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These days, the 33,000-ton, 490-passenger Seven Seas Navigator feels so elegant and contemporary that it's hard to imagine the all-suite vessel once was a Soviet research ship before it was purchased by Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
A major refurbishment in spring 2016 is to be thanked for keeping the ship in top form. Highlights of the revamp include a brand-new library, complete with faux fireplace, and Coffee Connection self-service drink and snack bar; and the completely redone Compass Rose, the ship's main dining venue, and La Veranda, the top-of-ship casual restaurant. The ship's 245 ocean-view suites, 90 percent of which have private balconies, were also transformed with new furnishings (including Regent's Elite Collection mattresses and bed linens) and artwork. (A few changes that aren't popular with everyone are the removal of the Connoisseur Club smoking lounge and casino bar, and the addition of some snug wing-backed chairs that leave little space for your shoulders.)
But looks will only get you so far. What stands out about Seven Seas Navigator is its size. The intimate ship -- the smallest in Regent's fleet -- makes an ideal home base for destination-intensive exploration, with just enough variety in dining and entertainment to keep your interest, without getting in the way of the ports you came to see. Everything onboard feels close at hand. Intimacy breeds familiarity, and you'll quickly make new friends onboard who you'll run into day after day. The size also lets the staff raise the bar on service levels, whether it's promptly refilling your wineglass or delivering scones to your suite when you miss them at afternoon tea. (However, service isn't quite as blow-your-mind amazing as you might find on other luxury ships.)
Navigator might be small, but it's also incredibly spacious. Its smallest suites start at 301 square feet, large enough for uncrowded sleeping and sitting areas, walk-in closets and large bathrooms with separate bathtub and shower. The largest measure more than 1,000 square feet with enormous wrap around verandas. The ship also has a generous space-per-passenger ratio (67.3 feet of public space per passenger), so you'll rarely see crowds or queues.
The size does have some drawbacks. The ship doesn't have as many dining venues as its fleet mates, and we could see how some people might feel restricted by the limited public areas on a long cruise with many sea days (like a world cruise). The ship also experiences significant motion, with some Cruise Critic readers on the Regent Seven Seas message boards reporting above-average vibration in the aft suites.
Regent's Seven Seas Navigator aims for quiet luxury. Its public spaces aren't trying to out-Vegas Vegas or wow you with over-the-top design or expense. Its suites aim to accommodate your needs without being statement pieces. You will be pampered; fine dining, included drinks and tours, and devoted crew members will see to that. But the ship plays second to the destinations it visits -- and like its staff, it does all it can to make your trip an amazing one without calling undue attention to itself.
The dress code is almost always elegant casual after 6 p.m. Skirts or slacks paired with blouses or sweaters, pant suits or dresses are acceptable for ladies, while men should wear slacks and collared shirts. Sport jackets and ties are optional; jeans, T-shirts, baseball caps, shorts, sneakers and bathrobes are not allowed in any public area in the evening, except on the final evening when the dress code is relaxed so passengers can pack. In addition, cruises of 16 nights or longer will have two formal optional nights, when passengers can either wear elegant casual attire or opt for a more formal look (gowns, cocktail dresses, dark suits or tuxedos).
With such destination-focused itineraries, daytime activities are rather limited. You'll find spa seminars and fitness classes, talks by the onboard lecturers, bingo and daily afternoon trivia in Galileo's Lounge, the Deck 11 observation lounge. A Ping-Pong table is tucked away behind a wall near the Deck 8 stairwell. Deck 12 has mini-golf, shuffleboard and two baggo setups (beanbag toss). Most Regent cruisers' spend their days in port then congregate around the pool or hole up in their suites upon their return.
If you participate in anything competitive (trivia, organized deck games), you can win Regent points, which can be traded at the end of the cruise for logo swag. Some cruisers are very set on winning that baseball cap or pen.
Seven Seas Lounge is the main theatre on decks 6 and 7, arranged stadium-style with no separate balcony. Every evening, there is one main 9:30 p.m. show, alternating between song-and-dance revues performed by the ship's cast of 12 singers and dancers and performances by guest artists, such as a piano showman or a comedian. Regent is in the process of upgrading its evening entertainment, but on our cruise, the shows ranged from lively and fun to very amateurish, though the singers did have good voices. The theatre also hosts enrichment lectures and cooking demonstrations.
