Seven Seas Voyager

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Seven Seas Mariner, December 16, 2011 sailing

11 nights - 12/2011

This cruise went very well, with ship's staff being very accommodating to special requests. 

The cruise started with a long, delayed boarding process due to computer issues.  There was very little communication with ship's staff during this lengthy process. Weather issues prevented us from tendering in St. Barts, causing us to miss an important port to several guests.  The lack of a rabbi and priest for the holidays was criticized by more than one member of our group.

The ship was beautifully decorated for the holidays, and the surroundings made for a most festive holiday atmosphere.

Pros: Excellent support from the ship's staff, superior food and service, festive holiday atmosphere

Cons: Long boarding process, missed port and excursion cancellations due to weather, limited complimentary excursions at Princess Cay

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Regent Mariner New Years Eve Cruise

Caribbean - 12/2011

The cruise was an excellent example of Regent's quality and value.

This was our first experience on Regent and we had an amazing time.  We were with a large group and everyone loved the ship.  The cabins are spacious and well designed. The amenities in the cabin are high end products.  The service, food, entertainment and beverages were all excellent.

Pros: Everything is included which makes your cruise experience extra special.

Cons: None

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Island Rendezvous Nov 18-28, 2011

Western Caribbean & Central America - 11/2011

Outstanding in every way.

Regent Seven Seas Navigator-the ultimate in small ship, luxury cruising experience! The staff could not do enough to accommodate every desire, with a smile and completely positive  attitude.  All on board services delivered efficiently, with great attention to the details.  Dining experiences from Compass Rose to LaVeranda and Pool Grill were excellent.  Fresh, interesting presentation, nice portions and varied menu daily.  Alternative venue Prime 7, is not to be missed.  It's the very best steaks, seafood and lamb offered in an intimate setting, paired with lovely red and white wines. Nightly entertainment okay, but not varied enough...mostly singing and dancing  presentations. The inclusive drinks (all top shelf choices), wines and complimentary shore excursions and gratuities round out the entire experience.    

Pros: All Inclusive & Excellent Service

Cons: Ship Needs New Carpeting Throughout Including Cabins

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Navigating Australia New Zealand

Australia New Zealand - 11/2011

This was wonderful experience on all levels. Beautiful ship, congenial traveling companions, caring crew, great destination.

The weather was cooler than any of us had packed for, but got warmer as we sailed north.  Excellent tours and itinerary. Captain McNeill made the most of the smaller ship size even nosing into a waterfall in Milford sound where we were misted.  Whales, dolphin, seals, and penguins all swam with us. Other passengers frequently commented, this is my best cruise yet! 

The rooms are all suites, even the oceanview rooms have walk-in closets, marble bath with separate shower and full size tub, sitting area and comfy beds, no insides on this ship. Our stewardess was very well educated  with a finance degree and speaking 3 languages. The crew was very congenial, always greeting you by name and tickled when they could do something unexpected for you. One morning I decided to grab a mocha after my walk and it was served with heart shaped foam. What fun!

Highlights would include Prime 7- the steakhouse . I could cut my steak with a fork and the chocolate bite at the end was sublime! The cirque show with the aerialists couple - fantastic. Captain McNeil went out of his way to greet people - crew and passengers alike, a very friendly atmosphere. Enrichment talks were a nice mix of culture, history , current events and personal experience of the area we were cruising through. La Veranda has an open deck area with wake view- perfect for breakfast.

I could have stayed onboard forever and one couple I know of did stay on for the next segment of 19 days.

Pros: beautiful suite with good service, interesting talks, excellent tours with nice variety of activity

Cons: Some commented that the shows had some good talent but didn't hold together as a show

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

4/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

October 29, 2011 Istanbul to Safaga

Eastern Med; Israel; Jordan; Egypt - 10/2011

The Regent Voyager is a beautiful ship with an outstanding crew, wonderful cabins and great service.  There were some issues with cabin vibration and shore excursions - but the all-inclusive nature and 'anxious-to-please' staff made for a wonderful overall experience.

This 14-night cruise beginning in Istanbul and ending in Athens had a unique itinerary which included Turkey, Israel, Jordan, Suez Canal and Egypt.  The food, cabins and staff were fantastic.  There were several issues with shore excursions - some problems of which were caused by the inability to dock in Ashdod due to violence in the area.  Many passengers complained about the quality of some guides and the design of the excursions themselves.  They felt that many were not well thought out and that there needed to be some quality control for the guides.  This itinerary presented a problem to many with mobility issues and most destinations required movement over uneven surfaces and/or steps.  Although Regent makes clear in its description of the excursions just what the challenges might be, some individuals still chose to try to take those that came with a warning.  Another wonderful feature:  at every port a destination specialist comes aboard to answer any questions guests may have about that port and/or outlying areas.  They make suggestions, distribute maps, etc. to those who don't opt for a Regent excursion but want to wander on their own.

Several passengers had sound and movement vibrations in their cabin any time the ship was moving.  The ship was full and thus it was not possible to move them to a quieter / calmer location.  Ship was immaculate - and cabin attendants did a fantastic job of keeping the staterooms clean and well supplied.

Nice music is always playing throughout the ship, there are great port lectures, and well-organized arrival and departures at the ports.  The Horizon and Observation lounges are wonderful gathering places with fabulous views of the sea - and are just perfect to enjoy sail-a-way.

There are 4 restaurants with a great variety of dining options and a constantly changing menu in their Compass Rose Restaurant.  Wines were excellent and plentifully poured.

Overall, this is a wonderful ship and a great cruise line.

Pros: Beautiful ship, great orchestra, pianist, wonderful port lectures, fantastic staff, a nice variety of dining venues, spacious cabins

Cons: Inconsistant shore excursions, cabin vibrations, slow internet

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Regent Seven Seas Cruises - Seven Seas Voyager

Greek Islands - 9/2011

Overall successful high-end voyage

Staterooms are well-appointed.......Shower area is small.

Staff was accommodating......but were not available for independent early morning departing passengers...

Charges for private transfers to the airport for independent passengers were exorbitant and unreasonable. A simple taxi ride cost ing 50 euros for 4 people...were offered by Regent for $579 USD.....Not acceptable.

Ports and tours were very interesting and very organized.

Important issue re:  sanitary conditions.....Hand sanitizer was available after security check-in on the ship.......Hand sanitizing should be mandatory and supervised by ship staff.prior to boarding every time.

More lectures or events on board would be appreciated by passengers.

All dining rooms were pleasant and the presentation was fine.....Choices on the menu offered too many low-end meat choices.

All inclusive sales appear to be very well received by passengers

Pros: Excellent choice for high-end clients for overall fine cruising experience.

Cons: Issues re: food quality, sanitary issue, more staff availability

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Alaska Sailing

Alaska - 8/2011

Great trip and excellent staff!

I sailed on the Regent Navigator on Aug. 17 from Vancouver to Seward.  This was the best staff onboard a cruise I have ever sailed with.  They were truly excellent and took incredible care of the group.

The shore excursions were fabulous and there was a lot of variety. 

Cabins were very nice, as usual, but I did think they looked a little worn.  The mirror in the bathroom needed resilvering around the edges.  The stationary in the cabin was leftover from a previous guest with their name on it and the complimentary postcards that they include showed the Navigator sailing in the Caribbean and stated "round trip from Ft. Lauderdale" so they couldn't be used.

Pros: All-inclusive value with no worries for anything

Cons:

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Regent Mariner Sept. 23, 2011 Venice to Istanbul

Venice/Croatia/Greece/Turkey - 9/2011

Regent continues to produce an excellent product and experience for their guests.  Service and attention to detail is impeccable.  Value for the dollar is very good, due to the "total" all-inclusive nature of the product!

The overall quality of food and service that we experienced onboard was excellent.  This was especially true of the alternative dining restaurants, Prime 7 and Signatures.  Food in the main dining room was very good, with a good selection of items on the menu every night.  Stateroom and room service was as good as I have experienced on any cruise ship!

This was a very port-intensive cruise and the quality of Regent's shore excursions was also excellent.  Both the on-board tour reps. and the actual tour operators did a great job to ensure memorable experiences in every port that we visited. 

