Unstructured Comfort at Sea |
| Reviewed By: Taylor, Clitheroe on 17th Aug 2008 |
| Cruise Line: Regent Cruises |
Times cruised before: 0 |
| Cruise Ship: Seven Seas Voyager |
Sailed:
August,
2008 |
| Destination: Baltic |
Age: 56-65 |
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As first time cruisers , who like comfort and space ,we chose Regent Seven Seas as even their basic , entry grade, state rooms are spacious ( biggest in the business !) with a large comfy bed, and separate seating and dining area.The bathroom is large too with bath and walk in shower , and each room on the Voyager ( our choice of ship) has a balcony, which was great. having a full sized window to look out of from the bed as the world sailed by you was incredible!
RSSC is an American company so the service was brilliant, the food excellent , especially the meat, salads and puddings ,but I couldn't get a decent cup of tea all cruise !! However it was an all inclusive cruise so there was excellent wines, beer , cocktails etc available 24 hrs.
Apart from the lack of a decent cup of tea, no complaints. It is a medium sized ship ( 650 passengers ) and the space is in the cabins , so there are no grand communal atriums to impress. The 'entertainment' was on a similar small scale and although the theatre was very well appointed , and set out more club style , the shows, although professional were modest in comparison to larger ships.
Other plus points that sold it to us was there were no Formal nights, so no need for a DJ , just a jacket and tie for some more formal evenings ( called, confusingly 'informal' nights). There was open seating in the main restauraunt, and two others, bookings needed for the two other restaurants. So one just turned up for a meal when one wanted which suited our life style. No fixed seating , and their were plenty of tables for two, so my rather anti social husband and I ate alone each night, by choice . There were tables for 4, 6 and so on and one could eat happily with others who one travelled with or befriended on the voyage, and could do that one night , but not another. Very free and easy.
There was no queuing for meals, trips out, disembarkation, for the courtesy buses , or tenders. Again, suited us really well. We did some organised trips and some days off ship just did our own wandering around. Apart from the shore excursions it really was all inclusive. Gratuities were included ( and the service was FABULOUS !), and ALL restaurants and room service, drinks except some exceptional brandies/wines, but the wine that was AI were good quality wines.
Overall, having resisted cruising for some time, we have really enjoyed our first voyage on the Voyager. We will go again, but the specific features we liked ( informality, no queuing, excellent service, spacious cabins etc ) means we will go again with RSSC ( or maybe another line at the similar level if they offer the same features )
And price ? It was expensive but I did a price comparison before we booked , and to get the same features on a cheaper cruise line, i.e. large cabin with balcony and seating area , and factored in the level of food, the AI alcohol and gratuities , the prices worked out the same.
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| Quality of Food |  |
| Compass Rose resturaunt, Veranda and Pool Gill | | Entertainment | n/a |
| didn't bother with any. | | Shore Excursions |  |
| It was a very cultural cruise, which was our choice , we enjoyed The Hermitage ,and a Tour of St. Petersburg , including hydofoil from Peterhof Palace.
The most disappointing was the Ballet. Not at the Marinisky theatre as I had thought,a small company with limited costume and staging compared to the touring Kirov Company productions I have seen in the UK. The dancers were good ( Kirov dancers ), the ballet Swan Lake, but it was a modest 'put on for the tourists' production. Maybe because it was August ?? A disappointment, but I should have guessed maybe. | | Staff | |
| Some of the waiting on staff, but all staff were pleasant , helpful, friendly and seemed very willing to do more than their job to help you , serve you, get you whatever you wanted. Most impressed by this aspect . | | Children's Facilities | n/a |
| | Onboard Activities | |
| Considering this was a medium sized ship there was a lot going on. GYm and Spa, tiny pool , jacuzzis, table tennis and a Casino, jogging track, tennis court,computer lessons, computer use, Cinema, band, karaoke, games organised, quizzes, so much offered.Library, TV, Cd's, Interactive TV with 150 + films , all free.No time to do much of them though !! | | Cabins | |
| Large King sized bed in a bed area, then seating dining area, ( think brochure says largest on any line at the basci entry level cabins ). balcony, small but with seating. Balcony sizes varied , larger ones with higher priced cabins. Bathroom large as many family sized bathrooms. Plenty of room for the two of us to use at once.Full size bath, good sized separate walk in shower, plus loo and wash basin in large vanity unit with shelves. Separate walk in closet. Lots and lots of hanging space and drawer space. equivalent to that found in mpre up market US hotels and rental houses we have used. More closet space than most Uk hotels.( approximately 14 drawers in all ! ) | | Overall Rating | |
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