Review: RSSC Seven Seas Mariner - Sept. 20 - Oct. 4

Very nice review, Jordan. Can you say something about the nightlife,
and music on this ship? If you are not a late night person, then my
question is probably meaningless to you.

Howie

Jordan Zimmerman wrote:
> Here's my review of our recent RSSC Mariner cruise from Tokyo to Hong Kong,
> Sept. 20 - Oct. 4, 2004:
>
> Embarkation
>
> =======================================
>
> This was by far the easiest embarkation of any cruise we've done. We
> literally walked right on the ship without going through any outside check
> in. Also, this was at 1PM - long before the scheduled check in. We were
> given champagne and then lead into the ship's theater where we got our keys
> and registered, which took all of five minutes. Our rooms weren't ready yet
> so we walked around the ship and had lunch in La Verandah (oh my -
> wonderful - excellent).
>
>
>
> Cabin
>
> =======================================
>
> We booked the least expensive cabin that was available (Category G). When we
> got the tickets, we'd been upgraded by one deck. When we got to the ship,
> we'd been upgraded again by one deck (to deck 9, suite 973). We didn't get a
> better cabin in the process, but it was a better deck. When we got to our
> cabin, all of our bags were there - a first! Also, an iced bottle of
> champagne (real - French) was waiting.
>
>
>
> The cabin was gorgeous. Simple and tasteful (like the ship itself). It had a
> walk in closet! We couldn't believe it. Tons of storage space; a hutch over
> the main dresser; wowee. The bathroom was large for a cruise ship with
> marble everywhere. We don't usually pay for Verandahs but having one was a
> real plus. We were on the port side so we really used the Verandah when
> coming in/out ports. The bathroom products were from Aveda - a high-end
> salon brand (not that I care, but it does show that RSSC attempts to buy the
> best quality products).
>
>
>
> The fridge was fully stocked and remained that way throughout the cruise. We
> were told that the first cans of beer in it were free but additional ones
> wouldn't be. I never drank the free ones. It was great to always have
> bottles of water and soda available. The free bottle of liquor of my choice
> (Talisker) was also appreciated.
>
>
>
> Around the Ship
>
> =======================================
>
> The ship was very easy to get around. Every deck went through from one side
> to the other. The various destination areas are logically placed and easy to
> find.
>
>
>
> This is not a bright and flashy ship. I wouldn't say it's elegant either.
> It's simple and tasteful. Everything is low-key. There were no hard sells
> anywhere. Instead of an art auction, they would have an art lecture and all
> the art on the walls was for sale if you were interested.
>
>
>
> The Spa is run by a French company, Carlita - a refreshing change from the
> usual Steiner.
>
>
>
> The casino is small by cruise standards, but it was perfectly sized for this
> crowd. It remained mostly empty. There were only a handful of players. I
> like to play craps and was pretty much the only one on the ship who played.
>
>
>
> The other cruisers on the ship seemed more "self contained" than on other
> cruise lines. This was a good thing. There are always a few cruisers who
> annoy the heck out of me but I didn't encounter any on this cruise (yeah!).
>
>
>
> Food
>
> =======================================
>
> The food ranged from good to outstanding. We never had a bad meal and
> usually had an excellent meal. Given the premium they are charging, though,
> I think they can do better. However, a bad night on the Mariner was as good
> as good nights on other lines.
>
>
>
> Breakfast was the same every morning (in La Verandah). There was always
> fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, etc. The pastries would change a bit each day. As
> an aside, we felt the pastries were lacking. For the price of the cruise,
> they should've been world class. They were good, but not excellent. A nice
> feature of breakfast was that is was a combination of buffet and service.
> For coffee and grill items like pancakes you'd order from your waiter. This
> was a nice touch that elevated the feeling a bit.
>
>
>
> Lunch was always good and occasionally excellent (we always ate in La
> Verandah). The excellent times were when they would have an interesting
> presentation poolside. One day it was Mongolian Barbeque style where you'd
> pick your meats and vegetables and they'd saute it right there. Another day
> they had whole suckling pigs. There was always plenty of good ice
> cream/toppings and pastries for dessert.
>
>
>
> Dinner is where RSSC really shines. There are four separate restaurants:
> Compass Rose, La Verandah, Signatures and Latitudes. From what I've learned,
> they really are separate. Signatures and Latitudes have separate Galleys
> from the others.
>
>
>
> -Signatures-
>
> The head chef at Signatures is trained by Le Cordon Bleu from France. The
> service, food, ambiance - everything - in Signatures was outstanding. This
> would be a fine restaurant in any major city on land let alone on a cruise
> ship. This restaurant requires reservations but we could've easily gotten in
> any night (our cruise was only 3/4 full). I can't say enough good things
> about Signatures.
>
>
>
> -Latitudes-
>
> This restaurant presents a "prix fixe" style meal that doesn't change (with
> an exception) throughout the cruise. The menu is French/Asian fusion and is
> marvelous. Latitudes can compete with any of the designer restaurants in New
> York. Beyond the incredible food, all the plates have been custom made for
> the restaurant and the decor is fun and exciting. This is the smallest
> restaurant, but reservations weren't a problem.
>
>
>
> The last week of the cruise, Latitudes was turned into a roadside diner with
> typical diner dishes. I didn't get a chance to try it but it looked fun.
>
>
>
> -Compass Rose-
>
> Signatures and Latitudes are definitely a notch above, but Compass Rose was
> still good and sometimes excellent. Compass Rose is as good or better than
> any dining on any other cruise we've been on.
>
>
>
> -La Verandah-
>
> The Lido on other cruise lines is a casual buffet for those who don't want a
> sit down dinner. On RSSC, La Verandah becomes a distinct restaurant at
> night. The theme is Mediterranean. There is a buffet for appetizers/first
> course and the main meal is ordered from the waiter. We only ate dinner
> there once. It was good, but not great.
>
>
>
> All the restaurants on the ship are open seating. You can eat at whatever
> time you like and wherever you like. This is a refreshing change from fixed
> seatings/tables on other lines. Also, wine is no charge in all the
> restaurants. The house wines were always excellent (and unlimited!). I never
> felt the need to purchase a different bottle.
>
>
>
> Staff
>
> =======================================
>
> The staff was OK. We expected better service given the luxury price.
> Everyone was friendly enough but we didn't feel we were getting an extra
> level of service over other cruise lines. In the Compass Rose and La
> Verandah, the wait staff was not very attentive.
>
>
>
> Entertainment
>
> =======================================
>
> We didn't go to many of the shows. The ones we did go to were very good. In
> particular, the Diva Diva piano and opera show was great.
>
>
>
> What really stood out were the lectures. Ambassador Edward Peck and his son
> Brian Peck gave separate cultural lectures throughout the cruise. Both of
> them were very interesting and entertaining.
>
>
>
> Is it worth it?
>
> =======================================
>
> This is the hardest question to answer. The RSSC Mariner is considerably
> more expensive than other cruise lines. Basic prices are around $350-$400
> per person per day. This compares to around $150 per person per day on
> mainstream "premium" lines. However, you have to factor in that every suite
> is an outside/verandah suite and wine, bottled water and soft drinks are
> included as are all tips. Including these things in another cruise line can
> add around $50 per person per day (more if you factor in the verandah). Even
> with this, though, RSSC is still expensive.
>
>
>
> We haven't yet decided if our next cruises will be with RSSC or not. Price
> aside, there is no comparison. RSSC Mariner is the best cruise line we've
> ever been on. However, as "premium" lines (Celebrity, HAL, etc.) add more
> luxury touches (open seating, more eating choices) this comparison will get
> more difficult.
>
>

