Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 (Berlitz Cruise Guide) (2016)
Seven Seas Navigator
★★★★+
Berlitz’s Ratings
Ship: 401 out of 500
Accommodation: 175 out of 200
Food: 307 out of 400
Service: 304 out of 400
Entertainment: 77 out of 100
Cruise: 309 out of 400
Overall Score: 1573 out of 2000
Seven Seas Navigator Statistics
Size: Small Ship
Tonnage: 28,550
Lifestyle: Luxury/Premium
Cruise Line: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Former Names: none
IMO Number: 9064126
Builder: T. Mariotti (Italy)
Original Cost: $200 million
Entered Service: Aug 1999
Registry: Bermuda
Length (ft/m): 559.7/170.6
Beam (ft/m): 71.5/21.8
Draft (ft/m): 21.3/6.5
Propulsion/Propellers: diesel (13,000kW)/2
Passenger Decks: 8
Total Crew: 325
Passengers (lower beds): 490
Passenger Space Ratio (lower beds): 58.2
Passenger/Crew Ratio (lower beds): 1.5
Cabins (total): 245
Size Range (sq ft/m): 301.3-1,173.3/28.0-109.0
Cabins (for one person): 0
Cabins (with private balcony): 196
Cabins (wheelchair accessible): 4
Wheelchair accessibility: Good
Cabin Current: 110 and 220 volts
Elevators: 5
Casino (gaming tables): Yes
Slot Machines: Yes
Swimming Pools: 1
Hot Tubs (on deck): 2
Self-Service Launderette: Yes
Dedicated Cinema/Seats: No
Library: Yes
Onboard currency: US$
A premium, all-inclusive ship for mature-age cruisers
Overview. This ship is best suited to well-traveled couples and single travelers, typically over 50, who seek excellent itineraries, fine food, and good service, with some entertainment, all wrapped up in a contemporary ship that’s elegant and comfortable. Designed for worldwide cruise itineraries, this is one of the upscale ships in the diverse Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet.
The Ship. Seven Seas Navigator was built using a hull already constructed in St Petersburg, Russia, as the research vessel Akademik Nikolay Pilyugin. The superstructure was incorporated into the hull in an Italian shipyard - the result being that, in effect, a new ship was delivered in record time. The result is less than handsome - particularly at the stern - but it’s large enough to be stable over long stretches of water, and there is an excellent amount of space per passenger. In 2009, a ‘ducktail’ stern was added to aid stability and buoyancy.
The interiors have a mix of classical and contemporary Italian styling and decor, with warm, soft colors and fine quality soft furnishings and fabrics. Galileo’s, a large piano lounge, has good views over the stern. A Navigator’s Lounge has warm mahogany and cherry wood paneling and large, comfortable, mid-back tub chairs. Next door, cigars and cognac 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 Internet access, for a fee.
There is no walk-around promenade deck outdoors, although there’s a jogging track high atop the aft section around the funnel housing. Two of the upper, outer decks are laid with green Astroturf, which cheapens the look of the ship - they 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. It 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 in the fare, as are alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, plus table wines for lunch and dinner (premium wines are available at extra cost). Shore excursions and any pre- or post-cruise hotel stays are also included.
Accommodation. There are several different price grades, and the company markets this as an ‘all-suites’ ship. Even the smallest suite is quite large, and all have outside views (all were refreshed in 2012). Almost 90 percent of all suites have a private balcony, with floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, while 10 suites are interconnecting, and 38 have an extra bed for a third occupant. By comparison, even the smallest suite is more than twice the size of the smallest cabin aboard the world’s largest cruise ships, Royal Caribbean International’s Voyager-class ships.
All accommodation grades feature a walk-in closet, European king-size bed or twin beds, wooden cabinetry with nicely rounded edges, plenty of drawer space, minibar/refrigerator stocked with complimentary soft drinks and bar set-up on embarkation, TV/DVD player, and personal safe. The marble-appointed bathroom has a full-size tub, as well as a separate shower enclosure, 100 percent cotton bathrobe and towels, and hairdryer. Balconies benefit from real teak decking.
The largest living spaces are in four Grand and Master Suites, with forward-facing views and double-length side balconies. Each suite has a completely separate bedroom with dressing table; the living room has a full dining room table and chairs for up to six persons, wet bar, counter and bar stools, large three-person sofa and six armchairs, an audio-visual console/entertainment center, and an illy coffee machine. Each suite has a large main, marble-clad, fully tiled bathroom with full-size tub and separate shower enclosure, a separate room with bidet, toilet, and washbasin, with plenty of space for toiletries. There is a separate guest bathroom.
Next in size are the superb Navigator Suites, which have a separate bedroom, walk-in closet, large lounge with minibar/refrigerator stocked with complimentary soft drinks and bar set-up on embarkation, personal safe, CD player, large TV/DVD player, and dining area with large table and four chairs. The marble-clad, fully tiled bathroom has a full-size tub with hand-held shower, plus a separate shower enclosure (although the door is only 18ins/45cm wide), large washbasin, toilet and bidet, and ample toiletries storage space.
Unfortunately, the Navigator Suites are located in the center of the ship, directly underneath the swimming pool deck. They are thus subject to early morning noise attacks - when deck cleaning is carried out - and chairs are dragged across the deck. You are also aware of pool deck stewards dragging and dropping sunloungers into place. Despite these disadvantages, the Navigator Suites are delightful living spaces.
Four suites for the physically challenged have private balconies, and are ideally located adjacent to the elevators. However, while they are very practical, it is almost impossible to access the balcony because of the high threshold at the bottom of the sliding glass door.
Dining. The Compass Rose Dining Room has large ocean-view picture windows and open-seating dining, which means that you can choose your companions. There are a few tables for two, but most are for four, six, or eight persons. With a low ceiling height and noisy waiter stations, the overall feeling is cramped and unbecoming in terms of the lack of space and grace. Complimentary wines are served during dinner, and a connoisseur wine list is available at extra cost. The company also promotes ‘heart healthy’ cuisine.
Other dining options. La Veranda is the casual self-serve eatery for breakfast and lunch. Each evening, it is transformed into Sette Mari, for informal dining, and serves dinners with an emphasis on Italian cuisine (reservations required for dinner). Al fresco dining is also available.
The 70-seat Prime 7 is the place for steaks and seafood, is in an elegant setting for dinner only (reservations required). For fast food, there is a small outdoor Grill one deck above.
You can also dine in your cabin. There is a 24-hour room service menu and, during regular dinner hours, you can choose from the full dining room menu.
Entertainment. The Seven Seas Lounge, a two-deck-high showlounge, has reasonable sight lines from most seats on both main and balcony levels, although pillars obstruct the views from some side balcony seats. Seven Seas Cruises has an eclectic entertainment program tailored to each ship. Seven Seas Navigator puts on both production shows and cabaret acts. Bands, small musical units, and solo pianist entertainers provide live music in several lounges and bars.
Spa/Fitness. The spa, fitness center, and beauty salon are in the most forward part of the top deck. Canyon Ranch SpaClub operates the spa and beauty services as a concession, provides the staff, and sells its own beauty products. An 18 percent gratuity is included in treatment and beauty salon services prices.