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Mariner Alaskan review from the Times-Picayune #100097 07/08/07 05:53 AM
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KarenS Offline OP
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The full article can be found here at the Times-Picayune

Little ship exemplifies big service


By Susan Langenhennig
Staff writer

JUNEAU, ALASKA -- Parked dockside near the Norwegian Cruise Line's Pearl and the Holland America's Zaandam, our comparably smaller Regent Seven Seas Mariner seemed an exclusive bed and breakfast to their hotel megaplex.

An elegant ship with a Picasso hanging in the library, the Mariner doesn't have a rock climbing wall, a bowling alley or bright neon decor. And it's not the ship where you're likely to find, say, the hairiest chest contest out by the pool or tango lines on the lido deck.

But what it does have are balconies for every guest room, affording the ultimate luxury of curling up with a book while watching Alaska's magnificence roll by; four restaurants of varying culinary styles, all with open seating and no assigned dinner times, and a staff to guest ratio of 1 to 1.6 that has won it awards ranging from "Best Large-Ship Cruise Line" in the 2006 Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards and "Best Small Cruise Line" in Travel+Leisure's 2001 Readers' Survey.

That hyper level of service (the cruise line calls it the Tao of Regent) hit home on our final day at sea, when we literally were tripping over waiters trying to carry our glasses and dinner plates back to our table from the "international feast" luncheon buffet -- a smorgasbord of everything from Alaskan king crab legs to a spicy Filipino smothered chicken, and topped off with scads of fresh-from-the-oven pastries, four flavors of homemade ice cream (including sugar-free varieties) and all the sundae fixings. (A big hit with my 3-year-old niece.)

The Mariner, a 6-year-old, 700-passenger ship, was the first in the industry to be an all-suite, all balcony ship, said Andrew Poulton, director of strategic marketing for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

It's also one of the few cruise ships in which "all-inclusive" really means all-inclusive. All gratuities for staff members and all drinks, including wine and liquor, are included in the cruise fare.

Typically cruises charge for alcohol and some also bill passengers for bottled water and soft drinks. ($1.50 for a Diet Coke!) Add that to tips, and a seven-day end-of-cruise bill can ring up to hundreds if not thousands, and that's before any shore excursions.

On the Mariner, we were greeted in our suite on the first day with a complimentary bottle of champagne chilling in a silver bucket and a mini-fridge stocked with bottled water and soft drinks. Around the ship, wine was ubiquitous, flowing more freely than we wanted to drink it. And good wine at that.

Chateauneuf du Pape was one of the red selections on the menu at Signatures, the ship's French restaurant that's affiliated with Le Cordon Bleu of Paris. (Though the seatings are open, reservations are required at Signatures and Latitudes, an Asian fusion restaurant onboard.)

We didn't have reservations on the night Chateauneuf de Pape was being poured, so the next day, when Lucien, the sommelier, came to our table, I inquired if it was still available, mentioning that my husband and I had visited that Cotes du Rhone winery years ago.

Within minutes, a fresh bottle was uncorked and left on our table. All I had wanted was a glass.

"On my last cruise a bottle of water cost $3.50," remarked a woman standing next to me when we were waiting to disembark on an excursion one day. "This certainly is different."

While there are Broadway-style performances in the Constellation theater at night (A Beatles review won kudos from the wide age ranges of travelers in my group), new-release movies shown daily, a casino with Texas Hold 'em tournaments, wildlife talks by naturalists and an art lecture by onboard curators, pampering, it seems, is among the main attractions on this ship.

Leave your shoes outside your door, and you'll find them shined when you wake up. Now, if only that would happen at home.

_________________________

IF YOU SAIL THE REGENT SEVEN SEAS MARINER TO ALASKA . . .

Where it goes: From late May to early September, the Regent Seven Seas Mariner cruises an Alaskan itinerary, departing from either Vancouver, Canada, sailing to Seward or from Seward south to Vancouver, with stops in Sitka, Skagway and Ketchikan. The ship, which carries 700 passengers and 445 crew members, also cruises through Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm Glacier along the way. After the Alaska season, the Mariner begins a "Grand Asia Pacific Tour" for the fall and then heads to South America for the spring.

