Radisson Seven Seas Voyager Transatlantic
/There are a still a few things in life that are predictable. You rest assured that the sun will rise every morning and set each evening; Congress is never going to reduce spending; my hair isn’t coming back; and a cruise aboard Radisson Seven Seas Cruises is certain to be a memorable experience. So it was with great anticipation and excitement that Rickee and I prepared to take our first trans-Atlantic cruise aboard Radisson Seven Seas Cruises’ brand new Seven Seas Voyager. With 7 out of 9 days being “at sea”, we would have ample time to put the ship and crew through a series of tests.
Radisson Seven Seas Cruises is positioned at the luxury end of the cruise industry with a list of awards that is truly impressive. For the past three years, CruiseReport.com has recognized Radisson Seven Seas Cruises with our 6-Star Award of Excellence, an award that only 4 cruise lines in the world can claim. We take our awards very seriously and only after a cruise line has met or exceeded our expectations in 17 separate service areas can it receive the 6-Star Award of Excellence. What makes this accomplishment so special for Radisson Seven Seas Cruises is that they consistently deliver this level of service on ships that serve up to 700 passengers.
Radisson Seven Seas operates five ships all of which sail all over the world. The Radisson Diamond is an odd-looking 350 passenger twin-hull design that looks like a huge catamaran; the m/s Paul Gauguin is a 320 passenger ship that spends the year sailing the clear waters of French Polynesia and Tahiti; Seven Seas Navigator is a 490 passenger ship that was the first “all-suite” vessel in the world; Seven Seas Mariner is a 50,000 ton, 700 passenger vessel which was the first “all-suite and all balcony” ship in the world; and the newest jewel in the Radisson Seven Seas crown is Seven Seas Voyager, sister ship to Mariner. Even though both ships are 50,000 tons, serve 700 guests, and both offer the same level of service that Radisson Seven Seas’ regulars have come to expect, that is where the similarity ends. On the inside, one finds the two vessels to be quite different indeed.
The Review Process
We review 6-star cruise lines much more intensely than we do a 4-star or even a 5-star cruise line. Guests can easily pay $500 to $1000 per day for the experience of sailing on a luxury ship, so it is only fair that expectations should run higher. We mention this because some of the things we point out in our review may seem like we are ‘nit-picking’. And if truth be told…we are.
In addition to our own observations, we mix and mingle with other passengers throughout the cruise to inquire about their experiences and thoughts. In some cases, these people are aware of our position as editors for a major cruise travel web site. However, often we are totally ‘under the radar’ and are just another cruise passenger. We have found that cruise passengers will say things to other passengers that they will never reveal to a crew member. Finally, we meet with various crew members and officers to ask specific questions about the cruise line and ship.
The Ship
A bottle of chilled champagne awaits every guest on Seven Seas Voyager
Regular patrons of Seven Seas Mariner might think it impossible to improve on her design and décor. Nevertheless, Voyager’s designers took a good design and made it even better. The interior passageways of Voyager’s public areas tend to gracefully flow and curve. This breaks up the visual sightlines from one end of the vessels to the other, making it “feel” more spacious and at the same time, increasing the sense of intimacy. The central winding staircase now reaches all the way from the lobby to Deck 10, giving the atrium area a wide-open and airy feel.
Suites have been redesigned to include separate bathtubs and showers (similar to Seven Seas Navigator). At 356 sq. ft. the Deluxe Suites (Cat C-H) are larger than those on Mariner. Even though the Penthouse Suite (Cat A-B) on Voyager is smaller than the Penthouse Suite on Mariner, we actually enjoyed it more. The Penthouse Suites are only 20 sq. ft. larger than the Deluxe Suite but have an incredible layout. The walk-in closet was the largest of any of the suites we inspected. If we were taking a World Cruise on Voyager, we would pick the Seven Seas Suite (aft). While there are only 6 of these on Voyager, they offer a huge balcony with an amazing wrap-around view of the ocean. A large LCD television is also a nice touch. The Azipod propulsion system on Voyager provides a silky smooth ride without the stern vibration inherent on ships with traditional shaft propulsion systems. Our next favorite suite was the Voyager Suite at 604 sq. ft. Believe it or not, there are two additional suite categories that just keep getting larger. The Grand Suite at 876 sq. ft., two Master Suites at 1,335 and 1,403 sq. ft. (depending on location). All Voyager suites from Penthouse up include private butler service.
