Wholly owned by Carlson Hospitality Worldwide, Regent Seven Seas Cruises has hit its stride in the 21st century with a tried-and-true formula -- delightful ships featuring exquisite service, generous staterooms with abundant amenities, a variety of dining options, and superior lecture and enrichment programs, including cooking classes taught by renowned Cordon Bleu-trained chefs.

Guests are greeted with champagne upon boarding and find fully stocked minibars with their choice of alcoholic set-ups in their cabin, whatever the category. With the exception of cocktails, all beverages throughout the ships are complimentary, including wine with dinner.

The cruises are destination-focused, and most sailings host guest lecturers -- historians, anthropologists, naturalists, and diplomats. Spotlight cruises center around popular pastimes and themes. Passengers need no urging to participate in discussions and workshops led by celebrated experts on wine, food, antiques, and health issues.

Activities and entertainment are tailored for each of the line's distinctive ships with the tastes of sophisticated passengers in mind. Don't expect napkin-folding demonstrations or nonstop action. Production revues, cabaret acts, solo performers, and comedians may be featured in show lounges, with combos playing for listening and dancing in lounges and bars throughout the ships. Casinos are more akin to Monaco than Las Vegas. All ships display tasteful and varied art collections, including pieces that are for sale.

Food

Menus may appear to include the usual beef Wellington and Maine lobster, but in the hands of Regent Seven Seas chefs, the results are some of the most outstanding meals at sea. Specialty dining varies within the fleet, but the newest ships, Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner, have the edge with the sophisticated Signatures, which features the cuisine of Le Cordon Bleu of Paris, and Latitudes, offering menus either inspired by regional American favorites or nouveau international cuisine. In addition, Mediterranean-inspired bistro dinners are served in the venues that are the daytime casual Lido buffet restaurants.

Evening dining in Seven Seas Navigator's Portofino focuses on food and wines from four major regions of Italy and requires reservations. La Veranda on Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager does not require reservations.

Held in a tranqual setting, Wine Connoisseurs Dinners bring together people with an interest in wine and food. Each of five courses on the degustation menu is complemented by a fine wine pairing. Participation begins at $120 per person, and the dinners can be scheduled as many times as demand warrants.

Room service menus are fairly extensive, and you can also order directly from the restaurant menus during regular serving hours.

Although special dietary requirements should be relayed to the cruise line before sailing, general considerations such as vegetarian, low-salt, or low-cholesterol food requests can be satisfied on board the ships simply by speaking with the dining room staff. Wines chosen to complement dinner menus are freely poured each evening.

Fitness & Recreation

Although gyms and exercise areas are well-equipped, these are not large ships, so the facilities tend to be on the small size. Each ship has a jogging track, and the larger ones feature a variety of sports courts.

Exclusive to Regent Seven Seas, the spa and salon are operated by high-end Carita of Paris. The extensive range of beauty treatments offered follow the Carita approach of tailoring services to the unique needs of the individual for maximum results. Facials are on the pricey side, but massage treatments are quite reasonable when compared to those in other cruise-ship spas.

Your Shipmates

Regent Seven Seas Cruises are inviting to active, affluent, well-traveled couples ranging from their late-30s to retirees who enjoy the ships' chic ambience and destination-rich itineraries. Longer cruises attract veteran passengers in the over-60 age group.

Dress Code

Formal attire is required on designated evenings. Men are encouraged to wear tuxedos, and many do so, although dark suits are acceptable. Cruises of 7 to 10 nights usually have one or two formal nights; longer cruises may have three. Other evenings are informal or resort casual; the number of each is based on the number of sea days. It's requested that dress codes be observed in public areas after 6 pm.

Junior Cruisers

Regent Seven Seas' vessels are adult-oriented and do not have dedicated children's facilities. However, a Club Mariner youth program for children from ages 6 to 11 and 12 to 17 is offered on selected sailings, both during summer months and during school holiday periods. Supervised by counselors, the organized, educational activities focus on nature and the heritage of destinations the ship will visit. Activities, including games, craft projects, movies, and food fun, are organized to ensure that every child has a memorable experience. Teens are encouraged to help counselors select the activities they prefer.

Service

The efforts of a polished European staff go almost unnoticed, yet special requests are handled with ease. Butlers provide an additional layer of personal service to guests in the top-category suites.

Tipping

Gratuities are included in the fare, and none are expected. To show their appreciation, passengers may elect to make a contribution to a crew welfare fund that benefits the ship's staff.

Past Passengers

Membership in the Seven Seas Society is automatic upon completion of a Regent Seven Seas cruise. Members receive 5% cruise fare savings, combinable with any special promotional pricing that may be offered at the time; exclusive shipboard and shoreside special events on select sailings; a Seven Seas Society recognition cocktail party on every sailing; Inspirations newsletter highlighting special events, sailings, and destination- and travel-related information.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Phone: 954/776-6123 or 800/477-7500
www.rssc.com