It is very worthwhile to compare this product's pricing against premium cruiseline suite categories.  Once air, pre-night hotel, beverages, gratuities and shore excursions are factored in, you will find that Regent is very competitive and delivers a high-level experience.

Pros: Excellent Service--Outstanding Shore Excursions--Very Good Food, Especially in the Alternative Dining Restaurants.

Cons: Very Port Intensive Itinerary--10 ports in 10 days!--Ports Visited, However, Were Excellent

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Beautiful Italy

Italy - 9/2011

I was on a 10 day Mediterranean cruise.  This itinerary had many beautiful ports of call in Italy as well as port calls in Monte Carlo, Corfu Greece and Montenegro. This was a very action packed cruise with a port call every day. 

Regent knows just how to handle everything with a smile.  This cruise was very port intensive which is great for those looking for lots of adventure.  Anyone wanting a little down time will have to bow out of some of the shore excursions as many of them were very long (10 hours) and offered every day.  There are so many wonderful things to see on this cruise with art, history, scenery and culture its hard to do in just 10 days so plan for a return trip or extend your stay before or after the cruise.  

Regent does everything in such a special way but one thing that I saw lacking was the gift shops and local souvenirs on board.  This is very limited. In the past I remember lots of local souvenirs being displayed according to the ports visited during the cruise, not anymore.  So buy your souvenirs in town on the shore excursions.

Weather was wonderful in September with it just starting to cool down.  Still many great sunny days.  One of the biggest surprises was Montenegro!  Absolutely beautiful!!  A must see.  Do not miss this or Amalfi and Nice with the spectacular drives. Portofino was surprisingly small but just what you would picture, absolutely beautiful. Corfu Greece we could have skipped, not impressed but it was raining that day. (the only day we experienced the liquid sunshine). Over all this is a must do itinerary, the best in the Med! 

Pros: Shore excursions

Cons: Hard to find any Cons on this cruise

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Alaska Southbound sailing from Anchorage to Vancouver

Alaska - 8/2011

7-Night Alaska Southbound cruise sailing from Anchorage (Seward) to Vancouver.  Excellent ship for this itinerary. 

The Southbound Majestic Alaska sailing on the Naviagtor was a terrific itinerary for this ship.  It offered a close up view of the glaciers, fjords, and wildlife which would not be offered on a larger ship.

The optional pre-grandview train transfer was an great way to start your Alaska vacation.  The staff was onboard the ship was exceptional.  Regent offers lectures and a naturalist onboard that deliver valuable information regarding the region you are traveling.  The chef has brought some new inovations and creativity to the food onboard.  It exceeded our expectations.  I did hear many complaints about not getting reservations in Prime 7 speciality restaurant.    The suites were well appointed.

The shore excursion list was extensive and Regent did a good job to clear most of the waitlists. 

Pros: Exceptional food and service

Cons: Entertainment or lack of entertainment and not able to accomodate everyone at Prime 7

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

4/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

RSSC Navigator 7/20/2011 Alaskan Inside Passage Northbound

Alaska - 7/2011

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is an excellent line whose staff is very well trained. Once a guest lets them know of their needs or wants, the staff does their best to fulfill the guest's wishes.

The shore excursion department, which is run by Regent's staff, not an outside franchise, has put together a wonderful variety of shore excursions for these Alaskan ports.  The vendors on the four excursions I took were wonderful. In Ketchikan we chose the Cruise George Inlet and Crab Feast.  The lunch at the George Inlet Lodge was fabulous.  I now am a convert to Dungeness Crab instead of Maine Lobster! Tastes of Juneau featured a cooking class at the Chez Alaska cooking School, a tour and tasting at the Brewery where Alaskan Amber is made and then on to Mendenhall Glacier Visitor Center. In Skagway we did the Chilkoot Trail Hike and Float Adventure which was a 2 1/2 hour hike up the beginning of the Chilkoot Trail that the gold miners took followed by a 3/4 hour float in a large raft down the Taiya River.  The hiking was difficult (for a non-hiker who walks daily) but gorgeous through the Tongass National Park.  Put on bug spray!  The mosquito is the Alaskan state bird. I'm so glad I did this excursion. Finally, in Sitka, we went on the Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest which was in a large covered boat which had a top deck for open viewing and could seat around 100 people.   The ship's suites are large and well appointed with L'Occitane products for the bath.   Terry Breen, the on board lecturer, who is a Regent employee and works 9 months of the year was outstanding.  Her 4 lectures were informative and entertaining.

Pros: Dinner at Prime 7 alternative restaurant (no extra fee); Cirque Navigator Production Show

Cons: Quality of dinners in Compass Rose was not consistent with the upscale image of the ship.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Voyager Baltic sailing July 8-18, 2011

Baltic - 7/2011

Baltic sailing from Stockholm to Copenhagen

The Voyager provided a superb cruise experience.  The housekeeping and restaurant service were very good and the food was excellent.  In all of the dining venues, the food was hot, nicely served and each item had a distinct flavor. 

My cabin was very nice but could use a little refreshing and I understand that the ship is headed for drydock soon.  My steward was excellent and the cabin was always spotless.

The included shore excursions were very good and the local guides excellent. The evening folk show in St. Petersburg was superb and everyone seemed to really enjoy it.

I found the onboard entertainment to be OK but not exceptional.  The magician gave an excellent show and he was well received.

Pros: included shore excursions and dining

Cons: none

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Alaska Navigator sailing - June 08 2011

Alaska - 6/2011

The Regent Navigator is the BEST ship to sail Alaska with! Every detail is planned and executed with brio. My travel experience was fantastic! It could have not been better.

The Regent Navigator is definitely the best way to discover Alaska. The size of the ship is ideal, especially to reach some of the ports the other larger cruise ships must access by tenders. The value of the complimentary shore excursions is incredible! And there are so many available that I surprised myself thinking that I could take another Regent Alaska and have a completely new experience.

The service was the best experienc on board. The staff is excellent.

My cabin was a simple ocean view cabin, but very spacious. In Alaska, having a bathtub to come back to at the end of the day, usually freezing cold, is a great plus! The bathroom was very spacious, the bed could have been more comfortable, as there was no comforter on top of the 2 twin beds.

The food onboard was excellent. The choice of wines were great. However, I didn't really see what the big deal was about Prime 7. My steak was not tender and the service wasn't better than downstairs in the Compass Rose where everybody knows you, remember when and where you want to dine, etc. otherwise the food was excellent!

I strongly recommend to book the Fairmont Waterfront in combination with the cruise as the hotel concierge can take care of giving your luggage to the cruise directly, while you are walking around the streets of Vancouver. It is a complimentary Signature amenity.

I also strongly recommend to book the train back to Anchorage, as the wildlife is present everywhere around the train. Glaciers are also visible from the train.

Pros: itinerary, shore excursions, service, the staff!!! the cabin's comfort, meals in the Compass Rose restaurant and finally the spa

Cons: the bed was not as comfortable as I was expecting. no comforters on top of the 2 twin beds. Prime 7 was not very impressive. The entertainment was not real great

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Seven Seas Voyager 2011 World Cruise

World Cruise - 6/2011

Outstanding 145-day cruise San Francisco to London.

Although the prospect of spending 145 days aboard ship seemed daunting at first, we soon settled into the routines aboard and on shore.  Many people asked if we didn't feel confined by our accommodations, but the suites on board the Voyager are generous enough to make a nice home away from home, with a walk-in closet and full bathroom amenities and balcony.

The ship itself is a beautiful one, with pleasing lines and elegant decor.  We were able to have guests on board, who were suitably impressed!  However, the best of it all is the staff - from maintenance crew to the Captain.  All were immersed in the welcoming culture where all seemed truly interested in passengers as people, and in the end, became friends.  Of course, they learned our names and drink preferences, but we never passed a staff member anywhere without a cheery greeting.  Even those who did not serve us directly learned our names.  We truly felt at home.

One of the chief benefits of any Regent cruise is the all-inclusive environment.  Of all the benefits included, the shore excursions were the best, and were of very high quality and very well-managed.  They've got the system down right.  It's sheer pleasure not to be signing chits at every turn.