Nice selection of cardio and strength training equipment in the fitness center
If staying in shape is a priority, the Fitness Center on Deck 6 forward offers a nice selection of elliptical trainers, recumbent bicycles, treadmills, universal weight machines, free weights and a spin cycle. There are plenty of clean towels and a water cooler as well. There is a small locker room/dressing area with a steam room, sauna and showers.
Staying in touch with your friends, relatives and business associates is possible 24 hours a day at Club.com, Voyager’s Internet Café located on Deck 5. Club.com on Voyager is much larger and offers more PC’s than the Club.com on Mariner. A training center with more than a dozen PC’s arranged in a large circle is used for all sorts of computer training classes. All classes are complimentary. Without a doubt, Club.com is the BEST Internet Café of any ship we have sailed. Even though the connection speeds never exceeded what you would expect from a bad dial-up connection, the charge for Internet access is fair. Radisson charges 75 cents per minute, but only charges for the actual download/upload time. Therefore, if it takes you 10 minutes to write an email message, you are not being charged for that time. You are charged only for the time it actually takes to send or receive the messages or download web pages.
The well stocked library located on Deck 6 is open 24 hours a day. There is no need to “check out” a book. Just grab the book you are interested in and return it to the library before the end of the cruise. The DVD library is located in Club.com and is also open 24 hours. There is a huge selection of DVD’s available for viewing in your suite. All DVD’s are complimentary and when you have viewed them, simply return them to the reception desk.
The duty-free boutique is well-stocked with sundries, clothing, perfume and jewelry. However, we were very disappointed in the choice of logo wear available. For example, the only embroidered cap on hand was pale yellow with white stitching. The selection of logo polo shirts and jackets was not much better.
Dining
Like her sister, Voyager features four main dining venues.
The Compass Rose Restaurant is the main dining salon which features full breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.
La Veranda is Voyager’s lido buffet for breakfast and lunch. In the evening, La Veranda becomes an Italian-themed bistro for casual dining. There are three or four different menus featured in La Veranda on a rotating basis during each cruise.
Signatures is Voyager’s 5-star Le Cordon Bleu dining venue serving fine French cuisine each evening. Reservations are required.
Latitudes serves Asian-inspired cuisine and regional specialties. Unlike Latitudes on Mariner, Voyager’s menu does change periodically throughout the cruise. We found the food and service to be much more creative than in Latitudes on Mariner. One evening featured a Mongolian Wok where we could select our ingredients and watch the chefs prepare our meal in the open demonstration kitchen. Reservations are required for dining in Latitudes.
The Pool Grill serves burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, fries and salads each day at lunchtime.
Elegant table setting at Signatures restaurant
The quality of food served throughout Seven Seas Voyager is very good. Our favorite venue was Compass Rose. We found the food quality and service here to be the most consistent of any of the dining venues. We did not feel the dishes served in La Veranda and Signatures quite lived up to the standards we experienced on Mariner. The quality of the food and the overall concept of Latitudes, on the other hand, was a big step ahead of same venue on Mariner. As is the policy on all Radisson Seven Seas vessels, a different red and white wine is available on a complimentary basis with evening meals. The wine selections throughout the cruise were exceptional. We also found that if we preferred a wine from a previous evening’s selection, that wine would be brought to us with no problem. A little known secret is that guests can order any drink from the bar during dinner on a complimentary basis, even an after dinner cordial.
Every day aboard Voyager begins with a hearty breakfast. A substantial breakfast buffet is served at La Veranda on Deck 11 from 7:30am until 10:00am. As you would expect on a 6-Star luxury cruise ship, even a buffet can be elegant. You will not find any plastic plates or paper napkins here. White tablecloths and folded napkins are the order of the day. You can have an omelet made to order, or any egg dish, for that matter. If you can hold off another 30 minutes for breakfast, you can enjoy full service from the breakfast menu in the Compass Rose Restaurant. The Compass Rose was my personal favorite because it tends to be much less crowded at breakfast (I guess most people like the buffet concept). The breakfast menu is extensive with Eggs Benedict, omelets, a variety of pancakes, French toast and my personal favorite, baby lamb chops. Of course, there are days where you just want breakfast in bed. You can get full breakfast served in your suite using Voyager’s room service as early as 6:30am. If you are in a Penthouse Suite, your butler will deliver your breakfast at the time you choose. There is an early-riser breakfast with pastries and coffee available in the Coffee Corner on Deck 5 and a Fitness Breakfast at the Pool Grill from 6:30am until 9:30am.