The ship's band, either altogether or as solo performers, play in Galileo's before dinner and after the show, and a piano entertainer holds forth in the Navigator Lounge. In the evening, you might find Name That Tune in the Navigator Lounge or karaoke in the Stars Lounge, but on many nights there are no scheduled activities, other than music and dancing in a couple of the lounges, after 9:30 p.m.
The small casino on Deck 7 was refreshed in 2016; the casino bar was replaced with a comfortable, contemporary-looking sitting area -- not that we ever saw anyone sitting there. Gamers can enjoy six tables of blackjack, roulette, craps or poker and an array of slot machines.
Regent Seven Seas partners with the Smithsonian Institution to bring onboard knowledgeable guest lecturers (art historians, authors, professors, former diplomats) to speak about topics related to the cruise destination. For example, on our Italy and Mediterranean cruise, an art historian spoke about the Renaissance in Florence and Rome, the Byzantine influence on Corfu and Provencal artists like Van Gogh and Cezanne. The Smithsonian speakers join shore excursions and are available to continue the conversation over dinner onboard.
Some sailings might have bridge instructors onboard, itinerary dependent.
With nearly all drinks included in your fare, socializing or listening to music over a drink (or three, or seven) is the most popular evening pastime. Navigator has three main lounges, which people seem to choose depending on their taste in entertainment (dance band, pianist or background music). In general, we found the ship shuts down around midnight -- earlier if there's a long day of touring with early departures the next day. Note that the former Connoisseur Club cigar lounge no longer exists on this ship.
Navigator Lounge (Deck 6): The Navigator Lounge is a convivial cocktail venue where the ship's piano entertainer holds court or hosts Name That Tune after the main show lets out. It's right on the main Deck 6 thoroughfare and people get lured in as they walk by. The Coffee Connection serves as overflow seating. The cocktail menu offers a wealth of ideas -- including cocktails named after each of the Regent ships -- or you can make up your own from the list of complimentary liquors.
Stars Lounge (Deck 6): The Stars Lounge borders the ship's main theatre, making it a perfect spot for pre- or post-dinner (and show) cocktails. On our cruise, it was fairly empty post-show, and an attempt at karaoke was a failure with no one game enough to have a go.
Galileo's (Deck 11): Navigator's top-deck lounge is typically the most popular public space, with an active bar, circular dance floor and piano. The celestially themed space is lively both before and after dinner, for music and dancing, with the Navigator Show Band playing themed sets in the later evening. An iPad offers a DIY jukebox option once the band finishes. The outdoor deck behind Galileo's is the space for an alfresco drink or a smoke (starboard side) with your cognac. During the day, Galileo's is the spot for afternoon tea and trivia.
On Deck 10, the sun deck features a medium-size saltwater swimming pool flanked by two hot tubs. There's always plenty of space for sunning on this deck, as well as on Deck 11 overlooking the pool. The cushioned loungers are dressed in white terry cloth covers, so you can sunbathe or snooze in comfort.
Deck 11 is popular with fitness walkers, though it's not a proper track. Deck 12 forward is the place for putting, shuffleboard and beanbag toss.
Deck 6, a hub of activity, houses the reception, concierge and tour desks, the future cruise consultant's office and the Coffee Connection, which has a handful of internet-connected terminals for those not relying on personal devices. There are printers, too, but ask the manager to help you because the printers aren't setup for casual users to print.
Deck 6 also offers a card room/meeting room (with plenty of table space for puzzles), and the library, with cosy seating areas, daily newspapers from around the world and a nice selection of books to borrow.
The ship's shops are on Deck 7, and sell jewellery and watches, perfume and cosmetics, snacks and toiletries, clothing, handbags and souvenirs.
Self-service laundry rooms are located within the suite corridors on decks 5, 8, 9, 10 and 11. Each has two washers and dryers (detergent is provided), a utility sink, ironing board and iron. The laundry is quite popular; every time we passed by someone was in there washing or ironing, so plan in advance if you need to wash a load, as there might be a queue.
The medical centre is located on Deck 4.
Smoking is not permitted in any indoor venue or on cabin balconies. It's allowed only on the starboard side of Galileo's outdoor deck and in one designated area of the pool deck.