Highest marks to the Voyager!

Pros: All-inclusive, upscale environment, friendly and capable staff, great destinations. Great production shows and interesting lectures.

Cons: Missed a double sink in the bathroom! Terrible commedians. Otherwise, none.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

4/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Navigator 29JUN11 Alaska

Alaska - 6/2011

Overall this was a wonderful adventure.The staff was very accommodating and service excellent.

The ship was well maintained, bright and well appointed. Our suite which was a standard unit was very nice. One of my clients came to our suite to meet us for a shore excursion. She remarked that her penthouse suite was exactly the same except for the balcony. I explained the extra space for the verandah and the butler service is usually much more expensive. The Shore Excursion Desk did a great job! We attended the Sea Otter and Wildlife Quest in Sitka. I was delighted that my guests were able to see many otters, a male whale, and to our delight a cow and calf. I have visited Sitka before and also loved the Historic Sitka and Nature Walk. This tour is full of history and beauty. Tracy Arms was very interesting and breathtaking. This was our first stop at Tracy Arms and were delighted. In Juneau we chose the Mendenhall Glacier and Rainforest which was cancelled due to non participation. Our guest's decided to just stay in the town and do some shopping. I wish they had decided differently as there are so many wonders in and around Juneau. In Skagway we did the White Pass Scenic Railroad which offered exciting views. I suggested we do one of the Tours at an additional cost. The Scenic Rail & Historic Klondike Gold Dredge. It is my belief that this gives you an idea of what Alaska was really like during its Gold Rush. Well worth the extra money. If you are going to spend the money for this wonderful adventure put out a little more and really see Alaska. In Ketchikan we did the Alaskan Chef's Table. Which was good as far as the food, and presentation. However on the day we were there they had booked tours too close together and the first group were able to witness the preparation. For our group the chef had to run up stairs and speak to us about preparation and the items we were having. Food on the ship was a bit disappointing. It would be nice to add at least one extra item to the menu. Fish was very good but beef was a bit less that desirable. In the P{rime 7 I noted some presentation errors. Small but not expected in the Prime 7.

Pros: Beautiful ship and lovely accommodations and service.

Cons: Very few. Little disappointed in food.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Regent Mariner May 28, Riviera Reveries

Barcelona to Rome - 5/2011

Wonderful cruise on the Regent Mariner, great itinerary with interesting ports. I highly recommend this cruise, both for the ship itself and for the destinations.

The ship is a nice size, with 700 guests. Cabin was spacious and well organized. Love the all inclusive factor, wonderful staff - each one was charming and couldn't do enough for us.

This itinerary had fantastic ports - many of the guests selected the departure just for the itinerary. 

Food was good, but since we were in Spain/France/Italy, we had some amazing meals at restaurants on the shore. 

Would love it if some of the entertainment could be tied in to the destinations - it was sometimes strange to return to the ship after spending a day in Portofino, and see a show which could be on Broadway. If local musicians or singers could be brought onboard for a night to perform guests would get a richer experience of place.

Overall a great experience!

Pros:

Cons:

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Transatlantic Cruise 3/23/2011

Transatlantic - 3/2011

This is an excellent cruise for those wanting to relax.  The crossing is seven days plus extra days in port.  The Regent Seven Seas cruises are an extraordinary value.

Regent Seven Seas Mariner offers an all-inclusive experience.  Everything is included;  from the transfers between the airport and ship, gratuities, unlimited shore excursions, complimentary fine wines and premium spirits, soft drinks and bottled water.  An in-suite mini-bar is replenished daily.  There isn't any fee for the specialty restaurants nor 24 hour room service.  There is a wide variety of entertainment both day and night.   The professtional staff offered superior service.  Disembarkation in Barcelona, Spain was well  organized.

Pros: All Inclusive Experience

Cons: The internet service was slow, but Regent Seven Seas is working on correcting this issue.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

4/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

RSSC Navigator 2011 Caribbean

Caribbean - 2/2011

Small Ship Luxury in the Caribbean.

Smooth Sailing  from embarkation to disembarkation. Beautiful large Suite Staterooms, walk-in closet, bathtub and shower with nice bath amenities. Our stateroom steward was attentive and never missed to provide all our needs. The Spa is a bit small but the Canyon Ranch Facilities were great and the massage therapist was the most thorough before my treatment I've ever experienced. The public areas are all comfortable and cleverly located. Entertainment was varied and delightful. The food was exquisite in  Compass Rose. Prime 7 is exactly what you would expect from a top Steakhouse. The attention to detail was witnessed throughout the 10 days with activities and service. Shore Excursions were on spot , fun and interesting. Regent Seven Seas offers  the best in all-inclusive Cruising. 

Pros: Superb Value

Cons: Floral Decor

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Regent Seven Seas Expert Cruise Review - Hosted Sailing 24JAN 2011

10 Nights Sailing the Caribbean - 1/2011

An experience of a lifetime!  Regent Seven Seas is a top notch, reputable cruise line that pays extreme attention to details.

On our Regent Seven Seas cruise aboard the Navigator, I have to say that this cruise line is attentive to everyone's needs and wishes.   I experienced customer service that exceeded my expectations. 

The stateroom accommodations are generous even in the ocean view categories.  The rooms were more than adequate in size.  The stateroom hostess was attentive to our specific wants and needs.  She serviced the room with our specifics requests and continued to show this service throughout the journey.

As we experienced Regent Seven Seas all-inclusive concept, from the unlimited shore excursions to the speciality restaurant Prime 7, we realized THIS is the way to travel.  Not having to worry about any details upon disembarkation.  Regent provides their guests with unlimited shore excursion opportunities that are second to none.  The guests onboard truly enjoyed the ease and service they were offered.

The Prime 7 Restaurant is a fine dining specialty restaurant that has impeccable service!  The outstanding wait staff to the Chef was amazing and requests were welcomed.  The Prime 7 is open to all guests at least once.  My experience with Regent Seven Seas was fantastic! I appreciate being able to share this experience with anyone.

Pros: All-inclusive concept, specialty restaurant Prime 7 and staff's attention to details

Cons: overbooked shore excursions, cancellations and/or substitutions

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

4/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

December 17, 2010 to January 4, 2011

Rio de Janiero - 12/2010

Sailing Rio de Janeiro to Ft. Lauderdale

The Mariner is still a lovely ship, albeit older now and needing a face lift.  Some of the Public Rooms need  new carpets, and I think it is a sign of the downturn in the economy.  The Mariner is slated for a refurb in April and some of these needs should be addressed then.

The entertainment is lacking.  The entertainers do their best, but there is an agreement that it could use improving.  This was a "Salsa and Samba" cruise theme but there was no sign of that onboard.  Because it was Christmas/New Years the ship was decorated and looked very nice, but again it was cut back from what I have experienced in the past.  There was a visit from Santa in the atrium, but we did not get a card from the Captain and Crew or any sort of Christmas gift in the cabin. The crew do their best, but you got the feeling that the routine was same old, same old.  I think that Regent could put more back into the ship and that would benefit both the cruiseline and the passengers.

Pros: Good Food and Service

Cons: Cabins and Public Rooms needs refurbishing

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Oct 2, 2010 sailing from Monte Carlo to Rome

Monte Carlo to Rome - 10/2010

Great ship and wonderful crew - fast paced 7 day cruise.

This is the 3rd time in 3 years I've been on the Mariner, cruised on her in Alaska for 7 nights, from Osaka to Hong Kong for 16 nights in 2009 and then this 7 day from Monte Carlo to Rome 10/2010.  On all occasions I've felt very comfortable with the ship, the crew and in the staterooms.  The bathrooms now have the "rain" shower heads with a built in bench which makes it very convenient for shampoos or to sit on if needed.  There is always quite  alot of cabinet and drawer space along with space in the bathroom under the sink.

Food was as usual very good, some people we spoke with didn't like Prime 7 as much as the Compass Rose - the main dining room - but my husband & I both were very pleased with our lobster and steak we had in there. 

The entertainment was good, unfortunately the shows were late (9:45P) so due to dinner and shore excursions every day people did not attend as they would on cruises where you have more days at sea and don't have to rise so early. 

