Seven Seas Mariner
A New Look for an "Old" Favorite
by Linda Coffman
Part Two
Relaxing Spaces
There’s no better way to spend a day at
sea than in the new
cabanas on the pool deck. Curtained for privacy, each of the three
cabanas is furnished with thickly padded wicker sofas. The ideal
spot to kick back and unwind, unlike on other ships, here on Seven
Seas Mariner there is no charge. Cabanas are first-come,
first-served, but I had no trouble finding one available.
Waiters from the pool bar drop by to offer refreshments and the pool
grill is nearby if we have the urge for some ice cream or a more
substantial snack.
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| Pool Deck
Cabanas |
Another spot to relax and rejuvenate is the Carita
Spa. Operated by high end Carita of Paris, treatments range from a
variety of massages to massage scrubs and wraps for the body and
exotic facials for women and men. The adjacent salon features a full
menu of beauty services from head to toe.
Nearby changing rooms offer complimentary saunas
and steam rooms to relieve the kinks after a workout in the adjacent
fitness center.
Entertaining Spots
Nightly shows on my short sailing varied from
concerts presented by solo vocalists and musicians to full-blown
production shows featuring the Regent Singers & Dancers.
Music fills Seven Seas Mariner from afternoons at
the pool to the wee hours in lounges. After taking dance lessons
during the day, passengers were eager to show off their new steps in
the Horizons Lounge before and after dinner and during disco
sessions in Stars Lounge. Would-be performers were invited to take
the stage at karaoke parties, although they didn't seem as popular
as on big-ship cruises.
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| The Casino |
In addition to Bingo, arts and crafts, and
needlework sessions, Seven Seas Mariner features interesting
lectures on a wide range of topics. I was fascinated by the way
hurricanes had altered the course of history during a talk by Max
Mayfield, former director of the National Hurricane Center.
More Monte Carlo than Las Vegas, Seven Seas
Mariner's casino was a hot spot where fellow passengers reported
winning at the tables.
Mel and I quickly discovered our personal favorite spots on board—mine
was a pour-your-own coffee setup with cookies always available
adjacent to the Coffee
Connection and Mel's was the
Connoisseur Club where could smoke a cigar. Regent’s smoking
policy is very strict with no smoking allowed in suites or on
balconies. Other than the cigar lounge, smokers can only light up at
the Casino bar counter, in a designated area of Stars Nightclub, the
outside area of the Horizon Lounge, at the Pool Bar, and on the
starboard side of the pool deck. In essence, Seven Seas Mariner is a
refreshingly smoke-free ship.
![[ss-mariner-bridge.jpg]](http://cruisediva.net/ss-mariner-bridge.jpg)
A
View From the Bridge
With heightened security concerns in today’s
environment, most cruise lines don’t offer tours of the bridge any
more. Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ ships had an “open bridge” policy
in the past that allowed guests to drop by and view the inner
workings at any time, but that has even changed. Happily, in its
place are bridge tours and anyone on board can request one.
Our group met in the lobby and proceeded to the bridge where the
Seven Seas Mariner’s azipod propulsion system was explained. We also
learned about the communications and navigation systems and stepped
out onto the open bridge wing for a look at the controls located
there.
Lasting Impressions
With port-intensive itineraries, open seating dining, a guest
lecturer program, complimentary beverages at all times and pouring
wines with dinner, gratuities included, and a wide range of
activities and entertainment, the Seven Seas Mariner has just about
everything to provide a satisfying and memorable voyage for
discriminating, seasoned cruise veterans.
Back to
Part One
Photos © Linda Coffman,
CruiseDiva.com
