Liberty of the Seas’ Spa
by Marilyn Green -- Royal Caribbean
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"Spas and fitness have become very serious business to the cruise lines, which are moving rapidly toward becoming the new destination and resort spas."
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 Royal Caribbean's slogan "Get Out There!" underlines its commitment to active passenger - active, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The cruise line is well known for the biggest ships in the industry, concepts not just created for size itself, but to house a variety of experiences that couldn't possibly be covered in seven days. The second version of the biggest cruise ship in the world has introduced a program that will allow passengers who participate to leave the ship thinner, healthier and better tuned than when they came on board, while enjoying a refreshing getaway.
Spas and fitness have become very serious business to the cruise lines, which are moving rapidly toward becoming the new destination and resort spas. The introduction of Royal Caribbean's new Vitality Program is a big step forward in making a real spa program on board, one that sends the participants home with a different lifestyle.
 Mick Tennant, Liberty of the Seas spa and salon manager, said the Freedom Vitality Program is central to the changes on board. The actual spa and fitness areas are just like those on Freedom of the Seas, but with a more natural color scheme. It has all the mind boggling features of Freedom, including the full size boxing ring, beyond cutting edge fitness equipment, eight Pilates reformers (an amazing number for a fitness area not dedicated solely to Pilates), and an aerobics area big enough to easily accommodate the participants from a 4,370- passenger ship, and spinning classes easily accommodated those who chose to take them.
The Vitality program is far more serious one than the former ShipShape one. Royal Caribbean's senior vice president of marketing commented, "This all-encompassing program is designed to encourage and educate our guests to achieve wellness through a balance of lifestyle choices that may even include an occasional dessert or an occasional morning sleeping in. Guests can get their feet wet with one or two of the Vitality elements or have a total experience with the onboard spa and fitness classes, shoreside activities and special menus, and then continue that experience with tae-home workout plans, virtual personal trainers and healthy cooking recipes."
 The spa has Tai Chi and meditation classes, therapeutic Chinese herbal medicinal offerings, acupuncture, tooth whitening and a variety of treatments and activities on a roster of healing and relaxing experiences.
The "New Look, New You" program is designed to help guests see a transformation in themselves and carry it further at home; the "Stay Active" program extends exercise and well being into shore excursions in the ports as well as onboard features including the skating rink, rock climbing wall and Wave Runner onboard surfer, not to mention the jogging track, sports court, Tai Chi and more. On land, Royal Caribbean's partner New Balance offers self-guided running tours and a fitness path on the private beach at Labadee.
The "Eat Well to Weigh Less" program is far from just a series of lectures on making the right food choices. Tenant points out that the program takes weight control issues out of the spa and into the dining areas. For instance, participants can meet before lunch in Portofino's, an evening specialty restaurant outside the Lido buffet, and hear expert discussion of the healthful choices being offered in the buffet. They then go out and choose their lunches and bring them back to join the rest of the group.
 He added that there are more free educational seminars on a higher level, many with immediate application, on topics from body fat to makeup application and anti-aging.
The Vitality program is going to be extended to all Royal Caribbean ships, and the company's ultimate size cruise ship, the 6,400-passenger Genesis, will have a spa promenade an extension of the latest wrinkle on displays of spa products, which went from behind the counter to their own display cases and stores.
Another of the new treatments on board is microdermabrasion, offered with organic crystals that make the procedure much less invasive than other methods. Tennant said 90% of facials requested now use microdremabrasion combined with La Therapie facial elements. He also noted that the new tooth\whitening technique that doesn't use bleach and is much safer. "If you want your teeth to be paper white, you have to bleach them like crazy, but this will give you a natural whitening result," he stated. "It was designed for people with caps and allergies, and is quite gentle."
 The ship is designed with a central Royal Promenade filled with shops, coffee houses and a very authentic English pub; don't miss the extremely festive parade there. Special programs for teens are offered in the spa and in the Royal Promenade there is A Close Shave, a luxurious barber shop/spa for men only where they can combine a shave or haircut with skin treatments.
One of the joys of Royal Caribbean's ships is the adults-only solarium, a quiet oasis ideal for recuperating after exercise on a very comfortable lounge or a double hammock or with a refreshing swim. Cantilevered Jacuzzis are suspended above the sea at both sides and beautiful patio furniture and cool drinks complete the picture of relaxation.
Liberty of the Seas has very comfortable staterooms with flat screen TVs and truly wonderful beds. Wi-fi and cell phone access is available throughout the ship, and there are excellent programs for children and teens on board. A fabulously colorful kids' waterpark tempts the adults, as well, and family-oriented shore excursions are varied and interesting.
Liberty of the Seas sails alternating seven-night Western and Eastern Caribbean itineraries from Miami. Both itineraries will call on Royal Caribbean's private destination, Labadee, Haiti. The Western Caribbean itinerary will also include the ports of Montego Bay, Jamaica; George Town, Grand Cayman; and Cozumel, Mexico, while the Eastern Caribbean itinerary will call on San Juan, Puerto Rico and Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
Go to www.royalcaribbean.com for more information.
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