Shore excursions are handled wonderfully on the Mariner and all our tour guides were just great.

With the new hotel included program Regent is really offering a total package which includes most everything except spa and gambling and purchase of a personal nature - a wonderful bargain!

Pros: Wonderful crew, food was delicious, stateroom clean and I LOVED the rain shower heads!

Cons: Pretty fast paced trip, not enough time to thoroughly enjoy the ship

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Western Europe sailing September 9, 2010

Western Europe - 9/2010

Pros: Truly all inclusive

Cons: They make you get off the ship when the cruise is over!

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Regent Voyager Review

Baltic - 8/2010

I have been on many cruiselines and this is the top cruiseline.  I sailed the Baltic where the ship was in St Petersburg for 3 days.  This gives you the opportunity to see this city.  The food was the BEST.  I don't think I have ever had better food.  Everything was so good.  The shore excursions were the best and so many to choose from. The only thing was a little vibration in the back of the ship.  Not sure what that was about.  

I think this was our best cruise and loved the Baltic itinerary.. 

Pros:

Cons:

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Alaska Cruise Seward to Vancouver

Alaska - 8/2010

Outstanding experience except for weather which is unpredictable in August.  Well planned itinerary and excursions.  Opinions of other passengers we talked to were invariably positive "surpassed our expectations".

Ship is in pristine condition.  Suites are well designed and equipped, perhaps only needing an Ipod station.  The spacious walk-in closet with private safe was very convenient and made for easy storage of clothes and personal items. 

Although we did not have a balcony (deck 5) the suite was bright and offered easy viewing through the large window.  The only improvement would be a window washing system to clear the spray in inclement weather (first two days of rain). 

We experienced wonderful menus created by the new French Chef in the main restaurant where we never had to wait to be seated.  The alternate casual La Veranda (cafeteria style) offered a large variety of foods with daily specials at lunch and dinner.  We also ate one night at the small Prime 7 restaurant, well worth the extra fee.  The staff (mostly Philipino) in all areas was friendly, helpful and enthusiastic. 

Entertainment was as good as, if not better than, larger 5 star ships.  Although the sailing was sold out there was never a feeling of being crowded.

Pros: Ship small enough to access areas closer to shore.

Cons: Cannot think of any

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

3/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Alaska, Anchorage to Vancouver, Aug. 18, 2010

Alaska - 8/2010

The shore excursions were great.

A few guests had issues on the ship: No hot water for 4 days!

Service and food was very disappointing throughout the ship including Prime 7.

One suggestion for Prime 7: no infants or toddlers.   For the cost of this cruise, I think people should have the option to dine without small children.

Shore excursions (particularly the Cooking Demonstration and Jewel Gardens in Skagway) were awesome.  At Mendenhall Glacier, we saw Black Bears and Cubs and a Porcupine.

Pros: Small ship, very nice clientele, great cabins.

Cons: Service and food in all restaurants were disappointing.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Regent Seven Seas Mariner Rome to Venice

Mediterranean Rome to Venice - 8/2010

Fabulous cruise line!  Fabulous ship!

This was truly an exceptional cruise.

First, we loved the all-inclusive feature of Regent.  What a pleasure not to be nickled and dimed at every turn.  We spent our days enjoying our ship, and not signing receipts all day.  We loved getting off the ship without receiving a jarring, final bill for the services and products purchased on board. 

 The ship itself is lovely, understated elegance, immaculate, and well-appointed.   The cabins are superior to other cruise lines for the equivalent categories.  We had a lower end verandah stateroom.  Not only did it have the expected comfortable sitting area and desk, it also had a walk in closet, and a spacious bath with a tub, something normally found only in suites on other lines.

Service was wonderful.  Everyone was friendly and went out of their way to be helpful. Even the entertainment staff was out and about interacting with the guests. 

Because of the ship’s size, we got to know many of the guests and staff during our 12 night itinerary.  It made for a more intimate and rewarding cruise experience.

The food was consistently excellent in all the venues: the dining room, the buffet as well as the two alternate restaurants.

Entertainment was first rate, especially when you consider the size of the ship.  It was “big ship” shows on a smaller vessel.  We love smaller ships; however, our experience has been that the entertainment usually suffers.  Not so with Regent!  We got fabulous shows and entertainment every night of our cruise.

Regent advertises its unlimited shore excursions and indeed one can take an entire cruise and not spend an additional dime on trips ashore.  However, other excursions are offered that are extra.  We did several of the included ones and a couple of the paid.   All in all, the paid ones tended to be superior and we had no regrets at the extra expense.  The included ones were fine, but the quality of the guides varied.  Some were superb; others were just average.

The itinerary was excellent. Many of the 10 ports we visited were not the major Mediterranean stops.  This is particularly exciting for the travelers who have already seen all the top European cities and yearn for something a little different.    Olbia, Sardinia and Trapani, Sicily were two such ports.  For the Amalfi area, we anchored in Sorrento instead of docking in Naples.  That put us at the heart of the peninsula.  The overnight in Venice was wonderful and gave everyone a chance to see the city at night, rather than just passing through with all the other tourists during the day.

Yes, I would do Regent again, and happily. This line truly knows what cruising is supposed to be about.  Keep up the good work!

Pros: Just about everything

Cons: More consistency needed for the complimentary shore excursions.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Regent Seven Seas Voyager Cruise sailing 08/11/2010

Baltic Cruise - 8/2010

Regent Seven Seas Voyager 10 Night Baltic Cruise sailing from Stockholm to Copenhagen. 

The Voyager is a beautiful small ship with well appointed public areas.  From the moment you walk onto the ship you are embraced with its rich furnishings. 

The staff onboard was exceptional and attentive to all the guests and their special needs.  Their friendly manner made you feel special and more like family, than someone you just met.  The captain was very friendly and was seen all over the ship mingling with guests for the entire cruise.

The suites were the most spacious of all cruise lines.  The walk in closet was well planned with lots of storage space.  The bathrooms were beautifully done with separate shower and tub.

All the guests enjoyed the all-inclusive amenities that came with the cruise.  The shore excursions were well planned with good guides in all the ports.  There were plenty of free excursions to choose and some with a nominal fee.  The staff handed out bottled water and maps at every port as guests departed for their day off the ship.  Not having to worry about the gratuities made for a very relaxed atmosphere, without compromising on  the service. 

Pros: All inclusive with free shore excursions, gratuities, all suites, drinks included, and exceptional service.

Cons: Breakfast and lunch very limited choices and food was often cold/over cooked.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Mediterranean Cruise

Mediterranean Cruise - 7/2010

Regent Seven Seas Mariner is tops with its attentive and gracious service. The style of the ship is sophisticated and classic. Service is prompt & gracious. Passengers tend to be well-traveled and Regent genuinely welcome families,  All the suites are at least 301 sq. ft and with a large balcony.

Regent Seven Seas shows right from the start they are 100% tops in service. The check-in was quick, friendly and efficient.   A glass or glasses of champagne are offered the moment you board.    A wonderful lunch with white table cloth seating is offered at LaVeranda. Our cabin was spacious with plenty of space to hang our clothes in the walk-in closet.  The marble  shower only bathroom was very spacious which is so well thought out.   I love the beds on Regent, they are truly like sleeping on a cloud!!

Every meal was wonderful.  I enjoyed breakfast in La Veranda with all the wonderful selections.  I enjoyed a very tasty eggs benedict in Compose Rose and when I had an early morning shore excursion room service was the perfect choice.  Lunches were enjoyed at the Pool Grille which was always  tasty.

My favorite place for dinner was Prime 7; which we were very fortunate to experience twice during our cruise.  The food and service is superb.  Compass Rose is the main dining room and the food is creative and delicious.  La Veranda was the perfect place to eat dinner while docked in Monte Carlo.  The view from our table in the back of the ship was truly priceless.   We also dined in Signature and the food their is very creative and service is wonderful.  No matter what restaurant we dined in the wine was constantly flowing and complimented the meals perfectly..

