What is the cancelation policy for the spa?

[Makayna]

If we book a treatment online, and then want to change or cancel later, what is the latest that we can do that? Would it have to be prior to the cruise or could we cancel onboard and not be penalized?

 

[erionm]

This is as the bottom of the Spa booking page:

Cancellations can be made up to 3 days prior to the cruise departure date. After that time cancellations must be done aboard ship and are subject to cancellation fees.

 

[kcashner]

The spa policy is that any cancellation made less than 24 hours before the service incurs a fee. SO, if you book a service for later in the cruise, you can cancel after boarding and have no penalty. If you book for the first 24 hours of the cruise and then need to cancel on board, you will be charged.

 

[Makayna]

This is as the bottom of the Spa booking page:

Cancellations can be made up to 3 days prior to the cruise departure date. After that time cancellations must be done aboard ship and are subject to cancellation fees.

The spa policy is that any cancellation made less than 24 hours before the service incurs a fee. SO, if you book a service for later in the cruise, you can cancel after boarding and have no penalty. If you book for the first 24 hours of the cruise and then need to cancel on board, you will be charged.

OK, these two replies conflict. Is it 72 hours prior to the cruise or is it 24 hours before the treatment?!

The reason I ask is, FH and I are contemplating "upgrading" to a spa villa for couples instead of the couples massage we have scheduled now. But, we want to wait and see. If we were to try to go up to the couple's villa, would we still be charged a cancellation fee?!

 

[kcashner]

The replies do not conflict--it is BOTH.

If you book on line in advance, you can cancel on line up to 3 days before boarding. After that time, they take down the on line system for that cruise and you have to deal with any changes after boarding. The policy after boarding is 24 hours before the treatment.

SO, if you have a treatment within 24 hours of boarding, you must cancel 3 or more days before boarding or you will be charged. If you have a treatment more than 24 hours after boarding you will be able to cancel it after boarding and avoid the charge.

Does that make sense?

Since you are considering "upgrading," they would probably waive the cancellation fee. Of course, that assumes that the upgrade you want is available. Again, as long as you are not booked for until at least the afternoon of the second day, there is no issue (as you can give the 24 hours notice on board).

 

[Makayna]

The replies do not conflict--it is BOTH.

If you book on line in advance, you can cancel on line up to 3 days before boarding. After that time, they take down the on line system for that cruise and you have to deal with any changes after boarding. The policy after boarding is 24 hours before the treatment.

SO, if you have a treatment within 24 hours of boarding, you must cancel 3 or more days before boarding or you will be charged. If you have a treatment more than 24 hours after boarding you will be able to cancel it after boarding and avoid the charge.

Does that make sense?

Since you are considering "upgrading," they would probably waive the cancellation fee. Of course, that assumes that the upgrade you want is available. Again, as long as you are not booked for until at least the afternoon of the second day, there is no issue (as you can give the 24 hours notice on board).

Thank you for clearing that up.

I'll call DCL to see if they'd waive the cancellation fee or not, but chances are, they're not going to know for sure (I'm sure the answer will vary depending on the CM I talk to ) and I'll just have to wait until I'm on the ship to know for sure.

RIGHT NOW, the upgrade is available, but I don't know if it still will be by then. Do the spa villas fill up quickly?! What are my chances that it'll still be available when we get there? And do they hold back ressies like they do at Palo for people to book once they're on board the ship? Or is it "what you see is what you're get" and ALL spa reservations are available for booking online?

TIA!

 

[erionm]

The spa is run by an outside vendor not DCL.

 

[Makayna]

The spa is run by an outside vendor not DCL.

Oh. OK. Thanks.

 

[kcashner]

There are some "hold back" reservations which are saved for the concierge. At the end of the first day they are released to the general population if not used.

We were able to book a next day "spa villa for 2." We asked, and it was available at a time we liked. Whether that happens on your cruise, whether you are picky about day/time, who knows. The more flexible you can be, the better chance of getting the booking.

