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Name: Roberto Desdin
Email: DocDesdin@aol.com
Age: 47
Occupation: Clinical Psychologist
NumberOfCruises: 35
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Radisson-PaulGauguin
SailingDate: Navigator April 8, 2000
Itinerary: Costa Rica to Fort Lauderdale
Cabin: 939 Navigator Suite
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 99
FoodRoomService: 99
CruiseStaff: 98
CabinAmenities: 99
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 95
CabinQuietness: 95
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 99
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 98
BeautySalonStaff:
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 90
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 90
Casino: 90
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 99
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 95
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 99
OverallCruiseValue: 95
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 26 Apr 2000
Time: 16:03:42
Remote Name: spider-te083.proxy.aol.com
Remote User:
Comments
The Seven Seas Navigator is a lovely 490 passenger all outside suites ship with impeccable service,
wonderful cuisine and great entertainment. We recently sailed on her from Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica,
through the Panama Canal to Fort Lauderdale, with stops in the Panama Canal Zone, Cartagena, Grand
Cayman, Cozumel and Calica. Embarkation took all of five minutes with champagne in hand. The standard
suites are very spacious (300 sq. feet plus balcony) and are beautifully decorated. There is a living room area
with sofa, chair, bookshelves with TV/vcr and fridge (which is stocked with complimentary soft drinks
throughout the cruise), there is an initial complementary stocking of two large size liquor bottles as well. There
is an actual walk-in closet with lots of storage space, and includes a safe. The marble bathroom is spacious as
well, and includes a separate full-size tub and shower. The cuisine was excellent and includes choices in the
regular dining room, or alternative Italian restaurant. A choice of complimentary wines was available with
dinner and flowed freely. What was a standout if one could be picked, was the incomparable service. Service
levels were uniformly excellent throughout the ship and always included a smile and attention to detail. It was
not unusual to have 3 wait staff at our dining room table for six. The only negative thing I could say is that I
wish the cruise had been longer. We have been on over 30 cruises and this was the best.
Name: William Knoderer
Email: knoderer@ix.netcom.com
Age: 52
Occupation: Retired
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Radisson-Navigator
SailingDate: 1 April 2000
Itinerary: transit Panama Canal
Cabin: 601
FoodDiningRoom: 98
CruiseDirector: 98
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 100
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 98
DiningRoomService: 100
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 100
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 97
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 100
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService:
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 95
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges:
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 96
OverallPortsofCall: 95
BeautySalon:
EntertainmentPoolside:
CruiseActivities: 95
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 98
DiscoNightclubs:
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 98
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 100
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 02 May 2000
Time: 10:30:25
Remote Name: dal-tx4-18.ix.netcom.com
Remote User:
Comments
Holy smokes this is the way to travel! We have cruised on Holland and Princess before and they were good -
but this! We sailed the Seven Seas Navigator from San Juan to Jan Jose via the Panama Canal 1 April.
We normally use FF miles and do our own air and come in the day before to be sure our bags and all can
catch up with us. We stayed at a nice hotel right at the pier along with a number of people that RSSC brought
in the night before because it was not possible to get them airline seats the day of the cruise. That was where
the superior service started. We met the in hotel RSSC rep and asked about taking bags to the ship the next
morning. No problem- she just added them to the pickup with those on the sea/air package- no sweat.
Boarding started at 3pm but we had arranged for a noon board with our travel agent. We were met at the
gangplank by a steward and did not even have to deal with our carryons. I'd have to give embarkation a 100.
Our cabin was ready and we even got to meet the room steward. This early board allowed us to walk through
the ship and look at most of the other cabins, checking cleanliness and service. The ship was simply
outstanding and all of the cabins (there are NO inside cabins) seemed to be comfortable.
This is a smaller ship and when we sailed there were only 390 guests where she can carry about 475. The
public areas were outstanding, clean and for her size spacious. There are some oddities about the layout and
most surprisingly the ship is NOT diesel-electric but has true mechanical drives. I asked about this and was
told (I assume it was true) the hull was started as some sort of Russian intelligence ship and finished as a
cruise ship. These drives made for the only one glitch on the ship. If you were in the show lounge at the back
and the ship was maneuvering there was some shake and cavitation during the procedures. Not a big deal but
there.
