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New Pre- & Post-Cruise Spa Options
 For Port Canaveral Sailings

By Georgina Cruz


Looking for the perfect “Me Time” prior to setting sail on a cruise vacation from Port Canaveral in Florida? Now there are two new spa options in Orlando for those who wish board their ship in Port Canaveral already totally relaxed: the Senses Spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa on the monorail line at Walt Disney World (opened late last year) and the Senses Spa at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, near the shops, restaurants and entertainment of Downtown Disney, also on the Walt Disney World property (opened in late July).

In our modern world, filled with work and family obligations, sometimes “me” time is hard to come by. “People find they have to make time for themselves during vacations, so they visit a spa,” Dee, a pedicurist/manicurist at Disney’s Senses Spa at Saratoga Springs Resort, told me as she set my pedicure chair to massage my back. And I agree: there is no better occasion than a visit to a spa during a few days away from it all to grab a few hours of renewal and relaxation. And to me it makes a lot of sense, particularly pre-cruise—to erase the stress and hassles of traveling to the port and arrive already refreshed at the ship—or post-cruise, to enjoy just a little more relaxation after the voyage.

In April, I spent a blissful day at the Grand Floridian Resort’s Senses—A Disney Spa. The new facility blends the turn-of-the-century elegance and modern accoutrements of the Grand Floridian Resort with a dash of Disney whimsy –there is even a playful Mad Hatter-themed chair for kids’ pedicures.

From water therapy and rejuvenating citrus facials, to Jacuzzi rooms with handmade glass mosaic tiles, visitors find an oasis of relaxation with variations in lighting color and music that harmonizes with the chosen treatments –ideal as a preamble for a cruise vacation. Fifteen treatments rooms offer a variety of options including massages, facials, and manicure/pedicure for visitors looking for a bit of pampering. And there are added treats: spa goers can sample tasty miniature carrot zucchini cupcakes, vitamin and antioxidant elixirs in such delightful flavors as mango, pomegranate and strawberry, plus cucumber-basil infused spa water—Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon who came to Florida 500 years ago looking for the Fountain of Youth but did not find it would be green with envy. Another treat? Yummy antioxidant gummies with flavors like mango curry—nothing like treats for optimal enjoyment of “me” time.

After my spa day (Swedish massage, citrus facial and manicure/pedicure), I arrived at my cruise ship the next day feeling pretty and totally relaxed—and it was so blissful an experience, I tried it again with a visit, this time to the Saratoga Springs Senses Spa, in early September (pictured above).

The Saratoga Springs facility features 10 treatment rooms offering a menu of water therapy, massage, facial, and manicure and pedicure services. Just like its namesake, Saratoga Springs in upstate New York, which flourished around the discovery of the healing mineral waters of the springs, Senses incorporates the springs, nature and the storyline of health in its design and theme.

Rich textures and an earth-inspired color scheme blend with rustic rockwork and natural stone—there’s a babbling fountain with water dripping over stonework in the reception area of this two-story spa— setting the stage for a relaxing retreat designed to inspire serenity and tranquility associated with nature. Each treatment is guided by one of the spa’s core themes—relax, renew, or imagine—each of which creates a custom experience. For added bliss, spa-goers can enjoy heated loungers as well as a whirlpool and steam room in the wet areas—all are ideal for relaxation and renewal—blueberry facial, anyone? Three manicure stations and four pedicure stations round out the services.

If you are sailing on Disney Cruise Line from Port Canaveral, you will also find Senses Spas & Salons aboard that line’s ships. If you are sailing on other lines, you can continue your pampering program in their spas.

At Senses spas, both on land and at sea, as well as in the Disney Resorts’ shops and select retailers on Disney property, there is yet another novel beauty treat in store: the new Beautifully Disney cosmetics collection—something that definitely inspired me to exclaim, “Mirror, mirror on the wall…”

Visitors to Disney Parks who would like their makeup to evoke Snow White, the Evil Queen or other Disney princesses and characters like Cinderella and Ariel, now have a tool at their disposal: the new line of cosmetics and beauty products for women, Beautifully Disney. The character-inspired collection is the first of its kind for Disney Parks and has been developed to evoke the spirit, beauty, and fantasy of Disney. Beautifully Disney provides a color collection for lip, eyes, and nail and through character and storytelling on the cosmetic packaging, Disney Parks’ guests are able to choose from their favorite films and characters in various moods. Coordinating cosmetic bags and beauty tools round out the initial Beautifully Disney collection (could such products as foundation and fragrances be far behind?).

Lip gloss, in colors like “Love’s First Kiss”—my favorite!—and “Poisoned Apple,” costs $14.95 each. Beautifully Disney is available at select retail locations including Tren-D at Downtown Disney in Walt Disney World in Orlando and at Disney Vault 28 at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, Ca.

For information on the new Senses Spas at Walt Disney World’s Grand Floridian and Saratoga Springs Resorts, visit disneyworld.com/spas. For details on the new Beautifully Disney beauty products line, visit DisneyParks.com/store.


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