Al Fresco dining is available for breakfast and lunch at La Veranda
Lunchtime offerings are no less impressive. Again, La Veranda offers a sumptuous buffet from noon until 2:00pm. There is an impressive selection of salads, fruits, breads and meat dishes which change daily. A fresh pasta station offers a delicious made-to-order pasta dish each day. Apparently, Food and Beverage Manager Phillipe Logerais is not afraid to spice things up a bit. I was pleasantly surprised to see an Indian-inspired buffet one day with a variety of curry dishes. A Souvlaki Grill was featured by the pool on another afternoon with fresh grilled Greek specialties. La Veranda is definitely my favorite place for lunch on Voyager! Of course, Compass Rose is also open for lunch every day and offers a full-service menu. You can also get wonderful burgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches and fries at the Pool Grill.
The Horizon Lounge (Deck 5 aft) is the hot spot every day around 3:45 for Afternoon Tea. Tea is served by wait staff wearing white gloves, as is the British tradition. The offerings here include fresh scones with clotted cream and jam, a variety of finger sandwiches and a large assortment of delectable sweets. One afternoon during tea a Chocoholic Buffet is served, a chocolate extravaganza which is not only delicious, but beautiful!
We enjoyed a dinner with Jamie and Dana Logan
Dinner time offers a lot of choices aboard Seven Seas Voyager. As previously stated, our favorite was Compass Rose. We applaud Radisson Seven Seas for starting dinner service at 6:45. This is great for those of us who prefer to eat earlier than 7:30 and don’t want to have to rush to make it to the evening show. The Compass Rose menu changes each evening and the choices rival those of any 5-star restaurant on land. A choice of appetizers, two soup choices, two salad choices, a pasta dish and a choice of three or more main courses are offered each evening. A Menu Dégustation is offered each evening with the chef’s recommendations. After dinner, a dessert menu offers everything from soufflé to chocolate cake. A selection of premium ice creams and sugar-free offerings are also available. An international cheese board is available with choices including Taleggio, Camembert, Gorgonzola and Bel Paese. For something different, guests can try one of Voyager’s other dining venues. Signatures is Voyager’s Le Cordon Bleu French restaurant. The menu in Signatures remains the same throughout the cruise. This is perhaps the “dressiest” of all restaurants on board. Latitudes offers an Asian-inspired menu in a more casual setting. We really enjoyed the Mongolian Wok dinner. La Veranda is a casual Italian Bistro in the evening with rotating menu throughout the cruise. The best feature of La Veranda is the Antipasto Bar where you can fill your plate with a variety of Mediterranean specialties like Baba Ganoush, Dolma, and Tabouli just to name a few. You can also have course-by-course dinner served in your suite from the Compass Rose during dinner hours.
Lounges
The Voyager Lounge on Deck 4 is located just down the hall from the Compass Rose Restaurant making it the most popular place for “before dinner” drinks. Unlike the Mariner Lounge, the Voyager Lounge is more secluded and is not open to the restaurant foot traffic. Our favorite watering hole before dinner was the Observation Lounge on Deck 11. Even though smaller than the Observation Lounge on Mariner, it is the only place on board Voyager where you can enjoy a drink and get a 180 degree view out the front of the vessel. The Horizon Lounge on Deck 5 is a nice place to enjoy a drink before dinner at Signatures and also the venue where the daily afternoon tea is held.
Entertainment & Activities
You might think that a ship with only 700 passengers would be short on activities and entertainment. You would be wrong. The list of daily activities and the variety of evening entertainment rivals that of much larger ships. With six consecutive days at sea, daytime activities become a very important part of the cruise. Below is a sample of part of the Daily Program for one “at sea” day aboard our cruise:
7:30 Wake-up and Walk with Fitness Instructor Nina 8:00 Voyager Quiz is available Morning Stretch & Relax with Nina 8:30 Full Body Toning with Fitness Instructor Nina 9:00 Back Basics with Fitness Instructor Nina 9:15 Needlepoint Corner with Dionne 10:00 Port Talk with tour manager Enrichment Lecture “Terror Over Berlin” 10:15 Computer Class Bridge Brush-Up Board Game Enthusiasts Meet 11:00 Enrichment Lecture “The Man Who Was Afraid of Christmas” 11:15 Boutique Presentation “Jewelry for the Spirit” Bridge brush-up for the experienced player Introduction to paddle tennis 12:00 Midday Game Show: Team Trivia Friends of Bill W 1:45 Ping Pong Tournament Duplicate and Party Bridge Play 2:00 Movie Matinee Art Introduction 2:30 Blackjack Tournament 2:45 Arts & Crafts Ballroom Dancing 3:00 Shuffleboard Tournament Gym Introduction with Nina 3:30 Ballet Workout with Fitness Instructor Nina 3:45 Afternoon Tea Dance 4:00 Slot Tournament Computer Class: Learn Microsoft Word Pilates Basics with Fitness Instructor Nina 4:45 Team Trivia Quiz 5:00 Bingo Bonanza
Cruise Director Jamie Logan warms up the crowd on formal night
Many people spend the day relaxing by the pool or on their private balcony. On more than one day at sea, Rickee and I spent the afternoon watching a DVD movie in our suite. Of course, we had our butler bring us a bowl of fresh popcorn!
