| QUEEN MARY 2 |
| CUNARD |
A Look at the
CANYON RANCH
SPACLUB
on QUEEN MARY 2
by Richard H. Wagner
The spa complex on Queen Mary 2 is 20,000 square
feet and covers portions of two decks. However, size
is not its only distinction. The complex is operated by
Canyon Ranch, the prestigious American resort.
Canyon Ranch was founded in 1979 by Mel and
Enid Zuckerman. They have been quoted as saying:
“the Canyon Ranch experience focus[es] on pursuing
optimal health - - learning how to feel your best every
day. We encourage people to become active, informed
participants in their health care, because wellness is
largely based on everyday lifestyle choices about
nutrition, stress management, preventive care and
staying fit.”
Canyon Ranch operates two resorts, the original one
in Tucson Arizona and one in Lenox, Massachusetts.
They are known for providing top quality spa services
in luxury venues. Indeed, Canyon Ranch is the only 10-
time winner of the Condé Nast Traveler best spa
award. Thus, their claim that they operate “the world’s
greatest health resort,” is not just promotional puffery.
In addition to the resorts, Canyon Ranch operates
what it calls “SpaClubs” at the Venetian Hotel in Las
Vegas, the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
in Kissimmee, Florida, and onboard Queen Mary 2.
“We are giving you just a taste of what you would
experience in Tucson or the Lenox property,” explains
Nicole Clark who is Director of the SpaClub on QM2.
The Canyon Ranch operation on QM2 is made up of
several components. Its centerpiece is the spa itself,
which is made up of treatment rooms and services, the
Aqua Therapy Centre, and the Relaxation Lounge.
A wide variety of massages, acupuncture,
chiropractic treatments, thermal therapies and other
treatments are offered in the softly lit and restful
treatment rooms on Deck 7.* There are even rooms for
couples who want to share a treatment experience.
Canyon Ranch ensures that the treatment experience
that the guests receive onboard is a Canyon Ranch
experience. First, the onboard massage therapist
trainer “goes to [the SpaClub in] Las Vegas on a
regular basis to make sure her techniques are updated
and that she is providing the same techniques and
training to the staff onboard.” In addition, when hiring,
“we want people that are already very well-trained
from the technical side and who are also able to
embrace our philosophy. Within two contracts, they
will go through Canyon Ranch at Tucson and what we
call our life enhancement program. It is a week long
program that they get to experience as a guest.”
The Aqua Therapy Centre features a large indoor
pool with fountains, a waterfall and underwater jets
that massage the body. Areas of the pool are quite
shallow so that one can just sit or stretch out and relax
as the water passes by. Next to the pool is a large
whirlpool.
Immediately adjacent to the pool are steam rooms, a
sauna, reflexology basins, and sensory showers
featuring six water jets and an overhead spray. One of
the steam rooms is aromatic while the other uses herbal
scents to enhance the experience. All of the Aqua
Therapy facilities are unisex.
After a treatment or after indulging in the Aqua
Therapy Centre, guests can adjourn to the Relaxation
Lounge. This room has floor to ceiling windows and
looks out at the sea. It is on the same level as QM2’s
outdoor promenade but the windows have been treated
so that guests in the Relaxation Lounge can see their
fellow passengers walking or jogging by but they
cannot see in. Guests can lay back in their soft
bathrobes on the lounges and listen to the gentle music
while enjoying a glass of fruit juice or ice water.
“When you are enjoying a service, a massage or a
facial, the Aqua Therapy is complimentary. So, they
can enjoy the experience the whole day. They can go
out to lunch, they can come back and use the Aqua
Therapy in the afternoon, they can sit in the Relaxation
Lounge and really not just experience a 50 minute
service but experience a whole day.”
Also on Deck 7 just forward of the spa is the Fitness
Center. Here, one can find treadmills, cardiovascular
machines, weight machines, and free weights. In
addition, the Canyon Ranch fitness instructors give
classes and personal training. “At the land-based
properties, they will have about 100 classes per day
ranging from everything from samba dancing to
spinning to what have you - - they have such a variety
which we can’t offer on here, we just wouldn’t have
the manpower to do it. We offer six to eight classes a
day, offering a variety for guests.” Classes include
such things as Pilates, yoga, free weights training and
classes that are designed for “people who aren’t as
capable. We offer ‘Sit and Be Fit’ - - different
exercises that you can do in a chair. It gets tough to
sign up for the fitness classes. We hold the numbers to
a certain level so that everyone can enjoy and the
classes aren’t so full.”
