Indulge in a Snowy Nordic Spa Bath Aboard This Cruise Line

There is so much to be admired about a travel company’s commitment to going above and beyond expectations, and unique amenities certainly top the list. As its name implies, Viking prides itself on its Scandinavian roots and goes above and beyond to offer guests educational opportunities through the exclusive Viking Culture Curriculum program. Guests can get acquainted with destinations through immersive lectures on music, culture, art, cooking demonstrations, and port talks (complete with stunning photography presentations). The carefully curated program includes inviting subject matter experts aboard to give guests a deeper look into various ports of call.

One exciting feature onboard is the LIV Nordic Spa (managed by Raison d’Etre) which is about as close to Valhalla as weary guests looking for a relaxing experience are going to get. The spa menu features a Nordic bath as one of its inspired offerings. In essence, you can bathe like a Viking and take part in the hot/cold bathing ritual that is most often associated with Scandinavian countries (though Russians would probably protest that association). The practice of alternating hot and cold when bathing in order to release toxins, open and close pores, and relieve body aches and pains is the hallmark of this spa treatment and it is definitely a heady experience. Though it’s a guided treatment, you perform the individual steps on yourself (with the exception of a 5-minute scalp massage).

Perhaps, the best part of the bath is the spa staff that walk participants through the treatment by giving background information on Viking bathing rituals. Contrary to what history books teach us, there is overwhelming evidence that Vikings weren’t the filthy, unkempt warriors they are often depicted as. In fact, combs and other grooming tools are often the most prevalent discoveries at Viking burial sites. Evidence has shown that the spirited explorers may have bathed as often as once a week which, by the standards of the day, would have been considered quite frequent. Their European contemporaries bathed far, far less often.

THE 12- STEP NORDIC BATHING RITUAL

Before your Nordic bath, you can stop by the spa and pick up a step-by-step guide to give you an idea of what’s to come. It’s a great, informative primer but nothing prepares the body for the below-freezing temperature of the snow grotto you’ll visit as part of the bath. Still, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with the treatment. As an added treat, the spa treatment includes a mini kit of products and a handheld body brush to use during the bath.

LIV Nordic Spa offers the following instructions:

(This is also a great guide to use at home. If you don’t have access to snow, try standing under an ice-cold shower.)

1. Using the dry body brush, start at your feet and your hands, brushing with long strokes toward your heart.
2. Take an invigorating shower using our organic body and hair products.
3. Sit in silence in the sauna for 5 – 15 minutes.
4. Be brave and take a plunge in the cold dip!
5. Scrub your body with the Sauna Birch Scrub, which works wonders now that your skin is soft and your pores are open. Remove the scrub in the shower.
6. Apply the Eco-Facial Scrub and go back into the sauna to gently scrub your face.
7. Repeat time in the sauna and cold plunge as many times as your like (three is the recommended minimum).
8. Apply the Cloudberry Face Mask and leave it on as you go into the steam room. Cloudberry, gold as the midnight sun, is one of the most exclusive ingredients in skin therapy.
9. Time for the snow experience! Enter the Snow Grotto and just breathe.
10. Let your mind drift in the hot tub.
11. As a final touch, moisturize your face with the Blueberry Face Cream and your body with the Lingonberry Body Lotion found in your mini kit.
12. Enjoy the stillness.