After perusing the options, we selected the 50-minute Couples Massage, as it was written on the card

Massage mishap in the Disney Fantasy Senses Spa mildly soothed by relaxing Rainforest experience by Ricky Brigante Posted on April 9, 2012 Get the latest: Follow us on Twitter & Facebook ! Topics: Disney , Disney Cruise Line , Entertainment Tags: Disney Fantasy , Elemis Aroma Stone Therapy , massage , rainforest , Senses Spa
Of the many articles I ve written about the Fantasy so far, just one botched dinner stands out as the negative amidst and ocean of positive. But today I write about the worst experience I had on the Disney Fantasy, as a precautionary (and rather painful) tale with the hope that it doesn t happen to anyone else.
Located cheap vacation packages hawaii on decks 11 and 12, forward, the Fantasy s Senses Spa Salon offers cheap vacation packages hawaii a wide range of services and treatments, from haircuts and coloring cheap vacation packages hawaii to a variety of massages and acupuncture. A fitness center allows guests to work off the extra pounds earned in the ship s buffet and teens even have their own private spa area offering unique experiences like a chocolate massage, ice cream mani-pedi, or an acne attack facial. It all sounds cheap vacation packages hawaii enticing and enjoyable, which is exactly what it s designed to be. Unfortunately, that s not quite how it worked out in my experience with the Senses Spa, with a day of relaxation cheap vacation packages hawaii replaced cheap vacation packages hawaii by a week s worth of soreness and discomfort.
I knew covering the 3-night cheap vacation packages hawaii Inaugural preview cruise of the Disney Fantasy was going to be fun, but also exhausting trying to see everything the ship offers in the short amount of time provided. My wife Michelle suggested we finish our time there with a massage, so one of the first places we headed when we stepped onboard cheap vacation packages hawaii was the Senses Spa, to book time on the final day of our voyage. There was a line ahead of others ahead of us also booking their treatments and while we waited, a seemingly helpful staff member brought us a card outlining the available massages and corresponding prices.
After perusing the options, we selected the 50-minute Couples Massage, as it was written on the card, for $242. The staff member then presented us with a few different options for that massage, including a traditional Swedish massage, an aroma stone therapy massage, and a bamboo massage. cheap vacation packages hawaii We are no massage experts, but have had and enjoyed a Swedish massage before. But with the stone massage described to us as featuring heated stones and oils along with traditional massage techniques, we went with that option. Mistake #1.
When we returned for our scheduled time, worn out from running all over the ship for two and a half days, we were ready for some serious cheap vacation packages hawaii relaxation. And it started pleasantly enough, inviting us to change into comfortable robes and sit down in the relaxation room until it was time for our massage.
There we met our masseuse (for Michelle) and masseur (for me), who led us down a tranquil winding hallway to our dimly-lit, but colorful cheap vacation packages hawaii private room where two massage tables awaited us. After settling in, we were each tended to individually, though side-by-side throughout the ordeal that followed.
He also asked if there were any areas of my body that were particularly problematic, cheap vacation packages hawaii to which I replied my legs were sore from walking around the ship and my upper back was tight from carrying my equipment. He said he d certainly focus on those areas. Mistake #3.
The 50 minutes that followed consisted of anything but relaxation. The quick foot scrub at the beginning was welcome and the promised hot stones cheap vacation packages hawaii were soothing as they were gently rubbed over my back, legs, arms, and hands. But the majority of the massage, for myself and Michelle, involved extreme pressure being exerted on every muscle, bone, and space in-between, resulting in a lot of wincing, squirming, and ultimately exhaustion. Someone firmly running fingers underneath my shoulder blades and between the bones of my feet does not make for an enjoyable time at sea.
I was later told that what we experienced is called a deep tissue massage. And it was rather excruciating, particularly since we were expecting to feel completely relaxed - not beat up - during cheap vacation packages hawaii the experience. As I wrote above, we are no massage experts. Though who frequently get massages may have seen this situation coming a mile away. But as novices, we weren t properly informed as to what exactly we had just purchased. The staff member cheap vacation packages hawaii describing the couples massage options to us never once mentioned that it was going to be a deep tissue massage instead of a Swedish massage. And even if she had uttered those terms, I m not sure I would have known the difference without her explaining it.
Then came the sticker shock. It turns out the stone massage is considerably more expensive than a Swedish massage, with our bill on the way out totaling $318 instead of the expected $242. Not were my muscles feeling pain, but at that moment my wallet was as well. Needless to say, I complained.