There is also a food component to the Canyon Ranch
operation on QM2. The menus in the main dining
room, the Britannia Restaurant, have a section
headlined “Canyon Ranch Spa Selections”. This
section contains an appetizer, entrée and dessert
recommendation. Following each recommendation are
the number of calories, the grams of fat, and the grams
of fiber contained in that dish. “Our chefs from
Tucson have created the menus that you have in
Britannia. They do the recipes and every year we have
the chefs from onboard the ship go to Tucson. They
[learn] what ingredients they must and must not use.
They get a taste of Canyon Ranch so they understand
our philosophy a little bit more, what we are trying to
achieve with the food aspect of it.”
Yet another component of the Canyon Ranch
operation on QM2 is the Canyon Ranch lecture series.
Unlike ships where the spa-related lecture is a talk by
one of the spa staff that ends with a pitch for a product
or service sold by the spa, the Canyon Ranch lectures
are informative talks on health and wellness topics by
experts brought onto the ship just to lecture. “The
lecturers differ from nutritionists to doctors to
behavioral therapists, so again offering you another
component of what you would experience on land.
Normally, the lecturers are lecturers who work on a
contract basis to Canyon Ranch so they are not
necessarily Canyon Ranch employees. They’ll be
regular lecturers at Tucson, Lenox or Gaylord Palms.
We try and have a good variety so that we are not
having the same type of lecturer on each cruise. If you
were staying for three voyages, you would see three
different lecturers onboard. They do three lecturers
throughout a cruise. They have three topics that they
talk about, usually intertwining each lecture into the
other. For instance, we have a nutritionist coming on
tomorrow who does lecturing at the Tucson property
and she is a nutritionist from ‘The Biggest Loser’ in the
States. So, she is a well-known TV celebrity as well.”
The final component of the Canyon Ranch operation
is the salon located on Deck 8. Looking out over the
forward part of the ship, guests have a spectacular
view while having their hair cut, receiving a manicure
or pedicure, or having their make-up done by the salon’
s make-up artists. There are services for both men and
women.
In general, more women than men use the spa
facilities. However, the gender percentage differs by
nationality. “We always notice that with our American
clients we will get a 60/40 split to women. With our
English clients it is probably 80 to 20.”
Overall use of the spa facilities also differs by
nationality. “Definitely, our American clients are more
spa savvy. The English are generally a little more
conservative although that is definitely changing.”
“The first two days are usually fairly booked on a
cruise. With our short voyages like we did last week
for five days, we could get up to 250 pre-reservations.
If you go onto the Cunard website, there is a direct link
that you can use to pre-reserve services. They are
confirmed when you come onboard but we take the
requests and we book as we can.”
“We will have something in the cabin when guests
embark to make sure that guests come down on
embarkation day to reserve because hair services.
Especially because we have three formal evenings on a
transatlantic, we book up quite quickly, quite heavily.”
“Port days are definitely quieter time. But we find
even with our voyages like the Mediterranean or even
our Caribbean season, you still get a number of people
who will go ashore for a certain number of hours and
wander up [to the spa] in the afternoon or guests that
have just come for the ship [and who do not go
ashore]. They enjoy the quiet time of the ship when
everybody else is ashore. We will normally have
promotions in the afternoon. We find our port days
still get quite busy - - especially in that later part of the
afternoon.”
feet and covers portions of two decks. However, size
is not its only distinction. The complex is operated by
Canyon Ranch, the prestigious American resort.
Canyon Ranch was founded in 1979 by Mel and
Enid Zuckerman. They have been quoted as saying:
“the Canyon Ranch experience focus[es] on pursuing
optimal health - - learning how to feel your best every
day. We encourage people to become active, informed
participants in their health care, because wellness is
largely based on everyday lifestyle choices about
nutrition, stress management, preventive care and
staying fit.”
Canyon Ranch operates two resorts, the original one
in Tucson Arizona and one in Lenox, Massachusetts.