This sailing was a port intensive itinerary.  I was on shore excursions each day.  The tours are typical group excursions and add to the wonderful value that Regent Seven Seas offers.  

I was not impressed with the entertainment.  Their shows are small type of production shows.   I only went to one and that was enough for me.

I highly recommend Regent Seven Seas and look forward to sailing on them again!

Pros: Regent shines when it comes to service, value, wonderful tasting food, and interesting ports

Cons: Shops onboard

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Voyager July 18,2010

Baltic - 7/2010

The Voyager definitely kept up with the excellent service of Regent.

The only complaint I had from a guest was that the aft of the ship did vibrate a lot. Some even had to change cabins.  I had no problem with the vibration even though my cabin was aft.

Being that most shore excursions are included in the rate it is very necessary to book them in advance of sailing.  Most waitlists do clear.

Pros: Service

Cons: I personally had none

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Regent Navigator Alaska

Alaska - 7/2010

This was my first time on Regent and I fell in love with the product.

The Navigator was the perfect ship for me, for this itinerary. The ship was completely full and had a large group onboard, but even with 490 passengers we never felt crowded, never had to wait for anything, and never felt the group was at all intrusive as they were handled so well. The size of the ship was great - large enough to have space to move around in, yet with the small ship feeling.

We had a window cabin which was just fine. The cabin size was great - 301 sq feet, walk in closet large enough for both of us to move around in, separate tub and shower in the bath. The cabin was so pleasant we spent several afternoons just reading and relaxing, after having taken advantage of the free shore excursions in the morning.

The food was excellent and our servers were so charming! In fact the service onboard exceeded my expectations. Every staff person I met went above and beyond to help make our time special.

We enjoyed the shore excursions - sea kayaking, hiking, canoeing, raptor center - all were part of the free excursions offered which was a treat!

We added the paid excursion to Tracy Arm which was unforgettable.

It was a lovely experience in every way - we met interesting people, had great experiences, enjoyed all of it immensly!

Pros: food and beverage was great - loved Prime 7 especially. Service was superb. Cabin layout and size was excellent.

Cons: exursions could have been more challenging physically or have more levels of difficulty. Hiking was very easy, I expected a bit more. Shows were fine but could be more varied.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

July 14, 2010 sailing on Regent Navigator to Alaska

Alaska (Vancouver to Seward) - 7/2010

I was thrilled to be a host on the Regent Navigator to Alaska. We had 20 Signature clients onboard - small group, very congenial. All went very well.

The guests were all very happy with the ship. Each person I spoke to had only positive comments, especially regarding the staff.

One client very much wanted to dine more often at Prime 7. I spoke to the concierge and we did get him in twice. The same client wanted to have an extra pair of binoculars as his agent had purchased him one as a gift. I obtained another pair and emailed his agent who wanted to pay for them for him. He was quite pleased - I spoke to him about booking for next year - promised him his agent would be informed and would take care of all his details - he booked!

There was a family onboard - 3 cabins, 3 generations. One of the daughters was disabled and the mother had some physical challenges as well. They had a wonderful time - I was able to check on them several times throughout the week and they were most appreciative.

All guests enjoyed the trip - most did not know what Signature was but all of them had a great relationship with their agent. I told them I had corresponded with their agents before the cruise and each agent told me they were wonderful people and I should take good care of them. (I extrapolated just a little but it made them happy!)

Pros: warm and wonderful staff, great food, large cabin size, love the all inclusive factor.

Cons: entertainment could be more varied, need a few more physically challenging activities.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

July 10, 2010 Mariner 11 nights Rome to Venice

Rome to Venice - 7/2010

This was an excellent itinerary but the weather was the high 90's to over 100 in most areas.  Humidity was extremely high.   The cruise itself was outstanding!!

All of the ports were extremely interesting.  The weather did put a little bit of a damper on some of the ports.

Mariner looks great.  The food in all restaurants was quite good.   We loved the La Veranda at night sailing out of port for dinner.

The Mariner staff and crew were the best we have had.  Extremely friendly and happy to have us on board.  They really wanted to please and did so.   Enjoyed talking to many of the staff and crew thru out the cruise.

The cocktail party was extremely nice and many of the staff joined us.

Pros: Ports and ship were excellent

Cons: Weather, which of course you cannot predict.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Mariner in the Mediterranean

Mediterranean - 7/2010

I cruised from Venice to Barcelona on Regent's Seven Seas Mariner in July 2010. Love the ship!

Regent's Seven Seas Mariner is a wonderful ship. Large enough to have all the amenities desired (including Canyon Ranch Spa) but small enough to still feel intimate. All the staterooms are balcony suites with walk-in closets and marble baths- even the minimum categories are very comfortable. The all inclusive cruise fare is an excellent value (the shore excursions were varied and well executed and the house wines were delicious). I have cruised on this ship before in 2005 and the improvements were appreciated, especially the cafe by the library and the attractive deck furniture. Eliminating Formal Nights was a brilliant move.

Dining on Regent is always a pleasure, their Cordon Bleu restaurant "Signatures" is superb. Guests also raved about the new steakhouse dining at Prime 7. More tables were added to both Specialty restaurants to accommodate interest. Compass Rose's daily menu was always appealing, the food looked and tasted great. La Veranda, the casual restaurant with Italian and Mediterranean cuisine for dinner did not change it's menu at all during the 10 day cruise, but the food was good and al fresco dining a delight (service here was more relaxed).

This itinerary was intense (in port every day) so it wasn't surprising that the nightly entertainment was a bit uninspired. Most guests retired early due to morning shore excursions. There were lots of multi-generational families including children on-board and several young Honeymooners in addition to the traditional Regent clientele (older Americans). Service was very good throughout the ship.

Pros: Staterooms, dining, service

Cons:

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Regent Voyager Scandanavia and Russia treat

Scandanavia and Russia - 7/2010

We sailed July 28 on a 7-night Voyager trip filled with great destinations, and fabulous shipboard life. All the cabins are really suites with balconys, incredible bathroom space, and beautiful appointments in every suite.

We were lucky with the weather,and spent mornings on the tours. At this point I must compliment the Regent Seven Seas Line for including tours, and providing the best tour guides,(epecially in St Petersburg), that I have encountered. There is so much history to cover in this port intensive itinerary that it is amazing the dining staff and cabin staff cope so effortlessly, to our eyes, at any rate, with the many comings and goings of the guests.

We took a day's break to stay onboard and enjoyed ourselves, having the pool, gym, and spa almost to ourselves. The onboard service is lovely, almost intuitive. Just as you look up for a waiter, he is there.

There is a choice of four dining rooms. The main dining room, the Compass Rose, turned out to be our favorite. Prime 7 is an excellent steak house but requires reservations.

The French Restaurant also requires reservations and serves classic French dishes. The Verandah is a surprisingly delightful buffet on the top deck, indoor and outdoor, with different themes depending on the itinerary. One can dine more lightly here and stick to salads and fresh fish.

The spa is wonderful and large for a ship of this size. They also offer a spa menu aboard in the main dining room by Canyon Ranch spa.

The shows in the evening were fresh and original and there was also a casino and a disco available.

I would call this a perfect ship for couples, family reunions, and even families with well-behaved children. The inclusion of tours, drinks, and tips is done on a top level and is a real value for an upscale consumers and honeymooners. 

Pros: Service Cabins Food all inclusive tours and drinks and tips

Cons: could have used more current books and magazines in library

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Alaska June 2010 Seven Seas Navigator

Alaska - 6/2010

I sailed on the Navigator in November of 2009 just prior to her drydock for renovations. Overall they are a great improvement. The pool deck now has a wonderful buffet area - about 3 times as large as before which makes a greater variety of food available. There is also an icecream bar with assorted flavors and toppings available. They have also provided more tables to sit at whilst dining which makes it more accessible and comfortable.

Pros: All inclusive, spacious cabins, quality

Cons:

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Seven Seas Voyager - June 19, 2010 - Arctic Adventure

Norway and beyond the Arctic Circle - 6/2010

I appreciated the opportunity to cruise on the Voyager.  This was my 78^th cruise aboard every major cruise line, and I can tell you this was in the TOP 5 of all of them based on the quality of the shipboard experience and the destination.  I will divide this report into sections based on staff, ship overview, food, entertainment and excursions.

