Seven Seas Mariner

As the world's first all-suite, all-balcony cruise ship, there's little doubt that the Seven Seas Mariner has a lot going for it. After all, it's one of the most spacious liners currently afloat and with a staff to guest ratio of 1:1.6, it's hard to imagine that better service is available anywhere at sea.

And that's exactly what Regent Seven Seas was going for when they launched the Mariner back in 2001. The line wanted the vessel to be extremely luxurious - a place to go to escape the stresses of everyday life.

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Since its maiden voyage, the Mariner has received a number of accolades and awards. This is in thanks not just to the ship's stunning design, highly trained staff and plush amenities - but also to the fact that it's as close as you can get to an all-inclusive fare in the cruise market. Meaning that once you're on-board, you needn't worry about paying for things like drinks, entertainment or food, unless you want something truly out of the ordinary.

The Mariner splits its time on both sides of the Atlantic, offering Mediterranean cruises, Caribbean voyages and trips along the coast of South America. These can last anywhere from seven nights to a month, depending on the route and some of the most popular ports of calls include Venice, Rome, Istanbul, Barcelona, Lima, Fort Lauderdale, Rio de Janeiro and Buenos Aires.

Ship stats and features

Passenger capacity: 752
Year entered service: 2001
Beam (ship width): 95.1 feet
Draught (ship depth): 21.4 feet
Length: 713 feet
Tonnage: 48,075
Crew: 445
Maximum speed: 20 knots
Number of passenger decks: 9
Number of lifts: 6
Number of swimming pools: 1
Number of cabins: 354

Food, cuisine and dining

There are five main restaurants on the Mariner, ranging from a casual buffet (La Verdana), through to the finest French cuisine provided by Cordon Bleu chefs (Signature).

The main dining room is the Compass Rose and it provides a more traditional cruise dining experience. Other options include Prime 7, an elegant steakhouse, and the Pool Grill, which serves up delicious snacks and fast food items like grilled burgers, sandwiches and even hand-dipped ice cream cones.

No matter where you decide to eat, you can enjoy an open seating arrangement and you won't incur any extra charges for dining at any of them. Reservations are required at Signature and Prime 7. Wine is provided with dinner, but if you're looking to treat yourself to a fine bottle, then a wide selection is available for an additional price.

If you enjoy taking part in high tea, then the Horizon Lounge is the place to be in the afternoons. This gorgeous venue offers everything you'd expect from the finest tea rooms in London - with freshly baked scones, jam and lashings of cream, as well as finger sandwiches, pastries and delicious tea served just the way you like it.

Meanwhile, if you prefer to sit back and relax in the privacy of your cabin, then why not opt for room service? During meal times, the entire Compass Rose menu is available for delivery to your quarters and staff will bring it to you on a course-by-course basis. At other times during the day and night, a variety of tasty treats and savoury snacks is also on offer.

On-board entertainment and activities

The Constellation Showlounge is a comfortable and inviting venue that hosts cabaret acts, concerts and other productions twice nightly.

Alternatively, live music is available in other locations, while passengers may also want to take part in an enrichment program, spend some time at the internet cafe, pick up a good book or two in the library or try their luck at the casino.

While the ship is a welcoming place for children and teenagers throughout the year, select cruises - usually those scheduled during school holidays - are extremely kid-friendly. During those voyages, there are kids' programmes going on pretty much all the time, including edutainment activities to teach the young ones about the area they're visiting, as well as games, sports and even a nightly dinner.

In-cabin babysitting services are also available.

Spas and fitness facilities

The Mariner's gym is a fabulous location for guests seeking a bit of exercise - whether it's to work out some muscle tension, or burn off a few calories. The large space is equipped with state-of-the-art cardio and resistance equipment and many of the machines include their own television screens. In addition, large windows around the room add a sense of spaciousness.

The stunning spa facilities are provided by Canyon Ranch SpaClub - a company renowned for its land-based resorts and luxurious creams, soaps and skincare products. Various treatments are available, including massages, facials, wraps and beauty salon services.

Specialists are also available to provide consultations about a variety of topics, ensuring that you know the best path to wellbeing. Personal trainers can help you to find the best exercises for your problem areas, while nutritional advice is also available.

Elsewhere on the ship, you can find fitness classes, with options including aerobics, Pilates and yoga. And who could resist swimming a few laps in the beautiful, heated swimming pool? There's also a thermal suite and two whirlpools, as well as a jogging track and facilities for paddle tennis, golf and shuffleboard.

Cabins

As a ship with all-suite accommodation, it's easy to imagine that all the rooms are the same, but this is far from the truth. In fact, there are 13 different price ranges, meaning that if you're looking for cruise deals, you may be able to find accommodation that suits your requirements.

Options vary by room size, amenities and location on the ship. For example, the Master Suites are a massive 1,162 square feet. They have two bedrooms, a separate dining area and two private balconies with teak decking. Guests in these rooms will also enjoy complimentary butler service throughout their voyage.

Meanwhile, the standard rooms are called Deluxe Suites and are still very elegant and spacious cabins. At 356 square feet, they're more than double the size of what you'd find on other cruise ships.

No matter which accommodation you select, all rooms come equipped with bathrobes, towels, a hairdryer, a large television and a refrigerator stoked with bottled water and soft drinks.