Howie <Trythinking@ifyouhaveabrain.com> wrote in
news:nIqdncVevJfjGOrcRVn-iQ@:

> Very nice review, Jordan. Can you say something about the nightlife,
> and music on this ship? If you are not a late night person, then my
> question is probably meaningless to you.
>
> Howie
>
> Jordan Zimmerman wrote:
>> Here's my review of our recent RSSC Mariner cruise from Tokyo to Hong
>> Kong, Sept. 20 - Oct. 4, 2004:
>>
>> Embarkation
>>
>> =======================================
>>
>> This was by far the easiest embarkation of any cruise we've done. We
>> literally walked right on the ship without going through any outside
>> check in. Also, this was at 1PM - long before the scheduled check in.
>> We were given champagne and then lead into the ship's theater where
>> we got our keys and registered, which took all of five minutes. Our
>> rooms weren't ready yet so we walked around the ship and had lunch in
>> La Verandah (oh my - wonderful - excellent).
>>
>>
>>
>> Cabin
>>
>> =======================================
>>
>> We booked the least expensive cabin that was available (Category G).
>> When we got the tickets, we'd been upgraded by one deck. When we got
>> to the ship, we'd been upgraded again by one deck (to deck 9, suite
>> 973). We didn't get a better cabin in the process, but it was a
>> better deck. When we got to our cabin, all of our bags were there - a
>> first! Also, an iced bottle of champagne (real - French) was waiting.
>>
>>
>>
>> The cabin was gorgeous. Simple and tasteful (like the ship itself).
>> It had a walk in closet! We couldn't believe it. Tons of storage
>> space; a hutch over the main dresser; wowee. The bathroom was large
>> for a cruise ship with marble everywhere. We don't usually pay for
>> Verandahs but having one was a real plus. We were on the port side so
>> we really used the Verandah when coming in/out ports. The bathroom
>> products were from Aveda - a high-end salon brand (not that I care,
>> but it does show that RSSC attempts to buy the best quality
>> products).
>>
>>
>>
>> The fridge was fully stocked and remained that way throughout the
>> cruise. We were told that the first cans of beer in it were free but
>> additional ones wouldn't be. I never drank the free ones. It was
>> great to always have bottles of water and soda available. The free
>> bottle of liquor of my choice (Talisker) was also appreciated.
>>
>>
>>
>> Around the Ship
>>
>> =======================================
>>
>> The ship was very easy to get around. Every deck went through from
>> one side to the other. The various destination areas are logically
>> placed and easy to find.
>>
>>
>>
>> This is not a bright and flashy ship. I wouldn't say it's elegant
>> either. It's simple and tasteful. Everything is low-key. There were
>> no hard sells anywhere. Instead of an art auction, they would have an
>> art lecture and all the art on the walls was for sale if you were
>> interested.
>>
>>
>>
>> The Spa is run by a French company, Carlita - a refreshing change
>> from the usual Steiner.
>>
>>
>>
>> The casino is small by cruise standards, but it was perfectly sized
>> for this crowd. It remained mostly empty. There were only a handful
>> of players. I like to play craps and was pretty much the only one on
>> the ship who played.
>>
>>
>>
>> The other cruisers on the ship seemed more "self contained" than on
>> other cruise lines. This was a good thing. There are always a few
>> cruisers who annoy the heck out of me but I didn't encounter any on
>> this cruise (yeah!).
>>
>>
>>
>> Food
>>
>> =======================================
>>
>> The food ranged from good to outstanding. We never had a bad meal and
>> usually had an excellent meal. Given the premium they are charging,
>> though, I think they can do better. However, a bad night on the
>> Mariner was as good as good nights on other lines.
>>
>>
>>
>> Breakfast was the same every morning (in La Verandah). There was
>> always fresh fruit, eggs, bacon, etc. The pastries would change a bit
>> each day. As an aside, we felt the pastries were lacking. For the
>> price of the cruise, they should've been world class. They were good,
>> but not excellent. A nice feature of breakfast was that is was a
>> combination of buffet and service. For coffee and grill items like
>> pancakes you'd order from your waiter. This was a nice touch that
>> elevated the feeling a bit.
>>
>>
>>
>> Lunch was always good and occasionally excellent (we always ate in La
