Review of Radisson Seven Seas Navigator ~ July 28, 2004 New York to Bermuda

Guests: I am in my late thirties and serve as executive director of a charitable foundation. My husband is in his early forties and runs a consulting business. We have been on 15 previous cruises together, mostly on Princess and Celebrity to the Caribbean.

Pre-Cruise: We departed Atlanta for New York the day before the cruise. This turned out to be wise, as we were delayed due to heavy storms on the way to Newark. After a 90-minute ground hold, our flight was released and was the last to land before Newark was closed for 3 hours later in the evening.

We used Marriott Reward miles for a complimentary night at the New York Marriott Financial District. By the time we arrived, it was late and pouring outside, so we had a quick dinner at 85 West, the hotel bar/casual restaurant.

Prior to making our way to the pier on Wednesday, we took a walking tour of Ground Zero, Wall Street and the Battery Park area. We had not been to New York since the 9/11 attacks, and the hole where the World Trade Center had been was a sobering reminder of the tragedy. Also, we noted a high degree of police presence around the NYSE, including guards with body armor and automatic weapons. (And this was the Wednesday before the terror alerts were issued on Sunday.)

After a short cab ride to the pier, we were ready to board the Navigator.

Embarkation: We arrived at the pier around 12:30 and were checked in with no waiting. A member of the ship’s crew escorted us on board, where we were met with a glass of champagne, and directed to the Portofino Grill Restaurant for a buffet lunch. This was to be the beginning of a week of wonderful cuisine and service on the Navigator. On Princess and Celebrity cruises, we studiously avoid the buffet areas, because of the chaotic atmosphere. On the Navigator, the ratio of servers was much higher and the experience was much more relaxed.

Since our suite was not yet ready, we left our carry luggage at the Reception Desk and ventured back off the ship to explore the USS Intrepid museum, which was located on the next pier. Although the flight deck was closed in preparation for Bobby Knievel’s jump, to be televised on Saturday, we found the rest of the museum to be informative and entertaining. From there we were able to hear the Navigator’s announcement that the suites were ready and headed back to the ship around 2:45.

Suite: We had booked the ship’s minimum accommodation, a Cat H oceanview suite on Deck 5. Having previously sailed in balcony staterooms and mini-suites on Princess and Celebrity, we found our suite on Radisson to exceed those accommodations in every respect (with the exception of the absence of the balcony.) We had been worried that we would miss having a balcony, but actually only wished for one the day we sailed from Bermuda.

The suite was 301 sq. ft. and was separated into a bedroom and living area by a heavy curtain. The marble bathroom included a tub with hand-held and stationery faucet and a glass shower. One minor annoyance was the uneven water pressure and varying water temperature. After being scalded during my first shower, I used the tub for the rest of the voyage.

The walk-in closet was more than ample for a week’s worth of clothes and offered a tie rack, eight drawers and numerous hooks and shelves. It also had a safe which allowed you to set your own combination. A real plus to me were the real wooden hangers.

The bedroom area had a king-size bed with an assortment of pillows and duvet cover. Although the bed was very comfortable, the pillows needed to be replaced. Night stands with two drawers and individual reading lights were on each side of the bed.

The living area contained a long sofa, cocktail table and two small barrel chairs. On the opposite wall was a built-in cabinet holding a TV (with VCR), four additional drawers, a writing desk and bar setup. We requested our two complimentary bottles of liquor before going to dinner and they arrived with our turn-down that evening. A small fridge underneath contained 1 large and 2 small bottles of water, 2 Cokes, 2 diet Cokes, 2 7-Ups, 2 Club Soda, 2 Tonic Water and 2 Heinekens. All except the beer were replenished each day as they were consumed.

Our cabin stewardess and her assistant (Jane and Stanley) were most efficient and unobtrusive.

Sailing from New York: The sail away from New York Harbor was breathtaking and WINDY! The atmosphere was very festive, with the bar staff serving complimentary rum punch. (Lucky for me, that is my customary sail away beverage on every cruise!)

As we stood near the bow watching the sights go by, we began to notice how many families with children were on board. Quick contextual note: We have an 11-year-old daughter, but made arrangements to go on this cruise without her due to our perception of the more adult, elegant and sophisticated atmosphere of Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. We like kids, but expect them to behave in a manner appropriate for their surroundings.

