voyager of the seas vs mariner

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Mariner of the Seas vs Voyager of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas was built in 2003. It was renovated in 2018. It's 4 years newer than the Voyager of the Seas , which was built in 1999 and renovated in 2019.

Comparison Overview

Number of passengers, food and restaurants, bars and drinks, pools and hot tubs, ship features and activities, cruise costs, onboard costs.

The Mariner of the Seas is considered a medium size ship. Coming in at 1,020 feet long and 157 feet wide, it's roughly the length of 2.8 football fields, as wide as 3 tractor-trailers and the same height as a 14-story building. The Mariner of the Seas and the Voyager of the Seas are in the same class, which means they're sister ships. For the most part, they're similar in terms of size and layout; although they may have different features and attractions on board.

Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas holds about the same number of passengers as the Voyager of the Seas based on double occupancy (two people per room). When you compare the total tonnage of the ship to the number of passengers, or what we call the "Space Ratio," the Mariner of the Seas has more space per person compared to the Voyager of the Seas. This means that you might have a bit more space to yourself on the ship, although there still could be some crowded areas like buffets, pools, etc.

Food is a big part of any cruise, and the ship you choose can make a huge difference in your food experience.

The Mariner of the Seas has 16 different dining options like Chops Grille , Dog House , and Jamie's Italian . Of those options, 9 are complementary, or included with your cruise fare. The other 7 options have an additional fee.

The Voyager of the Seas has 3 fewer dining venues. Some of its popular venues are Chef's Table , Windjammer , and Izumi Sushi & Hot Rocks . 8 of these restaurants are complementary and the other 5 have an additional fee.

If you like having a variety of places to eat, the Mariner of the Seas might be a better choice. It has 23% more dining options than the Voyager of the Seas.

Both ships have a similar number of paid versus included dining options.

Restaurants on Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas & Voyager of the Seas

The Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas has 2 more bars than the Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas.

In terms of drinks and cocktails, you have a variety of choices. Both ships serve the Coca-cola family of products. That means Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite and Barqs Root Beer, although the selection can vary by ship. Most Royal Caribbean ships also have Coke Freestyle machines where you can make 100 different flavor combinations.

You can check out recent the bar menus for the Mariner of the Seas and the Voyager of the Seas below.

Nothing beats relaxing by a pool with a nice drink in hand as you feel the fresh sea breeze pass by you. The problem is that with thousands of people on a ship, there's not always room. If you want to spend all day for 7 days in a pool, a cruise isn't for you. You would have a much better bet choosing a resort with a huge pool complex. That being said, a quick dip in the pool can be nice on a hot day.

The Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas has a total of 3 pools and 5 hot tubs. Tired of loud kids and splashing? 1 of the pools and 2 of the hot tubs are adults only.

The Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas has the same number of pools as the Mariner of the Seas and more hot tubs.

Cruise Coloring and Activity Books for Kids Get your kids ready for their cruise or keep them entertained while on board with our custom made coloring and activity books. These are the Royal Caribbean editions with places like Studio B and Sorrento's featured.

Cruise Ship Coloring Book for Kids 3-5 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Let's Get Cruising Activity Book for Kids 6-8 - Royal Caribbean Edition

Both ships have lots of activities to keep you busy throughout your cruise. Below you'll see a list of some of the major features on these ships. You might up paying more while on board the Mariner of the Seas. Only 75% of the activities below are included in your cruise fare. On the Voyager of the Seas, 80% of the activities are included at no additional cost.

Royal Caribbean is a mainstream cruise line. Mainstream cruise lines cater to a variety of guests, hoping to provide something for everyone. These typically cost about $100 - $350 per person per day.

Cruise pricing is dynamic and varies for each specific sailing based on factors such as departure point, ports of call, and time of year. Typically newer ships cost more, so a cruise on Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas will likely be more expensive than on Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas.

Another way to gauge the cost of a cruise is to consider how much you'll spend on board. Even though a lot is included in the base cruise fare, you may still spend money on things like spa treatments, specialty dining, drinks, and excursions. In addition, guests can also have to pay for things like gratuities and tips.

Typically guests can expect to spend about 25 - 40% of the cost of the cruise on onboard expenses. In other words, if the cruise fare is $1,000 per person, you might spend between $250 and $400 on extra expenses.

