Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	443
Accommodation	200	177
Food	400	334
Service	400	324
Entertainment	100	83
Cruise	400	334

How this score is created

This is presently the largest ship in the Seven Seas Cruises fleet, and the first to receive a “pod” propulsion system, replacing the traditional shaft and rudder system (the pods have forward-facing propellers that can be turned through 360°). For the technically minded, the ship was built in 32 blocks, using the same hull design as for Festival Cruises’ Mistral, although the interior design is totally different. In the fitting out stage, for example, many changes were made to accommodate Seven Seas Cruises’ need for all-outside-view suites. Consequently, its passenger space ratio is now the highest in the cruise industry, at just a fraction above that for Europa.

Seven Seas Mariner is operated by Seven Seas Cruises, although the ship is actually owned by a joint venture company established with ship managers V-Ships.

There is a wide range of public rooms to play in, almost all of which are located under the accommodation decks. Three sets of stairways (forward, center, aft) mean it is easy to find your way around the vessel. An atrium lobby spans nine decks, with the lowest level opening directly onto the tender landing stage.

Facilities include a delightful observation lounge, a casino, a shopping concourse (conveniently located opposite the casino) – complete with open market area, a garden lounge/promenade arcade, a large library with internet-connect computers, business center, card room and a conference room, a, cigar-smoking lounge (called the Connoisseur Club, for cigars, cognacs and other assorted niceties), and a photo gallery.

With the introduction of Seven Seas Mariner, Seven Seas Cruises moved into a new breed of larger ships that are more economical to operate, and provide more choices for passengers. However, the downside of a larger ship such as this is that there is a loss of the sense of intimacy that the company’s smaller ships used to have. Thus, some of the former personal service of the smaller ships has been absorbed into a larger structure. Another downside is the fact that this ship is simply too large to enter the small harbors and berths that the company’s smaller ships could access, and so loses some of the benefits of small upscale ship cruising.

So, it’s swings and roundabouts when it comes to scoring the ship. At present, it scores very highly in terms of hardware and software, but operationally may lose a few points if it is deemed that it can enter only mid-size ship ports. By comparison, this ship is a more upscale version of the eight ships in the former Renaissance Cruises fleet – with better food, more choices, and a staff that are more hospitality-conscious and generally better trained. Seven Seas Mariner has ended up just a tad under the score base needed for it to join the “Berlitz Five Star” Club.

Basic gratuities are included, as are all alcoholic and non-­alcoholic beverages and complimentary table wines for lunch and dinner (although premium and connoisseur selections are also available at extra cost). The onboard currency is the US dollar.

Service and hospitality are mostly very good. The same carpeting is used throughout the public areas – with no relief or change of color or pattern on the stairwells. The decor is a little glitzy in places. Much of the intimacy and close-knit ambience of the smaller vessels is missing, and, because of all those cabins with balconies, the feeling of privacy and relaxation can also translate into less passengers and ambience in public rooms and for entertainment events, depending on the passenger mix.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008