Cabin wise we were very pleased. We had 600 and 601. They were at the front of the ship and were spacious.
One was a balcony and one was a large window. Both were larger than the normal category but had a support
pole in the room. Like wise being at the front of the ship on the same deck as the anchor housing there
tended to be some noise if you were in your cabin at docking. Again a minor deal and we figured that would be
the case when we booked so it did not bother us in the least.
We could go on and on about this being the "right size " ship to travel- but it is only opinion. It was nice to see
the same crew faces and get to know names and they made every effort to accommodate your requestds and
needs. Food was excellent- on par with a very nice restaurant not the usual nice cafeteria style of the bigger
ships. The shows were nice and again well done. Granted they were not a glitzy as on bigger ships, but still
entertaining.
There was never a crowd anywhere and always enough space on the decks to get around. Shore tours were
typical, and as anyone who has cruised knows, these are all subcontracted with local tour companies so I tend
to forgo any comments on them as they are all about the same no matter the ship to take. That said I will point
out the RSSC made sure that there was at least one cruise staff member on every tour. I am sure it helps to
keep close tabs on the tour companies. Because of the size of the ship there were zero problems with getting
to and from the tours and groups were small and you could actually hear and learn things. Speaking of
learning things the on board lectures were excellent and well prepared.
One place I will address is the Canal. Its one of those places I think every cruiser should visit. Now that the US
military is gone you can actually visit the locks. Another advantage to the smaller ship size is that you can
spend the day as we did in Gutan Lake. Its one of those little things but I love to be able to tell people that I
actually swam in the Panama Canal. The other thing that is a must do there is the helicopter tour above the
canal. Don't miss it, you might even get to see some mantees in the lake.
All in all the best cruise experience we have had. I am very pleased with how RSSC as one of the smaller
"independent" cruise companies has put together their product. Granted it is a little older crowd and there are
no activities for children- although there were a few on board. While they are a little more expensive that the
others you will not be disappointed at all. There is just something in being able to order a Coke or bottled
water and not having to sign a $2.00 chit for it.
Name: Don McKenzie
Email: donmckenzie@yahoo.com
Age: 54
Occupation: retired
NumberOfCruises: 20
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Radisson-Navigator
SailingDate: 6/7/00
Itinerary: Alaska
Cabin: 603; Category F
FoodDiningRoom: 99
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 100
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 93
CabinQuietness: 96
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 98
FoodVariety: 99
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 98
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 99
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities: 93
EntertShowLounge: 95
OverallPortsofCall: 93
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 93
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 95
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 100
EmbarkDisembark: 85
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 100
Stabilization: 97
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 99
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 21 Jun 2000
Time: 13:29:23
Remote Name: slip-32-100-154-101.ca.us.prserv.net
Remote User:
Comments
We have recently traveled on the Crystal ships and will make comparisons with those ships. The Ship: The
Navigator gets my vote for the best ship afloat. It is beautiful, spotlessly clean and well maintained. 80% of
the cabins have balconies which is about the highest percentage of any ship. It has a very good passenger
space ratio, either 58 or 67 depending on whose figures you believe. (The Navigational Bridge Visit
brochure lists the ship's GRT at 28,550 which equals 58, others list 30,000 or 33,000 for the higher space
ratios.) The engines are noisy at times and cause substantial vibration especially when the thrusters are
turned on. The newest ships (such as the yet to be launched Seven Seas Mariner) with azimuthing pods
and externally mounted propellers are supposed to reduce the noise and vibration. The cruise director was
a native of Germany. She was an interesting change from the British and US directors on other ships. The
entertainment was very good, but I have found that entertainment is better on the larger ships. The lectures
were good but not outstanding as were some of the Crystal cruise lectures.
Curiously Radisson did not
provide a route map either in the brochure or on board. The TV location map only showed the route already
completed for that day. On the last day, they xeroxed a map at the travel desk which had a crudely drawn
route on it.
The Cabins: The standard cabins at 301 square feet are wonderfully spacious and luxurious.
