Seven Seas Explorer's spa unveiled

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 27 May 2015 27 May 2015

A lavishly appointed spa devoted to relaxation and personal enrichment awaits guests sailing aboard the newest Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship, Seven Seas Explorer. Situated on deck five, the soothing, state-of-the-art Canyon Ranch SpaClub will rival the finest land-based spas and exude luxury befitting Seven Seas Explorer, the most luxurious ship ever built. Debuting at Canyon Ranch SpaClub will be a selection of ultra-luxurious treatments developed by Canyon Ranch in partnership with lifestyle and beauty experts, Red Flower, and premiering exclusively on Seven Seas Explorer before expanding across the fleet.   

“With a sophisticated design and featuring exquisite, one-of-a-kind treatments, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub will provide our guests with a tranquil haven for personal enrichment and relaxation,” said Jason Montague, president and chief operating officer for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.  “We’re building the world’s most luxurious ship and wanted to establish a new standard for spa elegance, and once our vision is complete, the spa aboard Seven Seas Explorer will be the most luxurious at sea.”

Upon entering the Canyon Ranch SpaClub guests transition to a retreat exclusively dedicated to complete relaxation and renewal.  The cocoon served as the overarching inspiration for the team at RTKL, interpreted not only abstractly in the spa’s aesthetic details, but also envisioned as a metaphor for the rejuvenation guests experience during their spa visit.

The reception area helps ease guests into a place of greater relaxation, decorated with crisscrossing light-grained wooden bands that evoke the silk wrappings woven into a chrysalis and radiating a warm and welcoming softness.  Decorative light fixtures cast small twinkling lights off an abstract Swarovski crystal sculpture, forming dappled reflections on the marble floor to evoke an aura of woodland twilight.

Treatments provide ultimate relaxation and renewal

Guests enter the treatment foyer which offers heated loungers with seating surfaces perfectly contoured to promote ergonomic relaxation and to warm the skin and tissue into a deep state of relaxation.

Guests are beckoned into one of eight fully equipped treatment rooms where stress and toxins are purged and washed away with one of Red Flower’s signature treatments designed exclusively for Seven Seas Explorer.  Inspired by the seven seas of the modern world, the following are examples of the Red Flower therapeutic body treatments:

– Red Flower Naturally Nourishing: A Ritual of the Arctic Sea, a 100-minute experience inspired by the spirit of the icy sea with ingredients rich in antioxidants and omegas 3, 6 and 9, sourced directly from the Arctic Circle.  Muscle tension is released with a deep tissue massage using Arctic berry and evergreen oils after relaxing in an organic birch mineral hydrotherapy soak.

– Red Flower North Atlantic Journey, an 80-minute body-exfoliating ritual with organic sea salts harvested from the Atlantic Ocean, enriched with sea algae and aloe vera, and scented with Icelandic Moonflower.  The body is then enveloped in a toning and hydrating wrap of Italian Blood Orange before a restorative massage with balancing French lavender.

– Red Flower Japan: A Revitalizing Ritual of the North Pacific, a 100-minute, six-part massage body ritual perfected in Japan that takes the therapeutic properties of delicate flowers and invigorating citrus oils and pairs them with traditional techniques for caring for the body.  The treatment begins with a ginger grass and bamboo scrub followed by a nutrient-rich rice bran wrap and acupressure facial massage.  A mineral soak infused with hinoki and chlorophyll oils and a shiatsu-inspired massage creates balanced energy.

– Red Flower Hammam: A Detoxifying Ritual from the Indian Ocean, a 100-minute ritual of deep detoxification.  Guests are vigorously scrubbed with a blend of coffee, olive stones and fresh lemons, and wrapped in a rich rhassoul clay to draw deep impurities out of the body.  This is followed by a float in Dead Sea salts and a cleanse with Moroccan mint tea and silt.  Then guests are recharged with a Turkish massage using essences of cardamom, jasmine, bergamot, amber and clove.

After a luxurious treatment, guests migrate to a thermal suite where a variety of hot-to-cold experiences await.  A state-of-the-art infrared sauna soothes muscles more deeply than traditional steam saunas.  An aromatic steam room eases muscles into a sense of healing and relaxation.  A cold room maintains a constant temperature of 54 degrees Fahrenheit, mimicking cold plunges that stimulate circulation and are believed to improve health.

In the soothing shower room, guests can choose from a menu of preset shower treatments with various distributions of water flow, chroma-therapeutic lighting and audio effects that mimic natural sounds such as thunderstorms or waterfalls.

Luxury continues with spa amenities

Part of the spa, but located on a private outdoor deck, is an inviting teak-deck terrace filled with plush, partially covered lounge chairs that surround an infinity-edge plunge pool.  The pool serves as a dramatic focal point as it contours to the stern of the ship.  Guests are treated to incredible views across the sea to the horizon as they soak in the therapeutic waters of the pool.

Adjacent to the spa is a full-service salon with four hair, two manicure and two pedicure stations where guests can receive a little extra personal pampering in preparation for an elegant dinner at one of Seven Seas Explorer’s gourmet restaurants or for a night out on the town during a shore excursion.

From the spa, a dramatic circular staircase transports guest to the fitness center on the deck six.  Guests immediately encounter a center with free-weights and weight-lifting machines, along with an impressive collection of cardio workout equipment.  The center of the facility offers ample space for cycling, yoga and Pilates classes.

Seven Seas Explorer will sail its maiden voyage July 20, 2016 and spend an inaugural season in Europe before heading to Miami for a series of Caribbean voyages.

