Hampton Roads Magazine....

CRUISING ALONG

Seven Seas Navigator Offers Distant Journeys on the High Seas--
But Starts Out Right at Home

Late last summer, we enjoyed a Bermuda sailing with the Seven Seas Navigator--part of the luxurious Radisson Seven Seas Cruises line--out of Norfolk. A few of the many highlights included a pre-cruise lunch at Todd Jurich’s Bistro and Nauticus visit (both on our own) before boarding the ship, suite-style accommodations, first-class service and cuisine (including complimentary wine at dinner), a day in New York City and a four-day stay in Bermuda at a floating “six-star” resort.

“Homeland” cruising is hot, and Norfolk has heated up the options for locals taking to the high seas in record numbers (more than 110,000 this year!). With the likes of Carnival, Celebrity, Holland America, and Radisson Seven Seas now cruising right out of downtown Norfolk to lots of varied ports of call--and a new terminal slated for next year--Hampton Roads residents don’t need to fly to faraway places to enjoy world-class cruises.

And cruising out of the local port couldn’t be easier. Pre-cruise options (like dining, shopping, and sightseeing), easy luggage drop-off and parking, and more make Norfolk the perfect cruise port. Several hotels even offer free parking during your cruise (and shuttle service to the port) if you stay one or more nights with them, which is an economical and easy way to start or end a trip.

After a gourmet lunch at nearby Todd Jurich’s Bistro provided a taste of things to come onboard our own Radisson adventure, we spent a couple of enjoyable hours roaming around Nauticus before we needed to board the ship. Once onboard, white-gloved waiters served glasses of champagne as we sailed out of the port and proceeded to enjoy wonderfully familiar views of the Hampton Roads area from the water (including sailing over the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel).

Once at sea, the ship made it’s way up the Atlantic coastline to Manhattan, where we were able to enjoy a convenient day right in the heart of the city. We dined at a restaurant along Eighth Avenue and visited the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum, which is located right next to where the ship docks. As we sailed out of the harbor, we took in a great view of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Enroute to Bermuda, you get to enjoy a full day at sea. This gave us plenty of time to explore this seriously upscale ship. The Seven Seas Navigator only holds 490 passengers, and all of the accommodations are ocean-view suites featuring lots of space, marble baths, and luxurious appointments. Almost 90% of the staterooms also have private balconies, which we can highly recommend during days at sea and while docked in Bermuda.

Quite simply, the service, open-seating dining, varied entertainment options and onboard amenities were all among the best we’ve experienced at sea (after more than two dozen cruises). Gratuities are actually included in the cruise fare, making the staff’s perfectly subdued performance even more amazing at every level.

While docked, the ship spends three full days in Hamilton, Bermuda, providing the perfect base for exploring the historic city and as much of the small island nation as you’d like. August and early-September are enjoyable times to visit Bermuda, with gardens, history, and lots of British-flavored dining and shopping among the many options for Seven Seas Navigator passengers.

After the third afternoon in Hamilton, the ship makes the short crossing over to St. George, where she’s docked for the evening and all of the following day. This much smaller--yet quite historic--city offers an excellent walking tour, several historic pubs, and nearby beaches.

A final day at sea marks the end of this seven-night cruise in the lap of luxury, and departure from the ship couldn’t be easier, in that a majority of passengers actually embark and disembark in Manhattan. It’s a fitting end to an easy cruise.

Those who want to repeat this cruise need to make reservations soon! Radisson Seven Seas Cruises (www.rssc.com) is offering the Norfolk-to-Norfolk cruise (to New York and Bermuda) on August 16, 23, and 30 and the Norfolk-to-Quebec cruise (to Canada and New England) on Sept. 6, before the luxurious Seven Seas Navigator moves to more far-flung ports of call (with no plans to return in 2006--so make your reservations now). Of course, many other ships sail right out of Norfolk, with a full schedule available at www.cruisenorfolk.org.