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I bet you think every treatment in a cruise ship spa will cost you an arm and a leg. Think again.
It’s true. Most spa treatments on a cruise are extremely pricey. But there are a handful of ways you can pamper yourself without taking out a bank loan. Here are four tips for getting a little spa action on a shoestring budget.
Tempting Tresses
Treat yourself to a trim and a blowout. It may not seem like much, but it won’t break the bank, and it always feels good to have someone else style your hair. I wouldn’t do anything too crazy, like chopping off your long locks or getting a fringe of bangs. Leave that to your regular stylist. But it doesn’t hurt to get the dead ends cut off. Or maybe even an up do.
Pro Tip: Find out when formal night is, and get your hair done that day. You’ll feel like a princess with your locks perfectly coiffed.
Feet to Fingers
While manicures and pedicures often cost quite a bit less on land, they are still two of the cheapest things you can do in a cruise ship spa. And they usually come with a bit of a twist, like a fire and ice treatment. If you purchase the mani and pedi as a package, you can usually get a bit of a break on the price, too. Ask nice, and they may even toss in a fun freebie, like painting each nail a different color.
Sensitive Scalp
Is there anything better than having your head massaged? Well, for a small fee, you can spend 30 minutes of pure bliss doing just that in the spa. It’s one of the cheapest spa rituals you can receive on a cruise ship. If you have a few extra dollars, you can pair it with a special hair treatment for added awesomeness.
Deal of the Day
I know it’s tempting to pre-book spa sessions before boarding the ship. And it’s hard not to bite when you take that spa tour on Day 1 of the cruise. But trust me when I tell you to hang tight. Each day, the spa offers a new deal. Just check the cruise planner the cabin steward leaves on your bed each night to find out the deal for the next day.
Sometimes, you can choose three rituals for 20 minutes each at rate well lower than you would pay for a massage alone. For example, I once got a mini facial, Swedish massage, and scalp massage for under $120. Other times, you can get 10 percent off your first treatment, 20 percent off the second one, and 30 percent off a third one. It’s a great deal.
Pro Tip: If you really like what you see in the planner but wonder if the next day’s deal will be better, fear not. You don’t have to get the treatment on the same day the deal is offered. You only need to book it that day. So, take a boo at the next day’s planner, and if the deal isn’t as good, you can still book the current offer for later in the trip.
These are just a few spa treatments you can treat yourself to on a cruise without blowing your budget. Do you have other tips? Share them with the Wanderlust Wayfarer Facebook group.