They are known for providing top quality spa services
in luxury venues. Indeed, Canyon Ranch is the only 10-
time winner of the Condé Nast Traveler best spa
award. Thus, their claim that they operate “the world’s
greatest health resort,” is not just promotional puffery.
In addition to the resorts, Canyon Ranch operates
what it calls “SpaClubs” at the Venetian Hotel in Las
Vegas, the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center
in Kissimmee, Florida, and onboard Queen Mary 2.
“We are giving you just a taste of what you would
experience in Tucson or the Lenox property,” explains
Nicole Clark who is Director of the SpaClub on QM2.
The Canyon Ranch operation on QM2 is made up of
several components. Its centerpiece is the spa itself,
which is made up of treatment rooms and services, the
Aqua Therapy Centre, and the Relaxation Lounge.
A wide variety of massages, acupuncture,
chiropractic treatments, thermal therapies and other
treatments are offered in the softly lit and restful
treatment rooms on Deck 7.* There are even rooms for
couples who want to share a treatment experience.
Canyon Ranch ensures that the treatment experience
that the guests receive onboard is a Canyon Ranch
experience. First, the onboard massage therapist
trainer “goes to [the SpaClub in] Las Vegas on a
regular basis to make sure her techniques are updated
and that she is providing the same techniques and
training to the staff onboard.” In addition, when hiring,
“we want people that are already very well-trained
from the technical side and who are also able to
embrace our philosophy. Within two contracts, they
will go through Canyon Ranch at Tucson and what we
call our life enhancement program. It is a week long
program that they get to experience as a guest.”
The Aqua Therapy Centre features a large indoor
pool with fountains, a waterfall and underwater jets
that massage the body. Areas of the pool are quite
shallow so that one can just sit or stretch out and relax
as the water passes by. Next to the pool is a large
whirlpool.
Immediately adjacent to the pool are steam rooms, a
sauna, reflexology basins, and sensory showers
featuring six water jets and an overhead spray. One of
the steam rooms is aromatic while the other uses herbal
scents to enhance the experience. All of the Aqua
Therapy facilities are unisex.
After a treatment or after indulging in the Aqua
Therapy Centre, guests can adjourn to the Relaxation
Lounge. This room has floor to ceiling windows and
looks out at the sea. It is on the same level as QM2’s
outdoor promenade but the windows have been treated
so that guests in the Relaxation Lounge can see their
fellow passengers walking or jogging by but they
cannot see in. Guests can lay back in their soft
bathrobes on the lounges and listen to the gentle music
while enjoying a glass of fruit juice or ice water.
“When you are enjoying a service, a massage or a
facial, the Aqua Therapy is complimentary. So, they
can enjoy the experience the whole day. They can go
out to lunch, they can come back and use the Aqua
Therapy in the afternoon, they can sit in the Relaxation
Lounge and really not just experience a 50 minute
service but experience a whole day.”
Also on Deck 7 just forward of the spa is the Fitness
Center. Here, one can find treadmills, cardiovascular
machines, weight machines, and free weights. In
addition, the Canyon Ranch fitness instructors give
classes and personal training. “At the land-based
properties, they will have about 100 classes per day
ranging from everything from samba dancing to
spinning to what have you - - they have such a variety
which we can’t offer on here, we just wouldn’t have
the manpower to do it. We offer six to eight classes a
day, offering a variety for guests.” Classes include
such things as Pilates, yoga, free weights training and
classes that are designed for “people who aren’t as
capable. We offer ‘Sit and Be Fit’ - - different
exercises that you can do in a chair. It gets tough to
sign up for the fitness classes. We hold the numbers to
a certain level so that everyone can enjoy and the
classes aren’t so full.”
There is also a food component to the Canyon Ranch
operation on QM2. The menus in the main dining
room, the Britannia Restaurant, have a section
headlined “Canyon Ranch Spa Selections”. This
section contains an appetizer, entrée and dessert
recommendation. Following each recommendation are
the number of calories, the grams of fat, and the grams
of fiber contained in that dish. “Our chefs from
Tucson have created the menus that you have in
Britannia. They do the recipes and every year we have
the chefs from onboard the ship go to Tucson. They
[learn] what ingredients they must and must not use.