After dinner the attention focuses on the Constellation Theater, the ship’s main show lounge. The theater is well-designed with unobstructed views of the stage from just about every seat in the house. The stage, lighting and sound systems are comparable to theatres on ships three times the size of Voyager. We were fortunate to be sailing on a special Big Band cruise which featured the Glenn Miller Band. However, our nine day cruise also featured comedian Ronnie Hayward, classical guitarist Chris Nicholson, violinist Lisa Rollin and a production show performed by the Peter Terhune Singers and Dancers. That is a pretty impressive line-up for a ship of any size. Those who preferred a quieter evening could enjoy Perry Grant on the piano in the Voyager Lounge each evening. Music for dancing was also provided in the Observation Lounge each evening.
Without question, the Glenn Miller Band was the highlight of the evening entertainment with several performances during the cruise. The Big Band theme was a hit with everyone on board.
Rickee shoots hoops at the Country Fair
The highlight of daytime activities on our cruise was "A Day At The Country Fair" which was held on the pool deck. Each department had its own booth with a game where passengers could win credits towards prizes. There was a basketball competition, a bean bag toss, a slot car race, ice curling, and the ever popular water balloon throwing contest where you got to soak your room steward(ess). Everybody had a lot of fun playing the various games. It was one of the most creative activities we have encountered on any cruise.
Carita Beauty Salon & Spa
A luxury cruise ship is simply not complete without a top-notch spa. Radisson Seven Seas Cruises has recently decided to team up with Carita Spa to operate the spa aboard its vessels. From what we can tell, that was a good decision. My 'Traditional Therapeutic Massage' was 60 minutes of muscle relaxing bliss. At $95, it was competitive with similar offerings from other spas on land. Carita offers a complete menu of facial treatments, body massages, manicure/pedicure, and hair treatments.
World Cruise
Radisson Seven Seas Cruises is one of a handful of cruise lines that still offers a world cruise. In 2005, this 108-night cruise will take place aboard Seven Seas Voyager and will run from Jan 5 through Apr 23. The World Cruise can also be purchased in segments from as few as 11 days to 22 days. Segments can be combined for additional savings and benefits. During this sailing, Voyager will sail to some of the most exotic and exciting ports-of-call in the world including Sydney, Australia, Ho CHi Minh City, Vietnam, Bankok, Thailand, Shanghai, China and Bombay, India. Guests who book the full 107-day cruise enjoy first-class roundtrip air, $1,000 to $2,000 per suite shipboard credit, all visa costs for U.S. and Canadian citizens, private car transfers in port of embarkation/disembarkation, luggage delivery service, overnight at a luxury hotel in Los Angeles and a special commemorative gift. During the World Cruise, all cocktails, wine and beer are complimentary throughout the ship.
Summary
At 46,000 tons, Seven Seas Voyager is a small ship by today's standards, but offers big ship amenities. Radisson Seven Seas has figured out how to offer luxurious accommodations and personalized service in a ship that carries 700 passengers, not an easy task. The service levels aboard this ship rival those of ships half her size.
Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down
Chris and Rickee weigh in on various aspects of Seven Seas Voyager.
The Ups
👍🏻 - Hotel Director, Jos Coppers. Jos has been with Radisson Seven Seas Cruises since 2000 where he was Chief Purser aboard Song of Flower. He moved to Seven Seas Mariner in 2001 and was promoted to Food and Beverage Manager of Radisson Diamond in 2002. As the Hotel Director aboard Voyager, Jos has assembled an excellent team to cater to the needs of Voyager's guests.
👍🏻 - Cruise Consultant, Nancy Pelletier. We enjoyed an impromptu drink one evening with Nancy only to learn that she and I had met a few years earlier in Chicago when I was giving a seminar to a group of travel agents. It is a small world! As the Cruise Consultant aboard Voyager, Nancy helps guests book future cruises on Radisson Seven Seas' ships.