New South Wales produced four of 10 Australian cruise passengers 2014

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 27 May 2015 27 May 2015

The Australian cruise market was heavily driven by business from the state of New South Wales while the South Pacific remained the favourite destination and river cruise passenger numbers soared by 60% in 2014, figures release by CLIA Australasia show.

New South Wales produced 41% of Australia's 1.00 million cruise passengers last year. The state has a population of about 7.5 million, which equals to about one third of the entire population of the country.

The most popular cruise destination for Australians is the South Pacific, attracting more than 390,000 passengers (39% of the market). Cruises from domestic ports to Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific accounted for 67% of Australian passengers in 2014 (671,030 cruisers)

The continuing popularity of Europe saw the region become Australians’ third most popular ocean cruise destination accounting for 93,529 cruisers, while river cruising numbers surged by more than 60% to 79,530 passengers.

The arrival of new ships in Asia prompted a 25% increase in Australian passengers cruising in the region, with numbers rising to more than 55,000.

Cruises of 8-14 days duration remain the most popular attracting 54% of passengers, although shorter cruises of up to four days experienced a 59% surge in numbers. Australians spent an estimated 10 million days at sea in 2014, cruising for an average 9.7 days on ocean cruises and 13 days on river cruises.

MedCruise and CLIA Europe sealed travel agent training partnership

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Written by Kari Reinikainen Kari Reinikainen

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Published: 27 May 2015 27 May 2015

At the Posidonia Sea Tourism Forum, currently taking place in Athens, MedCruise and CLIA Europe signed a strategic partnership agreement on travel agent training. Alan Lam reports.

The agreement - signed by Carla Salvadó, President of MedCruise, and Pierfrancesco Vago, Chairman of CLIA’s Europe – aims to collaborate, sponsor and support the advancement of a European travel agent training programme, according the MedCruise press office.

CLIA Europe is engaged in travel agent training, research and marketing communications to promote cruise holidays. This agreement will allow the expansion of ETALP - CLIA’s successful travel agent training programme - to France, where thousands of travel agents will have access to CLIA’s online training resources.

“This strategic agreement marks an important milestone in MedCruise relationship with CLIA Europe,” said Carla Salvadό, commenting on the agreement. “I am delighted that our associations will collaborate in training travel agents and giving them the right tools to attract even more people to cruising in the Med and beyond. The partnership shows that in the port community as well as in the cruise industry we never lose sight of the fact that our success is directly tied to the travel agent community."

“The travel agent community play and will continue to play an essential role in the cruise industry’s supply chain,” said Pierfrancesco Vago, “bringing our fantastic product closer to the end customer. We see agents as a vital link between travellers and cruise lines. They are our leading advocates when it comes to communicating the thrill of a cruise vacation. This agreement will see the expansion of CLIA’s travel agent training programme to one key European market, but it will not be the last one. I am glad that, in taking this step, CLIA Europe and MedCruise will continue to engage with and invest in a sector of fundamental importance to our industry.”

Further detail will be revealed and discussed in the forthcoming 46th MedCruise General Assembly, to be held in Zadar, Croatia, from 3 June to 5 June. Cruise Business Review correspondents will be attending.

Cunard's Queens gather in Liverpool

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Written by Teijo Niemelä Teijo Niemelä

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Published: 25 May 2015 25 May 2015

For the first time, Cunard’s fleet gathered together in spectacular fashion in Liverpool, its spiritual home, as the company marked its 175th anniversary. The event culminated with the three ships - flagship Queen Mary 2, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria - the largest passenger ships ever to muster together on the River Mersey, lined up across the river just 426 feet apart as the Red Arrows performed a fly-past overhead to the delight of the hundreds of thousands of spectators.

Queen Mary 2 sailed from the Liverpool berth up to the mouth of the Mersey this morning at 10:45 a.m. to meet her sisters, Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. The three ships then sailed in close single file down the river to Liverpool's Pier Head with its iconic Three Graces: The Royal Liver Building, The Cunard Building and The Port of Liverpool Building.

Queen Mary 2 slowed in the river opposite the Cunard Building – Cunard’s headquarters for nearly 50 years until 1967 – with her sister ships stopping ahead of her to create a three ship line-up watched by spectators on both sides of the river.

Just 1,312 feet apart, the three ships then performed a graceful 180 degree synchronised turn to starboard. At the mid-point of the turn, all three ships lay across the river, creating the spectacle of the fleet’s three bows dramatically set against the backdrop of Liverpool’s famous Three Graces. Queen Mary 2 then sounded ‘175’ on her ship’s whistle (foghorn) – first one, then seven short blasts, then five more.

With the full turn completed and the 150,000 ton Queen Mary 2 now in the leading position, her two 90,000 ton sister ships then glided slowly towards either side of her to create an arrowhead formation, with the flagship just ahead of her two consort ships.

Finally, the entire fleet lined up three abreast across the river just 426 feet apart, as a salute to the Cunard Building and the City of Liverpool.

With the Three Queens in this tight formation, the Red Arrows flew in formation low over the Three Queens as they lined up on the river, a coup de grace which created a once-in-a-lifetime moment that thrilled hundreds of thousands of spectators.

Commodore of the Cunard fleet Christopher Rynd said, “It’s been a privilege to bring the Cunard fleet together on the Mersey for the first time ever to mark Cunard’s 175th anniversary year and our historic and ongoing partnership with Liverpool, our spiritual home.”

“All of us at Cunard are moved by the incredible reception the Three Queens have received from the people of Liverpool and beyond today,” remarked Richard Meadows, Cunard, President, North America. “This moment has brought the relationship between Cunard and the Mersey alive, and that together, Liverpool and Cunard have paid tribute to the people who have created our 175 years of shared history.”