STAFF

From the first moment you stepped aboard, there was a distinctly upbeat, positive attitude.  I was pleased to see so many familiar faces and old timers.  You have assembled the best of your staff on the Voyager – Engelbert, Katja, Lorraine, Lisa, Martha, Luis and Anna were certainly welcome sites.  The addition of Indian wait staff was especially welcome.  The combination of the mostly Philipino staff with some Indian and Indonesian staff is a winner.  I found the service at tea time in the Horizon Lounge, the service at La Verandah, and the service at Prime 7 to be the best.  During my last Regent experience in January, I had issues with the wait staff at breakfast at the Verandah on the Navigator.  This time, my first morning, I ordered my sparkling water with lime on ice, V 8 juice with hot sauce and peppermint tea, and not only did I have one person bringing these beverages, but at times had two waiters. Delivery was almost instantaneous and always with a smile.  Sunil is one waiter who stands out.  We did not introduce ourselves, but he made an effort to find out who we were and called us by name after day three.  I do think the waiters in the pool area could be more responsive and were not necessarily pro-active about seeing if guests needed beverages, and the area seemed short staffed periodically.  Some of this I attribute to the weather.  There were times when I’m sure more people were on deck than anticipated given the chilly, windy conditions.  Service was also slower than expected when large groups of people came back from tours at one time.  Once, one of the waiters even apologized that they were so backed up with orders and lunch would take a while longer than it should.  I appreciated his candor.  Also, one issue I had in January was in lack of English comprehension in several wait staff. Never once in 15 days did I experience any staff member whose English skills were lacking.  Congratulations on resolving that issue. I only had dinner at the Compass Rose 4 times as it is my least favorite dining venue on the ship, and found the service both by wine servicers and waiters to be a bit slowly paced and did hear fellow passengers complain about that.  I did miss John, my favorite sommelier, whom I understand is no longer with the company.  That is a major loss.   I saw Martha and the hotel team deal with medical crises several times, including one emergency airlift in cold roily seas, and handled all with calm in crisis.

SHIP OVERVIEW

I found the ship to be in great condition with a few reservations.  The light above Ned’s side of the bed was broken (suite 926) and could not be adjusted for reading.  Although I think the sofas and chairs with the plush cushions on the outside deck aft of the Horizon Lounge and the pool deck are a wonderful idea, some cushions were dirty and should already be cleaned or recovered.  I find the newly renovated grill area to be very congested with a poor traffic flow.  The area between the new salad bar area and the grill where food orders are taken was especially congested.  Perhaps, just repositioning the person taking orders in a different spot might relieve some of that.  Also this was particularly noticeable during those days that we had a special luncheon buffet.  People moved in both directions and it was very crowded.  It may be a pocket of confusion that at this point might only be corrected with a few directional signs such as “Enter here” or Exit.  I was very pleased with the new abstract paintings you find in the halls of the ship.  I think they provide a continuity of décor that is welcoming to guests.  I do not like the art for sale display in the 6^th floor reading area.  The paintings are a mishmash of styles, poorly hung, look generally tacky, and too many paintings are crowded into this area.  The soft goods, carpets, upholstery, etc were in excellent condition with the outdoor exceptions.

FOOD

The quality was generally outstanding and greatly improved from my last Regent experience.  My Prime 7 experiences on the Voyager were wonderful.  We dined one evening at a table for two and the second time at a table for 6.  Each time we raved about the presentation and service.  I heard nothing but positive comments from those guests dining at tables around me.  Ned said he could have had another order of Fois Gras sliders for dessert, but was also pleased with the Pastel des Tres Leches which he pronounced the best dessert he had ever had!  One evening I did not like the chardonnay selection they offered and Roxana (another gem) suggested a great Sauvignon Blanc instead which was perfect with my whole lobster (served after being shelled, thank you very much.)  The meal at Signatures which we shared with 4 other guests was equally wonderful in quality of food and service.  All of us applauded the soup chef on the ship.  Every soup we had was delicious to the extent that we ordered tomato soup from room service two mornings for breakfast along with our bagels and lox.  Everyone on the ship raved about the soup.  I find the Compass Rose restaurant menu to be boringly familiar.  I know at sometime there will be the same corn salad, the farmers salad, the pheasant breast wrapped in bacon, etc.  I did appreciate that there were fresh Norwegian fish and Scandinavian dishes offered most evenings as an alternative to the usual Compass Rose fare.  My favorite dining venue is LA VERANDAH!  I was so pleased they changed the menu 3 times during our cruise, the final time being Scandinavian specialities.  I have known Anna for years and she is one of the true Regent TREASURES!  She runs an efficient, friendly dining room, and her staff seems to respect and respond to her requests.  Gnocchi with gorgonzola sauce was always my favorite pasta at La Verandah.  It was never on the menu while we were on this cruise.  We mentioned this to Anna and she said if we came back in two nights we would have it.  We came back 2 nights later, really having forgotten our request.  She was there, asking if we still wanted our special order.  We did, and it was better than ever.   That’s just one example of the old Regent service and attention to guest requests that we have come to love.

ENTERTAINMENT

The cruise was a Norwegian Music Festival Cruise and it seemed there were musical activities going on all the time. The Norwegian group was outstanding and the performances well attended. The classical pianist was superb in her selection of music and interaction with the audience.  I especially appreciated the pre-dinner 6:00 PM cabarets and classical concerts.  This was a real addition to the entertainment aboard.  I especially enjoyed the cabarets where the individual singers could showcase their own talents in shows that they developed themselves.  I thought Gabriel, in particular, was the best singer, showing a maturity and knowledge of style you don’t often find at sea.  Lorraine, Lisa and Nicola were a terrific team, always gracious, smiling and conducting their duties with obvious enjoyment.  The passengers were positive in their comments on all three of these fine ladies.  Every lecture, game, and performance was well attended and appreciated.  I had seen all the shows, with the exception of the one that was my favorite.  On the same night as “Crew Capers” the singers and dancers put together a show of their own musical selections, costuming and choreography.  Each performer took one scene and made it their own.  This show was one of the best I have ever seen, and I applaud Lorraine for giving these performers who had been together for 7 ½ months the latitude to create this exceptional experience. Kudos also to Vlado, the Observation Lounge pianist.  He was exceptional. Michael Day should have been truly proud of every aspect of entertainment on this sailing.  With my background in classical voice, I am always most critical of the entertainment aspect of a cruise, and this time had no complaints.  I hope the quality remains high when the shows transition to Jean Ryan.  Of course one of my favorite forms of entertainment is the 240+ movies available on demand in my suite.  I am so happy to watch movies in my bathrobe and order room service on rough, chilly sea days of which we had a couple.

SHORE EXCURSIONS

It was great to see Katja at the helm of the Destinations Services desk.  In spite of particular challenges presented by the complimentary shore excursion program, I never saw her frazzled, out of sorts, or overwhelmed.  The complimentary excursions we took were all outstanding in quality and variety.  I especially enjoyed the walking tour of Oslo.  People did grumble about the lines to exchange tickets for bus numbers, but I don’t see how that can be handled any other way with the exception of possibly moving those exchange tables to the front of the theater.  That way, one person in a party could exchange the tickets while the other remained seated.  I had been to the North Cape before so I enjoyed walking around Honningsvag that day.  We took the Bergen walking tour followed by a visit to Greig’s home and enjoyed the half day trip.  I was especially encouraged to see that the level of activity on each tour was stressed several times on the television descriptions of the tours.  We had several guests with mobility issues who seemed to be guided to appropriate tours.  I thought this entire itinerary was exceptional, but wished for more time in Oslo.  I am sorry to see it is not on the 2011 calendar.  I think I could have converted quite a few of my past Alaska passengers because it is as easy to get to Copenhagen from Ft. Myers as it is to Anchorage thanks to Delta.