Rickee and Dana pose for a quick photo in the Compass Rose
👍🏻 - Assistant Cruise Director, Dana Logan. Dana is one of those warm, smiling people that go out of their way to make you feel welcome.
As the Assistant Cruise Director, she can be seen all over the ship throughout the day. Her career in the cruise industry began as a dancer for an around-the-world cruise. In 1990, Dana married Jamie Logan, the ship's Cruise Director.
👍🏻 - La Veranda. Notwithstanding the service in the evenings, which could use some improvement, La Veranda is an excellent venue for breakfast and lunch.
👍🏻 - Compass Rose Restaurant. Our favorite restaurant on board Voyager. Exceptional service and creative menus make this a great place to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner.
👍🏻 - Complimentary wines. The complimentary wines poured each evening throughout the cruise were well-matched with the dinner offerings and were very good quality. If a wine was not to our liking, an alternate was offered.
Leslie, our butler, delivers a tray of cheese and crackers to our suite
👍🏻 - Butler, Leslie. Our Penthouse suite came complete with butler service provided by Leslie. Each day Leslie showed up with our cheese platter and was never far away when we needed something special. Every request we made was satisfied. We put Leslie through the paces and he came through for us with flying colors.
👍🏻 - In-Suite Bar Setup. Each suite is stocked with two complimentary bottles of liquor upon embarkation.
👍🏻 - Latitudes. A big improvement over Latitudes on Mariner. Creative menus and an open demonstration kitchen make this casual alternative a hit.
👍🏻 - The Pool Grill. Great burgers, dogs and fries. Also, eating at the pool does not mean you have to sacrifice service. A waiter is on hand to take your drink orders and deliver your meal.
👍🏻 - The Carita Spa. This spa offers wonderful massage treatments that are competitively priced.
👍🏻 - Penthouse Suites are not as large as the ones on Mariner, but they are very well-designed and comfortable. The bedding and linens are top-quality with down-filled duvets. The all-marble bathroom features a separate shower and tub and wonderful amenities. The television positioning could be better, but the DVD player makes up for it.
👍🏻 – All-inclusive. Luxury cruising means not being "nickeled and dimed" to death. All soft drinks and bottled water are included in the cruise fare as are all gratuities. Complimentary wine is poured each evening with dinner and mixed drinks are complimentary with dinner, as well. All fitness classes are complimentary. About the only time you pay for anything extra is when you take a shore excursion, a spa treatment or purchase a drink at the bar. On World Cruise segments, all beer, wine and cocktails are complimentary throughout the ship.
👍🏻 – Open-seating dining. Eat whenever and with whomever you like. We love it.
👍🏻 - The Library is well-stocked with books and is open 24 hours per day. The honor system is utilized here so you can drop by any time, grab a book, and simply return it when you have finished reading it.
👍🏻 - DVD Library offers hundreds of video selections. Located in Club.com, the DVD library is open 24 hours a day. Simply select the DVD holder for the movie you want and take it to the Reception Desk where they give you the DVD. Return it when you are done!
👍🏻 - Afternoon Tea aboard Voyager is very nice without being too formal. You can relax in the Horizon Lounge and enjoy a wonderful selection of sweets, scones and finger sandwiches along with your hot tea.
👍🏻 - The Constellation Theater is as nice as theaters on much larger ships. Great sightlines, stage and sound.
👍🏻 - Special Requests. Just ask and you shall receive. Voyager's staff did an excellent job of handling our special requests. Creamed spinach was requested each evening at dinner and was missed only once. A request for popcorn (which is not on any menu) in our room was promptly delivered by our butler. We requested a cheese platter each day at 4:30pm and it was delivered every day on time. I could go on and on, but suffice it to say that the staff is accustomed to tending to guests' needs.
The Downs
👎🏻 - La Veranda (evening). Unfortunately, this restaurant was a let down. It was one of our favorite dining spots on Seven Seas Mariner, but the food quality and presentation on Voyager was not at the level we expected.
👎🏻 -Signatures. Again, we were expecting the same food quality we received on Mariner. It was not there. My rack of lamb was tiny, literally three bites.
👍🏻 – Overall. We continue to be impressed with how well Radisson Seven Seas Cruises provides its guests with such a high level of service on such a large ship (large for a luxury ship). The ship is beautiful, the food is exceptional and the service is 6-Star. Radisson Seven Seas Voyager is one of our all-time favorites.
If you have any questions about our Seven Seas Voyager cruise, please feel free to email us at reviews@cruisereport.com and we will do our best to answer any questions.