The table below will help you understand what you might spend onboard a Royal Caribbean ship.

Royal Caribbean uses dynamic pricing, which means the pricing for many things will vary per sailing. The daily gratuities and tip are consistent across the fleet, but the pricing for the drink package, internet, and excursions will change. The only way to know your price is to consult the Royal Caribbean cruise planner once you're booked.

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Voyager of the Seas VS Mariner of the Seas

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The 7 classes of Royal Caribbean cruise ships, explained

Editor's Note

Even if you're a newcomer to cruising, you've probably heard of Royal Caribbean 's giant Icon Class and Oasis Class ships. With the exception of a single MSC Cruises vessel , they're far bigger than any other cruise vessel afloat and like nothing else you'll find at sea.

Indeed, when you hear people talking about the wow factor of Royal Caribbean's "floating megaresorts," it's likely they're referring to the six ships in these two sets of vessels. This includes the just-unveiled Icon of the Seas — the world's biggest cruise ship.

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That said, not all Royal Caribbean ships are similarly supersized. While the line is perhaps best known for giant vessels — it operates six of the 10 biggest cruise ships in the world — it also markets some relatively smaller, more intimate ships.

In fact, Royal Caribbean has eight vessels that are less than half the size of the Oasis Class ships.

If you're thinking about booking a Royal Caribbean cruise, you'll find the line offers a wide range of ship styles and designs.

With the relatively recent removal of two older ships from its fleet, Royal Caribbean — the world's largest cruise line by passenger capacity — now has 27 oceangoing vessels in all. That's more than any other major cruise line, and it means that you have a lot of choices when it comes to picking the perfect Royal Caribbean ship for you.

Related: The ultimate guide to Royal Caribbean

The good news for those of you trying to get a handle on all the options is that the 27 ships can easily be bunched into just seven groups of vessels that have similar amenities. If you know one member of the group, you know them all.

These seven groups are made up of ships constructed around the same time with the same basic design. They're known in cruise industry lingo as "classes," and each has its own look and feel.

An introduction to Royal Caribbean ships

For the most part, Royal Caribbean operates big, bustling megaships that will appeal to people who like a megaresort experience. The company has built its brand around offering vacationers a ton of diversions on its ships, whether for dining (some vessels have more than 20 distinct places to grab a bite) or entertainment. Its vessels are lively and fun.

The over-the-top megaresort experience on a Royal Caribbean ship varies from class to class, though.

Related: Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean cabins and suites

The line's one Icon Class and five Oasis Class ships are unlike anything else you'll find at sea when it comes to size, amenities and capacity. They each can hold more than 6,600 passengers, with every berth full.

Somewhat smaller in size but still giant by any measure, each of the line's five Quantum Class and three Freedom Class vessels has a total capacity ranging from around 4,500 to 5,600 passengers. With space for around 3,800 passengers at maximum occupancy, the line's five Voyager Class vessels are relatively large, too.

Together, the 19 vessels of these five classes — Icon, Oasis, Quantum, Freedom and Voyager — make up Royal Caribbean's big-ship fleet. The line's remaining eight vessels, split among two classes, are smaller, with maximum occupancy topping out at around 2,500 passengers.

While no longer the focus at Royal Caribbean, the smaller ships (which are generally the line's older ships) allow it to offer itineraries to places that aren't as easy for big ships to visit. Not all ports in the world can handle a ship the size of Icon of the Seas.

The smaller ships also appeal to a subset of Royal Caribbean fans who prefer more intimacy in a cruise vessel and don't mind giving up some onboard amenities to get it. They are also often less expensive to sail per day.

Related: A beginners guide to picking a cruise line

As you might expect, the biggest Royal Caribbean ships have the most amenities. With each step down in size, you'll find fewer restaurants, bars, entertainment venues and attractions. Even the smallest Royal Caribbean ships still have quite a bit to offer, though.

If you're sailing with the line for the first time, it's important to understand that not all of Royal Caribbean's signature attractions and venues are present on all its ships. For instance, while every Royal Caribbean vessel now has one of the line's iconic climbing walls (some have two), only the 19 ships of the line's big-ship classes have a FlowRider surfing simulator. Only the 14 ships of the Icon, Oasis, Freedom and Voyager classes have ice skating rinks.

