The December 1994 merger of Radisson Diamond Cruises and Seven Seas Cruise Line launched Radisson Seven Seas Cruises with an eclectic fleet of vessels that offered a nearly all-inclusive cruise experience in sumptuous, contemporary surroundings. Wholly owned by Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, Radisson Seven Seas Cruises has hit its stride in the 21st century with a tried-and-true formula -- delightful ships featuring exquisite service, generous staterooms with abundant amenities, a variety of dining options, and superior lecture and enrichment programs, including cooking classes taught by renowned Cordon Bleu - trained chefs.
Guests are greeted with champagne upon boarding and find fully stocked minibars with their choice of alcoholic set-ups in their cabin, whatever the category. With the exception of cocktails, all beverages throughout the ships are complimentary, including wine with dinner.
The cruises are destination-focused, and most sailings host guest lecturers -- historians, anthropologists, naturalists, and diplomats. Spotlight cruises center around popular pastimes and themes. Passengers need no urging to participate in discussions and workshops led by celebrated experts on wine, food, antiques, and health issues.
Activities and entertainment are tailored for each of the line's distinctive ships with the tastes of sophisticated passengers in mind. Don't expect napkin-folding demonstrations or nonstop action. Production revues, cabaret acts, solo performers, and comedians may be featured in show lounges, with combos playing for listening and dancing in lounges and bars throughout the ships. Casinos are more akin to Monaco than Las Vegas. All ships display tasteful and varied art collections, including pieces that are for sale.
Food
Menus may appear to include the usual beef Wellington and Maine lobster, but in the hands of Radisson Seven Seas chefs, the results are some of the most outstanding meals at sea. Specialty dining varies within the fleet, but the newest ships,
Seven Seas Voyager and
Seven Seas Mariner, have the edge with the sophisticated Signatures, which features the cuisine of Le Cordon Bleu of Paris, and Latitudes, offering menus either inspired by regional American favorites or nouveau international cuisine. In addition, Mediterranean-inspired bistro dinners are served in the venues that are the daytime casual Lido buffet restaurants.
Evening dining in
Seven Seas Navigator's Portofino focuses on food and wines from four major regions of Italy and requires reservations. La Veranda on
Seven Seas Mariner and
Seven Seas Voyager does not require reservations.
Held in a tranqual setting, Wine Connoisseurs Dinners bring together people with an interest in wine and food. Each of five courses on the degustation menu is complemented by a fine wine pairing. Participation begins at $120 per person, and the dinners can be scheduled as many times as demand warrants.
Room service menus are fairly extensive, and you can also order directly from the restaurant menus during regular serving hours.
Although special dietary requirements should be relayed to the cruise line before sailing, general considerations such as vegetarian, low-salt, or low-cholesterol food requests can be satisfied on board the ships simply by speaking with the dining room staff. Wines chosen to complement dinner menus are freely poured each evening.
Fitness & Recreation
Although gyms and exercise areas are well-equipped, these are not large ships, so the facilities tend to be on the small size. Each ship has a jogging track, and the larger ones feature a variety of sports courts.
Exclusive to Radisson Seven Seas, the spa and salon are operated by high-end Carita of Paris. The extensive range of beauty treatments offered follow the Carita approach of tailoring services to the unique needs of the individual for maximum results. Facials are on the pricey side, but massage treatments are quite reasonable when compared to those in other cruise-ship spas.
Your Shipmates
Radisson Seven Seas Cruises are inviting to active, affluent, well-traveled couples ranging from their late-30s to retirees who enjoy the ships' chic ambience and destination-rich itineraries. Longer cruises attract veteran passengers in the over-60 age group.
Dress Code
Formal attire is required on designated evenings. Men are encouraged to wear tuxedos, and many do so, although dark suits are acceptable. Cruises of 7 to 10 nights usually have one or two formal nights; longer cruises may have three. Other evenings are informal or resort casual; the number of each is based on the number of sea days. It's requested that dress codes be observed in public areas after 6 pm.
Junior Cruisers
Radisson Seven Seas' vessels are adult-oriented and do not have dedicated children's facilities. However, a Club Mariner youth program for children from ages 6 to 11 and 12 to 17 is offered on selected sailings, both during summer months and during school holiday periods. Supervised by counselors, the organized, educational activities focus on nature and the heritage of destinations the ship will visit. Activities, including games, craft projects, movies, and food fun, are organized to ensure that every child has a memorable experience. Teens are encouraged to help counselors select the activities they prefer.