We later learned that this voyage was a “Kids Under 17 Sail Free Promotion.” There were 62 children on a ship with a normal capacity of 490. This is around the same ratio that Princess employs as the maximum number of children allowed on one of its ships. However, the big difference was that the Navigator had no dedicated facilities for children. Although they had 2 youth counselors on board, only about a third of the kids participated in the planned activities, leaving the rest to roam the ship with minimal supervision from their parents. The ship’s security officers attempted to keep them under control, but were clearly out numbered.

Did the disruption caused by a number of unruly children ruin our cruise?? No way, the rest of the experience was too exceptional for that to happen. However, I would definitely check to make sure I was not sailing on the “Kids Sail Free” trip again. (The other dates for this season are the August 25 and September 1 sailings to Bermuda.)

Dining: I can’t think of enough superlatives to use to describe our dining experience on the Navigator. Each and every meal was a highlight! Standout items for me were: Eggs Florentine and Benedict, Beef Wellington, Seafood Newburg, Rack of Lamb and Almond Souffle with Vanilla Sauce. My husband loved the Lobster Tails and Chateaubriand. All of the appetizers, salads and soups were delicious. The desserts did not appeal to me as much, so I usually had cheese instead.

I like white wine and hubby likes red, so which bottle to order usually becomes a negotiation. On Celebrity, we usually order one of each, since they are great about saving the remainder for the next night. Radisson has solved this problem with serving a house red and house white each evening free of charge.

Service in the Compass Rose dining room and Portofino Grill was exceptional and unobtrusive. We never had any wait for a table for two. On the frequent occasions that my husband was having a hard time deciding between two entrée choices, the waiters brought the one he ordered, along with a sample of the other. (Without being asked.) After the first night, the sommeliers remembered our wine preferences, and the waiters remembered that I drink regular coffee and hubby sticks to decaf.

The Pool Grill served the usual fare of hamburgers, etc, with the addition of a poolside buffet. The Fish al Fresco and Tex Mex buffets were both very good. We were never in the mood to eat at tea time, but the pastries looked superb. Each night, there was a selection of canapés in the lounges before dinner, which were a great accompaniment for our pre-dinner cocktail.

Because we had read so many complaints about vibration at the aft of the vessel, we made reservations for Portofino (which is converted to the Italian alternative restaurant in the evening) for Saturday evening, which we would be docked in Hamilton. It was a fun, less formal, dining experience. The food was very delicious Northern Italian fare. The daily special that day was Osso Bucco with Risotto, which was as good as any I have had. Although each suite is limited to one reservation in Portofino per cruise, we were able to walk up and get a table on the last night, as they were not full.

Bermuda: I can’t comment much on the shopping, as my husband had us fully scheduled with activities during the hours the shops were open. (Coincidence? I suspect not!)

Friday: Navigator docked promptly at 9:00. It was a national holiday (for the cricket Cup Match), so many shops were closed, and the bus/ferry system was operating on the holiday schedule. We took the 11:45 ferry to Somerset Bridge to get to Blue Water Diving at Robinson’s Marina. Enjoyed a one-tank dive on Blue Hole, which featured a long swim-through.

We returned to Hamilton via bus just in time to shower and get back off for the Chelonia Sunset Cruise. If you enjoy catamarans, cocktails, gourmet appetizers and interesting commentary from a captain whose family has lived in Bermuda for 200 years, this shore excursion is for you!

Saturday: Caught the 7:15 (am!!) bus back out to Blue Water Divers for a two-tank dive. Our first site was the Badlands and Bad Caves. It is a large expanse of coral, with outcropping of fossilized algae (I think) forming overhangs that were interesting to swim through. The current was very strong, and we ended up a LONG way from the boat. Second site was the wreck of L’Hermine, a French battleship that ran aground. Although the wooden hull is long gone, there were 50+ cannons and a huge anchor.

We took the bus to Horseshoe Bay, which is a beautiful beach, with very nice changing facilities. We were a little hesitant to swim, since the waves were crashing strongly over submerged rocks. Since we are not big “beach people”, we enjoyed a long walk up and down the beach, then were back on the bus to Hamilton.