Though small, the ship's Canyon Ranch SpaClub on Deck 12 makes up for its size with excellent treatment services. Separate male and female locker rooms each include complimentary steam and sauna. Canyon Ranch also runs the upscale beauty salon.
There's a surprisingly spacious gym and fully equipped aerobics and yoga room. The gym features Lifecycles, free weights, striders, StairMasters, treadmills, weight benches, a Nautilus machine, workout mats and step benches. A fridge is stocked with bottles of water, vitaminwater and sports drinks, and earbuds are available if you forgot yours. A full-time fitness instructor also is available and schedules an array of activities every day (stretching, Pilates, indoor cycling and more). There's no extra charge for fitness classes, but don't expect the intense level of workout you're used to at home.
Every meal is included on Seven Seas Navigator, from buffet breakfasts to fancy steakhouse dining, burgers and milkshakes by the pool, pastries at the Coffee Connection and course-by-course meals served in your suite. Whether it's bouillon served poolside mid morning or afternoon tea in Galileo's Lounge mid-afternoon, you'll be able to find something to eat at any hour of the day or night.
Most venues -- including Compass Rose (the main dining room), La Veranda (the buffet) and Sette Mari (the sit-down Italian restaurant in La Veranda at dinner) -- are open seating, and you can choose when you'd like to dine as well as whether to share a table with others or choose a table just for your party. We never had trouble getting a table for two. Prime 7 is the only venue that requires reservations, and if you're choosy about times, we recommend you make your reservation online as soon as you can.
The food is well prepared and presented throughout Navigator, with dishes mostly ranging from "just fine" to "amazing." We preferred La Veranda for breakfast, the Pool Grill for lunch and Sette Mari and Prime 7 for dinner; Compass Rose always served a lovely meal, but we didn't find it quite as alluring.
Compass Rose (Deck 5): The 384-seat Compass Rose received a huge amount of attention during the ship's 2016 refurbishment -- it was completely rebuilt -- and now features a tasteful neutral-centric colour scheme with blue and silver highlights. Windows run the length of the restaurant on both walls. Seating is open with plenty of two-tops, and on our cruise, the venue was never crowded. Passengers can enter the elegant Compass Rose from either end.
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are available here. Breakfast has all the usual suspects -- fruit, cereal, eggs, pancakes, waffles, breakfast meat.
The lunch menu at Compass Rose was upgraded in late 2016 to include a fixed menu of appetizers and entrees sourced from the speciality restaurants found aboard Regent’s newest ship, Seven Seas Explorer. Try the grilled prime burger from Prime 7 (also located on Navigator), classic croque monsieur (or croque madame, served with an egg, sunny side up) from French Bistro-style Chartreuse and tuna tartare from Asian eatery Pacific Rim.
A selection of rotating daily house specials highlight an additional appetizer, soup, pasta, fish (like grilled mahi-mahi with mango peach salsa and lemongrass sauce) and main option; a variety of eight dessert choices round out the menu.
Features of the robust and customizable multi course dinner menu now include a fixed left side of the menu calling out staples of 13 types of meat, fish and seafood mains, cooked to preference (grilled, baked, broiled, poached or roasted), and available with an accompanying selection of sauces and garnishes. Feel free to mix and match -- go for traditional lobster and steak, or mix lamb chops and shrimp.
There are also favourite appetizers (like shrimp cocktail, lobster bisque or beef carpaccio), as well as soups and salads. An assortment of sides include sweet potato fries, sauteed spinach and Brussels sprouts; there’s also a fresh pasta of the day.
The right-hand side of the menu features rotating nightly specials with appetizers, pasta plates and entrees (like roasted pork tenderloin or pan-seared dole fillet) turned out by the executive chef, along with a suggested multi course menu degustation if you prefer to let the chef choose. Specially designated Canyon Ranch Spa plates are also available.
Every evening, there is at least one vegetarian dish to choose from in the selection of appetizers and mains (and so designated on the menu with a special icon), like Mediterranean squash and zucchini, stuffed with mushroom duxelles, tomato sauce and quinoa salad. (Gluten-free and other special diets can be accommodated with at least 24 hours advance notice.)
