Jim & Kat on Navigator: our 1st cruise --commentary & thoughts

[Hambagahle]

Sette Mari on navigator is every bit as good on the other ships. If anything, we like it better than the SM on Mariner. And Prime 7 has been on navigator at least since 2010.

 

We were on the Navigator in the Caribbean in January 2011 and Prime 7 was there - had been recently installed because when we were on her TA in 2010 the Veranda was its original size... In 2011 the "truncated" la Veranda had an Italian restaurant in the evening - not called Sette Mari but basically the same as SM is now...

[Travelcat2]

Gerry, thanks for reminding us of what Sette Mari was in the early days! We really enjoyed dining there the first time but then it got a bit old (the entertainment -- not the food). As I recall, they served wine, cheese and meats as appetizers (before going into the other side of the restaurant where there was a sit-down meal). Do you recall the name?

[RachelG]

It was called la veranda.

[Travelcat2]

Funny thing about rotator cuffs: I had problems with mine due to playing golf every day that ended in a "Y". A few years ago, I fractured my shoulder snow skiing and had surgery and a plate put in. The positive about it was that after being in a sling for about 6 weeks, the rotator cuff healed and no problems since. A much easier way to accomplish your healing would be to lift and toast a lovely glass of your champagne while cruising for 6 weeks. The healing properties would be fabulous.

 

Love your description of how to deal with medical issues. Having a lovely glass of champagne - being lifted with whatever arm works sounds perfect. In my case, it may take a bit of time to learn to lift my champagne glass with my left leg. Oops -- almost forgot the fact that I can use my arms (just kidding of course). IMO, a smile or laugh is always a good thing.

[Pam]

I'm sorry for the confusion. Mark passed away in 2010; our last cruise on Navigator was in 2009, I believe. Prime 7 was going to happen in the near future.

[JMARINER]

Gerry, thanks for reminding us of what Sette Mari was in the early days! We really enjoyed dining there the first time but then it got a bit old (the entertainment -- not the food). As I recall, they served wine, cheese and meats as appetizers (before going into the other side of the restaurant where there was a sit-down meal). Do you recall the name?

Don Vito's with Jerry Vasi (and Mona Lisa) from the carryover from the Diamond.

 

j

[Emperor Norton]

Pity they returned the Diamond.

 

[Travelcat2]

Don Vito's with Jerry Vasi (and Mona Lisa) from the carryover from the Diamond.

 

j

 

BINGO!

 

Emperor Norton: Thanks for the photo:-)

[Wendy The Wanderer]

It was called la veranda.

 

It was called Don Vito's in the evening. Originally a concept from the Diamond. Ugh.

[Sheltieluv]

We enjoyed that venue and thought it was fun!

[lincslady]

We enjoyed that venue and thought it was fun!

 

So did we. Just once in the cruise. The main dining room in the Diamond was so beautiful, no other like it. She was a funny little ship,but we loved it,though the 'show lounge' was a waste of time! :)

[OctoberKat]

So did we. Just once in the cruise. The main dining room in the Diamond was so beautiful, no other like it. She was a funny little ship,but we loved it,though the 'show lounge' was a waste of time! :)

 

Speaking of time-wasters, quite a lot of deck 7 on Navigator could be used to better effect. Junk the shops and the casino! Enlarge the library/computer room (yes I know it currently is on deck 6). Create more lounge space, build a solarium. Add a coffee lounge, etc.

 

Even more space could be created and ambiance improved enormously by getting rid of the stupendously clunky furniture. I expect the furnishings must have some weight in order not to gallop about in heavy seas but, still.

[Travelcat2]

It seems like everyone has suggestions on how to "fix" the Navigator. We have been reading suggestions for years. However, for whatever reason, many people love her as she is. If you want more public areas, suggest you sail on the Mariner. For a balance of the two ships, the Voyager may be the answer.

 

While it is our choice to no longer sail on the Navigator, it is definitively our choice to sail on Regent:)

[Hambagahle]

It was called Don Vito's in the evening. Originally a concept from the Diamond. Ugh.

