I was delighted to sail onboard Seven Seas Mariner in April. Not only was I excited to be visiting Mariner and sailing on her for the first time since the company was re-branded Regent Seven Seas, and experience how the upgraded style and all inclusive pricing had enhanced the product, but also the cruise itinerary looked fantastic, and was one of those easily overlooked one-off explorations worth looking out for when you are wanting something new.

We were to embark in Fort Lauderdale, which would mean not only flying to the dreaded Miami International Airport, but also leaving from Heathrow Terminal 5 less than two weeks after the much publicised opening! The British Airways flight to Miami left early in the morning and I was delighted when I arrived at Heathrow: there were certainly none of the queues I had been expecting. The numerous BA staff that were available to help and the speediness of the security checks meant I was through in less than an hour. Likewise on arrival into Miami I was prepared for a long wait at immigration but once again either by luck or chance I was through in less than 45 minutes.

When embarking in Fort Lauderdale it is always advisable to spend one night in a hotel before you sail. I chose the Hyatt Regency Pier 66 which is ideally located less than 10 minutes from the pier and within walking distance of the beach and local shops, if you’re not too jet lagged! The hotel offers excellent facilities including a spa, outdoor pool and a variety of restaurants – all you need for one night’s stay.

The following morning was embarkation day. I was pleased to hear that Seven Seas Navigator was also in port that morning so I would get to see the two ships together in the beautiful Floridian sunshine.

As I mentioned earlier, the appeal of this cruise was the itinerary and I can’t recommend it highly enough, especially to regular cruisers looking for something a little different, and who may be fed up with the usual Caribbean itineraries that are so widely available during our winter months. The costs for the Regent excursions I think are extremely good value for money in comparison to other cruise lines. I reviewed this fascinating itinerary in the last issue of Cruise News, so if you missed it, let us know and we can let you have a copy.

Relaxing sea days gave me the ideal opportunity to explore the ship in more detail. Mariner in my opinion is the nicest of the Regent fleet and offers some great public rooms that the other ships do not yet feature. The Coffee Bar is a great place to relax with a latte and catch up with the newspapers which are provided daily. The spacious deck areas are never overcrowded. The pool bar/grill offers a great selection of snacks and beverages with friendly staff who remember your favourite tipple.

Now that Regent is all-inclusive, I found this makes a huge difference to the atmosphere onboard especially in the evening. All the lounges on the ship seem to bustle more with a steady flow of guests, enhanced by the open dining option. After dinner you will always find another guest to socialise with and swap stories on the day’s experiences.

Dining onboard is open sitting. Mariner’s main restaurant, Compass Rose, is bright and airy with plenty of tables for 2 should you prefer not to join fellow guests, or larger tables if you like company. There are also three other dining options to choose from: Signatures has an outstanding gourmet Le Cordon Bleu menu, Latitudes is an Indochine restaurant and is my favourite, and Le Veranda is a more casual Mediterranean Bistro. It is highly recommended to book your dining reservations for Signature and Latitudes on the day of embarkation as these are very popular, but if you miss out on your requirements, do waitlist as the situation changes all the time.

Our stay in Bermuda was enhanced by the Seven Seas Voyager’s arrival on our second day. This was her final port of call on her World Cruise. It was wonderful to see the two sisters together side by side in the glorious sunshine. The ships are about the same size, and whilst very similar in some ways (all balcony, all inclusive, with a choice of four different restaurants on board), they were built in different yards, and each has its own unique and special style.