Granted this was the Inaugural voyage of the Disney Fantasy and a few kinks were expected. But unfortunately for me and Michelle, our muscles were the victims of one of these kinks, leaving us stiff and sore for the following week. I m honestly not sure what good a deep tissue massage is, as my muscles feel no better and it certainly wasn t relaxing, but I ve been told that it was supposed to clear toxins from my body. Perhaps I didn t have many toxins to begin with.
The Senses Spa staff was surprised to hear that we didn t enjoy our massages and worked to correct the issue in the best way they could. They gave us the $242 price we thought we were getting and I received a call from the spa manager a few minutes later inviting both of us to return for the rest of the day to enjoy their Rainforest experience, a $32 value. (More on that below.)
I m still not happy about paying hundreds of dollars in exchange for nearly an hour of pain and a week s worth of sore muscles, but at least I learned a few lessons from the experience that I now pass on to you, correcting each of the mistakes listed above.
Solution to Mistake #1: Be informed. Ask questions. If you re booking a massage or any other treatment in the Senses Spa, make sure you know what you re paying for and how much it will be up front, to avoid surprises later. Don t feel intimidated if you don t know the difference between a Swedish massage and Elemis Aroma Stone Therapy. I certainly didn t and I paid the price for it.
This massage for couples seamlessly combines 10 exotic cultural touches—including Swedish and Deep Tissue techniques—to create a relaxing and beneficent experience for the each of you. The massage that s heaven for individuals becomes a shared journey into blissful relaxation for two. When booking this treatment, only one name from your party is needed to reserve.
This soothing stone therapy cheap vacation packages hawaii harnesses the ancient power of Basalt stones to melt away tension and deliver a deep-penetrating therapy for the muscles. The heated volcanic stones are placed on key energy points while warmed oils are worked gently into the body with traditional massage techniques. This holistic approach to relaxation is as sensual as it is effective.
Ironically, the former mentions deep tissue while the latter does not. The deep-penetrating therapy of the stones was the only enjoyable part of the experience. The phrases melt away tension, worked gently, and relaxation should not be used to describe this treatment. Instead, I would choose deeply painful and perhaps muscle abusing.
Solution to Mistake #2: Stop your massage if you re not enjoying it. Neither Michelle nor I spoke up during the massage as we winced in pain, assuming it would either get better or that all the pain would somehow be worth it in the end. It wasn t. If your masseuse asks to be told if the pressure is too much, make sure to say something. I should have. And don t assume the treatment will get better. In fact, it will likely get worse.
cheap vacation packages hawaii Solution to Mistake #3: Despite the fact that I mentioned that my legs were sore, the majority of the massage was focused on my back. If you don t like the way your massage is going, put a stop to it and make sure you get what you want, not what they think you need. You re the one paying for it.
I did accept the spa manager s invitation to return later in the day to try the Rainforest experience. Beyond the salon and massage treatment rooms, the Senses Spa features an exclusive area dubbed the Rainforest featuring cheap vacation packages hawaii a unique variety of showers, saunas, jacuzzis, and other amenities. It costs $16 per day for access with a week-long pass also available on the Fantasy.
Though the Rainforest only mildly helped the soreness I was feeling from the massage a few hours earlier, it was an enjoyable, and at times fun, experience that I would recommend trying, at least for a day. The video below offers a quick tour around the Rainforest area, including a quick dip into each of the light and aromatherapy rich showers.
The Rainforest showers are quite the eye-opener, not only for their vibrant rainbow of colors but for the experiences within. A trio of buttons inside each stall rains a variety of water pressures, colors, scents, and temperatures down onto those inside. Inspired by tropical storms and other naturally wet occurrences around the world, it s a mixture of enjoyable and surprise.
The Cool Mist Experience cheap vacation packages hawaii is exactly what it sounds like, spraying ice cold mist onto those stepping inside. I personally couldn t enjoy this cold shower, but those coming from a hot workout in the nearby fitness center might finding it soothing.
Tropical Thunder and Rainforest alternate between lightning effects, mist, small rain, heavy rain, and hot and cold waters, with both shocking and satisfying feelings cheap vacation packages hawaii guaranteed to wake the body up. I personally preferred cheap vacation packages hawaii the warm water option of Tropical Thunder the most. And Water Fun is just wacky, with water sprayed from every which way.
The Hamam and Caldarium were too hot for me, though they likely would have done wonders for my sore muscles after the unenjoyable cheap vacation packages hawaii massage earli