When your days are filled with nothingness it’s hard to find time to blog.
Excuses, excuses.
I’m currently onboard the m/v Seven Seas Navigator, one of three ships that make up the Regent Seven Seas Cruise Line. This is my second time aboard the Navigator, my last visit was over the Thanksgiving holiday in 2008. Since then the old girl has held up fairly well, although she is in need of some refurbishments on the inside.
During my last cruise, there was a very pronounced vibration in the aft of the ship which promoted the owners to fit the vessel with sponsons during her last dry dock. Unfortunately that did not solve the problem. Fairly strong vibrations are still felt in the aft and with the entertainment and dining venus situated back there, it can get quite annoying at times. Those who get touchy about those type of things, may want to make sure they book a cabin in the front of the ship.
One interesting characteristic of the ship I noticed the last time, was a pronounced list to the starboard side. Well, it’s still there. But I guess it adds to its charm. After all, you get some exercise walking uphill from one side of your cabin to another.
We boarded in Ft. Lauderdale at what turned out to be a pretty unorganized effort on Regent’s behalf. I’ve boarded at least a half dozen ships there, and I never encountered a problem. When we arrived, the stevedores immediately took our bags and we walked into the terminal where were were filled out our “do you have diarrhea” questionnaire before being told to sit down.
Row by row a lady escorted those seated to check-in. When she passed over our row for the third time, I just got up and walked over to check-in ignoring her commands to sit back down. Others seated in our area followed my lead and asked the row-keeper if she was a member of the Third Reich. It elicited a laugh from us rebels but she was not amused. Once on board we were met with champagne and headed for lunch as our suites would not be available for several hours yet.
Seven Seas Navigator is a five-star luxury ship that pampers a mere 490 passengers with almost all suites having a balcony. Except mine. The balcony suites as well as the penthouses are fairly small on this ship because of its size, so when I saw that there was a 531 square foot cabin without a balcony, I jumped on it to take advantage of an additional 200 square feet over the previously mentioned suites.
After leaving Ft. Lauderdale we sailed south to Key West so the non-Floridian’s can buy cheap t-shirts, pose for pictures by the “Southernmost Point” sign and taste “real” key lime pie. As is customary, I stayed on board and enjoyed my surroundings.
Next stop was Cozumel, Mexico – a favorite spot for college kids embracing the fine art of Spring Break. Rather than risk having a drink with ice cubes guaranteed to give me Montezuma’s Revenge in this tourist trap, once again I stayed on board and continued down the road to eventual skin cancer by laying in the sun and swimming in the ship’s salt water pool.
On to Belize. I looked out at this island as passengers boarded tender boats to head to shore to buy more junk to take home only to throw away a month or two later. While the trinket shoppers were off the ship, I…. well, you should know by now.
After leaving Belize, we started our journey further south to Guatemala. With the ship’s diesel engines pushing us 19 knots, I woke up around midnight grasping for the side of the bed trying to hold on as the world spinned around me. No I didn’t have too much to drink – even if all drinks are included as are the shore excursions – the motion of the ocean got to me.
Remember I mentioned larger suite? I failed to mention that its location onboard is at the bow of the ship – cabin 600. The first one. Besides the anchor, which doubles as an alarm clock due to its proximity right outside the window, the cabin is prone to pitching and rolling. This side-to-side and up-and-down motion was most pronounced once the captain thought everyone was sound asleep and he pulled the stabilizers in for the night.
Unfortunately, I was still awake.
Two Bonine and two Xanax later I realized it was 1:30pm and our day in Guatemala was nearly over.
I stumbled out of bed, looked out the window, and remember uttering the words, “why would we stop at this ****-hole?” Based on the number of passengers at lunch and around the pool, I wasn’t alone in that thinking.
Service on board has been impeccable. Every little request is taken care of in the most expeditious manner. Breakfast delivered en suite has always been delivered hot and correct. Lunch either at the Pool Grill or in La Veranda has always been superb as is dinner in Compass Rose or the ship’s alternate steak-house venue, Prime 7. The only thing wrong with Prime 7 is the fact that you are only allowed to dine there once during your cruise. That rule must have been made by the woman who calls the rows in the cruise terminal.
As I mentioned earlier, all shore excursions and drinks are included in the cruise fare which makes Regent one of the only all inclusive cruise lines. It may cost more, but it’s worth it.
Even with a stop in Guatemala.