American Fitness: All aboard! From top-notch fitness equipment to soothing spa treatments, Canyon Ra

It should come as no surprise that Cunard's Queen Mary 2, one of the most luxurious cruise ships in the world, features a state-of-the-art fitness, spa and beauty facility. Occupying parts of two deck and with a staff of over 50, the 20,000-square-foot SpaClub was designed and is operated by Canyon Ranch, a health resort company known for its luxury facilities devoted to healthy living. With every amenity of the finest day spas and features not found anywhere else, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub has something for every passenger, from top-of-the-line fitness equipment to soothing body treatments.

Health and Wellness

Fitness enthusiasts can be adamant about maintaining their exercise routines during travel. Even while on a cruise ship, people who work out regularly want access to fitness equipment. Most prefer the same premium equipment they use in their local health clubs, so they can get a gym-quality workout even when at sea. Therefore, Cunard outfitted the Canyon Ranch SpaClub's fitness facility with more than 50 cardiovascular and strength-training exercise machines from Life Fitness, an exercise equipment manufacturer known for the sophisticated design, superior performance and accessibility of its products.

The extensive array of cardio equipment includes treadmills, total-body elliptical cross-trainers, upright and recumbent Lifecycle exercise bikes and stairclimbers. These feature heart-rate monitoring, various speed and elevation settings as well as a variety of workout programs to help keep exercisers interested and motivated. Strength-training equipment includes a wide range of selected equipment, benches and racks from Life Fitness' Cable Motion, Club Series, Fit Series, Hammer Strength, Pro Series and Pro2 SE Series lines.

Certified fitness instructors conduct daily group and private fitness, yoga and tai chi classes. Additionally, Canyon Ranch experts perform fitness assessments and body composition analysis, create customized exercise programs and present workshops addressing healthy living topics, such as lifestyle change, stress management, smoking cessation, healthy aging and disease prevention.

Spa Treatments and Packages

Passengers can experience a multitude of rejuvenating spa treatments. The facility is equipped with 24 treatment rooms for massages, therapeutic bodywork, facials, conditioning body scrubs and cocoons. Massage choices include aromatherapy, lymphatic, reflexology, shiatsu, sports, Swedish and Thai. Couples can also schedule side-by-side massages. Facials include Canyon Ranch Signature skin care treatments, such as The Classic Canyon Ranch Facial, aromatherapy facial, aqua-lift replenishing facial and men's fitness facial. There's also a rosacea/sensitive skin treatment, self-tanning treatment and facial as well as body waxing. For total-body treatments, passengers may select from among Canyon Ranch's Mango Sugar Glo Body Scrub, mineral salt scrub, grape seed scrub or deluxe conditioning body scrub. Alternatives to the body scrubs include Euphoria, a 100-minute full-body treatment, Cocoon, a 50-minute body conditioning treatment, and Aroma Boosters, 50minute treatments that promote physical and emotional well-being and include Anti-Aging, Detox Body, Renewal and Travel Fatigue.

Thermal and Aqua Therapies

Knowing the therapeutic benefits of water and heat, SpaClub designers incorporated unique water features throughout the facility. The Aqua Therapy Centre features a 30-by-15-foot co-ed thalassotherapy pool with airbed recliner lounges, neck fountains, a deluge waterfall and an air tub with body massage jet benches. The pool area also has a whirlpool and extensive thermal suite featuring herbal and Finnish saunas, reflexology basins, sensory showers, aromatic steam room and ice fountain.

The SpaClub also offers the exotic Rasul ceremony, a Canyon Ranch signature treatment. This medicinal mud and steam therapy, which takes place in an ornately tiled steam chamber, is derived from an ancient Middle Eastern cleansing ritual.

Queen Mary 2

Billed by Cunard as a veritable city at sea, the Queen Mary 2 measures 1,132 feet in length, making it the largest ship in the world. It weighs 151,400 gross tons and cost $800 million to build. With 14 passenger decks, the vessel is loaded with the finest amenities, including 10 top-notch dining facilities, the world's first planetarium at sea, a two-story theater, a casino, five indoor and outdoor swimming pools, hot tubs, boutiques, children's facilities as well as the largest ballroom, library and wine collection at sea.