Navigating the Atlantic aboard the splendid Queen Mary II with its floating Canyon Ranch Spa, our writer plots a course to wellness “and happily gets in touch with her inner mermaid along the way.
By Debra Bokur
No matter which way I turn, the sea stretches toward the horizon, gray and blue and green.‚ The‚ space below my feet can be measured in fathoms; a deep well of ocean, full of life an countless mysteries still safely hidden beneath the surface.‚ I’m aboard Cunard’s Queen Mary II, one of the world’s most luxurious ocean liners, sailing from the port of Southampton in southwest England,‚ bound for New York.
The transatlantic crossing will take six nights and five days, and I’ll be filling at least part of that time experiencing the onboard Canyon Ranch Spa, which should help me relax. I don’t want to admit it, especially to myself, but the prospect of heading out across the wide sea has me feeling more than a little nervous. My father served with the Coast Guard and was lost at sea when I was a teenager, and though I grew up in coastal New England, I’ve never quite shaken the feeling that the sea is a dangerous place.
My husband, James, is on board with me, always ready to share an adventure. As we sail away, the sun dips behind the English horizon, and we set off in search of our stateroom. Opening wide the doors to our private balcony, we settle into our deck chairs to enjoy the cool evening air. There’s hardly any sensation of movement, and before I know it, I’ve drifted off into an unplanned nap.
Sea Legs
By morning, we’ve left England far behind. Though the movement of the ship can barely be discerned, I feel a little off-balance as I make my way to breakfast in the elegant Princess Grille. There’s a bowl of fresh raspberries, strawberries, blueberries, and blackberries, flaky croissants, and a fresh pot of steaming tea. I’ve heard tales about the amount of food consumed by cruise passengers, and am relieved when I peek at the evening menu to see that it contains an array of enticing Canyon Ranch spa cuisine options.
Canyon Ranch’s spa properties in Arizona and Massachusetts are legendary for their comprehensive fitness, lifestyle, and nutrition programs, as well as their wide range of holistic therapies. Taking the concept to sea seems only natural, given mankind’s fascination with the healing properties of mineral springs and seawater.
I find my way to the spa, which occupies the center of the ship, spanning two deck levels. After a steam bath in the aromatherapy steam room and a soak in the mineral pool with its self-massage features, I relax in the narrow spa lounge that runs along the ship’s side, where expansive views of the ocean can be enjoyed.
I’ve scheduled an Ashiatsu Massage, something I’ve never experienced before. My therapist, Tomasato, leads me into a fragrant, dimly lit room and helps me position myself on the massage table. Bars run the length of the table overhead, with a low chair positioned against the wall at the table’s head. Tomasato sits in the chair, leaning back and stretching his legs out toward my shoulders, massaging me deeply with his toes. I’m surprised by the depth he’s able to penetrate, but not as surprised as I am when he stands on the table, grasping the bars, and begins working on the backs of my legs with his feet. As he reaches the area behind my left knee, he pauses and calmly notes that I have a number of old injuries in that area. The rhythmic motion of his feet feels amazing, but how he can feel my old wounds through his toes is beyond me.
Floating Majesty
Snippets from old Grace Kelly movies are running through my head as James and I head for the dining room. Everywhere, women dressed in beautiful evening gowns and glittering jewels, accompanied by men in tuxedos, glide gracefully toward elevators and down broad stairways, on their way to dinner. After cocktails, we dine in the multi-leveled Britannia restaurant. I choose the Canyon Ranch Grilled Chicken with berry sauce, but am so busy watching our fellow passengers that I barely eat a bite.
After dinner, we make our way toward the sumptuous Royal Court Theatre, meandering through the art gallery along the way. Tonight, there’s a musical production featuring the Royal Cunard Singers & Dancers followed by a ball in the grandly appointed Queen’s Room. James and I agree our waltzing skills aren’t up to the standard being set by the other guests filling the dance floor, but we enjoy watching anyway. I have a morning fitness assessment scheduled in the spa so we make it an early night.
Down to Business
After creating a detailed chart of my normal fitness activities and diet, Brandon, the fitness director, uses some of his very sophisticated measuring equipment to calculate my body fat, resting pulse, and oxygen levels. Based on the results, he suggests that I up my daily three-mile hike to five miles, reduce my intake of grains, and lower my wine consumption from a glass each evening with dinner to once or twice a week, with the aim of reducing my daily calorie intake. Although he ignores my suggestion that I just cut out broccoli instead, he does congratulate me on the amount of tea, fruits, and vegetables I consume.
The consultation is followed by an eighty-minute Sports Massage, which allows my therapist to work deeply on my ever-present shoulder knots. She sends me off with a looser neck and lower back, and instructions to make daily use of the steam bath and hydrotherapy pool. I head down from the spa levels and find a comfortable seat in the library where a line of curved windows overlooks the sea. I’ve brought a book, but the subtle movements of the ship and the mesmerizing view have a powerful, meditative effect, and I simply sit there, spellbound, until dinner.
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