Seven Seas Mariner

Launched in 2001, Seven Seas Mariner is the second oldest of the Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships, together with the new Explorer (2016) and Splendor (2020) and the old Navigator and Voyager.

History - construction and ownership

Regent Cruises (officially Regent Seven Seas Cruises / RSSC) is an all-inclusive, top-luxury cruise brand fka "Radisson Seven Seas". Until 2014, the company (as part of "Prestige Cruise Holdings") was owned by Apollo Management LP - one of the world's largest private investment equity funds. Since September 2014, RSSC and the sister company Oceania Cruises are owned by NCL Norwegian (shipowner), acquired at the total cost of USD 3 billion. Regent cruise ships are medium-sized, with capacity up to 800 passengers. The fleet consists of 6-star rated all-suite and all-balcony vessels with a space-to-guest ratio around 70 and staff-to-guest ratio 1-to-1,6 (some of industry's best). As building cost per berth, RSSC liners are among the world's most expensive ships.

The 48,075-ton, 700-passenger cruise ship Seven Seas Mariner was the first 100% balcony 100% suite cruise ship in the world. In an era where cruise vessels and guests loads practically require their own zip codes, together came Regent Seven Seas Cruise Company with a completely retro concept: Build mid-size cruise liners with reduced guests loads to foster service which is attentive and gracious in an onboard environment that is open and large. And, though Seven Seas Mariner cruise ship debuted in 2001, it has been kept in perfect condition. Regent Cruise Company frequently pours lots of money into its vessels' upkeep; the refurbishment in January 2009, for example, saw the line spending over 20 million dollars.

Cruise itinerary program

Seven Seas Mariner itinerary program is based on luxury World Cruises visiting exotic ports in the regions of South Pacific, South America, South Africa (departing from Cape Town), and Caribbean (out of Miami). In the summer, Mariner cruises in Europe on Mediterranean itineraries from Rome, Venice, Barcelona, with Transatlantic repositioning crossings.

Cabins

Like all Regent cruise ships, Seven Seas Mariner is an all-suite ship. The number of suite categories is 14. Seven Seas Mariner has a total of 354 suites, of which 100% have private balconies. The largest ones are the Master Suites (1210 ft2).

Regent Mariner cruise deals offer all-inclusive luxury prices – and some of the most expensive rates available on the top luxury cruise travel vacation market. The cost of Seven Seas Mariner cruise in a Master Suite accommodation provides the ultimate Regent Mariner luxury packages for one of the ship’s two best cruise accommodation (located on Deck 9), each of 1,200 sq.ft (111,5 m2, balcony included). The lowest suite category on the ship is the “Deluxe Suite” (about 3 times cheaper than the Master Suite’s fares).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Compass Rose restaurant is the main dining room on Seven Seas Mariner. It functions on an open seating basis and offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner without set dining assignments. La Veranda is ship's daytime buffet, serving breakfast and lunch. In the evening it is transformed into a bistro serving Mediterranean cuisine. The speciality steak house Prime 7 is free of charge but requires reservations for dinner. Dinner is served alfresco on Mariner's pool deck at least once during each cruise. Another choice for casual lunch is the poolside grill. Dinner can be ordered from the MDR menu during restaurant hours to be served en suite.

Follows the complete list of Seven Seas Mariner restaurants and food bars.

• Compass Rose (main dining room restaurant, open-seating breakfast, lunch and dinner; features European Continental dishes and alternative choices - vegetarian, specialities from the Spa menu, select dishes from Regent's Chartreuse menu with gourmet French cuisine)
• Signatures (French speciality restaurant, dinner-only, reservations-only; in 2016 replaced by Regent Cruises new Chartreuse speciality restaurant with traditional French cuisine)
• Pool Grill (fast food bar, poolside; serves the pool deck area)
• Prime 7 (reservations-only dinner restaurant with American Steakhouse menu)
• La Veranda / Sette Mari (casual dining venue; operates as ship’s self-service buffet restaurant; in the evenings, the buffet transforms into “Sette Mari” Italian dinner restaurant, complimentary).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

Seven Seas Mariner cruise ship is an ideal blend - both big enough to offer roomy, cruise-like facilities and little enough to feel comfortable at the same time. With a double-time-occupancy capacity of seven hundred passengers onboard, it sports an exclusive passenger-to-space ratio of 71.43 and a none-too-shabby passenger-to-crew ratio of 1.57. Тravelers do not have to hesitate, because even the bottommost accommodations are suites, and each cabin has its own veranda.

