Overall Score

BERLITZ'S RATING
	Possible	Achieved
Ship	500	445
Accommodation	200	177
Food	400	334
Service	400	324
Entertainment	100	83
Cruise	400	335

How this score is created

Slightly narrower and smaller than Seven Seas Mariner, this one has a central corridor for accommodation designated as suites (sister ship Seven Seas Mariner has two corridors – port and starboard). This is presently the second ship in the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet to receive a “pod” propulsion system (the first being Seven Seas Mariner), 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 (with the same basic hull design as Seven Seas Mariner), with a few modifications. The passenger space ratio is among the highest in the cruise industry, at about the same as the smaller, but better-built Europa. Seven Seas Voyager is operated by Seven Seas Cruises, although the ship is actually owned by a joint-­venture company established between Seven Seas Cruises and ship managers V-Ships.

There is a decent range of public rooms in which to play, 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 showlounge that spans two decks, an observation lounge (it’s the only place aboard this ship where you can see the bows, a casino, a shopping concourse (conveniently located opposite the casino) – complete with an open “market” area, a large library, internet-connect center and business center (Club.com, and Coffee.com), card room and a small conference room.

There is also a nightclub (Voyager) with an oval-shaped dance floor, a cigar-smoking lounge (the Connoisseur Club, for cigars, cognacs and other assorted niceties), and the usual photo gallery.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has clearly moved into a new breed of larger ships that are more economical to operate, provide better economies of scale, as well as 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, although this does not always translate well.

Another downside is the fact that this ship is too large to enter the small harbors and berths that smaller ships can, and so loses some of the benefits of the smaller upscale ships such as those of the more stylish Hapag-Lloyd, Sea­Dream, Seabourn and Silversea. Also, much of the intimacy and close-knit ambiance of the smaller vessels is missing. So it’s swings and roundabouts when it comes to scoring the ship.

At present, the ship scores well in terms of hardware (it’s a combination of all the best of Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Navigator) and software, but operationally may lose a few points if it is deemed that the ship can only enter 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 is more hospitality-conscious and generally better trained.

Basic gratuities are included, as are all drinks, including complimentary table wines for lunch and dinner (premium and connoisseur selections are available at extra cost). The onboard currency is the US dollar. Seven Seas Voyager has ended up just a tad under the score base needed for it to join the “Berlitz Five Star” Club.

Service and hospitality are good. The decor is a little glitzy in places, plain in others (beiges and browns are the prevailing colors). Passenger gripes: there is no wrap-around outdoor promenade deck (and the promenade on Deck is only partially covered in teak), and no forward-viewing exterior deck with views over the ship’s bows; the white plastic sunloungers should really be replaced by those made of teak, or stainless steel (plastic is not luxury).

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008