A separate enhanced dessert menu calls out cheese plates (paired with port wine), house-made ice creams and sorbets and an assortment of cakes and pastries.
At lunch and dinner, waiters serve a daily red and white wine, but you can also request other wines off the complimentary or premium menus or order a cocktail. If you make a special order, be prepared to wait as the drinks waiter pulls the bottle; they don't all seem to be close at hand.
La Veranda (Deck 10): La Veranda offers buffet-style breakfast and lunch featuring regional specialities. Breakfast is popular here, and the limited outdoor seating is hard to come by. Cold options include cereal, muesli, yogurt, meats, cheeses and fruit, while hot options might be scrambled eggs, hash browns, bacon and sausage. A sign indicates the daily special, typically something like pancakes, and you can request eggs to order at the central station that divides the buffet from the seating area. On select mornings, Champagne and caviar with blinis are set out for your indulgence.
At lunch, the egg station becomes a pasta station, and buffet options switch to salad (both DIY and premade) and dessert bars, as well as hot entrees (fried hake fillet, marinated chicken souvlaki).
Sette Mari (Deck 10): In the evening, La Veranda transforms into Sette Mari, an Italian venue with buffet and cooked-to-order options. The festive meal begins with a selection of Italian breads and appetizers (veal meatballs and fried mozzarella, bruschetta) brought to the table and salad, antipasti and soup presented on the buffet. The meal continues with your menu selections from a list of pasta (gnocchi with pesto, lasagna, a daily risotto) and mains (veal scaloppini, grilled swordfish, osso buco), and finishes with an array of desserts on the buffet (though you can order ice cream to the table). Compliment your meal with Italian wines, including prosecco, and your dessert with flavored grappa (chocolate, strawberry, hazelnut).
Even though this venue is a dressed up buffet, the table service was impressively attentive, with servers ready to carry your laden plates from the buffet to the table for you. We found it the most fun of the three main dining options, and the food rivalled meals you'd find at the other dinner venues.
The menu changes every two days, so you can rotate Sette Mari in with your Compass Rose dining and not feel like you're repeating dishes. However, on occasional long days in port (such as Livorno and Civitavecchia), the dining team will sometimes offer a more casual dinner buffet with a regional theme, rather than offer Sette Mari.
Pool Grill (Deck 10): The Pool Grill on Deck 10 is not your typical cruise ship burger bar. Its extensive lunch menu, typically served from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, offers a vast array of made-to-order sandwiches, with several vegetarian options. Choose from two types of hot dogs, five types of hamburgers and burgers made from turkey, salmon, tuna, Portobello mushroom, vegetables or tofu. It also serves sandwiches and grilled or blackened fish. Salad offerings and side dishes are available and perfectly prepared French fries to accompany grill orders.
With appropriate weather and itinerary timing, a festive poolside barbecue fish lunch (typically with four or more fish choices, including sushi, paella and mussels) is a gustatory highlight.
In August 2018, the Pool Grill launched casual evening alfresco dining, too; it’s the only evening venue on the ship where no evening dress code applies. Thanks to outdoor heat lamps -- and blankets draped over chairs on chillier nights -- the venue operates so long as the winds are not too high, and the temps are above 50 degrees or so. With a jacket, it was quite comfortable during our dining experience, with temps hovering in the mid-50s on an autumn evening.
The menu remains the same nightly, with a focus on fresh salads, grilled sides (like charred corn on the cob or roasted potatoes) and a grilled-to-order selection of BBQ meats and fish (or for vegetarians, marinated veggie kebabs and veggie burgers are available); there's also a cheese and dessert station. At the Pool Bar at the other end of the pool, bouillon is served from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and ice cream and milkshakes are available until about 4 p.m., sometimes later.
Prime 7 (Deck 10): The Prime 7 menu is so big that you could eat here every night and always try something new. The clubby steakhouse, done in dark woods and dark leather wingback chairs, is the premier alternate restaurant, and reservations are highly sought after as it only serves 74 to 78 passengers each night. Make your booking as soon as you're allowed before your cruise; if you're lucky, you might be able to score a second one once onboard. (Top suites get unlimited reservations.) Every table at this intimate venue has a view out the windows that line one entire wall.