Service
The efforts of a polished European staff go almost unnoticed, yet special requests are handled with ease. Butlers provide an additional layer of personal service to guests in the top-category suites.
Tipping
Gratuities are included in the fare, and none are expected. To show their appreciation, passengers may elect to make a contribution to a crew welfare fund that benefits the ship's staff.
Past Passengers
Membership in the Seven Seas Society is automatic upon completion of a Radisson Seven Seas cruise. Members receive 5% cruise fare savings, combinable with any special promotional pricing that may be offered at the time; exclusive shipboard and shoreside special events on select sailings; a Seven Seas Society recognition cocktail party on every sailing;
Inspirations newsletter highlighting special events, sailings, and destination- and travel-related information.
Public Areas & Facilities
The world's first all-balcony, all-suite ship introduced the innovative Radisson Seven Seas concept of luxury while retaining the tradition of stylish accommodations on a vessel with exceptionally generous space per passenger throughout.
Modern by design, traditional lounges feature comfortable furnishings with large expanses of glass to bring the sea views inside and fill interiors with sunlight. Mariner Lounge serves as a piano bar and a delightful spot to meet for predinner cocktails and conversation. Paneled walls separating the bar from the groupings of deep navy chairs and love seats contain niches with classical bronze sculptures.
A spiral staircase provides a grand entrance from the casino to Stars Nightclub, a late-night dance club, where wood paneling, granite-color wall coverings, and contrasting blue tub chairs and square high-back chairs in paler shades create an interesting and eclectic mix of styles. The room's centerpiece is the unusual staircase.
Restaurants
Four restaurants function on an open-seating basis with no dining assignments. In addition to Compass Rose, the main dining room, choices include Signatures, Le Cordon Bleu restaurant (reservations required); Latitudes, which has table side preparations (reservations required); and La Veranda, the daytime buffet that's converted to an evening bistro serving Mediterranean cuisine.
What Works & What Doesn't
There's no getting around the appeal of balconies for all suites and the abundance of space per passenger, but those appealing features have a small downside as well. The beautifully appointed lounges appear almost deserted at times, and you may wonder where everyone is. Dedicated to after-dinner brandy and cigars, Connoisseur Club is the one lounge that is disappointing; although the very masculine setting has oversize buttery soft leather chairs, huge cigar proportioned ashtrays, and even a faux fireplace, it looks sterile and isn't very inviting.
Accommodations
Layout: Rich, textured fabrics and warm-wood finishes add a touch of coziness to the larger-than-usual suite accommodations in all categories. Every suite has a vanity - desk, walk-in closet, and sitting area with sofa, chairs, and table. Marble bathrooms have a combination tub - shower. Master suites have two bedrooms (each with a TV) and a separate sitting - dining room, as well as a guest powder room and two full baths (with dual vanities, bidet, separate shower, and whirlpool tub in the master bedroom), not to mention two balconies (one for each bedroom). Other suites have but a single bedroom; forward Penthouse, Horizon, and Seven Seas suites do not have the guest powder room or whirlpool tub.
Amenities: Every suite has an entertainment center with CD/DVD player, stocked refrigerator, stocked bar, personal safe, hair dryer, and beds dressed with fine linens and duvets. Bathrooms have robes for use during the cruise; toiletries include shampoo, lotion, and bath gel.
Top-Category Suites: The top three suite categories have Bose Wave Music Systems; butler service is available for passengers in Master, Grand, Navigator, Penthouse, and Horizon suites.
Good to Know: Six suites are wheelchair accessible and are equipped with showers only.
Favorites
Best Splurge: Individually tailored services in the upscale Carita of Paris spa are a divine indulgence. Don't be concerned about a hard sell since the staff focuses on pampering, not pressure.
Best Added Value: The specialty restaurants, with superb food and service, are fine dining at its finest -- and at no additional cost.
Best Seat in the House: It doesn't matter where you sit -- the view is unobstructed from every seat in the show lounge.
Our Favorite Spot for a Nightcap: Chairs and tables provide a peaceful aft-facing retreat for stargazing just outside the Horizon Lounge.
Best Bathroom News: In a rather nifty move, bathtubs in 47 suites were rebuilt in 2005 to include rain showers with tiled seats. Acommodations that have them are scattered throughout categories ranging from Deluxe Suites to Horizon Suites.
