“AFTER the first TWO DAYS of MASSAGE and treaments, I was almost in a COMA!”
courtesy of Uncle Prem, a sweet-looking Nepalese gentleman, who pounded me with bamboo sticks before giving me a deep tissue massage, wrapping me in warm towels and popping me in a dry floatation bed, which took all the strain and weight away from my skeleton. It is literally like being back in the
womb, as the water takes all the body weight. More sleep followed – in fact, I was almost in a coma after the first two days. But that was before Charmaine got her hands on me. This woman is strong, a sports therapist by training who had spent years working with London Irish Rugby
Club and Arsenal, she set about my head, neck and shoulders and then my feet with hands made of steel. And yet, by the time she had finished with me, my limbs were stretched and loose and my muscles almost ache-free. A gifted reflexologist, she could almost tell me what was going on in my head while she massaged, mangled and stroked my feet. Dr Marko, a charming dentist from
Belgrade, spent the next two hours cleaning and whitening my teeth. If ever there was an instant ‘How to look younger’ treatment, it is having your teeth whitened. For, suddenly, your whole face looks fresher and lighter.
B
est of all, on board Ventura the cost of this treatment is almost half of what it is on land. The only
drawback – no coffee or red wine for a few days. To keep my mind off both, it was time to head for the thermal suite to steam and sauna, and then decide which of the daily fitness classes I could attend, which in- cluded step, aerobics and power-walking. After all that it was back to the prone position, where I was assaulted by another machine, this time promising to reduce and tighten flab and get rid of cellulite. In my case, the reduction and tightening would need to take place daily on a world cruise, so much of it is there.
But this was followed by another mas- sage – this time a shirodosha version, which is like being attacked by an oil slick that helps you slide around in the same rhythm as the ship. I worried throughout if I would slide clear off the massage table – I didn’t. Then it was straight to the beauty salon for pedicures and manicures, followed by shampoo and blow dry. Except that Nadine insisted I could not have dinner with the Captain that night with roots showing, so she got out the colour and, while waiting for that to take, she gave me a full make-up lesson. As well as this programme, the Spa offers all of the more usual wraps, massages and facials while the salon is a hive of industry, doing everything from re-style to highlights and a menu of manicures and pedicures. What made it so easy to enjoy (and endure) all my treatments in such a sweep was that there were so many days at sea going from Southampton to Tenerife, while you could opt for a longer programme if you choose an Atlantic crossing. There is nothing else to do but to enjoy the sailing; no places to visit or islands to explore, just all the wonder of the waves and the feel-good factor of the Spa. Almost my idea of complete heaven. MORE INFO: call 0845 678 0014 or visit
www.pocruises.com/Cruise-Experience/ Spa-Gym
Winter 2010 / 2011 I WORLD OF CRUISING 45
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