What it costs: Regent's Web site, www.rssc.com, lists starting prices for its Mariner Alaskan cruises at $3,697 for a 301-square-foot suite, which includes a balcony, sitting area, walk-in closet and bathroom with marble-top vanity and tub. The fare includes all shipboard gratuities and beverages, including wine, liquor and soft drinks served throughout the ship, as well as perks, such as free shoe shines and 24-hour room service.

More information: Call a travel agent or check out the cruise line's web page.


Karen

Live long and prosper
Re: Mariner Alaskan review from the Times-Picayune #100098 07/08/07 09:55 AM
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JanMD Offline
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Karen~thanks for the great article.

Great PR for Regent.

happy sailing


Jan
Re: Mariner Alaskan review from the Times-Picayune #100099 07/08/07 09:58 AM
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Sue&TomInGeorgia Offline
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Wonderful article! I wonder if she was on the same cruise with our neighbors. They just got off the Mariner on July 4 and hated to disembark.

This was their first cruise ever and they said they are in love with Regent. :app:

They were amazed at the level of service, the delicious food, how you only asked one time for something "special" and it was done with a smile. They had not one negative thing to say and we loved listening to them because it brought back our Alaska cruise memories and our very first time sailing on Regent. :)


Sue
"A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in" Robert Orben
*******
Re: Mariner Alaskan review from the Times-Picayune [Re: Sue&TomInGeorgia] #252554 02/06/20 06:15 PM
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Nick7Magg Offline
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Hey I'm a newbie here. A new cruiser. It took me a while to find out where to post. I have a cruise coming up in Jan going to the Bahamas. Just did a cruise in Rome. I think I'm addicted to cruising lol plus my wife and I - her parents have agreed to watch the kids while we go which has really helped our marriage. I want to go to ALASKA next - have you heard good things about that. I heard
whale watching is amazing in Alaska. I was thinking of going with this company - https://whalewatchalaska.com
but the problem is there is so many to choose from? I heard this is in amazing experience?!


Nick
Re: Mariner Alaskan review from the Times-Picayune [Re: KarenS] #252555 02/06/20 06:46 PM
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Ms Understood Offline
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Hi Nick, welcome. My husband and I have cruised to Alaska 5 times on multiple cruise lines and thoroughly enjoyed every one. All cruise lines offer basically the same itineraries, round trip Inside Passage or 1 way to or from Seward. I would suggest that for you to decide you should consider the cruise lines you have experienced and think about what you liked or disliked about it/ them and then pick the cruise line that fits your travel- style. Luxury? Budget? Big ship? Small ship? . Have fun, it is indeed a wonderful place to see
——————
Helen

Re: Mariner Alaskan review from the Times-Picayune [Re: Nick7Magg] #252556 02/06/20 08:33 PM
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petlover Offline
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Welcome Nick,
Are you going on the Regent Mariner trip Sept. 23 - Oct. 5, 2020 that's hosted by Ngaire & Ken (Owners of Keene Luxury Travel) ? The excursions are offered complimentary and you can see if the itinerary and excursions suit you.
Any questions you should call the office at : Keene Luxury Travel 800-856-1155 or 972-701-9292.

This is the itinerary link:
Itinerary for Sept 23-Octt 5, 2020


Marcie

Re: Mariner Alaskan review from the Times-Picayune [Re: KarenS] #252594 02/16/20 08:21 PM
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RachelG Offline
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Hi, Nick, what Helen and Marcie said above it correct. My husband and I have been to Alaska over a dozen times, some cruises,some land, and I would go again. We have been on Regent, Oceania, and a company that no longer exists, Cruise West. Loved all of them. Excursions in Alaska are expensive, so keep that in mind. Better to go with a line that I coupes them IMO.


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