Follows the complete list of Seven Seas Mariner lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Constellation Theater (2-deck high main show lounge for grand music and show productions; also features “Cirque Rock ‘n Roll” aerial acrobatics spectacle)
• Atrium (8-deck high open-floor area)
• Mariner Lounge (signature cocktails bar with grand piano; serves casual early Continental Breakfast with fresh pastries and speciality coffees/teas)
• Club.com (Internet computers room); Library
• Connoisseur Club (smoking lounge with comfortable leather armchairs; offers hand-rolled Cuban cigars)
• Card Room (hosts bridge tournaments and lectures)
• Coffee Connection (speciality coffee and patisserie bar)
• Horizon Lounge (with a large dance floor; hosts daily trivia shows and offers Afternoon Tea)
• Observation Lounge (grand piano bar with live music performances in the evenings)
• The Boutique (duty-free shopping arcade: luxury jewellery, precious stones, brand perfumes, watches, designer clothes, accessories, gifts, souvenirs, Regent-logo wear)
• Casino (with 2 sections: for the slot machines, and for the gaming tables)
• Stars Lounge (nightclub)
• Mariner Pool area (with a large swimming pool, 3 Whirlpools, sunbathing area with loungers, tennis tables, seating area; served by the Pool Bar)
• Canyon Ranch SpaClub and Wellness Center (Treatment Rooms, Saunas, Steam Rooms, Relaxation Room. The Centre includes ship’s Beauty Salon, Gym and Aerobics Studio)
• Fitness Center (with floor-ceiling windows, modern equipment); Promenade (Deck 6)
• The Top Deck (Power Walking/Jogging Track; sports court: mini-golf putting green; Golf Net; Shuffleboard; Bocce; Paddle Tennis court).

The Regent Mariner ship was built in St Nazaire France and is the line's second of all three vessels providing ultra-inclusive "big yacht" luxury cruise vacation experiences. Her fleet mates are the Regent ships Navigator,  Voyager and Explorer (2016).

Regent Mariner's itinerary calendar features a diverse set of sailing routes and destinations on 5 continents. The ship operates in In Europe (Mediterranean Sea), South Africa, around South America, in the South Pacific (including Australia, New Zealand and Tahiti).

Regent Seven Seas Navigator is among the top-luxury World Cruise ships offering each year an Around The World itinerary. It includes up to 30 different countries and numerous exotic ports of call in Asia, Australia, South America, Caribbean, Africa, also Transatlantic crossings, Panama Canal and/or Suez Canal transits.

On September 2, 2014, the NCL Norwegian company purchased the company "Prestige Cruise Holdings" (owner of Oceania Cruises and RSSC) for USD 3,025 billion, thus becoming the official owner of all vessels in both fleets.

On March 9, 2016, RSSC announced fleet’s first female Captain – Serena Melani, commander of Seven Seas Mariner. She entered service on February 21, 2016. She was also the first female Captain in the combined NCLH fleet, that besides RSSC Regent also includes the brands Oceania and NCL Norwegian. Captain Melani (aged 42 at the time) was born in Tuscany Italy, graduated a nautical school and had previously worked on cargo ships (oil tankers, gas carriers and other vessels) before joining RSSC in 2010. For RSSC, she had previously worked as second officer, safety officer, staff (2nd) captain.

Fun fact is that ship's 2022 world cruise (120-night "Elements of the Pacific"-themed itinerary roundtrip from San Francisco CA USA) set a booking record for RSSC. Around 39% of all berths were booked on voyage's opening day (July 10, 2019). The voyage visits 59 seaports in 17 countries, with 18 port overnights and ~300 shore excursions (including to 43 UNESCO sites).

In mid-April 2016, RSSC announced upgraded fares adding free international flights to all 2017-2018 cruise itineraries. These are round-trip air travel deals (business class) added to the company's signature (standard) all-inclusive package - wines, spirits, soda, water, unlimited internet, free shore excursions, prepaid gratuities, pre-post cruise hotel stays and transfers. The air-inclusive cruise deals involve international flights leaving from 26 cities (the USA and Canada), regardless of the suite category booked.

