Passengers: 490
World's Best 2016 Awards Rank: #8 Mid-Size Ocean Ship
Best for: High-end cruisers who spare no expense
Sails: World Cruise, including Bermuda, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, South America, the Middle East, Mexico, New England and Canada, Pacific Coast, Central America, Arctic Circle, Greeland, & Iceland, Northern Europe, the South Pacific, and the Panama Canal
At a Glance: A Travel + Leisure World's Best 2016 winner, placing eighth in the Mid-Size Ocean Ship category. Once a Russian research vessel, this 490-passenger ship is the most intimate member of Regent Seven Seas’ luxe fleet. After a stem-to-stern refurbishment in 2016, the all-suite Seven Seas Navigator is more stunning than ever, with spacious cabins, a new design, and some of the best food at sea.
The Staterooms Are Spacious
Though the ship is small, the chic cabins, most of which have balconies, are roomy and range in size from a 301-square-foot Window Suite to the 1,067 square-foot Master Suite, which comes with a big balcony (as much as 106 square feet), living room, and include a complimentary cocktail party for eight. (Note that in some of the smaller suites, rooms are divided with a curtain rather than a wall.) Some of our favorite touches: leather-paneled headboards, which add warmth to the room; bedside reading lights; marble bathrooms with in-laid stone; and free unlimited Wifi. Upper-tier staterooms like the Navigator, Penthouse, and Master Suites also come with other high-end perks like in-room caviar service.
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The Design Blends Vintage Details With a Modern Vibe
As part of a $125 million fleetwide refurbishment program, Seven Seas Navigator underwent a total makeover in 2016. Tillberg Design led the charge, layering rich details onto the public spaces and adding a stunning new library off of the lobby. All of the restaurants have been transformed, most notably the blue-and-silver Compass Rose dining room. The ceiling glitters with handmade chandeliers, while tables are decked out with Versace plates and chargers.
The Restaurants Are Five-Star
Like other Regent ships, Seven Seas Navigator excels when it comes to food. Even better, since the line is all-inclusive, passengers are not charged extra to dine in any location. The clubby, wood-paneled Prime 7 is more refined take on a traditional steakhouse. You can order massive cuts of rib eye or New York strip, or the signature surf and turf and sit back in your leather wingback chair while you polish off a piece of banana cream pie with peanut butter crust for dessert. One of the best spots for lunch is the Pool Grill, which makes a mean burger, along with grilled seafood sandwiches and fresh salads. Compass Rose, the main dining room, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and at night the menu offers healthy Canyon Ranch Spa dishes, as well as a couple of options from Prime 7. In the evening, the buffet eatery La Veranda becomes Italian restaurant Sette Mari, which mixes buffet options with table service.
The Itinerary Is Bucket List-Worthy
Instead of divvying up its time between much-traveled regions like the Mediterranean and the Caribbean, the Seven Seas Navigator is spending 2017 and 2018 on two separate world cruises. (There’s still time to plan for the 38,528-nautical-mile, five-continent voyage that departs on January 18, 2018: Beginning and ending in Los Angeles, the 137-day voyage is focused on the southern hemisphere, with stops in 28 countries and 64 ports of call.) The five-figure price tag includes first-class airfare, door-to-door luggage service, a visa package, plus free laundry service, satellite phone use, on-ship medical care, and tons of free shore excursions. Passengers who don’t have four months to burn can book a shorter but still exotic leg—say a 19-day voyage in Australia and New Zealand—instead.
The Excursions Are Worth It
On Regent Seven Seas ships, many excursions are included in the price of your cruise fare. For example, in Cartagena, passengers can take their pick among a walking tour of Old Cartagena, a visit to the 17th century La Popa monastery and Inquisition Palace Museum, and a shopping tour of Pierino Gala Plaza, as well as numerous other options, at no additional cost.
