Regent Seven Seas Voyager

Spacious, elegant and five-star all the way, Seven Seas Voyager is a ship which brought new meaning to the phrase, "luxury at sea", when she debuted. With every accommodation a suite with a private balcony, she’s a small ship by today’s standards, boasting the intimacy of a yacht, but coupled with the facilities of a much larger cruise vessel. Although similar to Seven Seas Mariner, her slightly older sibling, Voyager has larger accommodations making her ideal for long range cruising. She’s also one of the truly all-inclusive ships afloat today.

Fast Facts

Launched: 2003.

Tonnage: 42,363.

Cruising speed: 20 knots.

Number of passengers: 700 at double occupancy.

Crew: 447.

Staterooms: 350, all suite and all with private balconies.

Where she cruises: World cruise, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Asia Pacific, Africa and India.

Who Should Go?

Couples, or anyone seeking a truly luxurious experience at sea.

Things you Might Not Know

Seven Seas Voyager is the world's second all-suite, all balcony cruise ship, the first being her older sibling, Seven Seas Mariner. One of its specialty restaurants, Signatures, is operated under the guidance of the prestigious Le Cordon Bleu of France, and exclusive to the line. Regent also includes a number of free shore excursions in cruise fares, and formal nights are optional.

Staterooms

From the bottom category to the very top level Master Suite, all of Seven Seas Voyager's ocean view balcony suites are spacious, elegantly appointed and packed with amenities. All suites have European king sized beds (which can be made up as twins), a comfortable sitting area, and come with 24-hour room service, walk in closets, full size marble bathrooms, flat screen interactive televisions, and wireless internet access. They also have bathrobes and toiletries, replenished daily.

There are two different categories of standard accommodation measuring 33 square metres in size (including the balcony), Deluxe Suites and Concierge Suites, located across several decks. They are all identical in layout and colour scheme, which is mostly honey coloured wood, cream walls, accents of biscuit and white. Concierge Suites come with added Concierge-level Amenities including a free one-night pre cruise hotel package, priority dining reservations at Prime 7 and Signatures, 30 minutes of free internet and more.

There are three categories of penthouse suites, ranging from 28-30 square metres plus balconies of various sizes, with colour schemes varying from the warm honey and cream colours, to the same with accents of soft green. They come with added perks besides the Concierge-level Amenities; they include butler service, an iPad in-suite, and iPod docking station and daily canapés.

The larger suites come in five different varieties ranging from the Seven Seas Suite Aft at 41 square metres plus balcony, to the impressive Master Suite which has two bedrooms and is 113 square metres plus balcony.

Facilities and Entertainment

Voyager was designed for comfortable, long range cruising and it shows. The ship has a lively social centre surrounding the popular Coffee Connection, an internet cafe, and a two-tier theatre for big product shows and entertainment, which can range from a solo musician to a comedian. Bars include the Horizon Lounge which is always a hive of activity, the more intimate Observation Lounge which boasts fabulous views, and the Connoisseur Club is the place to enjoy a cigar.

By day there is plenty to keep you busy or not as you choose, with a bustling activities program which can include anything from enrichment lectures from high profile or celebrity speaker, to trivia and initiation parties for events such as crossing the dateline or equator. For the physically active there's a fitness centre and studio for classes such as yoga, and for lovers of pampering a new addition is a swish Canyon Ranch SpaClub. On deck there's a good sized pool with two whirlpools, paddle tennis and golf cages.

Although Voyager isn't the most kid-friendly ship, Club Mariner is Regent's youth program, and it operates during selected voyages during the summer months (northern hemisphere) and the holiday season. It caters to kids ages five to 17.

Dining

There are plenty of options to keep food lovers happy during a long voyage. Compass Rose is the ship's flagship venue, operating on a fully open seating basis, and serving continental cuisine from a menu which changes daily. La Veranda is the casual option, which operates in a buffet style for breakfast and lunch, and offers the option of al fresco dining. At night it becomes Setti Mari at La Veranda, a casual á la carte dining experience with a strong Italian theme.

The ship’s two alternative restaurants are Prime 7, an intimate classical American steakhouse by reservation only, and Signatures, another venue serving classic cuisine but in this case authentic French, inspired by the legendary Le Cordon Bleu of Paris. This venue is also by reservation only. By day another option is the Pool Grill, ideal for a simple meal such as a made-to-order hamburger or a salad.

The Spa

Regent’s spas are operated by the prestigious Canyon Ranch SpaClub from the US, offering a menu of treatments including signature massages, therapeutic bodywork, aromatherapy, ayurvedic and seaweed treatments as well as facials. Part of the facility is a salon offering hair care, manicures, pedicures and more available in the salon.

The Low Down

If you’re looking for oversized accommodations, but a smaller ship with big ship facilities, and plenty of professional pampering, Seven Seas Voyager is well worth considering.