Vitality at Sea Spa

Spa & Fitness Center

New Years is a time when resolutions are made.   Common resolutions include taking better care of ourselves, eating well, and getting more exercise.    Making resolutions is perhaps easy to do but we often find that keeping them, as time passes, is often much harder. For those that are still keeping their resolutions, congratulations.

Why do I bring up fitness resolutions in a cruise blog?

Going on a cruise vacation doesn't imply that you'll have to break your resolutions.   While it is true that you can eat 24 hours a day if you like, that doesn't mean you have to do so or eat foods that go against your new healthy lifestyle.   Quite the contrary is actually the case.  Cruise lines offer a wide variety of food for all lifestyles.   Many ships have recently expanded dining options to include spa menus served in either a spa restaurant setting or in the main dining room.

Perhaps one of the best Spa and Fitness Centers at sea is the Vitality at Sea  Spa and Fitness Center on the largest ship afloat, the Allure of the Seas.

Vitality at Sea Spa

The spa features 29 treatment rooms with a full menu of indulgent treatments: signature treatments, facial treatments, massage therapies, body therapies, acupuncture services, Medi-Spa cosmetic treatments, tooth whitening and men's services.

Vitality at Sea Fitness Center 

Become a master of movement and stretch your body beyond its normal boundaries.  Enjoy state-of-the-art cardio and strength fitness equipment and new programs, including Gravity, heart-rate-based spinning and Kinesis.

Following a good workout in the fitness center, continue with a well balanced three course meal from the Vitality menu.   If you have special dietary needs, Allure of the Seas, as well as other cruise ships, are able to provide meals that satisfy those requirements.   Advance notice is suggested to assure that the cruise ship has necessary ingredients in stock.

So I hate to break the news to you that going on a cruise isn't an excuse for breaking those New Years' resolutions.   In some cases, it might even make it easier to keep your resolutions, since you have the healthy foods available as well as more fitness equipment and options than many stateside fitness centers.   

Vitality Spa and Fitness (click for more images on our FB fan page - make sure to Like us)

Video: Royal Rejuvenation: Vitality and Wellness at Sea
 Rev-up, relax, or refuel at the Vitality Spa & Fitness center onboard Royal Caribbean's ships. Guests can enjoy state-of-the-art cardio equipment, enjoyable fitness classes or choose from an array of services from the spa as well fuel up with healthy fare.

Royal Rendezvous New York

Three Queens Rendezvous

Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and  Queen Elizabeth

January 13, 2011 three Cunard Queens will  rendezvous in front of the Statue of Liberty amidst the fanfare of a spectacular fireworks by Grucci show. In honour of the Cunard Royal Rendezvous the Empire State Building will be lit red starting at sunset to 2:00 a.m. the following day!

Three Queens Courtesy Cunard Line

The most panoramic views for this rare event are from the AAA Five Diamond award-winning Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park.  The meeting of the Queens will most optimally be seen from a Statue of Liberty View guestroom or suite.  All Statue of Liberty View rooms are equipped with telescopes for prime viewing.

VIEWING LOCATIONS INCLUDE:

Battery ParkOn the southern shoreline of Manhattan, www.thebattery.org
Map link: http://www.bpcparks.org/bpcp/map/map.php

Robert F. Wagner, Jr. Park
Overlooking the Hudson River with great views of the Statue of Liberty
Just south of the Museum of Jewish Heritage
By subway: 4 or 5 to Bowling Green, or N or R to Whitehall

The Esplanade
Running the entire length of Battery Park City, along the Hudson River from Stuyvesant High School, on the north end all the way south to Battery Park

Hudson River Park
550-acre Park extending for five miles along the Manhattan shoreline from Battery Place to West 59th Street

SCHEDULE:

ARRIVALS:
6:00 AM (approx) All ships will be berthed at respective cruise terminal (see below).

DEPARTURES:
6:00 PM

• Queen Mary 2 - from Brooklyn Cruise Terminal 
• Queen Victoria - from Pier 90, Manhattan Cruise Terminal 
• Queen Elizabeth - from Pier 88, Manhattan Cruise Terminal
  

6:40 PM (approx) 

• Cunard Royal Rendezvous at the Statue of Liberty featuring Fireworks by Grucci for a spectacular sail away celebration. 

*2011 Mediterranean Voyages
*2011 Northern Europe Voyages

Save up to 55% Off Early Booking Fares
2011 World Voyage Segments

Save up to $600 per person in Balcony staterooms

2011 Transatlantic Crossings

Live from the bridge

The view from: QUEEN ELIZABETH Bridge Cam

The view from: QUEEN MARY 2 Bridge Cam

The view from: QUEEN VICTORIA Bridge Cam

New Legends on Norwegian Epic

Janet Jackson, Neil Diamond, and Aretha Franklin

Appearing on Norwegian Epic

There have been reports this week that famous entertainers have booked passage on Norwegian Cruise Line's newest ship, Norwegian Epic.  They are scheduled to arrive for the January 22nd sailing and rumor has it that Britney Spears, Rod Stewart, and Michael Jackson will be leaving the ship then.

"Britney Spears" Manhattan Dining Room

Michael Jackson?   That's not possible.   OK, you got me - they aren't the actual performers but look alikes that are part of the Legends in Concert show that has been thrilling audiences for years in Las Vegas and other venues.  With the introduction of the show on Norwegian Epic, passengers have been able to see the "legends" without even paying any theater charges.

