Carly, my lovely therapist in the Mandara Spa took this image of me during my Signature  Epic 24-Carat Gold Facial. I’d no sooner relaxed on the treatment bed before Norwegian Epic’s engines started up and  I felt the huge ship slowly edge away from her berth in Southampton and down the Solent. There’s something special about having a spa treatment when a ship’s moving!

I completed a detailed health form, which Carly discussed with me so she could  tailor the facial  to my specific concerns (dry skin and dark circles under my eyes). The renowned Elemis Pro Collagen Quartz Lift Facial forms the basis of the treatment, but with the exotic  addition of a 24-carat gold leaf mask. The benefits sounded promising -  lifting, firming and tightening the skin, while improving circulation and lymph drainage. The complexion is cleared and instantly brightened.

After taking three deep breaths, the treatment started with a cleanse and tone with gorgeous Elemis products, including a gentle rose exfoliator. Carly explained that these products make pathways into the skin for other nutrients to be absorbed. Gold has good anti-ageing properties as it has powerful magnetic forces that clarify the skin’s texture and speed up cell renewal.

The facial includes relaxing face and neck massage including a gentle eye massage to help plump up the tissue under the eyes and eradicate dark circles.

Eventually after a papaya and pineapple peel and eye mask (with the most delicious fragrance -  good enough to eat!) it was time for the gold mask to be applied.

I was intrigued to learn that the gold leaf comes in tissue-paper-thin 24-carat gold squares, which were carefully applied to my face -  Carly used about 15 squares in all. These were left on my face for about 20 minutes while I was given a soothing scalp and foot massage. I could feel a warming tingle on my face.  Then the gold was removed – very simply with water. Disappointingly, the gold leaf just rubs off so you don’t leave the spa with a pocketful of 24-carat gold!

Carly finally applied delicate Absolute Eye serum to my eye area and Pro-collagen moisturiser to my neck and décolleté. She then handed me a mirror so that I could see how my skin looked brighter with my dark circles noticeably reduced.

Verdict – an enjoyable treat, but at $325 too expensive to have on a regular basis. The results were good, but not outstanding.

June is proving to be a busy month! Two days after returning from our trip to the Austrian Tyrol, I’m packing my bag again and heading down to Southampton for the two-night inaugural sailing of Norwegian Epic, the newest and largest cruise ship belonging to Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL).

After her 2-night introduction to Europe, Norwegian Epic sails to New York for her naming ceremony and then to Miami for her first season cruising the Caribbean. She’ll be back in Europe next summer and based in Barcelona.

EPIC - NCL's new cruise ship

Norwegian Epic is the  largest ship in NCL’s fleet so far,  accommodating over 4,000 passengers. With 18 decks, 21 restaurants, bars, amusements and activities, not to mention the largest spa at sea, this is one colossal lady!

I’m having the 24 carat gold signature facial treatment when I visit the spa this afternoon, so will report back later.

The Wiesenhof Hotel

After a thoroughly enjoyable  and interesting stay at the AlpenMedHotel Lamm in Seefeld, (more about our amazing treatments in my longer review coming soon), we have now moved to the rural setting of the Wiesenhof Hotel in Pertisau – a short walk from the the shores of Lake Achensee and the Karwendel Alpine Park.

Our lovely room has a four poster bed and a large balcony with rural and mountain views! The surrounding countryside looks beautiful in the mist and rain so must look positively stunning with blue skies and sunshine

The Wiesenhof has extensive wellness facilities and after lunch, we have the first of our treatments, a 20-minute Tyrolean shale oil bath for two, which we take in a long narrow wooden bath. The shale oil is extracted from local stone and has a pleasant, slightly antiseptic fragrance.  We thoroughly enjoy a warming and relaxing soak – perfect on a wet and cool afternoon!

Wooden bath for shale oil treatment

What a pleasure to be in Austria again!

We’re visiting the Tyrol, flying into Innsbruck and then taking a half hour drive to the alpine village of Seefeld. Shame about the weather! – we leave the UK basking in sunshine and land at Innsbruck in heavy rain. The city’s spectacular mountain backdrop is completely shrouded in mist and low clouds.

Seefeld village

We’re staying at the AlpenMedHotel Lamm in the heart of Seefeld. This is a comfortable, well established hotel – with a choice of  traditional or contemporary accommodation in two wings. There’s also a super modern spa with outstanding facilities, including a medically supervised cryrotherapy chamber, one of a select few in Europe. We’ll be having a few sessions in the -110° chill – and  writing more about this unusual treatment in Spa Wellbeing.

AlpenMedHotel Lamm's lovely spa pool