The menu focuses on steak and seafood, with other meat options, as well. The entrees are huge, and you'll definitely want to try one or two starters and dessert, so pace yourself. All beef products served are U.S.D.A.-approved, and the menu includes Prime New York strip, Prime porterhouse, Prime filet mignon (6- or 10-ounce) and the restaurant's signature surf-and-turf, with your choice of lobster or Alaskan king crab legs as your "surf." There's also lobster, New Zealand lamb chops, pork, veal and roast chicken. Sides include twice-baked potatoes, creamed spinach, truffle fries and caramelized root vegetables. Desserts are hard to resist with options like Key lime pie, Chicago-style cheesecake, molten Callebaut chocolate cake and the decadent (and popular) caramel popcorn sundae.
Afternoon Tea (Deck 11): Traditional tea is served in Galileo's, the ship's observatory lounge, in the late afternoon. Choose from a buffet selection of real English scones with jam and clotted cream, finger sandwiches and fruit, and a waiter will serve you Twinings tea and wheel a trolley around with desserts and petits fours. Stay for trivia if you like.
Coffee Connection (Deck 6): Complimentary speciality coffees, tea and hot chocolate are available from a machine in the Coffee Connection 24/7. Throughout the day, you'll find continental breakfast options, fruit and cookies here, as well.
Room Service: Room service is available 24 hours a day and is much more extensive than that found on many other ships. Along with made-to-order eggs and continental items for breakfast and a range of intriguing entree items for lunch and dinner (grilled medallions of beef tenderloin, chicken breast with salsa cruda and vegetable masala, to name a few), passengers can order from the Compass Rose menu (found on your interactive TV) during lunch and dinner hours. Add in the possibility of course-by-course dining and a white tablecloth setup, and in-suite and on-balcony dining is an attractive alternative to the restaurants on nights you don't want to dress up.
All passenger accommodations on the ship are suites, though most have room-dividing curtains rather than separate living and sleeping rooms. They are quite spacious, and nearly all have balconies, with the exception of the window suites on the lowest decks. All suites were redecorated during a 2016 refurbishment, and feel newer than their age.
There are five basic configurations, with 11 categories; Window, Veranda, Concierge and Penthouse Suites all share the same interior layout. All of the suites are furnished with European king-sized beds (twin bed configuration is possible), flanked by a leather headboard, bedside and reading lights, and two-drawer nightstands with an analog clock; huge walk-in closets with more than enough hanging and drawer space (though you might need to request additional hangers); a large wall unit with writing desk (including a cabinet with glassware and a mini-fridge stocked with complimentary beer, soft drinks and water); a separate vanity with makeup mirror and stool; and a sitting area with a sofa and a table (which is perfect for in-suite meals). There is not a ton of storage outside of the closet -- a few hooks for hats or jackets, narrow shelves in the entryway, and a small drawer in the vanity and another in the desk.
Additional amenities include individual temperature control; telephones on the desk and in the bathroom; terry cloth bathrobes and slippers; umbrella; hair dryer; TV (with a large selection of movies, TV channels and music, as well as the ability to view your account, ship information and daily menus but with no interactivity); complimentary bottle of Champagne upon arrival; small, personal safe; shoeshine service and fruit basket. Suites have multiple 110V U.S.-style outlets and 220V-European outlets, but the 110V outlets are spaced so close together that any wider plugs prevent the adjoining outlet from being used. They're also not located near the bed.
Marble-appointed bathrooms offer a full-size bathtub and a separate shower. The shower is actually quite dark and narrow, making leg shaving an unpleasant affair. You could shower with the handheld showerhead in the bathtub for more room and light, but with no curtain, you will likely douse the bathroom in water. Bathroom storage is plentiful, and amenities include L'Occitane Mer & Mistral-scented soap, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion and lavender-scented bubble bath from L'Occitane, as well as a shower cap, cotton swabs, sewing kit and even a sharps container.
Some cabins can sleep a third passenger on a convertible sofa bed. Two Concierge Suites and two Penthouse Suites midship are handicap accessible.
Window Suite: The smallest accommodations on the ship are the 301-square-foot Window Suites because they have a picture window instead of a balcony. They're located on decks 5 and 6. A secret find is cabin 600, which is priced as a Window Suite, but due to the quirks of its forward location is actually 476 square feet.