"The Legends in Concert shows in both the Manhattan Room and in the Epic Theater are extremely well received by our guests,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line's chief executive officer. "With the arrival of these three new legendary entertainers, we are offering Norwegian Epic guests fresh and exciting performances from some very talented and well-known performers."

Legends in Concert is a live musical celebration featuring the world's greatest celebrity tribute artists. Legends in Concert on Norwegian Epic features three celebrity tribute performers taking the stage in the Epic Theater for six 45-minute shows over three days during a seven-day cruise. In addition, a Legends “Unplugged” show is performed on three additional nights in the Manhattan Room, the ship's New York-inspired supper club, providing an unprecedented dining and entertainment experience. The celebrity performers change every four months, keeping the show fresh and exciting. The initial performers were Madonna, Tina Turner and Elvis.

Karin Lawson, DeNita Asberry, and William Paul are the new "Legends"
Read more in the Legends in Concert Press Release

Royal Caribbean Holy Land Deployment 2011

Let History Come Alive

On a Holy Land Cruise

This year there are many opportunities to visit the Holy Land where you can see places like old Jerusalem, the Dead Sea, Masada, Bethlehem, the ancient of city of Petra, St Catherine's monastery - the oldest in the world, the Pyramids and the Sphinx of Giza and the ancient cities of Luxor, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings in Egypt.  These cruises often include other ancient cities that played important  roles in the history of the world.

Royal Caribbean Holy Land Cruises 2011

Mariner of the Seas®


11-NIGHT MEDITERRANEAN HOLY LAND
July 11, 2011
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy • Haifa, Israel
Ashdod, Israel • Piraeus (Athens), Greece
Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey • Rhodes, Greece
Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece • Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

12/13-NIGHT MEDITERRANEAN HOLY LAND
April 5, 29; May 23; June 16; September 20;
October 14, 2011
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy • Messina (Sicily), Italy
Piraeus (Athens), Greece • Haifa, Israel • Ashdod, Israel
Rhodes, Greece • Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey
Chania (Souda), Crete, Greece • Naples, Capri, Italy
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy

12-NIGHT HOLY LAND
September 24; October 6, 18, 30, 2011
Venice, Italy • Haifa, Israel • Ashdod, Israel
Alexandria, Egypt • Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey
Venice, Italy

Vision of the Seas®


10/11-NIGHT HOLY LAND
September 16, 26; October 7, 17, 28, 2011
Istanbul, Turkey • Alexandria, Egypt • Ashdod, Israel
Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey • Istanbul, Turkey

Vision of the Seas
Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans | Dining Menus | Wine Lists  

| Kids Programs | Ship Reviews | 360 Tours | Photos

Mariner of the Seas
Itineraries & Pricing | Deck Plans | Dining Menus | Wine Lists 

| Kids Programs | Ship Reviews | 360 Tours | Photos

Royal Caribbean January Sale

Booking Window: January 6 – February 14, 2011

3 - 5 Nights  =  $ 25    |     6 - 9 Nights  =  $ 50

     10 Nights or Longer  =  $100 

onboard credit per stateroom

Where do you want to visit?   Caribbean, Mexico, Europe, Bermuda, Alaska

These are some of the destinations that you can select from and receive up to $100 to spend during the cruise any way you wish.  Yes folks, that's free money !!

Search Applicable Sailings:  (click here)

Weekly Royal Caribbean Sales Event (click for details)

Entertainment Value on Allure and Oasis of the Seas

On Oasis of the Seas® and Allure of the Seas SM, Royal Caribbean’s most innovative ships yet, guests will experience a collection of amazing experiences that challenge all limitations—except the limitations of their wallet. That’s because on ships offering more activities, dining venues, and entertainment options than any other vessel, nearly everything is covered by your fare. The extensive list below details the Oasis class’ complimentary onboard experiences.

ENTERTAINMENT

The DreamWorks Experience®

Memorable moments with favorite characters
from Shrek®, Madagascar®, Kung Fu PandaTM and other films, in shows, parades, mealtime appearances, and photo opportunities.

 
Aqua shows

Dancers, divers and acrobats perform in the one-of-a-kind AquaTheater, against a spectacular backdrop of synchronized, backlit fountains and the wide open ocean.

Broadway shows

It’s all that jazz and much, much more, with stage favorites including Hairspray and Broadway hit Chicago: The Musical in the state-of-the-art Amber and Opal Theaters.

Plus….

• Ice skating shows
• Parades and parties on the Royal Promenade
• Comedy club
• Live jazz club
• Nightclubs
• Karaoke bar
• Sing-along piano bar


All this entertainment is included in your cruise fare making a vacation on Oasis of the Seas or Allure of the Seas an outstanding value. Check our FB fan page for more photos and information about these ships.

Alluring Wine and Tapas in Vintages

Vintages

Casual setting for wine and tapas

Located on Allure of the Seas Royal Promenade Deck 5, Vintages offers an authentic selection of tapas to accompany an extensive selection of wines.   The highlight of Vintages is the interactive wine menu on iPad mobile devices.

Vintages Photo Album (Click to view FB album)

There is a charge for this restaurant which is a great place to hang out and have a snack along with some wine. Watch the following video to get a closer look at the interactive menus.

Extensive wine selection

Video: Savvy Sommelier: Digital Menus at Vintages

Onboard Allure of the Seas, iPad menus at Vintages wine bar make choosing the right glass of wine easy! Learn how this new innovation enhances the Allure culinary experience and delivers the WoW.