Chelsea Piers Fitness — Restaurant in New York

PLEASE READ THIS. WARNING FOR ALL WOMEN:

I’ve been a member of Chelsea Piers for almost two years, and my experience was good for the most part until what happened on Tuesday, June 24th. I want to make sure others are aware of the problems before deciding to join this gym.

On that day, I walked into the sauna and was shocked to see a man lying there with a towel covering his face, but not covering his lower body. His male anatomy was fully visible, and I was taken completely off guard. I had no idea at the time that he identified as a woman — all I saw was a man in a women’s space, exposed in a way that is completely inappropriate. I was in disbelief that something like this could happen in a place where women expect to have privacy.

I went to the front desk to raise the issue, and it was only then that I was told this person identifies as a woman. And i was also told that i'm not the first person raising this issue and there is nothing they can do about it which is even more concerning. Chelsea Piers never communicated their updated policy about allowing people to use facilities based on their gender identity. This change was made at the end of last year, but no one told me, and I was never given the option to make an informed decision about whether I wanted to be in that kind of environment. Before I joined the gym in 2022, I explicitly asked about the policy on gender-neutral bathrooms, and I was told they were not gender-neutral — that was one of the reasons I chose Chelsea Piers in the first place.

This lack of communication is concerning, not just from a privacy standpoint, but also as a safety issue for women and children. Women should be able to use the facilities in a safe and comfortable environment, without the worry of being exposed to situations that make them feel uneasy or violated. This is especially important when children are involved, as they need to feel secure in these spaces too.

The worst part came when I spoke to the General Manager. He was completely nonchalant about the whole situation and didn’t even offer an apology for what I experienced. It was clear he didn’t care at all. When I asked to cancel my membership, he quickly agreed, almost as if he was relieved to get rid of me. It was so disrespectful and hurtful, especially considering I’ve been a loyal member for almost two years.

Women who value their privacy, or who have personal concerns about safety in shared spaces, should be informed up front about these changes. I should have been made aware of the new policy before walking into the gym, so I could decide whether to continue using the facilities. Chelsea Piers has failed to communicate this properly, and they have shown no effort to address my concerns.

I’m truly disappointed with how I’ve been treated, and I want other women to know that if you don’t want to share a bathroom or sauna with someone whose gender identity doesn’t align with your values, or if you have concerns about privacy and safety, you may want to think twice before signing up here. This gym does not respect your boundaries, and the management’s response makes it clear...

I recently canceled my membership at Chelsea Piers, a gym I had been a member of for four years. I wanted to share my honest feedback on the gym.

I thoroughly enjoyed taking classes here. Being part of a group setting helped me adhere to my workout schedule and motivated me to work harder. The trainers are generally friendly, and my favorites are Declan and Alicia.

Every year, they conduct a survey, and for the past three years, I’ve consistently requested more 35-pound dumbbells. I patiently waited, hoping they would eventually fulfill my request. However, each year that passed, they raised their rates, and I would persistently ask if they could order more 35-pound dumbbells. Despite my requests, they only had four pairs available.

Sometimes, I would arrive thirty minutes before class, only to find that there were no 35s. I would have to run around the entire gym to find a pair, all while paying their increasingly higher rates. I wasn’t asking for a squat rack or an expensive machine; I was simply asking for basic equipment, but my requests were consistently ignored. They still haven’t gotten more dumbbells; the most basic piece of equipment at a gym all the while charging 250+.

Anytime I’ve emailed the gym, they’ve completely ignored me. This final situation was the first time they responded, and the way it was handled was completely unprofessional. Ian initially stated that they had five sets of 35-pound dumbbells. However, the manager of the gym doesn’t seem to know what equipment they have; there are four. Then he said they don’t have the budget to order more dumbbells until next year. This is a multi-million dollar corporation that opens new outlets each year, so that answer isn’t valid. One set of dumbbells is 100$-200$. Justine then announced at my next group class that they had ordered more dumbbells—10s, 12s, and 35s. However, she said, “The dumbbells are on back order because that’s just the way the fitness world works.” This later proved to be completely fabricated. Veronica told me nothing has been ordered. Why lie?

I waited about a month after Justine’s “announcement” and still received no new bells. After three years of persistent requests, I spoke to each trainer, manager, and persons at the desk, I was still denied a simple request; dumbbells. It’s disheartening to realize that my membership is not valued, even after spending well over $10,000 during my time at the gym.

I genuinely enjoyed this gym because of my friendships there. However, if I can’t be respected and valued, I’ll unfortunately have to spend my...

I've been coming for a year and overall had a great experience at this gym—huge credit to the incredibly friendly and helpful staff across the board. The front desk team is always warm and welcoming. Special shout-out to Max, who goes out of his way to help with bookings, questions, and anything else—he’s a real standout and sets the tone for the whole space.

The cleaning staff keeps everything spotless, and the class instructors are generally motivating and high-energy.

I also want to give a very specific highlight to Greg, one of the personal trainers here. Greg brings unmatched energy, challenge, and growth-focused coaching to every session. He knows how to push you the right way, is super intentional with programming, and genuinely cares about helping his clients get stronger—not just physically, but mentally too. The best part of his coaching is he listens and adaptation to your needs and how you're body is that day, and when it gets hard, he's beyond encouraging and you'd breakthrough boundaries you thought you had quickly and safely! If you're looking for someone to help you level up, I highly recommend training with Greg!!!

The massage services are great as well—professional, restorative, and a perfect complement to training. Booking can be a quote challenging however.

One quick note: online booking and communication can sometimes be hit or miss, others no one consistently helping you, and I've definitely got attitude for pointing out how confusing it is, so I’d recommend visiting or calling in person for the fastest and most accurate info.

And a small piece of feedback: in some yoga classes, the instructions can move a little too fast or aren’t always clearly audible, especially when a lot of jargon is used. It might help to label the classes by level (beginner, intermediate, etc.) and offer clearer cues or modifications so everyone can follow confidently.

All in all, an awesome gym with great people, clean and...