>> Verandah). The excellent times were when they would have an
>> interesting presentation poolside. One day it was Mongolian Barbeque
>> style where you'd pick your meats and vegetables and they'd saute it
>> right there. Another day they had whole suckling pigs. There was
>> always plenty of good ice cream/toppings and pastries for dessert.
>>
>>
>>
>> Dinner is where RSSC really shines. There are four separate
>> restaurants: Compass Rose, La Verandah, Signatures and Latitudes.
>> From what I've learned, they really are separate. Signatures and
>> Latitudes have separate Galleys from the others.
>>
>>
>>
>> -Signatures-
>>
>> The head chef at Signatures is trained by Le Cordon Bleu from France.
>> The service, food, ambiance - everything - in Signatures was
>> outstanding. This would be a fine restaurant in any major city on
>> land let alone on a cruise ship. This restaurant requires
>> reservations but we could've easily gotten in any night (our cruise
>> was only 3/4 full). I can't say enough good things about Signatures.
>>
>>
>>
>> -Latitudes-
>>
>> This restaurant presents a "prix fixe" style meal that doesn't change
>> (with an exception) throughout the cruise. The menu is French/Asian
>> fusion and is marvelous. Latitudes can compete with any of the
>> designer restaurants in New York. Beyond the incredible food, all the
>> plates have been custom made for the restaurant and the decor is fun
>> and exciting. This is the smallest restaurant, but reservations
>> weren't a problem.
>>
>>
>>
>> The last week of the cruise, Latitudes was turned into a roadside
>> diner with typical diner dishes. I didn't get a chance to try it but
>> it looked fun.
>>
>>
>>
>> -Compass Rose-
>>
>> Signatures and Latitudes are definitely a notch above, but Compass
>> Rose was still good and sometimes excellent. Compass Rose is as good
>> or better than any dining on any other cruise we've been on.
>>
>>
>>
>> -La Verandah-
>>
>> The Lido on other cruise lines is a casual buffet for those who don't
>> want a sit down dinner. On RSSC, La Verandah becomes a distinct
>> restaurant at night. The theme is Mediterranean. There is a buffet
>> for appetizers/first course and the main meal is ordered from the
>> waiter. We only ate dinner there once. It was good, but not great.
>>
>>
>>
>> All the restaurants on the ship are open seating. You can eat at
>> whatever time you like and wherever you like. This is a refreshing
>> change from fixed seatings/tables on other lines. Also, wine is no
>> charge in all the restaurants. The house wines were always excellent
>> (and unlimited!). I never felt the need to purchase a different
>> bottle.
>>
>>
>>
>> Staff
>>
>> =======================================
>>
>> The staff was OK. We expected better service given the luxury price.
>> Everyone was friendly enough but we didn't feel we were getting an
>> extra level of service over other cruise lines. In the Compass Rose
>> and La Verandah, the wait staff was not very attentive.
>>
>>
>>
>> Entertainment
>>
>> =======================================
>>
>> We didn't go to many of the shows. The ones we did go to were very
>> good. In particular, the Diva Diva piano and opera show was great.
>>
>>
>>
>> What really stood out were the lectures. Ambassador Edward Peck and
>> his son Brian Peck gave separate cultural lectures throughout the
>> cruise. Both of them were very interesting and entertaining.
>>
>>
>>
>> Is it worth it?
>>
>> =======================================
>>
>> This is the hardest question to answer. The RSSC Mariner is
>> considerably more expensive than other cruise lines. Basic prices are
>> around $350-$400 per person per day. This compares to around $150 per
>> person per day on mainstream "premium" lines. However, you have to
>> factor in that every suite is an outside/verandah suite and wine,
>> bottled water and soft drinks are included as are all tips. Including
>> these things in another cruise line can add around $50 per person per
>> day (more if you factor in the verandah). Even with this, though,
>> RSSC is still expensive.
>>
>>
>>
>> We haven't yet decided if our next cruises will be with RSSC or not.
>> Price aside, there is no comparison. RSSC Mariner is the best cruise
>> line we've ever been on. However, as "premium" lines (Celebrity, HAL,
>> etc.) add more luxury touches (open seating, more eating choices)
>> this comparison will get more difficult.
>>
>>
>
>

