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LUXURY GOES EXPLORING

Radisson Seven Seas Voyager adds chocolate to itinerary

Story and photos by Arvin Steinberg

No chocoholics were left behind on the annual Radisson Seven Seas Voyager cruise that added pounds of chocolate and caviar to its recent Caribbean itinerary. There were guest chefs creating chocolate recipes, chocolate buffets, and chocolate makers discussing the origin of the product and its many benefits. Best of all, there was plenty of chocolate to taste.

Chocolate Buffet

A seasoned cruiser, with more than 50 cruises under my sea legs, this was my first time on the Radisson Seven Seas Voyager; and I must say it was impressive. This 350 all-suite ship–-everyone with a private balcony--reigns supreme when it comes to service. Most of the suites have butler service. How nice it is to have a butler serve a white tablecloth breakfast in your suite, while you overlook the blue Caribbean waters, make your dinner reservations, shine your shoes, and take care of any special requests on board.

Also, the rooms are luxurious with their king-sized beds, luxurious bedding, walk-in closets, marble bathrooms with bathtubs and separate showers, TV and CD players, refrigerator stocked with soft drinks and an in-suite bar set-up with your favorite liquors, personal safe, and more.

My wife especially enjoyed the high-end Aveda toiletries supplied in our suite, as well as, the hair dryer--conveniently not connected to the wall--that she could use in front of the well-lighted mirror in the living room.

Bananas Flambé at Tea Time

We have been to the Caribbean many times, so I opted to stay on the ship at some of the ports instead of sightseeing. There was always plenty to keep me occupied on board. Many cruisers are regulars on the Radisson line, taking multiple weeks on the Seven Seas and the cruise company's other ships.

One of my favorite part of each day was tea time, featuring live music, luscious scones with fresh cream, and a bountiful buffet of sweets and pleasant surprises. One day it was chocolate desserts and the next a waiter prepared bananas flambé.

And for those who want to just read a book with no music, there were two places to have tea: a quiet place in the Observation Lounge and the music accompaniment in the Horizon Lounge.

The venues for dining on the ship were also top-notch. For starters, if you sail on the Radisson Voyager, immediately make reservations or ask your butler to do so for you at Signatures, operated exclusively under the auspices of chefs of the famous Le Cordon Bleu of Paris. The menu is presented in the classic a la carte tradition. You can choose from appetizers such as escargot and finish with a chocolate soufflé with fine-tuned French cuisine in-between. It truly is a treat to eat in Signatures.

Foyer Sculpture

Another one of our favorite places to dine was the Italian Steakhouse, where reservations are not necessary. Here, we enjoyed a myriad of Italian dishes from antipasto and Minestrone soup to Grilled lamb chops and lobster tails with garlic and tomatoes. All dinners were served with polenta, roast potatoes, and white wine braised vegetables.

Desserts included everything from Tiramisu to Plums Flambé prepared tableside. Wine was included with every meal with selection suggestions from the wine steward in each restaurant. Waiters were always courteous and attentive.

Reservations must be made for Latitudes, an elegant presentation of Vietnamese cooking and modern French cooking. The menu is served family style and includes a variety of appetizers, entrees, and desserts. The entire menu is served to guests, allowing diners to sample wonderful creations such as Lemon Grass Infused Creamy Pumpkin Soup and Grilled Lobster Tail with Lime Leaves, Carrots, Apples and Curry to Braised Chicken in Coconut Milk and Garlic Orange Sherry Marinated Rack of Lamb. The dining room was elegant in décor with several cozy corners to enjoy a romantic meal.

Pool Grill

There was also the convenient pool grill which was open for lunch everyday, where we could stay in our swim wear.

The main dining room on ship is the Compass Rose, which along with its Low Carb, Light and Healthy menu included a "no salt added" menu, a real feat for a chef on land or sea. Today, with all of the health concerns of too much salt in the diet, it was a pleasant surprise to see a "no salt added" menu on the ship. I tried some of the items and found them to be delicious without added salt. Dinner was served in the Compass Rose between 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. There was also in-suite dining available from the room service menu. I took advantage of this every morning ordering breakfast in my suite, served to me by my butler.

Guest chefs on the cruise added an educational element to the voyage and we learned how to prepare some wonderful recipes. I like puttering around in the kitchen and attended all of the cooking demonstrations. Chef James Reaux, executive chef of the Boca Raton Resort & Club, was one of the guest chefs on board. His interpretation of Rack of Lamb with Chocolate Sauce was not difficult to make and delicious. I made sure that I tucked that recipe under my arm and packed it away in my suitcase to try at home.

There were many serious bridge players on this cruise with a separate room dedicated to them. Several told me that Radisson caters to them.

The ship had a well-stocked library with DVDs as well as books and a computer room with several computers. There was never a wait to log on at sea.

Exercise Room

The exercise room was more than ample for the number of passengers. Treadmills, state-of-the-art equipment plus yoga and dance classes and a myriad of other activities were offered at sea.

The Voyagers spa featured Carita products from Paris and numerous facial treatments and massages were available. A four hands royal massage with two therapists rhythmically working on your body at the same time sounded good to me. There was also a fully staffed beauty salon offering treatments for women and men. Men could also get a fitness facial, royal hands and heat treatment, sports massage and hot towel facial.

Entertainment on the ship was excellent and varied. The multi-talented cast performed Broadway type musical entertainment in the lovely Constellation Theater. The theater was one of the most beautiful on any ship with good sight lines from all seats. I also enjoyed the local entertainment that was brought in during a port of call at San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Yes, the food on the ship was sensational. And so was the chocolate. You could even have caviar everyday if you wanted it! You could also order lobster everyday if that was your choice. But what really made this ship special was the staff. They were courteous and caring and anticipated your every need.

There were not many children on the cruise. The ship caters to the seasoned fifty-plus traveler, providing the best possible experience at sea for the luxury travel market.

For more information about Radisson Seven Seas Cruise Line, call 800-285-1835 or log on to: www.rssc.com

Editor's note: See my equally wonderful experience on the Radisson Seven Seas Voyage from New York City to Bermuda under Cruise News.

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