Seven Seas Navigator - Luxury Cruising at its Best
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Cruises were not for me. At least that's what I thought. After all, I was still some years away from holidays that are typically spent lounging on sun decks. And, besides, I like doing my own thing. Being herded in a pack with fellow tourists on whirlwind tours is not how I like to explore new places. No, cruises were not my thing.
Then I stepped on board the Seven Seas Navigator and discovered a whole new side to this increasingly popular form of holidaying.
The Navigator sits at the top end of the luxury cruises segment and feels more like a boutique hotel on the sea, sumptuously decorated with a great ambience. Although it is a categorised as a small ship, nothing about the Navigator is small. At the entrance a grand lobby welcomed us in, leading on to the front desk from where we were escorted to our room on the seventh floor, which I have to say had a lot more elbowroom than the dinky cabin I had imagined.
The Navigator's all suite, all oceanic-view accommodation is surprisingly spacious. In fact, the ship's space to guest ratio is one of the highest in the industry. Most of the suites come with their own balconies and all are fitted with very good sized bathrooms and walk- in closets. Everything from the brushed gold and russet furnishings to the marble baths is designed to add that extra oomph.
The spacious feel carries through to its public areas as well, of which there are plenty. The Navigator has several cocktail lounges and bars, a cigar club, a pool on the top deck with two Jacuzzis, a spa, a quiet library, gyms, boutiques, a computer room, a casino and a large auditorium where the evening entertainment takes place.
Contrary to what I thought, there were days when we opted to stay back and enjoy some of what the ship had to offer instead of going ashore. Hours spent luxuriating in the spa and soaking up the sun on the deck whilst sipping on a chilled drink were hours well spent and, in spite of the 400 guests on board, no one complained of feeling cramped or crowded.
The accommodation and amenities on the Navigator are rivalled only by its exceptional service. It is everything you would expect from a six star liner and more. For a start, every suite comes with personal butler service as standard. Over our seven-day stay we came to depend on our trusted butler for many things, from tracking lost luggage (our fault entirely as it was not tagged it properly) to organising spa appointments and tables at restaurants. Our tea would be waiting for us in our rooms when we got back from our tours and clothes would be pressed and hanging in the closet ready for the evening. At night we came back to find fine chocolates left on our pillows by the turn down service. Yes, we were being spoiled and we loved it.
The immaculate service extended to all parts of the ship with the entire staff working tirelessly and with a smile to make our stay as comfortable as possible.
The travel concierge was on hand all day to help us plan and organise sightseeing trips once we docked. We had a choice of organised tours or the option to go exploring on our own. Mykonos, Santorini, Istanbul, Kusadasi, Athens - the Navigator glided in and out of ports over the week. While these jewels of the Med were the reason for our trip I cannot think of better way of getting to them. You can't really beat the luxury of taking your gorgeous hotel with you as you go island hopping and that was what the cruise was all about.
The restaurants on the Navigator, the Compass Rose and the Portofino Grill, need a special mention because they were the icing on the cake. Open through the day they served some of the best food I've ever had. Even as a vegetarian, my needs were more than catered for and not once did I feel short-changed. Meal times were certainly a highlight, especially after sun down. Evenings were formal affairs when everything and everyone shimmered. Fine dining was accompanied by some fine entertainment and, with the rates being all inclusive, both wine and laughter flowed late into the night.
As the Navigator sailed silently towards Athens, our last port of call, we lay lounging on the deck watching the late afternoon sun sparkle on the astonishingly blue Aegean Sea for the last time. We felt at once both a sense of total self- indulgence and a Zen like calm from an almost perfect holiday.
Would I go on a cruise again? If every cruise ship is as good as the Navigator, why not?
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I never thought of myself as a ’cruising’ person either. But this piece makes me re-think that. It’s a great little article.