Here is a look at the seven classes of Royal Caribbean ships in more detail.

Ships in class: Icon of the Seas (2024), Star of the Seas (coming in 2025); unnamed vessel (coming in 2026)

Size: 250,800 tons

Is your idea of a great vacation a trip to a megaresort loaded with more restaurants, bars, theaters and watery amusements than you can imagine? Royal Caribbean's new Icon Class is the ship class for you.

As mentioned above, Icon of the Seas — the only Icon Class ship currently in operation — is bigger than any other cruise vessel afloat at 250,800 tons, and for big-ship lovers, there's really nothing quite like it. The two more Icon Class ships debuting soon will be equally over-the-top in size and venues.

Each of the Icon Class vessels that are operating or soon to debut has been designed with seven separate pools (a new record for a cruise ship), a water park with six waterslides (also a record), a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and even a zip line. And that's just on their top decks.

Inside the vessels, you'll find more lounges, bars, restaurants and shops than you can imagine — plus huge casinos, spas and showrooms with Broadway-style shows. They even have indoor ice skating rinks, just in case you want to get your Michelle Kwan on.

What you won't find on the Icon Class ships is intimacy. These are vessels that can carry as many as 7,600 passengers when every berth is filled. They operate with around 2,300 crew members. That means you could be sharing your vacation with nearly 10,000 people.

If the above sounds downright outrageous to you, it is. Keep in mind, though, that the biggest megaresorts on land are even bigger. The biggest resort in the U.S. — The Venetian in Las Vegas — has 7,092 rooms. That means it can hold more than 14,000 guests, assuming there are two people per room.

By that measure, Icon Class ships are almost small.

Icon Class ships also don't necessarily feel as crowded as they are. Royal Caribbean's designers are masters at creating vessels that can carry thousands and thousands of people but still feel relatively uncrowded — at least in some areas. You can have a quiet afternoon reading a book on a bench in the sometimes nearly empty, tree-lined Central Park area of Icon of the Seas while, just a few decks above, thousands of vacationers are frolicking about at the ship's pools.

Related: Why Royal Caribbean's new Icon of the Seas won't feel as crowded as you think

Only one ship in this series (Icon of the Seas) is currently operating, but the second vessel in the series (Star of the Seas) is already open for bookings. Its maiden voyage is set for Aug. 17, 2025.

Quantum Class

Ships in class: Quantum of the Seas (2014), Anthem of the Seas (2015), Ovation of the Seas (2016), Spectrum of the Seas (2019) and Odyssey of the Seas (2021)

Size: 168,666 to 169,379 tons

Unveiled in 2014, the Quantum Class may be Royal Caribbean's most innovative class ever.

In addition to a wide range of restaurants, bars and showrooms, the five ships in the class feature some of the most unusual new attractions you'll find at sea. This includes bumper car pavilions (yes, somehow they found room for these) and skydiving simulators.

The ships also have glass-enclosed capsules mounted on mechanical arms that will take you soaring into the sky for bird's-eye views. They're called the North Star rides, and they may be the oddest attractions ever added to the top of a cruise ship.

Quantum Class ships also feature unusual, multilevel entertainment spaces with floor-to-ceiling glass walls called Two70. The spaces are home to innovative shows that often feature aerial performers, singers and dancers who emerge from openings in the floor or the ceiling. At certain times of the day, the glass walls transform into an expansive ambient surface called Vistarama that projects real and imagined scenes.

Related: The 10 wildest attractions you'll find on a cruise ship

All the above come in addition to many of the core Royal Caribbean attractions you'll find on most of the brand's ships, including pools, rock climbing walls, casinos, spas and Broadway-style shows. But don't expect all the classic Royal Caribbean features on Quantum Class ships. For instance, you won't find ice skating rinks on the vessels even though they're a staple of all other big Royal Caribbean ships. Quantum Class ships also don't have water parks.

The Quantum Class ships aren't quite as big as Royal Caribbean's Icon Class and Oasis Class vessels (and thus don't have quite as much room for things like ice skating rinks). At around 169,000 tons, though, they're still among the biggest ships at sea, with a significant number of venues.