The company Apollo Group provides all RSSC ships with the entire onboard hotel product and services. This includes administration, food staff (preparation and serving), housekeeping staff, also vessel's provisioning and crewing. Other cruise lines served by Apollo are Thomson UK (Marella Cruises) and Oceania.

Seven Seas Mariner refurbishment 2018 review

The ship's last drydock refurbishment (March 15 - April 3, 2018) was done in Marseille France (at Chantier Naval de Marseille). The 20-day project completed RSSC's fleet renovation program budgeted USD 125 million. Ship's upgrades and updates included new food menus, renovated and redesigned cabins, completely renovated public areas.

• All restaurants were redesigned and received new artworks and decors.
• All cabins were upgraded with new beds and furniture.
• Deck 6's outdoor area received new teak decking and furniture (sun loungers).
• Pool Deck was comprehensively redesigned and received new teak flooring. The swimming pool received new mosaic tiles and broader ledge in its shallow water area for sun lounging.
• Pool deck's outdoor dining was upgraded with new/expanded lunch options, which include prime steaks, chops, sausages, seafood (salmon), chicken. The "fast food" is cooked a la minute at the new infrared BBQ grills and new buffet food bars now part of the Pool Grill restaurant.
• The Atrium, walkways and public spaces received new carpeting, furniture, decors, art.
• The Library was remodelled and received new dark-wood bookshelves, updated furnishings, new chandelier.
• The Connoisseur Club (indoor smoking lounge) received a new colour scheme.
• Promenade Deck 6 (outdoor area) received new teak flooring.
• Canyon Ranch SpaClub was re-designed and received new (pebble-stone) tiling in treatment rooms.
• The ship's Gymnasium (fitness and aerobics studio) were upgraded with new equipment.
• Compass Rose Restaurant received new crystal chandeliers, recessed ceiling lighting, comfortable leather chairs, new tables, new plush drapes.
• Chartreuse Restaurant is a new speciality dining venue serving modern French cuisine. It replaced the old Signatures Restaurant.
• Extensive renovations received also the Reception/lobby area (new marble desks, new original artwork), Card Room, Coffee Connection (expanded by taking some space from the Library), Casino, shops.
• Prime 7 Steakhouse was re-designed and received a new colour scheme.

Seven Seas Mariner refurbishment 2017 review

The list of deck plan changes and updates during the ship’s refurbishment in April 2017 (done in Freeport Bahamas) includes:

• new entertainment program with Broadway-style shows and comedy productions
• public spaces and passenger rooms renovations and amenities upgrades, including new furniture, bedding, flat TVs
• All suites and public spaces (including the pool deck) received new stone floors, deck flooring, new pool design, hot-tubs shades, infrared outdoor grill. Among the updated venues are La Veranda restaurant, the Internet Cafe, the Library.
• New menus were introduced at the Compass Rose main dining restaurant.
• RSSC's 2016-2017 ship refurbishments cost the parent company NCLH a total of USD 125 million.

Seven Seas Mariner refurbishment 2014 review

The list of deck plan changes after drydock 2014 refurbishment included:

• All Mariner cruise accommodations in the categories Penthouse Suite and above received new furniture and upholstery, new lighting and wall coverings.
• The Constellation theatre (deck 5) was renovated and the show programming was upgraded with the “Cirque Rock ‘n Roll” spectacle (aerial theatrics).
• The Mariner Lounge (deck 5) was remodelled with an open floor plan and has a new bar, stone flooring, tables and lamps.
• The Stars Lounge (deck 6) was newly decorated, and a new bar was added to it.
• The Horizon Lounge (deck 6) has a new bar, new lounge furnishings, carpeting, wall coverings, lighting.
• The Mariner’s Spa (deck 7) was upgraded with steam rooms, the reception area was renovated with stone flooring, changing rooms were updated. The Fitness Center’s exercise equipment was renewed.
• The Pool Deck area (deck 11) was refurbished with new loungers, sofas and chairs. Also upgraded were the Pool Grill and La Veranda (new tiling, wall coverings, lighting, awnings).
• The Observation Lounge (deck 12) was newly decorated and has a new bar.