To wrap this up, I came back and told the staff that Regent has turned the corner toward a return to the excellent cruise experience we had always come to expect from the company.  I found the level of satisfaction among my fellow passengers to be quite high, and only 8 of my fellow passengers knew I was in the business.  It is a totally different cruise experience when you go for vacation as opposed to either hosting groups like I do or lecturing like Ned does.  I could truly appreciate what it is like to be a passenger aboard the vessel, and found the experience to be as rewarding as in the past.  Most importantly, NEVER in 15 days did I ever have someone say to me or overhear, “This is not the way Regent used to be.”  Judging from the never ending line of guests booking future cruises with Michael, I think you have reestablished yourselves in your past passengers’ eyes.  I am focused on selling your cruise line with new enthusiasm and have already reinvigorated the luxury cruise sellers in my office, letting them know that Regent is back. JOB WELL DONE ALL AROUND!!

Pros:

Cons:

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Baltic cruise June 5, 2010

Baltic - 6/2010

14 night Southampton to Stockholm on luxurious Seven Seas Voyager with oversized staterooms, walkin-closets and giant bathrooms with separate shower bath.  Fantastic alternative dining experiences.

Diverse Baltic ports, each with its own turbulent history.  Ship size allows the ship to port right in St. Petersburg compared to the larger ships docking a long way from the city. Accessibily of the staff very comforting. Fabulous cruise director - Lorraine was constantly servicing the guests and promoting the ship. A few issues with crowds for shore excursions, vibration on upper deck forward staterooms and hot water early in the morning.

Alternate dining restaurants were excellent.

Pros: Size of the ship accessibility to city ports, Fantastic staterooms and meals

Cons: Some vibration in upper decks forward. Hot water issues early in morning

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Istanbul to Rome on the Regent Seven Seas Mariner

Istanbul to Rome - 6/2010

Regent has boldly created the true all inclusive cruise package.  Fares on the Regent Mariner sailing were 2 for 1 and included free airfare in coach for certain categories, and  business class air for category C and above.  Gratuities, wines, spirits and most shore excursions were also complimentary,

The excitement starts as soon as you board the Mariner.  You are greeted with Champagne and escorted to your cabin.  Luggage delivery happens in a very short time so that you can unpack and settle in for an inclusive 12 day sailing.  The cabins are well appointed and all have balconies.  The room amenities include Champagne on the day of boarding and Regent amenities in the bathroom.  The closet is spacious and the safe is located there as well.  The refrigerators were stocked daily and the selections for room entertainment were many.

This sailing started in Istanbul with an overnight in port.  The inclusive shore excursions started on the second day so tours to Istanbul were plentiful and varied.  The ship was at 100% percent capacity so the free shore excursion program was really put to the test during our 12 days at sea.  Some excursions had a fee but the majority were free. The staff managed to get everyone out on time to the various excursions in each port and they were very helpful clearing waitlists and dealing with cancellations and changes.  The Destination Service desk was not available during the departure or return times to the ship, but there was someone at the desk during the times on the sign at the desk.

Our ports included Kusadasi in Turkey; Mykonos and Santorini in Greece; Valetta, Malta ( maiden call); La Goulette, Tunisa ( maiden call); Trapani, Sicily ( maiden call); Olbia, Sardinia ( maiden call) as well as Sorrento, Livorno ( Florence) and ended in Rome, Italy.  Regent had chilled water available for everyone before they left for their excursions and when they returned.

Dinning options included the Compass Rose Restaurant, Le Veranda and the specialty restaurants, Prime 7 and Signatures.  The dress throughout the sailing was Casual Elegant which was very pleasant.  Advance reservations are recommended for both of the alternate dinning rooms.  In addition there were several "theme" night dinners on the Veranda deck for the enjoyment of everyone.  Wines were complimentary at dinner and they were excellent, both red and white with selections changed daily.  Many passengers took advantage of the "spirits included" and the different lounge bars were very comfortable and inviting for pre or post dinner drinks. 

The Canyon Ranch Spa was very busy as was the Beauty Salon with a full ship and cabins having a shipboard credit to spend onboard.  The Gym was nicely appointed with lots of space and equipment to meet every sports enthusiast's needs.  Workout programs were offered and chilled water and towels were available after your work out.

The onboard activities were plentiful starting with a quiz and crossword puzzle in the morning and then there were many other activities during the day to please everyone.  The Horizon Lounge was the place to be beginning at 4PM with High Tea and followed by Trivia and then pre dinner entertainment.  The theatrical shows in the evening had a broad spectrum of dancing and singing and guest entertainers. The ship entertainers were very good and some had special shows highlighting their individual talents.   There were even special movies nights with popcorn and candy in the theater.  One of the  highlights was a late night theme dance party featuring the music of the 50's.

Regent has wonderful comfortable outdoor furniture on the Horizon Deck that includes large couches, ottomans and chairs.  It is a great place to read or just enjoy lovely views. There is a non-smoking section on one side of the ship and a smoking section on the opposite side.  The outdoor furniture on the cabin verandah's was very comfortable as well.

One of the highlights of the sailing and memorable moments came on the last day in Livorno.  The shore excursions to multiple destinations were close to 10 hours each.  At 5PM the 10 buses all returned to the ship at approximately the same time and one by one unloaded the guests.  We were met with the band playing, the staff dressed in black suits and we were offered cold water and cold towels which were so welcome in the heat. Then we walked through 2 lines of clapping crew members, the band and staff.  It was a great "welcome home"  and a fond memory.

The next morning it was time to say goodby and the disembarkation was very smooth and the transfers to the airport were on time.  It was a vacation to remember and to begin to contemplate the next cruise vacation!

Pros: All inclusive and an excellent ship

Cons: Very busy shore excursion staff but doing their best

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Arctic Adventure

Norwegian Fjords - 6/2010

Seven Seas Voyager Arctic Adventure sailing from Copenhagen through the Norwegian Fjords

The Voyager remains a luxury sailing vessel, with the most unique itineraries. Experiencing the beauty of Norway as it should be seen, on board the luxurious Seven Seas Voyager. I had the pleasure of sailing on her for a 15 night itinerary taking us within 200 nautical miles of the North Pole. We traversed the narrowest of Fjords, crossed the Arctic Circle, and sailed through the Ice Barrier.

Captain Mario was a highlight to our adventure. Warm and welcoming, his expertise kept us in calm seas with excellent weather for our enire journey.   

The people of Norway are proud of their country and it is experienced with the clean cities, warm and inviting people. Although this itinerary will not be duplicated in the next few years, keep your eyes open for the return  as I am certain it will sell out immediately. 

Pros: Itinerary

Cons:

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Black Sea

Black Sea - 6/2010

Now that Regent includes a wide choice of complimentary shore excursions, the company truly does offer an all-inclusive cruise that is exceptional.

This was my first time sailing on the Mariner although I have been on the Voyager a number of times.      Of course, the two ships are very similar but I do miss the separate bath and shower that I have had on the Voyager.  On the Mariner the Coffee Connection is much better--a very inviting place to relax or have a quick bite.

The cuisine was outstanding.  Although the alternate dining rooms are very good, Compass Rose is almost unsurpassed.  The Canyon Ranch choices that are now on the menu are amazingly tasty and it is hard  to believe that they really are low in calories.

The new decor is very tasteful.   The suites are particularly smart looking.

The staff and officers really extended themselves.  I have never experienced such a helpful and alert staff at reception..

Pros: The warmth of the staff and the ship. Even when the Mariner is full, everything works smoothly and effortlessly.

Cons: I miss the formal evenings and passenger list on cruises less than 14 days.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

RSSC Excellence Shines ~ Athens to Istanbul-Greek Islands Cruise

Athens to Istanbul - 6/2010

Service and all inclusive value to passengers aboard a beautiful ship.  The Regent difference is apparent in every facet of the cruise. The warm reception by each crew member, the thoughtfulness and comprehensive design of each suite, the attention to detail by the management, and delightful service of each meal bring satisfaction and pleasure to all.  This is truly an example of a cruise line who knows how to provide the very best value to its clientele.

Regent Seven Seas Mariner is a perfect ship to travel the islands of Greece.  She slips beautifully into the small harbors of the Cyclades Islands allowing visits to small harbors by tender. 

