Supplement to Travel Trade
May 2003

Regent's Seven Seas Voyager:

Quiet Luxury at Sea

By Carol Eannarino

On a recent “shakedown” cruise before the inaugural of Regent’s Seven Seas Voyager, the large contingent of travel agents on board agreed that the vessel was a welcome addition to the Radisson fleet — as well as a shining new entry in the luxury market.

Although it was a shakedown cruise, it was smooth sailing all the way aboard the Voyager, which was christened on April 1 in Monaco.

At 46,000 tons, with all-balcony suite accommodations for 700 guests, the elegant Voyager is compact and intimate — yet its single-corridor design and superb use of space gives one the feeling of being on a larger ship. Sister ship to the Seven Seas Mariner, which debuted in 2001, the Voyager boasts a generous space ratio of 70 and crew-to-guest ratio of 1:1.5.

“Quiet luxury” are two words that well describe a cruise aboard the Voyager. There’s no glitz or overblown glamour — just elegant good taste at every turn.

The accommodations are top of the line. Four of the decks (7 through 10) are exclusively reserved for suites. Every suite has a balcony. Dimensions, including balcony, range from the 356-square feet Deluxe Suite to two-bedroom Master Suites of up to 1,403-square feet. Many offer connecting suites, and triples are also available.

Every suite has a walk-in closet with a safe, chest of drawers, lots of wooden hangers and enough room to store suitcases — or for use as a changing room. Our well-appointed penthouse suite was roomy at 370 square-feet and included butler service, available in categories B and higher. (Categories below B offer the services of a cabin steward and concierge).

It took us a while to get used to requesting the pampering service of a butler. But ours was so ready, willing and able to cater to every detail during the cruise, starting with unpacking luggage, making reservations on board or onshore, etc., that we couldn’t resist. Trained and accredited by The Guild of Professional English Butlers, they clearly take pride in their work.

Our bedroom area featured a vanity and desk area. There was also an interactive TV, which wasn’t operational during our shakedown cruise, but which enables guests to send (not receive) E-mail and order shore excursions and the like.

Our spacious marble bathroom featured a roomy glass shower, as well as a full bathtub, plus lots of counter and storage space. Thick bathrobes, fluffy towels and amenities from Judith Jackson (whose spa is onboard) are featured.

The bedroom, with its large European bed (which can be configured as twin beds), soft down pillows and heavenly duvets, is separated by a curtain from a living area with a loveseat, armchairs, table and television, plus a stocked mini-bar. In addition, each suite has an in-suite bar setup.

As you might expect, the four gourmet dining rooms live up to the Voyager’s six-star rating. The charming Compass Rose, serving international cuisine, is the main restaurant, serving three meals with single seating dinner from 7 p.m. to 9: 30 p.m.

La Veranda, on Deck 11, is informal and bright, offering both inside or al fresco buffet dining. In addition to a sumptuous spread, there’s an omelet station at breakfast and an excellent pasta station at lunch and dinner, when it is transformed into an Italian-style bistro.

Signatures and Latitudes, the two alternative restaurants, require reservations. Tell your clients to reserve as soon as they can, since seating is limited. We found that the first night of the cruise is an excellent time to dine in either Signatures or Latitudes, since most passengers are unpacking and unwinding.

We were surprised one night while dining in Latitudes to see several empty tables (especially since, on this shakedown cruise, reservations were hard to come by) and were told that these were the result of last minute cancellations. So advise your clients to get on a waiting list if the restaurants are booked.

The sleek 110-seat Signatures, which debuted on the Mariner as the first permanent shipboard restaurant to be directed by Le Cordon Bleu chefs, is a wonderful opportunity to enjoy fine French cuisine at sea. This year, the Voyager is offering five Le Cordon Bleu Workshop sailings, a chance to participate in hands-on cooking workshops taught by master chefs.

Latitudes, with its Asian fusion menu, boasts an open galley which adds to the dining experience. The charming room features banquettes along the side wall, with curtains between tables to provide a degree of privacy. A harpist entertained during our dinner, adding to the ambience.

There’s also 24-hour room service, including selections from the Compass Rose Restaurant, during regular dining hours.

For pampering, the Judith Jackson Beauty Salon & Spa, on Deck 6 forward, offers a variety of healthy treatments, hair care and massages in an elegant setting. The spa, also featured onboard the Navigator and Mariner, has been expanded on the Voyager, thanks to passenger feedback. Hours are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Fitness Center, also on Deck 6, is comprised of a well-equipped gym and aerobics area. Open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., there’s a fitness instructor in attendance from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.

As for entertainment, there’s a variety of choices. The low-key casino on Deck 4 offers a variety of slot and poker machines with roulette, blackjack, craps and stud poker tables.

Entertainment in the attractive two-level 578-seat Constellation Theater might include a Broadway-style show, as it did on our cruise (when the world premiere of “Lullaby of Broadway” featuring the Peter Grey Terhune Singers & Dangers debuted).

Cocktails and dancing in the Horizon or Observation Lounges are popular evening pastimes. The Voyager Lounge is transformed into a late night disco at 10:30 till the wee hours.

Cigar lovers may enjoy a cognac and a fine cigar at the plush Connoisseur Club on Deck 4.

Daytime activities might include a creative writing forum, guest lecturer, backgammon game and paddle tennis tournament. The Card Room is on Deck 4, and there’s a small but well-stocked library on Deck 6, with best selling books, local newspapers, magazines and destination guides — and a few comfy armchairs.

Club.com, the Internet area, is quite popular with passengers. An adjoining room is available for computer classes. And for those who choose to, there are self-service launderettes throughout the ship, with detergent provided without charge.

For the active set, Deck 12 is devoted to sports and includes a full circle jogging track, shuffleboard, paddle tennis courts and golf nets, for swing practice. Deck 11 features an expansive pool deck, including hot tubs, pool bar and grill.

The reception and tour office are located on Deck 5, where you’ll also find a Coffee Corner, which serves coffee and pastries from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.

You might say that the Voyager offers everything a cruiser could want — and more. According to Regent president and CEO Mark Conroy, this is an ideal time for travel agents to convert their premium passengers to luxury cruising. And, as he noted, once they get a taste of what luxury cruising entails, they’ll never look back.

The Voyager’s inaugural season in Europe offers Mediterranean, Western Europe & British Isles cruises, and a series of Baltic cruises.