Veranda Suite: Veranda Suites are identical to Window Suites, with 301 square feet of space, but also come with an additional 55 square feet on the balcony. Balconies are furnished with a pair of cushioned wicker chairs, with a slight recline, and a dining-height table. Suites 870 and 871 (all the way aft on Deck 8) are slightly smaller at 269 square feet with 45-square-foot balconies.
Concierge Suite: These suites are the same size and layout as the Veranda Suites, but come with additional amenities: 15 minutes of complimentary ship-to-shore phone time; a 10-percent discount on premium wine and liquor; and a 5-percent discount on extra-fee shore tours and hotel and land programs. These cabins are also outfitted with binoculars, illy espresso machines, tote bag and a cashmere throw blanket. Perks include priority online shore excursion reservations and a free one-night pre-cruise hotel package (including transfers, breakfast and porterage).
Penthouse Suite: Penthouse Suites again use the same size and layout as the lower categories, but come with even more amenities -- most notably, the services of a butler. The ship's butlers (for this category and above) can help you with packing and unpacking, laundry pressing (for a fee, but free on the first night) or any special requests, as well as deliver afternoon canapes. In addition to all perks offered to Concierge Suites, Penthouse passengers receive priority dining reservations, complimentary iPad and iPod for on-ship use, an iPhone docking station, pillow menu, personalized stationery, essentials pack (with shaving kit, face wipes, sewing kit, emery board, stain remover and hand sanitiser) and a choice of L'Occitane or Guerlain toiletries. Secret find: Cabin 601 is designated a Penthouse Suite, but is larger than the typical Penthouse (476 square feet with a 60-square-foot balcony).
Navigator Suite: Navigator Suites are a unique square-shaped design, with 448 square feet of space and a 47-square-foot balcony that's accessible via the living area or the separate bedroom. Because part of the interior living space is extended as far as the balcony, the majority of the verandas are especially private in that they're flanked on one side by your suite and on the other by a wall to your neighbour's suite (rather than being in a row of continuous balconies). Suite 1125 is the lone Navigator Suite on Deck 11 and is 358 square feet with a 56-square-foot balcony that does adjoin all the others on that deck. These suites feature a separate bedroom, large sitting area with L-shaped couch and glass-topped table, desk area and dining table that seats four. All suites can sleep up to four passengers, and receive all the amenities of the lower categories, as well as early 1 p.m. suite access on embarkation day, in-suite caviar service, bath salts, newspaper delivery, Blu-ray DVD player, bath scale (we're not sure that's a perk) and a full bar setup in the suite.
Grand Suite: The four Grand Suites are located all the way forward on decks 7 and 8, and feature 539 square feet of space. The Deck 8 Grand Suites have huge, 200-square-foot wrap-around balconies, while the Deck 7 versions have 75-square-foot, side-only balconies. The two-room suites feature a large living space with a dining table for four, coffee bar with illy espresso machine and fancy tea selection, sitting area with a couch and easy chairs, and desk/bar area consisting of one wall unit that also holds the flat-screen TV. The separate bedroom is done in dark wood and has a vanity and leather easy chair and another large TV. There are two bathrooms, one master and one half guest bath, with an assortment of toiletry choices from Guerlain, L'Occitane and Bottega Veneta, as well as Guerlain fragrance and a Spongelle buffer. Suites sleep a maximum of four people. Residents get all the amenities of the other suites, plus guaranteed reservations in Prime 7 on any evening, suite access at noon on embarkation day, an invitation to dine with the captain, free 25-minute personal training session in the gym, free unlimited valet laundry service, room service from the speciality restaurants, sleepshirt, chocolates, tea setup and shore excursion bag.
Master Suite: The four Master Suites on decks 10 and 11 are the largest suites onboard, boasting an immense 1,067 square feet of space. The Deck 10 suites have a 106-square-foot, wraparound balcony, while the Deck 9 suites have 75-square-foot side balconies only. The layout is similar to the Grand Suite -- with living/dining room, separate bedroom and 1.5 baths -- but with more space; in the living area, the dining table seats six and the floor-to-ceiling wall unit housing the bar is separate from the standalone desk. The suite can sleep up to five people. Suite residents receive all the amenities of the Grand Suite, as well as a complimentary cocktail party for eight people.
