Before I got married, I had never partaken in a single activity or treatment in a spa, whether on a cruise ship or on land.
But that quickly changed during our honeymoon in Aulani.
Disney's awesome resort on the island of Oahu, Hawaii may have been where I had my first massage, but my first exposure to the spa world was certainly at sea well before.
I've been cruising before I was two years old, and I've always been aware of the presence of spa facilities onboard cruise ships, but they never really interested me. Of course, only recently have offerings been made available to teens outside of the adult requirement, but that was not the case during my younger years.
So, by the time I could actually enter the spa, I was simply too self-conscious.
When I sailed with my parents more regularly, my mother never frequented the spa either. Only my father would periodically get a basic Swedish massage, and he would always swear by them.
Later, he would try to alleviate my fears by telling me everything I fully understand now: How the masseuses are professionals and are very diligent about making sure you remain strategically and appropriately covered up at all times.
Still, something about a stranger touching my otherwise bare body continued to spook me. Only once I was engaged and I went aboard Disney Cruise Line's Disney Dream with my fiancée did I even sample a massage during a spa tour with a hot stone briefly touching my back over my shirt.
It instantly felt wonderful, melting away tension, and I became at the very least intrigued. Also on that cruise, we had access to the spa's Rainforest Room with heated tile loungers, scented showers and whirlpools-all of which we greatly enjoyed.
I'm happy to say that moving beyond my initial hangups has allowed me to enjoy and review many cruise ship spa facilities, which are some of the best in the world.
I currently enjoy thermal suites, dry saunas, steam rooms, chilled plunge pools, cold water buckets, heated tile beds, whirlpools, thalassotherapy pools, you name it, and I especially like brushings and scrubbings in addition to massages. I've found that exfoliation is a wonderful companion sensation to a massage.
Little did I know five years ago that I would become a spa guy, but I have unabashedly succumbed to the delights provide therein. Now, it's often one of the first things I do onboard.
All I can say to anyone who may be fearful of the spa as I once was is: Give it a chance.
Go with your significant other to help alleviate any trepidations, and you may just find yourself heading back as often as I do.
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