Regent
Seven Seas Navigator Report
On
Monday, April 1, 2013 Carol and I were guests aboard the smallest of Regent’s
three ships, the Navigator. Looking back on the visit, a few remarkable
impressions stand out.
At
just 28,550 tons and 490 guests, the Navigator is a “boutique” in today’s
cruise market. When you consider the crew size of 325 (1 ½ guests for
every crew member), you begin to understand what the Navigator is all
about. Understated elegance with personal service makes the guest
feel comfortable immediately.
We
found ourselves forgetting the size of the ship because all of the amenities
found on larger ships are still present—only scaled down from the newer jumbo
ships. The full height atrium with glass elevators contributes to the
“full size” feeling, as do the staterooms. The smallest you will find
aboard are 301 Sq. Ft. 80% of the 245 staterooms have balconies, while
the rest have windows. Even the passageways are wider than found on
larger ships. All of this contributes to the spacious feeling we found.
The
ship itself is a perfect fit for Regent’s all-inclusive concept. The
company, admittedly, is not the cruise line for everyone. Regent is a
good match for the 50+ guest who prefers to pay one price for their vacation
and then put their wallet away. Regent’s pricing can cause a bit of
sticker shock at first, but when guests consider that items like airfare,
transfers, pre and post cruise hotels, gratuities, shore excursions, premium
adult beverages as well as soft drinks are all provided at no additional
charge, the bottom line comparison to other cruise lines is favorable. On
certain departures, bonuses that can be used for spa services are also offered
in the base price. This kind of pricing requires a knowledgeable agent to
make the bottom line comparison and explain the value. This is why Regent
values their relationship with Vacation.com and the member agents.
On
our visit, we only had time for lunch, but my report would not be complete
without commenting on the food and service in the dining room. We have
been on 39 cruises on dozens of ships and the food and service in the main dining
room was on a level with specialty restaurants on other ships. The house
wines were a treat and the glass never emptied. The main course and desert
will always be remembered. We envied the guests who were boarding as we
departed.
If you are the kind of cruiser who prefers a higher category stateroom on the larger ships and spends money while onboard, you must take a closer look at the Regent sailings.
Philip and Carol Doyle
KVI agents
Fort lauderdale, Florida
954-817-9042
