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.

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.

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.

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

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