The extent of my shopping in Bermuda was from 5:30 to 6:00 that day. My favorite store was Trimingham’s, which seemed like Bermuda’s version of Macy’s. We found good souvenirs there and at Onion Jack’s Trading Post.

Sunday: The threat of high winds prevented us from repositioning to St. George’s for the day. The ship provided bus passes for those of us who wanted to go over on our own. We were scheduled to play 18 holes at St. George’s Club, but cut back to 11 to allow plenty of travel time to get back to the ship. Frank Thomas, the golf pro on board, encouraged us to play, even though we had not planned on it when we packed.

St. George’s Club is a par 62 course, with all par 3 and 4 holes. The course is tight, with some great views over the ocean. Although there are undoubtedly better courses in Bermuda, this one was fun for a beginner and a 10 handicap to play together. The course had a very casual atmosphere, and we were not self-conscious playing in our tennis shoes with rental clubs. Also, the price was very reasonable.

Shortly after the ship sailed, the Captain announced that Tropical Storm Alex was approaching Cape Hatteras and was expected to reach Hurricane Force. Instead of sailing to Norfolk, VA as scheduled, we sailed to Newport, RI to avoid the storm. This was fine for us, since we would still get back to New York as scheduled. However, it created great complications for those who expected to disembark in Norfolk. Most of them stayed on the ship an extra night and disembarked in New York. The cruise line provided motor coach transportation back to Norfolk on Wednesday.

Newport: This unexpected diversion ended up being delightful for us. We toured The Breakers, the 138,000 square foot summer home of the Vanderbilt family. From there, we could see the Cliff Walk, a 3.5 mile pathway along the cliffs. We figured that we were about 2 miles from the end, where we could pick up the trolley to ride back downtown.

After walking for about 20 minutes along a nice wide walkway on top of the sea wall with great views of some of the other mansions, we encountered a sign warning that it was 2 miles until the next exit. No problem, we though, we can easily walk 2 miles. After another 30 minutes of increasingly rocky terrain, we came to a sign that said “Next ¾ mile is very uneven. Turn back if you are unsure of your capabilities.” Boy, we’re glad we wore tennis shoes, we thought, and forged ahead. It took us another 45 minutes or so of climbing up and down the rocks to make it to the end.

The Cliff Walk turned out to be another fun adventure for us, but might have posed a problem for people with physical limitations. Since we entered the walk in the middle we missed signs advising of the length and level of difficulty. The best views of the mansions and easiest walk was between Salve Regina University and the “Next Exit 2 miles” sign.

Random thoughts on random topics:

Bermuda Bus/Ferry System: We found this to be a great way to see the island, and it was clean, safe and economical. (I was too much of a chicken to rent mopeds and drive on the left.) We purposely chose different routes each way so that we could as much of the island as possible. By the end of the three days, we had covered all but the Dockyards area. Note: Although there is a stop in front of Horseshoe Bay, it’s a pretty long walk down (and back up, of course!) a hill to get to the beach.

Vibration: Much has been written about vibration at the aft end of the Navigator. It was very pronounced while the ship was underway in the Portofino Grill on deck 10 and the Seven Seas Show Lounge on deck 7. I can only imagine that it would have been felt in the aft passenger accommodations as well. Our cabin was near midships on deck 5, and there was no vibration or perceptible noise at all. I think this must bother some people more than others. We noticed the vibration in Portofino, but were not concerned. However, the couple at the table next to us asked to be moved to a table more midships to avoid it.

Is Radisson Seven Seas really “all-inclusive”?: The only things that we signed for were shore excursions, shop purchases, photographs and a few beers by the pool. Although we don’t typically drink during the day, we enjoy our pre-dinner cocktails and wine with dinner. The en suite bar setup and complimentary wine with dinner eliminated a pretty sizable line item on other cruises. Also, it just seems right that all soft drinks, juice and bottled water should be included. None of the staff seemed to expect tipping, which created a much more relaxed and genuine interaction with them.

Photographs: The photo shop offered a “Cruise Memories” special whereby one could purchase ALL photos taken during the cruise for $99. This was a great way to avoid making decisions!