They get a taste of Canyon Ranch so they understand
our philosophy a little bit more, what we are trying to
achieve with the food aspect of it.”
Yet another component of the Canyon Ranch
operation on QM2 is the Canyon Ranch lecture series.
Unlike ships where the spa-related lecture is a talk by
one of the spa staff that ends with a pitch for a product
or service sold by the spa, the Canyon Ranch lectures
are informative talks on health and wellness topics by
experts brought onto the ship just to lecture. “The
lecturers differ from nutritionists to doctors to
behavioral therapists, so again offering you another
component of what you would experience on land.
Normally, the lecturers are lecturers who work on a
contract basis to Canyon Ranch so they are not
necessarily Canyon Ranch employees. They’ll be
regular lecturers at Tucson, Lenox or Gaylord Palms.
We try and have a good variety so that we are not
having the same type of lecturer on each cruise. If you
were staying for three voyages, you would see three
different lecturers onboard. They do three lecturers
throughout a cruise. They have three topics that they
talk about, usually intertwining each lecture into the
other. For instance, we have a nutritionist coming on
tomorrow who does lecturing at the Tucson property
and she is a nutritionist from ‘The Biggest Loser’ in the
States. So, she is a well-known TV celebrity as well.”
The final component of the Canyon Ranch operation
is the salon located on Deck 8. Looking out over the
forward part of the ship, guests have a spectacular
view while having their hair cut, receiving a manicure
or pedicure, or having their make-up done by the salon’
s make-up artists. There are services for both men and
women.
In general, more women than men use the spa
facilities. However, the gender percentage differs by
nationality. “We always notice that with our American
clients we will get a 60/40 split to women. With our
English clients it is probably 80 to 20.”
Overall use of the spa facilities also differs by
nationality. “Definitely, our American clients are more
spa savvy. The English are generally a little more
conservative although that is definitely changing.”
“The first two days are usually fairly booked on a
cruise. With our short voyages like we did last week
for five days, we could get up to 250 pre-reservations.
If you go onto the Cunard website, there is a direct link
that you can use to pre-reserve services. They are
confirmed when you come onboard but we take the
requests and we book as we can.”
“We will have something in the cabin when guests
embark to make sure that guests come down on
embarkation day to reserve because hair services.
Especially because we have three formal evenings on a
transatlantic, we book up quite quickly, quite heavily.”
“Port days are definitely quieter time. But we find
even with our voyages like the Mediterranean or even
our Caribbean season, you still get a number of people
who will go ashore for a certain number of hours and
wander up [to the spa] in the afternoon or guests that
have just come for the ship [and who do not go
ashore]. They enjoy the quiet time of the ship when
everybody else is ashore. We will normally have
promotions in the afternoon. We find our port days
still get quite busy - - especially in that later part of the
afternoon.”
There are more photos of the interior
of QM2 in the QM2 Photo Tour and
Commentary
CLICK HERE
of QM2 in the QM2 Photo Tour and
Commentary
CLICK HERE
| CLICK ON PHOTOS FOR LARGER VIEWS |
The spa has two steam rooms. Above is
the Aroma Steam Room and below is the
Herbal Steam Room.
the Aroma Steam Room and below is the
Herbal Steam Room.
Included in The Canyon Ranch SpaClub is The Aqua Therapy Centre,
which features a handsome pool with jets of massaging water.
which features a handsome pool with jets of massaging water.
The Reflexology Basins relax tired legs and feet.
Above and below: Treatment rooms.
The Relxation Lounge looks across the outdoor promenade to
the sea.
the sea.
The Fitness Center.
The Salon.
* CLICK HERE FOR THE CANYON RANCH SPACLUB MENU
OF SERVICES (July 2008). This item is presented to show what
Canyon Ranch was offering at one time. Beyondships is not affiliated
with Cunard or Canyon Ranch and has no control over the prices and
services offered, which could change at any time without notice.
OF SERVICES (July 2008). This item is presented to show what
Canyon Ranch was offering at one time. Beyondships is not affiliated
with Cunard or Canyon Ranch and has no control over the prices and
services offered, which could change at any time without notice.
Cruise ship photo essay - - Cunard - - Queen Mary 2 - - Canyon Ranch Spa