Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 (Berlitz Cruise Guide) (2016)
Sea Explorer
★★★ +
Berlitz’s Ratings
Ship: 359 out of 500
Accommodation: 157 out of 200
Food: 267 out of 400
Service: 282 out of 400
Entertainment: 60 out of 100
Cruise: 271 out of 400
Overall Score: 1396 out of 2000
Sea Explorer Statistics
Size: Boutique Ship
Tonnage: 4,280
Lifestyle: Standard
Cruise Line: Various expedition operators
Former Names: Corinthian II, Island Sun, Sun, Renaissance I, Regina Renaissance, Renaissance VII
IMO Number: 8802882
Builder: Nuovi Cantieri Appaunia (Italy)
Original Cost: $25 million
Entered Service: Dec 1991/Nov 2012
Registry: Marshall Islands
Length (ft/m): 297.2/90.6
Beam (ft/m): 50.1/15.3
Draft (ft/m): 12.9/2.9
Propulsion/Propellers: diesel (5,000kW)/2
Passenger Decks: 5
Total Crew: 66
Passengers (lower beds): 111
Passenger Space Ratio (lower beds): 37.5
Passenger/Crew Ratio (lower beds): 1.6
Cabins (total): 53
Size Range (sq ft/m): 234.6-353.0/21.8-32.8
Cabins (for one person): 0
Cabins (with private balcony): 4
Cabins (wheelchair accessible): 0
Wheelchair accessibility: None
Cabin Current: 110 volts
Elevators: 1
Casino (gaming tables): No
Slot Machines: No
Swimming Pools: 0
Hot Tubs (on deck): 1
Self-Service Launderette: No
Dedicated Cinema/Seats: No
Library: Yes
Onboard currency: US$
For life enrichment in a comfortable small-ship environment
Overview. This really intimate little ship is very comfortable and totally inviting, and operates warm-weather cruises in regions devoid of large cruise ships. It suits mature adults who like to discover small ports in a relaxed lifestyle combined with good food and service, and itineraries that enable you to ‘get away from it all, but in comfort.’
The Ship. Sea Explorer has mega-yacht looks, a smart profile and handsome styling, with twin flared funnels and a ‘ducktail’ (or sponson), stern to provide fairly decent stability and seagoing comfort. This ship is owned by ISP and was chartered to Polar Latitudes in April 2013 for ‘soft’ destination-intensive discovery cruises. The ship has a narrow teak walk-around promenade deck outdoors, and a decent amount of open deck space.
A baby shore tender hangs off the aft deck and acts as ship-to-shore transportation. Some equipment for water sports is carried.
The interior design is elegant, with polished wood-finish paneling throughout. There is also a very small book and video library. Although Sea Explorer is not up to the standard of a Seabourn or Silversea ship, it will provide a good cruise experience at a moderate cost. Gratuities are appreciated but not required.
Accommodation. The cabins are quite spacious and combine highly polished imitation rosewood paneling with lots of mirrors and hand-crafted Italian furniture, lighted walk-in closets, and vanity mirrors. In fact, there are a lot of mirrored surfaces in the decor, as well as just about everything you need, including a TV set and DVD player, a refrigerator, and free soft drinks and bottled water. The beds are fixed, so there’s no under-bed storage space.
The bathrooms are extremely compact; they have real teakwood floors and marble vanities, and shower enclosures. None have tubs, not even the Owner’s Suite. Cabins with balconies have glass panels topped with a polished wood railing.
Dining. The dining room operates in an open-seating arrangement for all meals, so you sit where you like, with whom you like, and at what time you like. It is small but quite smart, with tables for two, four, six, and eight. The meals are self-service, buffet-style cold foods for breakfast and lunch, with hot foods chosen from a table menu and served properly, and sit-down service for dinner. The food quality, choice, and presentation are all very good.
Entertainment. There is no formal entertainment in the main lounge, the venue for all social activities. However, six pillars obstruct the sight lines to the small stage area so it’s not easy to see a speaker/lecturer.
Spa/Fitness. Water sports facilities include an aft platform, sailfish, snorkel equipment, and Zodiacs.