 

This is true but only BEFORE our first Navigator cruise in 2009. By the time we were first on the Navigator the restaurant was la Veranda morning, noon and night. It was, as I said above, a "Mediterranean" buffet in the evening though. I was delighted because I hate - really hate - singalong places and "jollity" that is superficial. I was dreading having dinner there but ... like most/many things I dread it never happened. Don Vito's was history.

 

Gerry

Edited February 6, 2015 by Hambagahle

[DavidTheWonderer]

I was delighted because I hate - really hate - singalong places and "jollity" that is superficial. I was dreading having dinner there but ... like most/many things I dread it never happened. Don Vito's was history.

 

Gerry

 

We went to Don Vito's once on the Diamond. People were loving it, and so if I were running the ship I would definitely have kept it. But I despised it to the point that I left before finishing dinner. For me the worst of many awful things was probably the Filipino waiter dancing around the room pretending to play an accordion. This was other folks' favourite though. Different strokes for different folks. But I'm on Gerry's team here.

[OctoberKat]

Waiting comfortably in the library to disembark. Plenty of reading material! We're overnighting in Miami so no connection worries. Fly back to SFO 2pm tomorrow afternoon.

 

You know how you can tell you're on a Regent vessel? Announcements and written material use the adverb "kindly" as much as possible if not more frequently.

 

Will continue to update this thread with additional observations. Cheers to all.

Edited February 6, 2015 by OctoberKat

[Hambagahle]

"Kindly continue to do so" OctoberKat and have a good flight home! your posts and observations have been wonderful to read. Many many thanks!

Gerry

[OctoberKat]

Heh, Gerry, you are too kind(ly)!

 

Scattered observations of our recently concluded (sigh) Navigator cruise:

 

-- Enjoyed the ship in the main. Stained carpets (especially in high-traffic areas) aside, the vessel was in good shape, tidy and clean, one might even say ship-shape. Cool elevators with a view but could do without the musak. Easy to find everything, good signage, directories.

 

-- Adored the library, said the recently retired research librarian, and was gladdened to see a diverse and large collection of books. Delighted to note, at voyage end, guests trooping in to add their own (presumably read) tomes to the collection. I eyed a couple of attractive novels by Joyce Carol Oates.

 

-- Decent wifi, complimentary at the "named" suite level (see, I'm getting au courant with Regent-speak).

 

-- Staffing and service was excellent most of the time; a few hiccups as a matter of course. My hat is off to those hard-working, mostly cheerful, folk. I witnessed many acts of kindness on the part of staff, all genuine. Staff training clearly is a priority for Regent and the results speak well for all.

-

-- Pool Deck. We mostly enjoyed this space; more shaded deck chairs are needed. That ice cream bar is heaven; I want to go there when I die.

 

-- Food. Discussed in an earlier post, here are the highlights: Compass Rose best for dinner overall; La Veranda best for lunch overall; avoid Prime 7 and Pool Grill period. Overall, I wasn't thrilled but I did not expect to be; I wanted to be fed decently and was. But, oh hey, have I mentioned that ice cream bar? Yeehaw and how.

 

-- Breakfast: we breakfasted in the suite each morning. Next time I might order coffee service to get the spousal slug-a-bed up sufficiently that we can graze at will amongst the various venues. All praises be sung to our divine butler, Raju, who is, merely, wonderful. And, who rescued the cd we left on the machine. For which he had to track us down throughout the ship full of guests waiting to disembark. Back to breakfast, room service breakfast is adequate in fulfilling nutritional requirements.

 

Caveat: the views expressed here are mine own and therefore, ipso facto, sacrosanct.

 

More to come, stay tuned.

Edited February 7, 2015 by OctoberKat

[liptastic]

Have enjoyed your posts and updates very much.

Thank you,

Jean.

[OctoberKat]

Thank you, Jean, much.

 

More commentary:

 

-- Jim is new to cruising and I haven't in many years. We enjoyed the motion of the ship upon the seas, how we were constantly reminded of the Mother Nature bearing us upward and forward. Delightful. Booking this cruise, I worried about being on a high deck; no longer an issue! Maybe we're sailors. Jim thanks St. Scopolamine, and so do I on his beloved behalf.

 

-- Veranda. Yes, always. The bigger, the better. Forever. That is all.