If it is like the three Radisson cruises that I have taken the nightlife
is fairly low key but he music itself is excellent. Notice that there
were few people in the casino, that is very typical. There will be a
piano bar and a bar with a duo or trio playing dancable music but not a
lot of people about (of course there are less people to start with an
important thing to rmember)

Thanks for the information, Jordan. It keeps me from making a rather
expensive mistake in the future.

Howie

Jordan Zimmerman wrote:

> "Howie" <Trythinking@ifyouhaveabrain.com> wrote in message
> news:nIqdncVevJfjGOrcRVn-iQ@...
>
>>Very nice review, Jordan. Can you say something about the nightlife,
>>and music on this ship?
>
>
> Night life is very low key. There was a disco-type bar that never had more
> than one or two people in it. The busiest place seemed to be the bar that
> had a live band (all Philipino musicians). The crowd on this ship liked to
> do traditional dancing (cha-cha, etc.). I've been on Carnival and I'd say
> that the night life on the Mariner is the polar opposite of Carnival.
>
> There was a full time harpist and pianist that played throughout the day on
> different parts of the ship. Relaxing, beautiful music is more my speed (for
> cruising anyway). There was a duo that did pop tunes throughout the day.
> Lastly, there was the Philipino group - they were very good (show tunes,
> 40s/50s pop songs, etc.).
>