This December I was fortunate to be chosen to host a Virtuoso Voyager Club cruise onboard Regent Seven Seas Mariner. Seven Seas Mariner has recently come out of a multi million dollar refurbishment and she is beautiful! She is a mid size ship of 700 passengers but did not feel large and crowded. There was always plenty of space and the personalised service made you feel like you were on a smaller, more intimate cruise. The cabins were luxuriously appointed and even in our entry level cabin we had a balcony, luxurious bath amenities and even a bathtub (although the shower heads are a little too low for tall guests). I would suggest to upgrade to a concierge level cabin ($1000 more) just to get the pre/post accommodation benefits and free internet or if on a journey of 10 days or more then a penthouse suite which gives you a much larger lounging area and balcony as well as many other extras. One of the guests hosted a little soire in their penthouse cabin one evening and with the added benefit of your own butler they were able to entertain with canapés and free flowing champagne at no extra cost to themselves. You end up spending quite a bit of time in the cabins especially with 24 hrs room service (so many had breakfast in bed), complimentary in room bar and drinks service and the balcony which was perfect for an afternoon siesta (with a Champagne bottle on ice beside you). One of the highlights of any of my trips is the food and Regent did not disappoint. Silver service all the way from breakfast, lunch to dinner but more relaxed elegance rather than stiff and formal. The main dining room, Compass Rose, ended up as my favourite with a daily changing menu which included highlights from the speciality restaurants. Prime 7 was amazing for the 16oz rib eye steaks and Maine lobster, Setti Mari for Italian specialities and Signatures for French indulgence. Paired with wines from all over the world (you did not have to resort to the connoisseurs wine list) that changed throughout the cruise you had the perfect meal. Oh, and the fresh fish daily, some even caught by the executive chef were amazing. Yellow fin tuna, Swordfish, Mahi Mahi, Marlin....devine. As for entertainment this was non stop for whatever took your interest. The shows at night were a mixture of broadway, cirque, comedy to the highlight for me which was the James Bond evening complete with free flowing martinis, staff dressed as bond characters and theme music from the films. Also liked their block party idea whereby you all get together in your corridor to meet your neighbours and the staff come around with wines and hors doeuvres whilst the captain and his officers run from top deck to bottom to greet everyone. Included in every cruise are the complimentary shore excursions. Great value considering they are unlimited and valued at around $80-$180 pp/tour. Make sure you book early though as some do fill up weeks before cruise departure. For the majority of stops on our cruise we used a tender service and Regent have a very effective system of managing the shore excursions and transfers. The process took 30 minutes at the busiest time of the day to only a few minutes in off peak. The itinerary created for this cruise allowed us to really experience all that French Polynesia has to offer. From the dramatic scenery of the less visited and mysterious Marquese Islands, to the completely flat, palm fringed atolls of the Tuomotu Islands and spectacular lagoons of Bora Bora. I would suggest a stay in Papeete before the cruise and a few nights after in one of the overwater bures in Bora Bora and you have the perfect Tahiti experience. As for value I thought it was simply sensational! Considering the level of accommodation, service, meals, drinks, tours and transport you get so much value and with the all inclusive nature you can relax into the cruise and truly indulge.
Posted on: Fri, 09 Jan 2015 05:22:02 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015