They also can carry a lot of people. Most of the ships in the class hold 4,180 passengers at double occupancy — 4,905 if every berth is filled. One exception is Spectrum of the Seas, which was specifically built for the China market with some design differences. It can hold up to 5,622 passengers. Additionally, the newest ship in the series, Odyssey of the Seas, can hold up to 5,498 passengers.

Related: 4 things you'll love about Royal Caribbean's new Odyssey of the Seas

One more big difference between the ships of the Quantum Class and other big Royal Caribbean ships: The Quantum Class ships are designed to be more versatile.

If you look closely at their deck plans, you'll notice that more of their main attractions are indoors and protected from the elements than the ships of the Icon, Oasis or Freedom classes, for example.

One of the two main pool areas on each Quantum Class ship (except Odyssey of the Seas) is enclosed. The bumper car pavilions are, too, doubling as roller skating rinks or indoor basketball courts. This allows Royal Caribbean to send the ships to cooler regions of the world, such as Alaska and Northern Europe, where the temperatures aren't always conducive to outdoor activity.

Royal Caribbean has also used some Quantum Class ships for sailings out of China.

Related: Everything you need to know about Royal Caribbean's loyalty program

Oasis Class

Ships in class: Oasis of the Seas (2009), Allure of the Seas (2010), Harmony of the Seas (2016), Symphony of the Seas (2018), Wonder of the Seas (2022) and Utopia of the Seas (coming 2024)

Size: 226,838 to 236,857 tons

Until this year's debut of Icon of the Seas, these were the world's biggest and most venue-packed cruise ships. Although they're not quite as big as the new vessel, they remain among the very best options for vacationers who love nothing more than a big, bustling resort with every sort of amusement known to humans.

Each of the Oasis Class vessels has three separate main pool areas, a kiddie splash zone, surfing simulators, a miniature golf course, a basketball court and a zip line on their top decks — a nearly as wide array of features as the new Icon of the Seas. Inside the vessels, as on Icon of the Seas, you'll find a seemingly endless number of lounges, bars, restaurants and shops, as well as large casinos, spas and showrooms. Like Icon of the Seas, each ship has an indoor ice skating rink.

As is the case for Royal Caribbean's new Icon Class ships, which have many similarities with the Oasis Class ships, these vessels carry a huge number of people. They can carry as many as 6,988 passengers when every berth is filled. They operate with around 2,200 crew members. That means you could be sharing your vacation with more than 9,000 people — not quite as many as the nearly 10,000 you could find on an Icon Class ship but still a huge number.

The good news for those of you worried about excessive crowds is that, as is the case with the Icon Class ships, the Oasis Class ships don't necessarily feel as crowded as they are. Royal Caribbean designed them with a "neighborhood" concept that spreads passengers out in seven or eight (depending on the ship) distinct areas, such as the Pool and Sports Zone and the Boardwalk amusement zone. A lot of thought went into how passengers move between these neighborhoods, too.

Note that there are a few differences from ship to ship in the Oasis Class series. For starters, the three newest and largest ships in the series — Wonder of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas — have a few additional attractions and venues. Among them is the Ultimate Abyss, a terrifying slide that drops nine decks. (Royal Caribbean says it drops 10 decks, but don't be fooled; the line counts a nonexistent Deck 13.)

There are also giant waterslides on four of the five ships. Only Allure of the Seas is missing them. There are plans to add waterslides to Allure of the Seas, but they were put on hold after COVID-19 shut down cruising in 2020.

Related: The 6 most spectacular waterslides and watery fun zones at sea

A handful of restaurants also differ from ship to ship in the series.

The newest and largest ship in the series, Wonder of the Seas, has the most differences from the other Oasis Class vessels. At 236,857 tons, it's about 4% bigger than the next biggest ship in the series; the extra space is devoted to such additions as a dedicated suite area with a private lounge, a restaurant and a sun deck.

Related: Why Wonder of the Seas is awesome for families | Wonder of the Seas cabin comparison | A wild race to try every Wonder of the Seas attraction in 2 days

A sixth ship in the Oasis Class series, Utopia of the Seas , is scheduled to debut in July. Construction of the vessel began in April 2022 at the Chantiers de l'Atlantique shipyard in St. Nazaire, France — the same shipyard that built Wonder of the Seas.

