Seven Seas Mariner 

The first all-suite, all balcony ship in the world below, the Seven Seas Mariner departs Singapore on a sunny afternoon.

History

To understand the history of the Seven Seas Mariner, we must first understand how she became part of Regent Seven Seas Cruise.

In the beginning, there were 2 cruise lines and 2 ships. Radisson Cruises (a division of Radisson Hotels which itself is a division of Carlson Hotels) had the Radisson Diamond (now Asia Star) which was the largest twin hull cruise ship in the world and the other cruise line was Seven Seas Cruises which had the ship the Song of Flower. The two companies merged in 1992 and became Radisson Seven Seas Cruises. In 1996 Carlson acquired Regent Hotels. In a bid to upscale the brand, the line Radisson Seven Seas Cruises was merged with Regent Hotels and the line changed its name to Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC).

In 2008, Carlson sold RSSC to Apollo Management which also owns Oceania Cruises and the majority of Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL). Apollo is keeping the Regent name and looks set to make further investments in RSSC going forward.  

Design

Built at the famous Chantiers de L'Atlantique shipyard in France, the Seven Seas Mariner (Mariner) was completed in 2001. The Mariner is designed from the inside out with passenger comfort being given absolute paramount importance over external aesthetics. The result of her innovative design was the first all suite ship with every cabin having a balcony. There are only a few ships that can boast such a design accomplishment however the result external profile does seem out of balance in many respects.

While her external appearance may be lacking, it is what's on the inside that counts. At 356 square feet (301 sq ft for the suite and 55 sq ft for the balcony), the Mariner's lowest category and smallest cabin offers significant space. Compared to standard cabins on most modern cruise ships, the Seven Seas Mariner provides passengers with HUGE cabins. The Mariner is truly generous in her passenger accommodations.

In the photo below, the bow and forward superstructure of the Mariner have a boxy design similar to other Chantiers productions from the turn of the century such as Festival Cruises' European Vision (now MSC Armonia) and more recently the Musica class of ships for MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company).

A drawback in the design of the Mariner is the lack of a forward, wrap-around unobstructed viewing space. This is a common flaw across many cruise ships but is grossly outrageous for a ship designed to tour the world. Although every passenger is guaranteed a suite with balcony on the Seven Seas Mariner and therefore their own individual private slice of the world, there is clearly a need for a forward dedicated viewing area high on the ship. On Deck 12, there are small viewing areas on either side of the Observation Lounge however there is no access directly in front of the lounge. While this may be an excellent design feature to ensure great views for those inside the Observation Lounge, it is completely inconvenient for anyone who might be interested in viewing the entry into or out of a port. 

Below is a close up of the forward superstructure where 4 souls can be seen hovering for a good lookout on the starboard side of the darkly tinted Observation Lounge on Deck 12. The superstructure below Deck 12 is dedicated for passenger suites and balconies in addition to the bridge and crew only access forecastle on the bow.

Vital Statistics

The aft superstructure of the Seven Seas Mariner is dominated by her oversized funnel. Consistent with the design theme of the ship, the funnel is functional in nature and is neither ostentatious nor architecturally inspiring.

The Seven Seas Mariner is not the best looking ship sailing the seven seas (pun intended). Her most flattering view is from the stern where the balcony cabins terrace down in a symmetrical waterfall toward her transom. In the stern photo below, the Mariner is preparing to dock at Singapore Cruise Centre. The rotating Rolls-Royce Mermaid propulsor pods are marked on the hull by the blue pinwheels near the waterline.

Current & Future

True luxury cruising can be found with Regent. With one of the highest space to passenger ratios in the industry, the Seven Seas Mariner provides a phenomenal upscale product. Extravagant use of space paired with a truly all-inclusive package makes for a vacation that most people dream of but few can afford. When RCCS says, "all-inclusive", what they really mean is; airfare included, gratuities included, shore excursions included and alcohol included! All inclusive means, you will have to look hard to find the small print because there really isn't any. 

Similar to other segments of the cruise market, even within the luxury band pricepoint, there is value for money. RCCS delivers on that promise and thoroughly pamperes their customers accordingly. As long as Apollo keeps delivering on the promise of luxury with value, success is ensured.