 

-- The clientele. Yes, well, I have seen the future and it is I. And that's ok.

 

-- Loved the Navigator and this cruise. Yet cannot imagine nailing myself down to a single cruise line. Am eager to experience more lines. In this respect, I gather I differ from many here. Next booked cruise is Silversea Whisper in November to the Amazon; then Azamara Quest to Norwegian fjords in August 2016. Want to fit in a Seabourn voyage in winter/spring 2016. Also, I'm curious about Oceania. I'm even considering an NCL voyage in The Haven if I can find an itinerary that appeals.

 

-- Chairs. OK, this is perhaps oddball but I was preternaturally cognizant of same throughout the voyage, every time I sat in a lounge or a restaurant. The furniture is so god-awful clunky and heavy. Difficult to shift, especially for the age-groups sailing Regent. Seriously, what is this about? Plus, each clunky chair takes up valuable room and renders venues crowded when they need not be. I don't get this, even understanding furniture must not be flung about during high seas. La Veranda has decent chairs yet they're uncomfortable due to the slanted back. Conclusion? Regent needs to hire a chair expert, seriously.

 

We had a great cruise, it was all new to us and wonderful and we'll do it again in a nano second.

 

More to come.

Edited February 7, 2015 by OctoberKat

[OctoberKat]

The Ethos of Cruising -- seems about socializing for many. But we don't do that much as we'd like, or very well, truth to tell. I mention this because it seems the camaraderie of cruising is a significant measure of the experience and we don't do that very well. Born awkward, sorry.

Edited February 7, 2015 by OctoberKat

[TrulyBlonde]

The Ethos of Cruising -- seems about socializing for many. But we don't do that much as we'd like, or very well, truth to tell. I mention this because it seems the camaraderie of cruising is a significant measure of the experience and we don't do that very well. Born awkward, sorry.

 

We are similar in that respect and prefer our privacy. Always a table for two, and my other half even prefers a larger ship many times because he says there is more room to hide. If we should by chance meet on a ship, I will wink at you at you can wink back and raise our champagne flutes to our awkwardness. Enjoying your refreshing and honest review on this board.

[OctoberKat]

Winking as I raise up my flute to you, portofinoitaly!

 

-- I understand Trivia is important amongst Regent voyagers. In that regard I confess I did not rock but I was decent and, on two occasions, brilliant.

 

-- Excursions. Our cruise stopped in seven ports over the ten-night voyage. We went ashore only once in Roatan where we hired Marvin and his taxi to drive us around the island which he did with admirable panache. That, of course, was on our dime, and a good dime it was. I expect that means I vote against included excursions because we booked none on this itinerary. I almost always will opt for a more personal tour and am willing to fork over therefore. Really not interested in getting on a bus or in a van with others on a customary tourist excursion. Yet Regent persists in that offering, and has done so for some time, so I guess the market is speaking positively ... in the profit margin. So be it.

 

-- Otherwise, We quite like the "all included" approach, a particularly big plus for us.

 

-- The hair salon was very good.

 

--LOVED the laundry service, beautifully done and presented. We have no "status" whatsoever so we paid for this service and every penny could have been a precious gem well recompensed.

 

-- The various electronics in the suite were difficult to operate but Raju the Butler came through with the most important capability which was getting the CD player to accept our classical CDs. Yay, Raju!

 

-- Entertainment. Not for us, to be sure and certain but others were tickled so cherchez whatever. We escaped "entertainment" whenever possible. In fact, we scurried like yellow dogs out of town so fast heads would rotate swimmingly. I ought to say this isn't specific to Regent but encompasses most lines. Our notion of entertainment is different and varied. I live in hope such will happen ... in my lifetime.

 

-- Other than the pool deck between 11am and 3pm, most ship venues were sufficiently capacious. Service was never wanting around the pool deck, big thanks to those folk who noticed my empty glass and offered an array of ... well, various potables

Edited February 8, 2015 by OctoberKat

[newlondon]

OctoberKat, Lucky you to be doing Silver Whisper next. Our favorite ship.

[Linda VH]

Just a comment on "heavy" chairs. I was told, on one of the cruises, that they're heavy so they wouldn't move in turbulent seas.