Radiance Class

Ships in class: Radiance of the Seas (2001), Brilliance of the Seas (2002), Serenade of the Seas (2003) and Jewel of the Seas (2004)

Size: 90,090 tons

Not sure you want to sail on a megaship with 6,000 people but still want a vessel with a good amount of features and activities? The Radiance Class ships may be the perfect solution.

At 90,090 tons, the four vessels in the series are less than half the size of Royal Caribbean's massive Icon Class and Oasis Class ships, but still big enough that they have a lot to offer.

Each vessel has more than a half-dozen places to eat, including the main restaurant, a casual buffet, a steakhouse, an Italian restaurant and an Asian venue.

You'll also find three pools on each ship, whirlpools, a rock climbing wall, a miniature golf course, a sports court and an adults-only solarium. Each ship has a theater, a spa, a casino, and multiple bars and lounges.

What you won't find on the ships, because of their smaller size, are all the gee-whiz attractions — such as ice skating rinks, surfing simulators, giant waterslides and bumper car pavilions — that Royal Caribbean has put on its bigger vessels. If you can't live without those sorts of features on a cruise ship, the Radiance class probably isn't for you.

Each Radiance Class ship holds more than 2,100 passengers at double occupancy (plus a few hundred more with every berth filled). That's less than half the number of passengers on the biggest Royal Caribbean ships.

That makes them perfect for cruisers who want to get away from the sort of crowds on the biggest megaships without giving up many of the amenities that big ships offer.

Freedom Class

Ships in class: Freedom of the Seas (2006), Liberty of the Seas (2007) and Independence of the Seas (2008)

Size: 154,407 to 156,271 tons

As recently as 2009, these were the biggest cruise ships in the world, and they're still quite big compared to almost all other cruise vessels afloat.

While no longer on the list of the top 25 biggest cruise ships — they've been displaced by Royal Caribbean's Icon, Oasis and Quantum Class vessels, as well as several ships from other lines — the Freedom Class vessels offer a classic big-ship experience with lots of restaurants, bars, showrooms and deck-top attractions.

The Freedom Class ships, notably, were the first Royal Caribbean ships to feature a FlowRider surfing simulator on their top decks — now a signature attraction for the line. The vessels also have multiple pool areas, a water park, a miniature golf course and a rock climbing wall on their top decks (which are among the most activity-packed at sea).

Indeed, the top decks of Freedom Class ships are more loaded with attractions than any other Royal Caribbean vessels except the Icon Class and Oasis Class vessels. You just won't find several of the most over-the-top attractions, such as zip lines, that Icon Class and Oasis Class ships have.

In their interiors, Freedom Class vessels have the mall-like Royal Promenade spaces filled with eateries, bars and shops that have become standard on bigger Royal Caribbean ships. They also have large casinos and spas.

Related: Royal Caribbean just fixed the worst part of cruising

At around 156,000 tons, the Freedom Class ships are about 38% smaller than the Icon Class ships and 31% smaller than the Oasis Class ships, a significant step down in size. They're nearly 8% smaller than the Quantum Class ships.

They also carry significantly fewer passengers than the Oasis Class ships. Freedom of the Seas and Independence of the Seas carry about 3,900 passengers at double occupancy (closer to 4,600 with every berth filled). Liberty of the Seas can carry several hundred more.

Voyager Class

Ships in class: Voyager of the Seas (1999), Explorer of the Seas (2000), Adventure of the Seas (2001), Navigator of the Seas (2002) and Mariner of the Seas (2003)

Size: 137,276 to 139,999 tons

The Voyager Class ships are similar to Freedom Class ships but shorter in length. In other words, the Freedom Class was a stretched version of the Voyager Class.

Like the Freedom Class vessels, the Voyager Class ships have many of Royal Caribbean's signature attractions, including rock climbing walls and ice skating rinks. In fact, the ships were the first at Royal Caribbean to have those attractions.

