Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you book or purchase through one of my links, at no additional cost to you. As always, everything here is based on my own cruise experiences and what I actually paid.
If there is a thermal spa on a cruise ship, there's a very good chance I'm going to investigate it.
This is just who I am now.
I cruise often. I love thermal spas. I will happily spend money on a massage, a mani-pedi or several blissful hours on a heated lounger.
But loving the spa does not mean I want to pay more than I have to.
That's really my entire travel philosophy: I save where it doesn't matter to me so I have more room to spend where it does.
And trust me.
The spa matters to me. 😂
Over the years, I've found good cruise spa deals in completely different ways. I've booked before sailing. I've booked on embarkation day. I've taken advantage of a deal that popped up during a port day. I've tried a little spa teaser and promptly gotten sucked into booking the offer.
And if I see a thermal spa pass go on sale?
Apparently I buy them in bulk now.
So instead of giving you a bunch of hypothetical "cruise spa hacks," I'm going to tell you what I've actually done and what has worked for me.
One important note: Spa prices, promotions and policies can vary by cruise line, ship and sailing. I'm sharing my personal experiences, not promising you'll find the same deals on your cruise.
Planning a cruise of your own? Before I ever start stalking the spa deals, I have to book the cruise. 😂 You can see exactly how I book my cruises and the places I check before I book. And if you're still deciding where to sail, head over to my Cruise Hub for all of my cruise guides, reviews and real-life tips.
My Biggest Cruise Spa Rule: I Check More Than Once
If you're looking for one magical moment when the cruise spa will always be cheapest, I don't have one.
My own best deals haven't happened at the same time.
That's actually the most important thing I've learned.
I check before the cruise.
I check when I get onboard.
I pay attention during the cruise.
And if I find a good price on something I already know I want, I don't spend three days overthinking it.
I book it.
I Book Pre-Cruise Spa Sales When the Price Makes Sense
Case in point: my upcoming Island Princess cruise.
I've already booked a couples massage because I found a pre-sailing sale that made sense for us.
I didn't decide we needed a couples massage simply because it was discounted.
I already wanted it.
That's a big distinction.
A $200 spa treatment that you didn't want isn't magically a bargain because someone tells you it used to cost $250.
But if I'm already planning to book something and then I see a good pre-cruise price?
I'll take it.
For Princess Cruises, spa experiences can be reserved through Manage Booking or onboard at the Lotus Spa.
My approach is basically:
If I know I want it + I'm happy with the price = book it.
No advanced mathematics required.
When the Thermal Spa Goes on Sale, I JUMP
Thermal Spa on the Sun Princess
Now we're getting into my real weakness.
If you've spent five minutes on No Point Left Behind, you probably already know how I feel about these.
I love them.
I use them.
I seek them out.
I have opinions about heated loungers.
This isn't something I buy because I'm being tempted by a sale. It's something I already know adds value to my cruise.
So recently, when I saw thermal spa passes go on sale for my upcoming Star Princess, Island Princess, Majestic Princess and Sun Princess cruises, I didn't hesitate.
I bought all four. Immediately. 😂😂
That's my favorite kind of travel deal.
Something I was going to buy anyway suddenly costs less.
SOLD.
And Then I Keep Watching the Price
Booking doesn't necessarily mean I stop paying attention.
If the terms of my particular purchase allow changes or cancellation and I later find a better price, I'll look at whether it makes sense to rebook.
Always check the cancellation terms attached to your own reservation before doing this.
For me, that takes away some of the pressure to predict the absolute lowest price.
If the deal makes sense today for something I already know I'll use, I'd rather grab it than spend the next several days obsessing over whether it might get cheaper.
I'm trying to relax at the spa, people.
I don't need my spa purchase creating stress. 😂
Brandon and I Found an Early Spa Deal on Sun Princess
Pre-cruise isn't the only time I've found a deal.
When Brandon and I sailed on Sun Princess, we toured the spa on our first day.
And yes...
We took advantage of an early booking offer.
This is one reason I like physically visiting the spa once I'm onboard.
I want to see it.
I want to know what I'm buying.
And, let's be honest, I was probably going to wander into the spa anyway.
That part isn't exactly a hardship for me.
If there's an offer for something we already want and the price makes sense, great.
I'll take it.
The Holland America Spa Teaser Got Me
And sometimes the spa marketing works exactly as intended.
On one of my Holland America Line cruises, they were doing a little spa teaser in the lobby.
I tried it.
And...
Yep.