They are the largest standard cabins that I am aware of on any cruise ship except perhaps the Hapag
Europa. They far exceed the standard Crystal cabins at 202 square feet, the Silverseas at 240 and the
Seabourns at 150 to 277. I have stayed in cabins as large as 500 square feet (on the Crystal Harmony), but
these at 300 feet are fine. I never felt a desire for more space. The walk-in closet has enough space to
sleep in. We easily put our very large suitcase in the closet; normally we have to have the ship store it. The
bathroom is wonderful with plenty of space. The separate tub and shower are nice. The cabin can be
divided by a blackout curtain so that if one person is sleeping, the other can have full lights on in the rest of
the cabin. Even the sliding door to the balcony is good. It is heavy but has an easy latch and operates
flawlessly. The cabin had good soundproofing, however there was some creaking with rough seas. Some
passengers reported hearing people moving about in the cabins above them.
Everything worked in our
cabin -the plumbing, electricity, etc.) which was a change from other ships. About the only complaint I have
is the enforced fitness routine in the shower when I had to jump as the hot or cold water suddenly came on.
Needless to say I did not linger in the shower. Other passengers did not report such a problem. For the
most part the water pressure was fine. The beds are 6 x 6' 3" with a comforter. I am tall (6' 3") so that if I
wasn't careful, I would kick the comforter off. The safe is quite large however it allows for no mistakes. There
is no digital display so whatever four numbers you first punch in becomes your code. Radisson prints your
cabin number on your card key which could be a security problem if you lost your card. There are a fair
number of 120 volt outlets in the Navigator cabins; on Crystal there is just one. The cabin TV accepts video
and audio inputs - good for your camcorders and CD players. Phone calls from the cabin were $6.50 a
minute - about half the price of all other ships that I am aware of. E-mail messages are just $1 for up to
2.5K. They are personally delivered to your room in contrast to Crystal which has stopped room delivery of
messages and charges a minimum of $3 for messages.
There is no Internet on the Navigator and speaking
to the president of the line, Internet on the Navigator seems to be a ways off. Dining rooms: The food on the
Navigator was the best we have had on our roughly 30 cruises including Silverseas and Crystal. The menus
are very good and often have a suggested five course menu along with a regular menu. Of course you can
substitute anything. The portions are not overwhelming in size which is fine as I still find it hard to shake my
early training to finish everything that is on my plate. There is free wine with dinner and the waiters are
eager to keep the glasses full. Dinner is anytime from 7 to 9:30. The dining room service can be fairly slow.
For example, at one morning breakfast it took us 4 requests to get some coffee and at one dinner 3 tries to
get a glass of water. At times the used dishes were left on the table for extended periods of time.
Occasionally the dining room personnel could have been more friendly. Crystal Cruises wins on service.
The alternative Italian dining is excellent. You reserve the date and then come anytime they are open. The
single open seating for both restaurants is great. In the main restaurant dining is anytime from 7:00 to 9:30
pm and in the Italian alternative restaurant it is between 7:00 and 9:00 pm. I understand that single seating
is only offered on very few ships: QE II (Grill and Caronia), Silverseas and Seabourn, although there may be
others. Single seating must cost the ship quite a bit of money since they have to use extra space to seat all
passengers at one time. Otherwise they could use the extra room for income producing activities such as
additional cabins, shops, etc. Even with single seating, it is good to get to the dining room on the early side
to get the best tables. Other food: There is wonderful fresh orange juice usually available in various parts of
the ship. As to pastries, they are not normally a high point of a cruise ship, however those on the Navigator
were excellent. My wife never eats pastries, however the chocolate croissants proved to be irresistible and
she loved them. Of course I was a partner in crime.
Crystal wins on its bistro with its constant availability of
cheeses and great freshly baked cookies. The Navigator's only comparable area is the on deck grill which
has one or two flavors of ice cream and cookies. Radisson does not have anything like the bistro and its
cookies do not match Crystal's. Crystal's free ice cream bar is also nice. Crystal also wins on the cocktail
nuts in the bars. Navigator had only dry roasted peanuts. Crystal has a whole variety of nuts including
cashews and almonds. Despite Crystal's wins in these areas, I believe that the Navigator's food is somewhat
better. The itinerary was the normal Alaskan route except for Sitka and Tracy Arm which are not always
visited. The airport to ship transfer was smooth. We quickly received our card key in the ship's dining room,
had our security photos taken and we were promptly escorted to our room. They closed off the Vista
Lounge on the sail out day for a private function. That was unfortunate because it is the only protected
forward facing area on the ship.
