WELLNESS
Floating spas bring wellness onto the water
Sauna barges and spa pods turn harbors into retreat zones
Oslo’s Floating Aluminum Sauna. Image by Hydro.com
Wellness is leaving land and moving onto pontoons and barges. Floating spas are emerging as boutique destinations, blending saunas, cold plunges, and therapy rooms with scenic waterfront views. In 2025, operators from Oslo to Ottawa are testing how wellness can scale on the water.
Oslo adds accessible floating sauna. In March 2025, Hydro highlighted “Trosten,” a floating sauna built with recycled aluminum and universal design for wheelchairs. Seating 24, it includes an outdoor amphitheater and earned recognition on TIME’s “World’s Greatest Places” list.
Victoria runs a barge-based wellness spa. HAVN Saunas in Victoria launched a full floating spa in 2025, offering saunas, hot tubs, and cold plunges aboard a converted barge. Customers book timed sessions for wellness experiences directly on the harbor.
Ottawa proposes public floating sauna. In August 2025, Canada’s National Capital Commission advanced plans for a barge-mounted sauna on the Ottawa River. The proposal aims to bring public access by winter, pending regulatory approval.
Saratoga Lake set to debut floating spa. In April 2025, Times Union reported on “Kos Sauna,” a 45-by-15-foot floating sauna that raised nearly $500,000 in funding. Designed for 15 guests, it is scheduled to open by the 2025 season.
Vancouver rejects license for large spa barge. In July 2025, North Vancouver denied a license for a proposed floating sauna complex, citing safety and zoning issues. The case highlights regulatory hurdles for expanding wellness infrastructure on water.
That’s not all: floating spas are increasingly marketed as sustainable, modular, and locally anchored. Analysts expect wellness barges to become common in cities with active waterfronts, helping normalize daily life on water.
—TFI
The Floating Institute is all about advancing knowledge of the global floating economy.