Heat and cold, lovely spa experiences and rapid treatments – Viking Line’s spa facilities are riding the crest of the trend
Viking Line’s Archipelago Spa facilities now offer more options as well as experiences inspired by the latest spa trends. Among the different alternatives, passengers can enjoy the beneficial effects of alternating heat and cold in the vessel's special saunas, snow caves and new spa treatments.
Luxury for today's cruise passengers means above all peace and quiet, experiences and pleasure for the entire body. The vessels' special saunas, hot tubs and snow caves as well as face and body treatments provided by professional cosmetologists are often the main reason why people take cruises. In particular, the picnic day cruises from Turku have many regular customers, and it is a good idea to book treatments and spa visits on all of Viking Line's vessels well in advance.
"Some of our passengers spend half the day in our spa facilities – first they enjoy the different treatments, and then they soak in the tubs and sit in the saunas in peace and quiet. In terms of treatments too, today we offer more comprehensive experiences, including luxury treatments that last 90 minutes. For example, our Archipelago Spa treatment begins with a back peel, continues with a relaxing back massage and ends with a face treatment that is tailored to the customer. All of our treatments on board cost at least 20 per cent less than on shore," says Bettina Rönnblad, who is Spa Manager at Viking Line.
The spa facilities on Viking Glory, Viking Grace and M/S Gabriella now go under the same name, Archipelago Spa, and offer a harmonized range of services. The facilities, inspired by the sea and archipelago, provide visitors not just with saunas and hot tubs but also similar treatment menus, using well-known, top-quality products from Babor as well as new luxury products from Elemis. The spa facilities on M/S Cinderella, which sails from Stockholm to Mariehamn, will be refurbished in 2024.
One source of inspiration for Viking Line's spa services is the culture of winter bathing, which provides beneficial effects from alternating between heat and cold. Visitors can enjoy this not just in the sauna facilities but also in a number of treatments, which include the use of hot and cold stones.
"Among the trendy, popular options are the efficient 20-minute rapid treatments for hands and feet, the luxurious full-body treatments that use aromatherapy, the spa treatments for two, where people come with their partner or a friend, and the relaxing massage treatments that relieve stress. The Finnish and Swedish sauna cultures are quite similar, but there are some differences: Swedes book full-body treatments more often than Finns, while Finns enjoy massages, face treatments and luxurious foot care," says Bettina Rönnblad.
The new Elemis range of luxury products
Along with the well-known Babor line of products from Germany, Viking Line’s Archipelago Spa facilities have now also started to use the range of products from Elemis, an English brand that incorporates aromatherapy and scientific research. These products are also used on many of the world's finest cruise ships.
"We've been selling products from Elemis in the spa facilities and tax-free shops, and the response has been universally positive. Elemis is a fine complement to Babor, and using these two lines, we can tailor a wide-ranging and effective treatment menu to our customers," says Bettina Rönnblad.
Top 4 treatments at Archipelago Spa
Archipelago Spa Signature Treatment Combined Back and Face Treatment | 60 min €82
Viking Line’s comprehensive special treatment. It starts with a back peel to soften the skin and a relaxing back massage. This is followed by a face treatment customized to your skin type. During the treatment, you can smell the scents of the nourishing oils, experience the alternating hot and cold, feel the potency of these effective products and enjoy a massage of your face, arms and scalp. The results are silky skin and new energy felt all through your body.
Captain’s Choice Face Treatment | 45 min €72
Face treatment for men that starts with a basic cleansing and peel of your face and beard. Hot and cold stones are used during the treatment, which includes a facial massage. We customize the treatment to your needs and desires.
Total Relaxation Full-Body Treatment | 75 min €129
Wonderful full-body treatment for anyone who wants a little extra pampering. The treatment starts with a dry brushing that gets your blood circulating and is followed by a peel to soften your skin. After this comes a full-body treatment using wonderfully scented oil. While your skin is nourished by the oil, your hair and scalp are also treated. The relaxed treatment ends with a face treatment, which includes a massage and face mask.
Cleanformance (vegan option) Face Treatment| 45 min €72
Give your skin a natural lustre. This vegan face treatment strengthens the protective layers of your skin, balances the skin and maximizes its natural lustre. During the treatment, you also get a relaxing massage of your scalp and neck.
For more information:
Bettina Rönnblad, Spa Manager
bettina.ronnblad@vikingline.com, tel. +358 40 683 0740
Johanna Boijer-Svahnström, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications
johanna.boijer@vikingline.com, tel. +358 18 270 00
Christa Grönlund, Communications Manager
christa.gronlund@vikingline.com, tel. +358 9 123 51