Voyager Class ships were also the first to feature a Royal Promenade with bars, cafes and shops in their interior. Each also has several specialty restaurants in addition to the main dining room and casual buffet; specialty restaurants include a version of Royal Caribbean's signature Chops Grille steakhouse and an Italian restaurant.

One of the main differences between the Voyager Class and the Freedom Class is that the Royal Promenades on Voyager Class ships are shorter. The top-deck areas of the Voyager Class ships are also more truncated than the Freedom Class vessels.

There are also fewer cabins on the Voyager Class ships, resulting in fewer passengers on board a typical sailing. Most of the ships carry around 3,100 passengers at double occupancy — about 800 fewer than the typical Freedom Class ship.

At around 139,000 tons, the ships are about 11% smaller than the Freedom Class ships.

There are also some variations in attractions among the five Voyager Class vessels. Navigator of the Seas has a relatively new waterslide zone that's home to The Blaster, the longest waterslide at sea . You won't find that on the other ships, though most of them have different waterslides. Only three of the five ships — Voyager of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas and Mariner of the Seas — have laser tag courses. Adventure of the Seas is the only vessel in the class with a kiddie splash zone.

Related: Why the overhaul of Navigator of the Seas was so great

Vision Class

Ships in class: Grandeur of the Seas (1996), Rhapsody of the Seas (1997), Enchantment of the Seas (1997) and Vision of the Seas (1998)

Size: 73,817 to 82,910 tons

Dating to the 1990s, the Vision Class ships are the smallest at Royal Caribbean, and they offer fewer onboard attractions and amenities than is typical for the line's vessels.

In general, they appeal to cruisers looking for a more intimate experience on a cruise ship as well as those who care more about the destinations they visit than the onboard attractions.

Along those lines, Royal Caribbean often sends some of its Vision Class ships to Europe in the summer to operate port call-intensive itineraries. The vessels also often sail longer trips in the Caribbean that include less-visited southerly islands. In both cases, the allure of the cruises has more to do with the ports the ships visit than the onboard experience.

Vision Class ships are also sometimes based in secondary ports such as Baltimore or San Juan, Puerto Rico, where the size of the local cruise market might not warrant a larger vessel.

Except for rock climbing walls, the Vision Class ships have none of the signature Royal Caribbean deck-top attractions such as surfing and skydiving simulators. For the most part, their top decks are lined with pools, whirlpools and sunning areas, as is typical for ships built in the 1990s. All have at least two pools and six whirlpools, except for Enchantment of the Seas, which has three pools and six whirlpools.

Related: Is cruising right for you? Start by asking yourself these 7 questions

In addition to main restaurants and casual buffets, each ship has at least one (and often several) additional specialty restaurants. The line's signature Chops Grille steakhouse and Italian eatery Giovanni's Table are two of them. Rhapsody of the Seas has the biggest selection of dining; Enchantment of the Seas has the smallest. Three of the four vessels — all but Enchantment of the Seas — have an Izumi Asian restaurant.

Each of the ships varies slightly in size. Grandeur of the Seas is the smallest of the four vessels, measuring around 74,000 tons. Enchantment of the Seas is the biggest, measuring around 83,000 tons (it was, notably, lengthened by 73 feet in 2005).

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Mariner, Navigator or Voyager

By snorkle lover , March 8, 2020 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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snorkle lover

We have only been on one Regent cruise ( on the Explorer).

We have one scheduled on the Splendor in September 2020

and are really looking forward to that cruise. We will be booking

another cruise in 2021. Which ship would we enjoy the most

( considering an itinerary that we like) since we have only

sailed on the Explorer and loved that ship? Any input would

be appreciated.

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Those three are the only Regent ships we've sailed so far, with both Splendor and Explorer coming up later this year for us.  So, can't compare to the newer ships.  However, we really enjoyed Mariner.  Navigator is a smaller ship, unlike any of the other Regent ships.  What category of suite are you considering?  We had a PH on Mariner and loved it. 

I'm sure you'll get more input from others.

Explorer is our favorite ship.  Navigator is our least favorite ship (for many reasons).  I have the same question that RJ2002 has - what category of suite are you considering.  Mariner has the largest (and best) PH and above suites but has the smallest lower category suites.  Voyager has very nice lower category suites but the PH suites are almost the same size as lower category suites.  Navigator suites are the same in the lower categories but the PH suites are identical in size (and they have some suites without balconies).

