The Regent Seven Seas Mariner
It is not easy for me to do another Regent ship review. Not because there aren't a million wonderful things to say - but because I am afraid you will stop believing me, or, that I will sound terribly redundant. Let me start by saying this, "Radisson has done it again!" They have produced a masterpiece that will have corporate and incentive groups begging for more. But, instead of me telling you (again) how wonderful this cruise line delivers, I thought, for a change, you might like to hear it from the client's perspective. Meet Lynn Averill, Director (or should I say "Queen") of Conferences and Incentives for National Life Group. Bravely, Lynn, with the support of her senior management, signed on to be the first corporate charter of the new Seven Seas Mariner, way before the ship was even built. Having just returned from that charter, she has graciously agreed to share her experience with all of you:
Q: Lynn, what was it like to have complete exclusivity of the Mariner for your incentive meeting?
A: Having exclusive use of every suite and the public space was an absolute dream. We worked closely with RSSC to develop our program around the Mariner's activities and dining hours, etc and it worked beautifully. We also chose our ports of call. Our attendees felt very special knowing their company had contracted this ship exclusively for them. It was an incredible five-night cruise.
Q: Describe the accommodations and public rooms.
A: The decor on the entire ship is very upscale. The variety of suites is a meeting planner's dream and every one is tastefully decorated with woods, artwork and crystal. The walk-in closets are quite large as are the bathrooms which are made of marble. The public space is so spacious and neverending. Each restaurant and lounge has its own character. Everything about this ship is stunning.
Q: If the Mariner were a hotel, what hotel would she be, and why?
A: I cannot take credit for this description but I met someone who referred to it as a Four Seasons on the Water....and I have to agree. An absolutely high-end, upscale venue that happens to be on the water. Not only is the physical product outstanding but the crew and the service level outstanding. We were particularly impressed with the level of service since our charter was the fifth sailing for the Mariner.....service was impeccable. The Mariner's Hotel Director may take credit for great leadership in this regard.
Q: Rate the food onboard the ship.
A: The food quality was very high and menus diverse. I would rate every restaurant 5-star (in hotel standards).
Q: What was the difference for you in having this program onboard a ship, versus at a hotel?
A: The main difference was planning the program. It is critical that we as planners step out of the box and not feel we have to orchestrate every event as we would a ground program. Allow attendees to enjoy what the ship has to offer and plan your program around those activities. We did not organize any group dinner events (open seating dining is fantastic) but rather planned an awards reception, for example, then allowed our attendees to enjoy dinner at leisure. This approach worked very well.
The other difference for us was the sensitivity to children attending. Typically we can expect 75-100 children at our President's Club conference. We were very upfront about safety issues surrounding children's attendance and initially this information was not well received. We had 12 children aboard, and once aboard, those who didn't bring their children admitted we were wise to inform them of the safety issues and frankly were pleased to be able to truly enjoy their cruise without their children.
Q: What did your participants think of their first President's Club Conference at Sea?
A: I have attended our President's Club conferences since 1982 and know our audience very well. Most are sophisticated and well traveled and to hear their positive comments every day we were aboard and since is incredible. There is no question we will consider another cruise in the very near future.
Q: What was the service like aboard the ship? How did it compare to a hotel?
A: The ratio of crew to passengers is tremendous. With very few exceptions, service in every venue and on every level was impeccable.
Q: What types of things were included on the Mariner, that you would have had to pay extra for at a hotel?
A: We negotiated complimentary receptions and turndown amenities. Included in our cruise was wine with dinner, crew gratuities, even asking for copies from the reception desk was done free of charge (what a concept!).
Q: Was there enough public space on the ship to accommodate your meetings and functions?
A: There was more than an adequate amount of public space to accommodate our meetings and events. We took full advantage of the ship's show lounge for the majority of our meetings and receptions, yet private cocktail parties were held in the various lounges and smaller meetings in a dedicated conference room.
Q: Can you rate the entertainment and onboard activities?
A: The entertainment and onboard activities are the best that I've experienced on any cruise ship. We considered bringing on our own entertainment but after actually seeing what the ship had to offer we opted not to, it was not necessary.
Q: How did your senior management feel about this program (prior to sailing, and after returning)?
A: There was some apprehension during the contractual stages because we chartered the ship before it was built, however, our chief marketing officer and the President of RSSC had a couple conference calls to answer our concerns and with RSSC's reputation, we decided to proceed. We followed the ship's progress monthly and once we actually saw the product, even in drydock, it was evident that this ship was going to be as good if not better that any 5-star hotel we had used. Once we were aboard it was apparent that management was pleased with our decision and I'm sure we will be cruising again in the near future.
Q: Was this experience everything you had hoped it would be? Did the ship meet or exceed your expectations?
A: This experience for me as a meeting planner and for our attendees exceeded our expectations. Of the conferences I have attended since 1982, this is the most memorable and frankly the most successful.
Q: Is there anything you would change?
A: We will definitely revisit the educational component of the program but as far as the cruise experience itself, I wouldn't change anything.
Q: Would you do this again?
A: Based on the overwhelming positive feedback we received from attendees, I expect we will consider a conference cruise in the near future.
So, take it from a client! Regent will make you, your clients and your incentive winners extraordinarily happy!
For more information on the Seven Seas Mariner, or the rest of the Seven Seas fleet, visit www.rssc.com.
