Berlitz Guide to Cruising

Overview

Seven Seas Navigator was built using a hull that was already constructed in St. Petersburg, Russia, as the research vessel Akademik Nikolay Pilyugin. After launching the hull, the name Blue Sea was used for a short time. The superstructure was incorporated into the hull in an Italian shipyard – the result being that for all intents and purposes a new ship was delivered in record time. However, the result is less than handsome – particularly at the ship’s stern. It is, however, large enough to be stable over long stretches of water, and there is an excellent amount of space per passenger.
The interiors have a mix of classical and contemporary Italian styling and decor throughout, with warm, soft colors and fine quality soft furnishings and fabrics. At the opposite end of the ship is Galileo’s, a large piano lounge with good views over the stern.
A Navigator’s Lounge has warm mahogany and cherry wood paneling and large, comfortable, mid-back tub chairs. Meanwhile, next door, cigars and cognac (and other niceties) can be taken in the delightful Connoisseur’s Club – the first aboard a Regent Seven Seas Cruises vessel. The extensive library also has several computers with direct email/internet access (for a fee).
The ship is designed for worldwide cruise itineraries, and is one of the upscale ships in the diverse Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet. As with all ships in the fleet, all gratuities are included. The onboard currency is the US dollar.
There is no wrap-around promenade deck outdoors, although there is a jogging track high atop the aft section of the ship around the funnel housing. Two of the upper, outer decks are laid with green Astroturf, which cheapens the look of the ship – these decks would be better in teak. The ceilings in several public rooms (including the main restaurant) are quite low, which makes the ship feel smaller and more closed in than it is. The ship suffers from a considerable amount of vibration, which detracts from the comfort level when compared with other vessels of the same size.
Basic gratuities are included, as are all alcoholic and non-­alcoholic beverages, starting in 2007, plus complimentary table wines for lunch and dinner.

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008

Ship Facts

Small Ship: 28,550 tons
Lifestyle: Luxury/Premium Cruise Line: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Former Names: none
Builder: T. Mariotti (Italy) Original Cost: $200 million
Entered Service: Aug 1999
Registry: Bermuda
Length (ft/m): 559.7/170.6
Beam (ft/m): 71.5/21.8
Draft (ft/m): 21.3.0/6.5
Propulsion/Propellers: diesel
(13,000kW/2
Passenger Decks: 8

Total Crew: 325
Passengers
(lower beds/all berths): 490/530
Passenger Space Ratio
(lower beds/all berths): 58.2/53.8
Crew/Passenger Ratio
(lower beds/all berths): 1.5/1.6
Navigation Officers: European/
International
Cabins (total): 245
Size Range (sq ft/m): 301.3–1,173.3/
28.0–109.0
Cabins (outside view): 245
Cabins (interior/no view): 0
Cabins (for one person): 0
Cabins (with private balcony): 196
Cabins (wheelchair accessible): 4
Cabin Current: 110 and 220 volts
Elevators: 5
Casino (gaming tables): Yes
Slot Machines: Yes
Swimming Pools (outdoors): 1
Swimming Pools (indoors): 0
Whirlpools: 2
Self-Service Launderette: Yes
Dedicated Cinema/Seats: No
Library: Yes
Classification Society: Registro Navale
Italiano (RINA)


OVERALL SCORE: 1,653 (OUT OF A POSSIBLE 2,000 POINTS)

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publishing 2008