Supplement to Travel Trade
March 2005

Bermuda Bound on

Regent’s Seven Seas Navigator

By Carol Eannarino

Pair Regent’s Seven Seas Navigator, a dream of a ship, with Bermuda, a dream of a destination, and agents have a cruise vacation sure to please their most discriminating clients.

The 33,000-ton, six-star vessel comes complete with the luxurious amenities that upscale travelers expect. Indeed, in many cases, the Seven Seas Navigator will surpass their expectations. With a 490-passenger capacity, the ship offers plenty of spacious airiness. And with a ratio of one crewmember to every 1.4 passengers, service is top-notch.

The ship’s interior is warm, tastefully contemporary and inviting — the ideal venue for passengers who place a high priority on rest and relaxation.

The Seven Seas Navigator, an all suite, all-oceanview ship, has 245 suites ranging in size from 301 to 1,173 square feet. Ninety percent have teakwood balconies. Each suite has a living room area, a large walk-in closet, wooden hangers, plenty of drawer space and a stocked mini-bar. Recently, the ship upgraded from VCRs to DVD players, with a good selection of DVDs available in the ship’s library, where there’s also a wide choice of fiction and non-fiction plus ten computer terminals.

Large, luxurious bathrooms feature both a shower stall and bathtub. Bathrobes, slippers and plush towels are provided. All suites, with the exception of deluxe window suites, categories C-H, include butler service. Polished and polite, the butlers are available for such things as unpacking, making reservations in the Portofino Restaurant, bringing canapés to the suite around cocktail time, and so on.

The Navigator’s cuisine is truly excellent. The main dining room, Compass Rose, offering one sitting, is elegant with crisp linens, fresh flowers and sparkling crystal. The staff goes out of its way to insure that everyone’s dietary and gustatory needs are met. Complimentary wine at dinner is a touch that passengers really appreciate.

We also loved the fact that Navigator posts the dinner menu on the in-cabin closed circuit TV, making it easy to order room service during normal dinner hours. This is a special treat that clients will want to try at least once on their cruise. Having your butler set an elegant table, serve you and pour the wine, all in the comfort of your stateroom, is indeed a luxury. In addition, a room service menu is served 24 hours.
The Portofino Restaurant, a cheerful alternative dining experience on deck 10, serves an excellent buffet breakfast and lunch and, by reservation, a candlelight dinner. The restaurant opens onto an aft deck, offering al fresco dining on umbrella tables for breakfast and lunch. In addition to the bountiful buffet, there’s an omelet station at breakfast and a pasta station at lunch.

For dinner, Portofino turns into a cozy restaurant; complete with waiter service, serving a twist on traditional Italian cuisine with menus inspired by Chef Angela Elia from the Casa DiAngelo Ristorante in Ft. Lauderdale. The chef’s specialties, Tuscan entrees with southern Italian accents, have earned him a spot on Zagat’s “America’s Top Restaurants” list. This is a popular dining venue, so be sure to tell clients to reserve early.

The Pool Grill, on deck 10 near the swimming pool and two Jacuzzis, serves hot dogs, hamburgers, salads and the like at lunchtime. Two driving cages are also located on this deck.

The Galileo Lounge serves tea from 4 p.m. until 5 p.m., offering a wide selection of teas, scones and delicate tea sandwiches and pastries. The lounge has a piano, bar and dance floor and is a popular before and after dinner spot.

The smaller Navigator Lounge, directly across from the library, has a bar and comfortable chairs. At various times during the day and evening on our voyage, a talented singer and musician entertained a loyal following of passengers.

The Vista Lounge, with sweeping views high above the sea, is a perfect place to end the evening.
The two-tiered Seven Seas Show Lounge is a glamorous venue for entertaining performances. Recently, the cruise line partnered with Sixth Star Entertainment, based in Ft. Lauderdale, for its fleet-wide shipboard entertainment programming. The line continues to work with Peter Grey Terhune, known for his lavish production shows.

During the day, guest lecturers speak in the Show Lounge on the history of the destinations being visited.

The lively casino offers blackjack, roulette, video poker and a number of slot machines.
Keeping fit and being pampered are part of the Seven Seas Navigator experience. The Carita Spa features an extensive menu of soothing offerings, including mud wraps, thalassotherapy, steam and sauna treatments, and a full complement of beauty services.

At the Fitness Center, guests may crunch, lift, row, tread, pedal or run on state-of-the-art equipment. A fitness instructor is on hand.

For more diversions, there are Park West art auctions, classes in ballroom dancing (gentlemen hosts are aboard for guests who need a dance partner) and a certified Master Bridge instructor who can teach guests contract or duplicate bridge in the ship’s card room. And, though laundry and dry cleaning services are offered, we appreciated the complimentary, self-service laundromat on our deck.

During the summer months and holidays seasons, the Seven Seas Navigator offers Club Mariner, a variety of supervised activities for children from ages 6 to 11 and 12 to 17.

The Seven Seas Navigator will sail 7-night cruises roundtrip from New York on May 18 and 25, June 8, Aug. 10, 17 and 31. These cruises include two sea days, two overnights (three days) in Hamilton, a day in St. George’s and a day in Norfolk, VA. Roundtrips from Norfolk sail on Aug. 16, 23 and 30, with New York City as the first stop. A number of sailings offer air free of charge plus $300 off or $750 off the fare.

Once in Bermuda, passengers can take advantage of a variety of shore excursions or go off on their own. We were fortunate to have a portside stateroom. Since the ship docked sideways right in the heart of Hamilton, our balcony provided fabulous views and the feeling of sitting on a front porch in the middle of town.

Bermuda, with its distinctive English heritage intact, offers good shopping, pastel-colored cottages, pink sand beaches and a variety of interesting sights and activities, including snorkeling and scuba diving. The capital city of Hamilton is lively and bustling. St. George’s, which anchors Bermuda’s East End, is the second oldest English town in the New World. King Square, the town’s hub of activity, features the replica of the stocks and pillory that were used for punishment. At noon, the Town Crier relays the time and day’s events.

While a trip to Colonial Williamsburg is one possible shore excursion for the port of Norfolk, we opted to explore Nauticus, The National Maritime Center, a stone’s throw from where the ship docked. This interactive science and technology center explores the power of the sea and offers a number of exhibits for kids. The complex also houses the Hampton Roads Naval Museum. The Battleship USS Wisconsin is berthed alongside.

Shoppers may take the complimentary bus that stops in front of Nauticus to nearby downtown, where there’s an impressive shopping mall.

For those arriving early in New York City, or embarking in Norfolk, there are several shore excursions that explore the Big Apple as well as pre and post hotel packages.