Our ports were all nice; we had to tender in Sitka. Tracy Arm appears to
take the place of Glacier Bay. I do not know if Radisson applied for Glacier Bay permits, but I understand
that Radisson does not have the Glacier Bay permits. Tracy Arm is nice and glaciers can be seen in the
distance, however Glacier Bay is spectacular and I missed seeing it again. The day before debarkation, all
our suitcases were on the bed when we got back from breakfast - a somewhat startling jolt back into reality.
We promptly threw them off the bed. Crystal Cruises does the same thing. Debarkation was an
unnecessarily negative experience. The ship newsletter strongly requested all passengers to be out of their
cabins by 8 am and off the ship by 9:30. The stewardesses entered many cabins at around 7:30 which was,
I assume, to apply subtle pressure to leave. Radisson electronically locked me and apparently everyone out
of the cabins at 8:00 am. These actions were not very friendly and did not produce a good last feeling about
the ship. This is in stark contrast to the Crystal ships where there is no pressure to get off and yet Crystal
appears to have no problem with twice the number of potentially lingering passengers. Crystal in fact does
not make general announcements as to when groups should leave; they simply publish the times that
passengers need to leave to catch their flights. Despite this, I would vote the Navigator the best ship that I
have experienced because of the standard cabin size of at least 300 square feet, the quality of the food and
the single open seating for dinner at both restaurants.
Name: Hank Nelson
Email: hanknelson@earthlink.net
Age: 51
Occupation: Real Estate Developer
NumberOfCruises: 2
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Radisson-Navigator
SailingDate: July 19, 2000
Itinerary: Alaska -- Inside Passage
Cabin: 719/F
FoodDiningRoom: 95
CruiseDirector: 85
CabinComfort: 98
FoodRoomService: 95
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 100
FoodLidoDeck: 95
DiningRoomService: 90
CabinQuietness: 100
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 95
ShoreExcVariety: 85
FoodVariety: 90
DeckService: 90
ShoreExcValue: 85
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff: 95
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 20
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 95
GoodForSeniors: 90
BeautySalonStaff: 95
EntertainmentLounges: 90
WheelchairAccess: 90
ExerciseFacilities: 95
EntertShowLounge: 90
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 70
Casino: 95
AirSeaProgram: 85
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 95
DeckSpace: 95
Stabilization: 90
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 100
OverallCruiseValue: 98
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 19 Sep 2000
Time: 18:24:58
Remote Name: sdn-ar-001aztucsp001.dialsprint.net
Remote User:
Comments
The Seven Seas Navigator is the most fabulous ship I have been on or heard about. As you may be
aware, the ship was launched in October of 1999, so it is brand new and has all of the latest luxuries.
There are only 490 passengers and 360 crew, so there are none of the ‘cattle call’ lines or waiting for
services. The ship has a very intimate elegant feel about it. The ship has all suite staterooms most of
which have balconies. Our stateroom had a bedroom, sitting room, bath with separate tub and shower,
walk in closet, and a balcony, all for the price of a regular stateroom on other ships. They even stock
the mini bar with your favorites at no charge. On arriving aboard we were told that Mrs. Carlson, one of
the owners of the cruise line was aboard and in her honor all cocktails and wine all over the ship were
to be complimentary for the entire voyage. What a great way to start a trip!! First Class!!
The food and dining service were fantastic. The dining rooms feature open seating at any time you
wish to dine. The wines were superb and plentiful. Their standard dinner wines, which they vary with
every meal, would be in the $30 per bottle range at a nice restaurant ashore.
As for Alaska, it was beautiful but the weather is generally lousy, at least for our trip. Highs in the high
50’s to low 60’s with a fine drizzle most of the time except for Ketchikan where it was raining sideways,
and this was in mid-July. What’s it like in September? The excursions were OK, that is those that were
not cancelled due to bad weather. We took helicopter rides to the glacier, rode dog sleds, went river
rafting, and wandered around the towns, all of which looked basically the same. What sold the trip was
the beautiful scenery and opportunities to view the wild life from the ship. We could sit on the balcony
and watch whales, eagles, and glaciers pass by right outside. That was worth the price of admission
alone.