They got me. 😂
I liked it and ended up booking what I thought was an amazing deal.
But here's why that doesn't bother me.
I didn't book because someone pressured me into buying some random spa treatment I didn't want.
I experienced something I liked.
Then I was offered something I thought was worth the money.
So I booked it.
That's completely different from spending money simply because someone waves the word SALE in front of me.
A Spa Deal Actually Saved My Celebration Key Day
Carnival Magic Pedicure
This might be my favorite example because sometimes getting a good deal isn't only about saving money.
Sometimes it's about saving the day.
My day at Celebration Key was basically a bust because of the wind.
There I was sitting in a beach chair thinking...
Well, this isn't exactly how I thought today was going to go.
Instead of staying annoyed about plans that clearly weren't working out, I started looking at what else I could do.
And what did I find?
A good deal on a mani-pedi at the spa.
I booked the appointment while sitting in my beach chair.
And suddenly the day changed.
Instead of spending the rest of it focusing on what hadn't worked out, I had something I genuinely wanted to do.
Was the original plan a bust?
Pretty much.
Did I turn it into a spa day?
Absolutely.
I Treat Thermal Spa Passes Differently From Treatments
A massage and a thermal spa pass aren't the same purchase for me.
A massage is one experience.
A thermal spa pass is something I may use over and over throughout the cruise.
And believe me...
I will use it.
That's incredibly important when you're deciding whether something is worth the money.
I know myself well enough to know that a thermal suite isn't going to be one of those vacation purchases I make with good intentions and never use.
Put me near a steam room and heated lounger, and I'll figure out the rest. 😂
So How Do I Actually Find My Cruise Spa Deals?
After all my very serious spa research, my strategy is remarkably uncomplicated:
Before the cruise
I look at what's available.
If something I already want is on sale, like my Island Princess couples massage, I'll book it.
When thermal spa passes go on sale
When thermal spa passes go on sale
Apparently, I buy four of them.
Hello, Sun Princess, Star Princess, Island Princess and Majestic Princess. 😂
When I board
I visit the spa.
That's how Brandon and I found an early offer we liked on Sun Princess.
If I see a teaser
I'll try it if I'm interested.
That's how the Holland America lobby teaser got me.
During the cruise
I keep my eyes open.
That's how I ended up booking the mani-pedi that rescued my Celebration Key day.
If I've already booked
I still watch the price.
If the terms of the purchase allow me to change or cancel it and a better deal comes along, I'll look at my options.
That's it.
My Best Advice for Getting a Cruise Spa Deal
Don't wait for someone to tell you the one perfect moment to book.
Look before you sail.
Look when you board.
Pay attention during the cruise.
And most importantly:
Know what you actually want.
When I see a random spa service discounted, I can walk away.
When I see a good price for something I already know I want?
That's different.
Especially if it's the thermal spa.
Then you might want to get out of my way. 😂
Final Thoughts
I don't think getting cruise spa deals needs to become another complicated travel-hacking project.
My best spa deals haven't all happened the same way.
My Island Princess couples massage came from a pre-sailing offer.
Brandon and I found an early deal after touring the Sun Princess spa.
A Holland America lobby teaser turned into a treatment I was genuinely happy to book.
A mani-pedi deal turned a windy, disappointing Celebration Key day into something I enjoyed.
And when Princess put thermal spa passes on sale?
Sun. Star. Island. Majestic
Bought.
Bought.
Bought.
😂
That's really my strategy.
I don't buy something simply because it's on sale.
But when something I already value goes on sale?
I don't leave that point behind.
Lazy Girl Approved? Absolutely.
If you're headed for the thermal suite too, I've put together my Lazy Girl cruise spa favorites with the little things I actually like having for a spa day at sea.
Keep Reading: More of My Cruise Spa Adventures
Ready to Find Your Own Cruise?
If all this talk about thermal suites and heated loungers has you looking at cruises, start with How I Book My Cruises. I walk through the places I actually check before I book and how I decide whether I've found a deal that's worth grabbing.
About the Author
Julie Davis is the travel-obsessed creator behind No Point Left Behind, where she shares the points, perks, cruise deals and real travel costs behind the trips she actually takes. Julie cruises frequently and has a particular weakness for cruise ship thermal spas, heated loungers and any vacation purchase that makes travel feel a little better without unnecessarily paying more for it. Her philosophy is simple: save where it doesn't matter to you so you have more room to spend where it does. For Julie, the spa definitely counts. 😂
