NICE, France -- Experienced travelers vacationing in Europe are
often said to prefer small, upscale hotels offering the personal
service and intimate surroundings absent from larger, flashier
properties that nevertheless command the lion's share of attention
(and bookings).
Now those same vacationers can find a high-seas complement to
those quaint and quiet European properties: Radisson Seven Seas
Cruises' newest luxury vessel, the 490-passenger Seven Seas
Navigator.
Navigator will cruise in South America this fall and in Alaska in
2000, but the ship seemed ideally suited to our Cote d'Azur
itinerary, which featured fabled European ports, including Capri,
Sorrento and Taormina in Italy.
Indeed, the all-suite Navigator is a welcome addition to an
ever-improving class of luxury cruise ships and probably could
succeed in any of several regions. The ship has an upscale -- but
not uptight -- atmosphere across all of its 12 decks, and with a
61.2 passenger space ratio, it is among the most spacious vessels
afloat.
Navigator is so devoid of crowds, in fact, that there were times
during our cruise when it seemed as if there were no more than 100
people aboard (our voyage actually hosted about 330 passengers).
Although Navigator is the largest ship in Radisson's growing fleet,
it is also among the quietest vessels we've ever encountered.
Physically, Navigator is a model of understated elegance. The
ship's main atrium features a winding, circular stairway with wood
and steel handrails. The stairway surrounds the ship's main
elevators, which feature curved glass walls and overlook the
atrium. Most of Navigator's public areas are located near the
elevator area.
Sculptured friezes and colorful art nouveau murals adorn the
walls at each floor. While some of Navigator's interior accents are
inspired by classic 1930's deco design, the ship also incorporates
modern elements, including bleached wood furnishings adorned with
chromed steel accents and richly colored fabrics and
accessories.
The pool deck is immaculate and, again, free of crowding. A
nearby station serves hot dogs, hamburgers and other grilled foods,
and as the cruise director noted, on this itinerary the best
accessible beach was probably right aboard the ship.
Navigator's other public areas feature the same smooth,
sophisticated design. The two-tiered Seven Seas Lounge, Navigator's
main entertainment venue, is intended to resemble a 1930's
nightclub. The Broadway-style revue offered here was a good
representation of its genre, and other acts included a big band
offering dance music and a "vocal comedian."
The Seven Seas Lounge also hosts distinguished speakers from
Radisson's enrichment lecture program.
The Navigator Lounge is a comfortable meeting place located near
the ship's main reception area. The lounge offers all manner of
beverages plus big, plush chairs and sofas. Also nearby is the
Connoisseur Club, a small cigar room with warm cherry-wood
paneling, English club chairs and a fine selection of top Cuban
cigars, along with assorted brandies and liqueurs. A harpist is
featured here during cocktail hour.
Also nearby is a fair-sized library that offers books,
videotapes (available for in-suite viewing), newspapers purchased
in local ports of call and three computer terminals, from which
passengers can send and receive e-mail. Internet access is not yet
available.
Nevertheless, the computers were highly popular with passengers,
most of whom were couples between age 40 and 60 (plus a fair number
of newlyweds). Terminals were heavily used by passengers eager to
keep in touch with friends, family and businesses.
Next door is a very quiet card room, and one deck above this
area is a shopping boutique filled with designer apparel and
jewelry plus silver and china gifts. There is also a small shop
offering the requisite necessities (toothpaste, camera film,
etc.).
Navigator is one of a very few cruise vessels (along with Paul
Gauguin, Radisson's year-around Tahiti ship) that offers a spa not
run by the ubiquitous English operator Steiner's.
Navigator's spa is located on the 12th (top) deck overlooking
the sea and is operated by renowned aromatherapy guru Judith
Jackson.
Jackson's spa and salon feature a complete selection of her oils
and lotions. The spa also offers most contemporary treatments, from
massages and hydro, herbal and thalasso therapies to seaweed and
mud wraps.
A steam room and sauna are located nearby. The beauty salon is
situated one deck below the spa.
Other public rooms include a small casino offering blackjack,
roulette, Caribbean stud poker and slots, and the Vista Lounge, a
comfortable, if underutilized, lounge located high above
Navigator's bow on deck 12.
Navigator's smallest suite measures 301 square feet, and from
the smallest to the largest (1,173 square feet, including balcony),
all include marble floors, king-size or twin beds, separate living
areas, stocked minibars, walk-in closets, TV/VCRs and bathrooms
with full tubs and separate showers.
Every suite has an ocean view, and 90% of them have private
balconies. Nineteen of Navigator's suites are interconnected,
offering a maximum 1,529 square feet of space (including
balconies).
Navigator's standard balcony suite measures 356 square feet
(including a 55-square-foot balcony), and suites of 495, 687, 739
and 1,021 square feet (some that incorporate huge, wraparound
balconies of up to 200 square feet) are also available.
Dining is very flexible aboard Navigator. In addition to
single-seating breakfast, lunch and dinner in the Compass Rose
restaurant, the ship offers casual breakfast and lunch at the
Portofino Grill.
At night, the Grill is transformed into a very attractive
trattoria serving Northern Italian fare. Passengers must make
reservations for dinner here, but there is no charge.
Navigator also offers a very prompt 24-hour room service, and
passengers can enjoy dinner in their suites ordered from the same
menu items offered in the Compass Rose.
Each evening a complimentary wine is served with dinner. In
fact, Navigator features several inclusive elements. Gratuities are
included in the cruise fare, and passengers also enjoy
complimentary soft drinks.
Of course, before Navigator can claim to fully mirror the
experience of a well-functioning, exclusive European resort, it
will have to overcome some of the minor challenges that seem to
affect nearly every new cruise ship.
Although there were (thankfully) no instances of grimy laborers
toiling amidst bed sheets covered with tools, shipyard workers were
observed on board fixing several problems, from faulty room-key
cards and electronic safes to occasionally balky elevators. We also
had problems with the reading lamps above our bed.
But these were minor annoyances that are not unexpected on a
vessel on its second revenue cruise, and in most other regards,
Navigator's performance was outstanding.
One evening, the ship's lights went dark just as dinner
commenced. Incredibly, most passengers remained very calm, and
within a few minutes, the captain was heard on the ship's audio
system advising guests and crew that the blackout was only
temporary and none of the ship's other electrical functions were
affected. Sure enough, the lights were back on in a minute of two
and remained functional throughout the rest of the voyage.
Later that same evening, the captain made up for the brief power
outage by making a complete circuit around the volcanic island of
Stromboli as we sailed through the strait of Messina.
As if on cue, the still-active volcano emitted a trail of smoke
and periodic bursts of orange lava at its summit, to the cheers of
passengers gathered on the top deck.