Embarkation and disembarkation in Vancouver went smoothly and took very little time. We took the
cruise line’s flight option which did not take us the most direct route. We could have done better on our
own.
My only real complaint about the whole trip is that there are very few shipboard programs when you
are just sailing from place to place. We had two days at sea with no stops, and there just was not very
much to do. I can only read and nap for so long. Granted, if the weather had been better I would have
been at the pool. Just a note: This is definitely not a ship for children, and they make no bones about
it. We loved it. This is a couples and no children cruise ship and trip. Kids would be bored to death.
Since we do not have children this was a blessing and not a curse, but if we did have kids we would
have been miserable. There were only about a dozen kids aboard that we saw, and they did not look
happy. Since I am married I cannot comment on the singles scene except to say that it did not look like
there was much singles action in the bars or nightclubs.
In conclusion, this is a ship and cruise line I want to use again. They really mean it when they talk
about luxury service and accommodations. As a matter of fact, we are planning our next cruise for the
eastern Mediterranean next fall, and will only consider Radisson Seven Seas. If they do not go, we are
not going.
Name: M. Edwin
Email: med4bike@tobyrose.com
Age: 59
Occupation: businessperson
NumberOfCruises: 5
TravelAgent: No
Ship: Radisson-Navigator
SailingDate: November 11, 2000
Itinerary: Hong Kong to Bali
Cabin: Catagory D-847
FoodDiningRoom: 93
CruiseDirector: 95
CabinComfort: 99
FoodRoomService: 99
CruiseStaff: 95
CabinAmenities: 99
FoodLidoDeck: 90
DiningRoomService: 92
CabinQuietness: 90
FoodMidnightBuffets:
CabinSteward: 99
ShoreExcVariety: 90
FoodVariety: 95
DeckService: 95
ShoreExcValue: 90
GoodForHoneymoon: 95
CasinoStaff:
PrivateIsland:
GoodForFamilies: 90
LoungeService: 95
TenderService: 99
GoodForSeniors: 99
BeautySalonStaff: 98
EntertainmentLounges: 95
WheelchairAccess:
ExerciseFacilities:
EntertShowLounge: 50
OverallPortsofCall: 90
BeautySalon: 95
EntertainmentPoolside: 90
CruiseActivities: 85
Casino:
AirSeaProgram:
MedicalFacilities:
ShipCleanliness: 98
EmbarkDisembark: 90
DiscoNightclubs: 90
DeckSpace: 92
Stabilization: 75
ShopsOnBoard: 90
SpaceRatio: 92
OverallCruiseValue: 90
Submit: Submit Review
Date: 15 Dec 2000
Time: 07:31:45
Remote Name: 1cust42.tnt10.atl2.da.uu.net
Remote User:
Comments
The Navigator cruise from Hong Kong to Bali was an above average experience. The ship has more
positives than negatives. However, it is not a total winner. The veranda suites are terrific. Large walk in
closets, huge bathrooms with separate shower and bath and large verandas. The food is slightly above
average in the main dining room (Compass) and very good in the Portofino ( although the menu hardly
ever changes here) The service in the Compass is good, a bit uneven, while in the Portofino it is
excellent. The entertainment in the main lounge was well below par. The vibration problem was
noticeable but not a major problem. The cabin stewaradess was excellent and the room service was
prompt, food hot and service excellent. The shops lacked variety however, the items were very
reasonably priced. The afternoon tea was fair; no variety of tea and instead of clotted cream, whipped
cream was served with the scones (ugh) The shore excursions were good however, there should be a
ship's person accompanying each excursion. There was never any charge for soft drinks, coffee or
capachino and each passenger was given their choice of a bottle of liquor at the start of the cruise. Also
good wine was complimentary at dinner. Ship needs more space for passengers to interact, more niches
to read books and better space ratios. Ship's officer personnel was fine however, not very receptive or
cordial to problems arising. Lecturers were OK and cruise director was fine. Overall a 90 rating because
the food and entertainment were below par. However, a good but not great cruising experience
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