I wouldn't bother calling DCL--I'm sure they'd look at their computer and quote you the policy. What will really matter is what person you talk to in the spa. I suspect if you said "we're booked for a couple's massage but we'd like to upgrade to the Villa for 2. Is that possible?" that you'd probably get it. However, it will happen after you board unless you can book the villa and cancel the massage more than 3 days before you cruise.

 

[Makayna]

There are some "hold back" reservations which are saved for the concierge. At the end of the first day they are released to the general population if not used.

We were able to book a next day "spa villa for 2." We asked, and it was available at a time we liked. Whether that happens on your cruise, whether you are picky about day/time, who knows. The more flexible you can be, the better chance of getting the booking.

OK thanks! The problem is, we've got a pretty tight schedule as it is. We're doing Palo twice (brunch and dinner), and an excursion one day, and we also have Exotic Rasul booked as well. So, "being flexible" is a bit harder for us. But, this is our first cruise, and we're "doer" type people, so we like to pack a lot into vacations, and, it's our honeymoon, so we want it to be special!

If we get stuck with keeping the regular couple's massage, then we're OK with that. But, we'd like to wait until after the wedding to decide whether we want to upgrade or not. So, it looks like most likely, we'll be waiting until we're on the ship to see if it's possible or not.

Thanks again for the information! You've been a lot of help!

 

[Makayna]

So, I have another question... between the couple's villa massage and the couple's Swedish massage, which one would you guys prefer? Is the couple's villa massage worth the extra $200?!

 

[ukintheus]

So, I have another question... between the couple's villa massage and the couple's Swedish massage, which one would you guys prefer? Is the couple's villa massage worth the extra $200?!

In a word....YES!! The villa is awesome...if I were you, I'd find some way to scrape that extra $200 and just book the villa - nix the couple's swedish. If this is your honeymoon (reading your ticker) you can't go wrong with the Villa treatment. We did the Couples Choice in July, I got the swedish massage plus a mini collagen facial, DH got a hot stone massage. The treatments were wonderful and the extra time in the Villa was definitely worth the extra money.

 

[Makayna]

In a word....YES!! The villa is awesome...if I were you, I'd find some way to scrape that extra $200 and just book the villa - nix the couple's swedish. If this is your honeymoon (reading your ticker) you can't go wrong with the Villa treatment. We did the Couples Choice in July, I got the swedish massage plus a mini collagen facial, DH got a hot stone massage. The treatments were wonderful and the extra time in the Villa was definitely worth the extra money.

Thank you. Yes, this is our honeymoon and we do want it to be special. Now, all I have to do is convince FH!

Anyone else have an experience to share or an opinion on which one we should choose?!

 

[kcashner]

"couples villa massage?" Do you mean "spa villa for 2?" I'm asking to be sure there isn't something I don't know about that you might be referring to.

The Spa Villa for 2 includes a lot more than just a massage. You'll have a foot and ankle massage and then some time in the hot tub with the scent of your choice. Then the "treatment" you have chosen (massage), and finally some time on the lounger with champagne and strawberries....and for us, that included watching the sunset. It really is lovely.

 

[Makayna]

"couples villa massage?" Do you mean "spa villa for 2?" I'm asking to be sure there isn't something I don't know about that you might be referring to.

The Spa Villa for 2 includes a lot more than just a massage. You'll have a foot and ankle massage and then some time in the hot tub with the scent of your choice. Then the "treatment" you have chosen (massage), and finally some time on the lounger with champagne and strawberries....and for us, that included watching the sunset. It really is lovely.

Yes... that. Sorry if I didn't call it the right thing.

And when you say "lounger" you mean that couch-looking thing with the canopy on the verandah in the pictures, right?! Not like a personal tile lounger like what they've got in the rainforest room that I've heard is sooooo hard to get because there are only a select few. Because THAT would be really cool!!!!

And the champagne and strawberries aren't included, right? How much extra is that?!

 

[kcashner]

Yes, the canopy thing you've seen in the pictures. Hint--the person on the outside can get to the champagne much more easily than the person next to the wall.