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The Queen Mary 2: A voyage like no otherThe enormity and magnificence of the Queen Mary 2, the largest and most extravagant cruise ship ever built, is nothing if not impressive. With 14 passenger desks, a casino, five swimming pools, and plush accommodations for up to 2,620 passengers, the Queen Mary 2 resembles a small city. Three days into a trip and many passengers will still be finding their way around. Like the great ocean liners of old, the mother of all cruise ships boasts a grand dining room with a soaring ceiling, a massive ballroom, an elegant theater, and many more first-class amenities that delight and dazzle her passengers. The $780 million Queen Mary 2, the construction of which involved companies from 19 different nations, is 1,132 feet long, 236 feet tall, 135 feet wide and weighs 150,000 tons. The top speed for this mother of all cruise ships is 30 knots.
Transatlantic fares start at $1,499 per person/per week for a 194-square-foot cabin. The 2,249-square-foot Grand Complex apartment with two levels, two marble baths, and oversized balcony goes for $27,499. Beautifully blended traditionsThe ship draws on the past for its inspiration with white-gloved waiters, who serve tea and crumpets in the afternoon, a pristine colonial-style winter garden, and, for those seeking a more academic enlightenment, Oxford professors lecture each day on topics from archaeology to current events. Ten five-star dining facilities, including the immaculate Britannia Restaurant capture the luxury of yesterday. The big surprise is how contemporary the ship is. It’s full of modern amenities geared toward a younger crowd. In addition to an Internet café, there’s email access from every cabin.
There’s a bustling nightclub and a theme park called The Play Zone, where parents can drop off their kids for the day. The ship is adorned with $5 million worth of art and features the world’s first planetarium at sea, the largest wine collection at sea, and the largest library at sea. However, one of the most popular and certainly most active destinations on the ship is a swanky spa and fitness center.
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“When most people are on vacation, they want to be active and they actually have time to workout,” stated Poul Norregaard, Corporate Manager for the cruise line. “So we make sure they are getting the best possible workout experience.” | A world-class fitness facility in a first-class wayThe ship’s deluxe 20,000-square-foot Canyon Ranch SpaClub is nothing short of spectacular. It has to be in order to reflect the kind of class and elegance that plays on the image and experience one can expect from a voyage on the Queen Mary 2. Bright-eyed staffers lead daily yoga, Pilates, and aerobics classes every hour. There are even personal trainers on hand for one-on-one sessions, and there are always an acupuncturist and a nutritionist/weight-loss therapist onboard. Another prominent feature includes an Aqua Therapy center with a massage pool, a whirlpool and Thermal Suite area with steam room and saunas. A healthy relationshipWhen it came to outfitting the SpaClub with fitness equipment, Norregaard wanted products that not only reflected the best image and quality, but also appeal to a wide variety of users.
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“We wanted, no we needed the best equipment possible…equipment that looks great, is easy to use, and appeals to everyone. The choice was easy, Life Fitness,” said Norregaard. |
As the exclusive fitness equipment provider of the facility, Life Fitness outfitted the Canyon Ranch SpaClub with more than 55 pieces of Life Fitness cardiovascular and strength-training products. Even some passenger suites feature Life Fitness equipment and more Life Fitness pieces are available on the crew deck for use by the ship’s approximately 1,250 personnel. There are Life Fitness treadmills, total-body elliptical cross-trainers, upright and recumbent Lifecycle bikes, stairclimbers, and pieces from the Hammer Strength and Life Fitness Cable Motion and Pro2 SE Series strength lines.
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“From the beginning, Life Fitness worked with us to provide a full range of equipment based on the diverse needs of our customers. We accommodate everyone from young to old, to in shape and even people who have never worked out before. Life Fitness gave us everything we needed,” added Norregaard. |
“The nice thing about Life Fitness is they are a single source for all my equipment needs,” said Norregaard. “Plus, the service is great. When we’re at sea and we need to schedule a service call, we are only in port for a day, maybe two at the most. So when Life Fitness says they’ll be there on the 5 th , they are there on the 5 th . That sort of reliability is extremely important to us” Smooth sailingThere is no question the Queen Mary 2 is a one-of-a-kind cruise ship that offers an ocean of possibilities when it comes to getting the most out of your vacation. Since its maiden voyage on January 12 th , 2004, bookings have continued to pile up. At Life Fitness, we are proud to be onboard this magnificent and stately ocean liner. And to all those fortunate enough to sail with her we say, "bon voyage."
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