New cruise ship has biggest spa at sea 

A new cruise ship to be launched in July will boast the biggest health spa at sea, covering an area of 1,900 square metres.

She's the 112,000 tonne Costa Concordia, the first of three mega-liners on order for Mediterranean voyages by Costa Cruises of Italy, since 2000 part of the Carnival Corporation.

Costa Concordia's huge Samsara Spa "wellness centre" will extend over two decks.

Designed to reflect "spiritual enlightenment and rejuvenation," it will include a gymnasium, Turkish bath, solarium, Indian-inspired holistic treatments and an indoor spa pool offering thalassotherapy massages using air jets and hot ionised seawater.

Costa Cruises says "Samsara" is a word associated with the path to spiritual enlightenment, bliss and balancing of life energies.

Treatments available will be based "on the principles of Ayurveda, an ancient Indian science of holistic healing and wellbeing, combining age-old techniques of oriental massage with cutting-edge scientific research."

Passengers really serious about a healthy holiday can even stay in the Samsara Spa since it also includes 67 cabins and suites.

The deluxe, Oriental-themed cabins will provide direct access to the spa.

They will also have flat-screen TVs, Samsara toiletries and a package of spa privileges and treatments.

One of the ship's five dining rooms, Ristorante Samsara, will also offer a range of "wellness foods".

The maiden voyage of the Concordia begins on July 14 when she sails from Civitavecchia (Rome) on its regular itinerary in the Western Mediterranean, calling at Savona, Barcelona, Palma, Tunis, Malta, and Palermo.