The included shore excursions had excellent local guides with extensive training and knowledge.  The variety of excursions nicely showcased the islands and ports visited, allowing guests to select activities of interest.  The ship provided a local resource person onboard during each port call.  They were excellent resources who provided instructions to all who stopped for individual attention and directions.

Beautiful dining venues complimented the elegantly prepared meals served with genuine pleasure by caring crew members.  RSSC has perfected selecting and training employees as they truly show they care and want you to enjoy your cruise experience.  Their warmth, genteel manners, kindness and fabulous smiles were evidence of their enjoyment of their jobs.  

Two specialty restaurants are managed and scheduled with care and attention to passenger's ever changing needs by Marcel, the Maitre` D and the Food and Beverage Manager, Davor Josipovic.  They strive to provide the perfect setting in both Signature's and Prime 7 Steakhouse with intimate settings and exclusive menus to pamper guests.  The same dining management keeps the casual meals at the pool grill, the buffet in the beautiful Le Veranda running smoothly while offering al fresco dining options as well as inside seating with fabulous views to match the service. 

The Compass Rose offers elegant contemporary cuisine in a single, open seating which allows guests to dine when and with whom they like.  Menus offer health conscious, vegetarian and local specialties representing the destinations in port.  This first-come, first-served seating runs smoothly and offers guests an relaxed restaurant experience.

Additional lounges throughout the ship offering beverages, coffee and espresso along with breakfast and lunch snack options.  The Coffee Connection's baristas are excellent and eager to prepare just the perfect beverage at any time.  The Horizon Lounge offers elegant afternoon tea with pastries and sandwiches and familiar music.  Before and after dinner the Horizon and Mariner lounges are perfect venues to meet for cocktails or dancing.  The Stars Lounge is a warm mid-ship meeting location for dancing, cocktails and sing along karaoke competitions.  The Observation Lounge on Deck 12 forward offers spectacular views, comfy chairs, a daytime quiet place to read and observe the scenery.  Pre-dinner cocktails as well as nightcaps are accompanied by musicians who entertain daily.  The Connoisseur Club offers rare vintage cognac, port and Cuban cigars in an elegant Club atmosphere.

The boutiques offer a full range of sundries, clothing, jewelry and much more.  For relaxation the Canyon Ranch SpaClub offered pampering for all guests and the gym and fitness areas showcased all the machines and equipment necessary to work off those extra calories as well as aerobics and other exercise classes. 

The entertainment staff was kept busy all week providing excellent performances by the Regent Singers and Dancers.  From Ballroom dancing to Broadway shows, they performed nightly and were accompanied by an excellent orchestra.  Additional highlights were Russian pianist Liana Forest, Clarinet Virtuoso-Wojtek Mrozek, a crew talent show, a Gala Champagne Art Auction, enrichment lectures, trivia, lively outdoor sports tournaments and game contests.  The casino was open nightly and offered a wide variety of gambling games.

The ships design offers spacious public rooms, a large pool deck with beautiful appointed lounges, plush towels and pillows and an attentive wait staff offering complimentary beverages.   Upper decks offer a long walking and jogging track with beautiful views of the sea.  The sports court, golf net, shuffle board and ping pong are nice additions for enjoying outdoor activities.

Suites offer balconies in every category with walk in closets, large bathrooms, comfortable sitting areas, desk, dressing table and chairs.  The beds were plush, the decor warm and contemporary showing fresh touches everywhere such as orchids in the room and a daily fresh fruit bowl.  Room stewards and stewardesses greeted each guest by name and were eager to personalize your cabin to meet every need.  A fully stocked refrigerator with beverages of choice was refreshed with ice twice a day.

The Mariner is a wonderful ship and this itinerary was exciting and fast paced with each port offering a new look and experience.  It was such a wonderful struggle each day to decide whether the ship or the port was the most fun to explore.

Pros: Great ports of call, great variety of restaurants, excellent suites, fast embarkations and disembarkation, great attention to detail, service and customer satisfaction. The staff ratio on this 700 passenger ship is excellent allowing service to wrap around each activity seamlessly. All is included in the cruise fare: airfare, excursions, gratuities, specialty restaurants, cocktails, entertainment, and suite accomodations.

Cons: Busy itinerary, 8 ports in 7 days but great for quick 7 day cruise. Alternative excursions to island beaches or town shopping shuttles would be excellent additions to excursion offerings.

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

4/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Mariner Transatlantic

Monte Carlo - 3/2010

My suite  was fantastic.   I could have slept all day and everyday because the bed was the most  incredible thing I have ever slept on. 

The whole layout of the ship is great.  You look at it from a Port and it looks so large.  You get on board and you truly feel like your on a smaller ship.  The layout of this ship is incredible.  The new Coffee Connection area is loved by everyone.  This is where you also find the Internet Area.  Very well laid out.

The food aboard the ship was excellent.  The Prime 7 was my favorite, followed by  Signatures. Compass Rose was also very good on most nights.  It did have it's down nights where service was not up to par, but that was only a couple of nights.  The Staff was very attentive and alert to your needs.

The Pool Bar and Grill was the favorite during lunch.  The buffet's would be set up everyday for lunch.  Food from all over the world.  This is where you can get the best "Cheese Burgers  or Hot Dogs" in the world.

They also have a new " ice cream" area set up which people seem to love.

This was by far one of the most memorable crossings that I have ever done.

Pros: Fantastic Cruise, Beautiful Ship, Great Service

Cons: Needs help with Service

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Great Value for the Luxury Cruise Market

Mediterranean - 11/2008

Regent Seven Seas Voyager is one of the best values for cruises in the luxury market.

Regent Seven Seas  has some of the best values in the luxury market for their 2010 and 2011 cruises.  With the minimum cabin categories at 350 sq. ft and all have verandahs Regent offers  comfortable and spacious cabins, each with large bathrooms, walk in closets, and sitting areas.  The all inclusive program that is standard with Regent Seven Seas allows guests to travel without additional tipping, no room service charges, and complimentary wine with dinner, as well as no additional charge for alternative dining.  Most cruises for 2010 also provide complimentary shore excursions.  The fine dining and excellent service completes a fabulous cruise experience.

Regent Seven Seas is my cruise line of choice and many of my valued clients who have cruised many times with other cruise lines , agree.

Pros:

Cons:

Reviewer Recommended? y

Reviewer Ratings

5/5

Reviewer Scorecard

Staff Dining Entertainment Activities Cabins/Staterooms Itinerary/Ports Value

Jan 4 2011 Seven Seas Mariner

Western Caribbean - 1/2010

It was a week with perfectly sunny and warm weather, cruising the Western Caribbean from Fort Lauderdale.  The ship is spacious, and the service impeccable.  Overall it was a fabulous, five-star cruising experience. 

The Seven Seas Mariner is a beautiful ship with only 700 guests and about 450 crew members.   The ship is very spacious, and never felt crowded anywhere.  The Suites are spectacular, clean, and comfortable.

Dining is all open seating with no extra charges for the Specialty Restaurants, The Le Cordon Bleu inspired “Signatures” and new steakhouse, “Prime 7”.  The dining experience in the two Specialty Restaurants require advance reservation, and on a 1-week cruise, in general only one reservation per guest in each restaurant will be available.  The “all-inclusive” onboard, makes for a very relaxing and comfortable atmosphere.  Guests enjoy the relaxed dress code, with no formal nights and no ties required.  Still everyone dresses beautifully and elegant in the evening.  Included shore excursions were of high quality, with minimal waiting time for the tours, good size groups and professional guides.  The atmosphere onboard the ship is elegant, yet casual.  In the evening the entertainment varies from small production shows, to orchestras, pianists and singers.  During the day, the ship has an atmosphere of a relaxed country club, with quiet areas to be found in the library, internet and coffee cafes; a pool deck with comfortable areas for sunbathing; and many options to participate in enrichment lectures, wine tastings, etc.  The service is impeccable, but never intrusive. 

Pros: Suites are beautiful. Dining, especially the two Specialty Restaurants, Signatures and Prime 7, is outstanding. Drinks, gratuities, even shore excursions included.

Cons: Not many, perhaps the entertainment could be a bit more varied

Reviewer Recommended? y