obviously vacation time, what the heck? I'm not going to fall apart in a week with no exercise. I do the Castaway Cay 5k and that's it. I seriously don't get this and I've been a competitive athlete and totally support regular exercise. I would love to hear a good explanation of this.

I actually feel better when I move. I usually walk between 15000 and 20000 steps daily. I get cranky on the cruise if I don't go for a few runs. A lot of people enjoy keeping up their routine. Hey, some people might actually think getting access to a well equipped gym is one of the benefits of being on the cruise ship if they do not have a gym membership. I got a kick out of running virtually through my home town here in Germany on the tread mill on the Wonder, I had never seen a tread mill with those kind of programs.

 

[Marc D]

I'm always very curious about the gym on cruises because I don't get it. I exercise every single day, run, lift weights, etc., so I'm right there with the people that would be considered workout fanatics. But for as much money as I paid for a Disney cruise, and it's obviously vacation time, what the heck? I'm not going to fall apart in a week with no exercise. I do the Castaway Cay 5k and that's it. I seriously don't get this and I've been a competitive athlete and totally support regular exercise. I would love to hear a good explanation of this.

For me, working out is not a chore but a fun activity that I can do on my own. It's my personal version of the man-cave. At home, I wake up before everyone else and I work out for an hour before the rest of the family gets up. On the ship, I do the same. On sea days, I'm there at the opening after walking the upper deck for a few laps and meet my family for breakfast. Nothing beats working out while looking over the ocean and a beautiful sunrise.

 

[Steelers0854]

I'm always very curious about the gym on cruises because I don't get it. I exercise every single day, run, lift weights, etc., so I'm right there with the people that would be considered workout fanatics. But for as much money as I paid for a Disney cruise, and it's obviously vacation time, what the heck? I'm not going to fall apart in a week with no exercise. I do the Castaway Cay 5k and that's it. I seriously don't get this and I've been a competitive athlete and totally support regular exercise. I would love to hear a good explanation of this.

I do it for a couple reasons. First, I am the one that always gains weight on a cruise, just too much good stuff to eat, so each day I work out to try and keep that weight gain to a minimum. Second, I don't think there is anything better than jogging on the open air track while in the Caribbean and having that amazing ocean backdrop. Third, I get up early even on a vacation, no matter how hard I try to sleep in it doesn't work anymore, so I get up get a quick workout in and I always feel great after a workout and am ready to start my day.

At the end of the day it's to each his own. I don't spend all day in the gym, but I enjoy working out so to me it's as enjoyable as reading a book or watching a movie to others.

 

[cmph]

My husband is a weight lifter but picky about his equipment, and he was surprised how much he loved working out last week on the Wonder. He just really enjoyed the gym, and ended up WANTING to go daily.

 

[tink1970]

OP-
1) Most activities do not have a charge at the gym. If it does, for instance the boot camp class (as of my last sailing 7/16) that is noted several places (navigator, list of classes, etc).
2) Yes, you can just walk past the spa check in desk down the hall and use showers and lockers. No check in no barriers (except if you're up super early it may not be open...I have a problem with jet lag and can assure you at 4 am little is open!).
3)The gym has all the equipment listed. No charge, no check in. It is well equipped although I have gotten a little queasy running on the treadmill when the ship is cruising quickly!
4) The Rainforest room has different showers, heated loungers, a hot tub (on Fantasy/Dream) and sauna and stream rooms. Opinions differ whether this is worth it-it's my one "must do" on the cruise.
5)Not sure if there is much more to know...if you want to use the pricey spa services there is a fairly good description of them on the DCL cruiseline website. The providers, as anywhere, range from meh to very good but they do give a hard sell push which some people (myself included) do not enjoy.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

A little more detail about the regular shower/locker room (not the rain forest room). Free of charge, if you are over 18 just walk right in. It has free lockers where you set your own PIN code. Free towels, free robes. Several showers, a steam room, lots of large sinks with big mirrors. And when I was there, almost completely empty every time.

My wife and I started trading off going up there to get ready for dinner, so that our teen sons could hog the stateroom shower. We had a duffle bag on board (I brought it empty for souvenirs) it worked great as a "gym bag" to bring a change of clothes and toiletries. And it was so quiet and peaceful up there, unlike my stateroom... with my sons....