As you can tell, we loved the Navigator and would recommend it highly!

P.S. Upon our return to Atlanta, I spoke with our travel agent (who has booked at least our last dozen cruises). She was unaware of the “Kids Sail Free” promotion, but did not seem surprised. Apparently, Crystal Cruises initiated the practice. In any event, she said that she would call the Radisson District Sales Manager to register our concern.

Thanks for posting that! :) I would agree about being cautious when booking a cruise to watch for the kids sail free promotions given your concerns and Marc's experiences (and others)

Masaki

Thanks for the very comprehensive review.

Were the kids all ages or mostly teenagers? Wish there were an obvious answer for irresponsible parents!

Curious to know if Eggs Benedict/Florentine were on menu? I didn't see them but did order them with no problem. Also don't remember seeing a souffle on menu.

So what's your next cruise destination? :)

Kathy,

Although there were several families with small children, they were always with their parents and grandparents.

There were an inordinate number of 11-14 year-old boys. As you might imagine, they were the ones running wild!

The egg dishes were daily specials in the Portofino Grill, where we enjoyed breakfast most days.

Next cruise will be for New Year's with our daughter and my sister. Since our daughter will be with us, we have chosen the Star Princess, which has a great kids program, three pools and activities including miniature golf and video arcade.

We have sailed Princess several times. Although very good, the cuisine and service is not even close to what we experienced on the Navigator. However, it is definitely more suited for travel with kids!!

Mary (aka Mrs. Tiki)

Mary, I was delighted to read that your cruise was so wonderful, despite the rowdy kids. I just wish you could of experienced a normal amount of children, on your first RSSC cruise!

It sounds like it hasn't dampened your enthusiasm and I hope to meet you on a future cruise! Thanks so much for your review.

Mary,

Thanks a ton for the excellent review, comprehensive, good details and most importantly, we're glad you had a great time despite the
challenges...speaks highly of your vacation focus.

Mary,

Thanks so much for taking the time to do such a great review. You brought back wonderful memories. I want to go back! :)

Can you tell that I'm in severe cruise withdrawal right now?

Kathy

Mary aka Mrs. Tiki,

Thanks for the review packed with details! Sorry about the "kid thing"...
We thought the buses were efficient and cheap and a good way to see the island. I think you lucked out going to Newport although we spent several hours at the Chrysler Museum in Norfolk and that was nice...but who wouldn't choose a beachy place like Newport!!
Glad you enjoyed the cuisine and overall didn't allow the kids to wreck your trip. We enjoyed the food as well but found with the two "seasick days" we didn't live up to our potential!!

Thanks for the review. We are now 21 days away from going on our cruise and trying to decide what we want to see/do. Sounds like shopping is going to be a big one for me. Did you find that the a/c was cold enough that you needed a sweater at night?

I, too, thank you for the informative review. I'm on the same upcoming cruise as Loon, and am happy at being only 3 weeks out. For those who have been following my saga of whether Mom is coming, the answer is yes. We're working on identifying activities for a non-walker, and it looks like she'll have lots of options.

Loon,

YES, bring your sweaters! It is quite cold in some areas of the ship, especially in the Seven Seas Show Lounge. I carried my black pashmina with me every night.

What a wonderful, comprehensive review.

Although we had a child ( now age 23 ) I would never have brought him on RSSC or Crystal. I would like to find the marketing genious who decided to follow the mass-market crowd and bring on lots of kids. They would be served their heads on a platter.

We didn't notice the vibration as much on our May 26 cruise, except in one area of the dining room. We had dinner one night with Skicruiser45 ( Kathy ) at table 84, which is in the rear of the dining room and right over some kind of trumming machinery. She was neon green by the time dinner was over, and we were a bit bilious ourselves.

Looking forward to many more RSSC cruises!

Frances

Frances-
How the new job going? Hope all is well with you and Bob. I still get quesy thinking about the vibration at that table - ugh!! Glad we had wonderful tables the rest of the cruise. I've made comments about this area and others think I'm nuts - glad you posted and agreed.
We've booked Alaska for next year (not on Radisson though) - looking forward to Vancouver and Alaska again.

Kathy