Cruise Ship Etiquette: How to Deal With Aggressive Sales Pitches From the Onboard Spa

16.08.2023 - 21:45 / cntraveler.com

Cruise ship spas are alluring—especially to passengers sailing for the first time. Lulled by the twin pleasures of an ocean voyage and a relaxing vacation, passengers let their barriers come down. “Treat yourself,” they say. And "try new things—you’re on vacation!” However, once encapsulated within the tranquil confines of the spa with eucalyptus fragrance and pan-flute music, the sales pitches begin—and they’re aggressive.

I first encountered the hardcore spa sales pitch on my very first cruise. My first voyage was some years ago, during the days when cruise passengers received stacks of paper each day with assorted onboard activities and “exclusive invitations” from various onboard outlets to go enjoy discounts or enter a giveaway (read: spend money).

One of the circulars advertised a “Manager’s Special” in the spa, and the price was reasonable, so I booked. After the treatment, the therapist noted several “issues” she’d noticed during my treatment, and recommended a battery of treatments, branded by the global spa brand that had the concession to operate the spas onboard the ships. She wanted to sell me $1,700 worth of products—capsules stuffed with organic supplements, glass ampules with some sort of seaweed extract, oils, lotions.

I managed to escape with less than half the products she’d attempted to sell, but even after that, her pitches were relentless—calls to my cabin, notes left at my door—had I changed my mind about the products I left on the table? Perhaps I should come back for another treatment.

Recently, I wondered if this was common on cruise ship spas, so I asked a few friends who are also veteran cruisers. An emphatic “yes” was their response. My friend Caroline noted two cruises to different destinations on different cruise lines where the spa pitches were relentless. On the first, a sailing to Mexico, she signed up for “free” wellness classes only to find a well-polished pitch for expensive supplements and insoles. On a cruise to Europe, a massage attendant extolled the virtues of body brushes, massage oils, and poultices.

The high-pressure product pitch is something of a departure from the practice at many land-based spas, where the pitch might be simpler: “Do take a look at our lovely selection of products on your way out.” Perhaps because many cruisers are spa neophytes, or perhaps because onboard spas aren’t trying to build lasting relationships like land-based spas are—product pitches in onboard spas can be aggressive. Here's how passengers can handle them without feeling awkward or rude.

Booking their preferred massage or choosing scents for aromatherapy aren’t the only ways travelers can personalize onboard spa treatments. Spa-goers wanting to skip the product pitches