OK, by the end my wife and I were fighting each other to go up there. Actually, my sons are old enough, we should have just left them alone in the room and both gone to the gym showers. Now why didn't I think of that then?

 

[Cackyschmackers]

Are these showers part of both the spa and gym? Do they share these areas?

 

[tigerchic89]

is the steam room co-ed? are there separate showering areas?

 

[cmph]

Are these showers part of both the spa and gym? Do they share these areas?

is the steam room co-ed? are there separate showering areas?

On the Wonder, you enter the spa and fitness area through one main lobby. You walk down the hall to get to to the spa treatment rooms, fitness center, rainforest room, and showers. They don't police what you do once you go in if you're just going to the fitness room. If you're going to Rainforest, you trade your KTTW card in for a little mini-magic band sort of thing that opens that door, and I guess no one does anything dopey like try to go into the treatment rooms without appointments, so there is no point in them trying to police adults walking past the lobby. The shower/locker rooms were past Rainforest, before you got to the fitness center, and you did not need a key or band to get in there. The saunas were within the (gender-specific) locker rooms, so they are single sex only. But the ones within Rainforest are co-ed, and you have to wear swimsuits in Rainforest. There are showers in the locker rooms with shampoo, etc. in them, so anyone within the fitness and spa area can use them. The day I used my Rainforest pass, I only encountered one person in the entire locker room area, so I don't think it gets too packed even though fitness and spa guests use it. DH mentioned that he wasn't alone in the sauna... b/c he had a "whoa there" moment when he walked in and the guy was, um, naked and sprawled out.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I'm always very curious about the gym on cruises because I don't get it. I exercise every single day, run, lift weights, etc., so I'm right there with the people that would be considered workout fanatics. But for as much money as I paid for a Disney cruise, and it's obviously vacation time, what the heck? I'm not going to fall apart in a week with no exercise. I do the Castaway Cay 5k and that's it. I seriously don't get this and I've been a competitive athlete and totally support regular exercise. I would love to hear a good explanation of this.

Some people enjoy working out? Just the endorphins alone should be enough justification.

OP,check your navigator when you get on board the ship. On every cruise on just about every cruise line the gym/spa will do (free) giveaways and raffles. Everything from free services to jewelry are given out at random and usually about 50-75 people show up so the chances aren't too bad. Usually around 3 pm on Day 1 and winners must be present.

 

[FigmentSpark]

A little more detail about the regular shower/locker room (not the rain forest room). Free of charge, if you are over 18 just walk right in. It has free lockers where you set your own PIN code. Free towels, free robes. Several showers, a steam room, lots of large sinks with big mirrors. And when I was there, almost completely empty every time.

My wife and I started trading off going up there to get ready for dinner, so that our teen sons could hog the stateroom shower. We had a duffle bag on board (I brought it empty for souvenirs) it worked great as a "gym bag" to bring a change of clothes and toiletries. And it was so quiet and peaceful up there, unlike my stateroom... with my sons....

OK, by the end my wife and I were fighting each other to go up there. Actually, my sons are old enough, we should have just left them alone in the room and both gone to the gym showers. Now why didn't I think of that then?

Can you remove the robes from the area and use them in your room? I was contemplating buying the robe package, but I don't really need one at home, just on the ship. Someone also said you can get them in your room, if you ask. But if they're available in the locker room it might not be necessary to ask for them at all?

 

[Cackyschmackers]

@FigmentSpark i was wondering the same thing, i pack a lightweight one but I'd rather not. Not sure how they would keep track of it to ensure it's returned?

 

[dvcdream4fld]

I am high energy type of guy. My job requires travel and short deadlines. I enjoy working out, whether it's cycling, running, lifting, swimming, playing sports, etc. To me, it is a part of the day that requires me to mentally focus on a physical goal, which provides an emotional release. It is about growing as a person and reaching for life wellness. A vacation is about getting a break from regular activities that you are required to do. Working out is something I want to do every day whether or not am I on vacation.

As far the gym/spa, the gym equipment is free. There are few free classes like spin and yoga. During my last 7-day cruise, I bought the full cruise rainforest spa pass, and used it whenever I could. The spa provides a quiet sanctuary, which balanced all the great activities on the ship.