Due to the small suites on Mariner (and, it is important to have a shower-only suite on Mariner as their bathtubs are difficult to get into and out of - even if you are able-bodied)., our second favorite ship is Voyager.

We are just in the beginning process of this selection.

Our suite category on the Explorer was Concierge D

and the Splendor will be Concierge E. So, that is the

about what we would probably be looking at. Would

we be disappointed in either of these categories on

any of the other ships. We loved the walk in closet

and bathroom on the Explorer. As I mentioned this was

our first Regent cruise but now we are probably going to

take a future CC since we may be going to cancel

one in April, so just wondering??   Jackie, sounds like Voyager might fit the bill.

14 minutes ago, snorkle lover said: We are just in the beginning process of this selection. Our suite category on the Explorer was Concierge D and the Splendor will be Concierge E. So, that is the about what we would probably be looking at. Would we be disappointed in either of these categories on any of the other ships. We loved the walk in closet and bathroom on the Explorer. As I mentioned this was our first Regent cruise but now we are probably going to take a future CC since we may be going to cancel one in April, so just wondering??   Jackie, sounds like Voyager might fit the bill.

Voyager was our favorite ship for about 13 years (until Explorer was launched).  The Concierge suites are well laid out with a good size closet (at least as big as Explorer).  Bathrooms on Mariner, Voyager and Navigator are smaller than Explorer and, of course, these ships do not have Pacific Rim (Navigator only has one specialty restaurant - Prime 7).  The service and food are equal on all of the ships so pick the best itinerary best suits you.  

Are you cancelling the transatlantic cruise April 1st?  Just curious as we have friends on that sailing.  

DavidTheWonderer

Voyager and Mariner are identical in size and number of passengers.  The difference is that Voyager's cabins are larger and therefore there is less public space, while Mariner is just the opposite. Choosing between the two, then, is a matter of personal preference. Personally I prefer more public space.

Navigator is smaller with fewer passengers. I expected that because of that I would prefer it to the larger Voyager and Mariner, and was therefore surprised to discover that it is my least favourite of the three.  But I would happily sail with her again for the right itinerary. Overall it has less space per passenger than the other two (58 gross tons per passenger compared to 69 gross tons per passenger), but about the same ratio of passengers to crew.

For us it is the itinerary that primarily drives our choice. 

We have sailed on all of Regent's fleet, except the new Splendor, and have found every ship to be excellent; all with their own personalities & quirks.

You will receive the same level of friendly, efficient service whichever ship you choose.

The following previous topics may help your decisions:

Favorite Regent Ship

Voyager or Mariner?

Mariner vs Voyager

Navigator vs Voyager

Mariner vs Explorer

Enjoy your future cruises and cruise planning  😎

My $0.02 - Explorer is my favorite so far, booked on Splendor in May (assuming it goes) and I expect to like her as much as Explorer.  Unlike TC I really like Navigator, foibles and all, but she’s probably better for shorter, port intensive cruises.  Voyager and Mariner are both nice but they’re one restaurant down on Explorer/Splendor and Mariners basic cabins are smaller.

A lot depends on what category cabin you’re in, what your itinerary is, and what you expect on a cruise.  Any of the Regent ships will give you a nice luxurious experience with fun people and awesome crews (99% of the time, anyhow).

But I think the general consensus is that Explorer and Splendor are the cream of the crop, with Mariner and Voyager right behind them, and Navigator probably the most polarizing.  Personally, I’d sail on any of the ships in the fleet if the itinerary was right.

1 hour ago, UUNetBill said: Personally, I’d sail on any of the ships in the fleet if the itinerary was right.

Wendy The Wanderer

I've been all three of the older ships.  Looking at the layout of the Concierge D on Explorer, it's a bit smaller in square footage than a standard Voyager cabin, but perhaps a bit more square in shape on Explorer, with the bed facing the window.  The PH on Voyager is very nice, just a little bigger than standard but with a great layout.  I really like Voyager, the ship.

Mariner standard cabins are smaller by about 50 sqft  than Voyager, but as others have said, the PH's are larger than Voyager.  We love Mariner, the ship.  The public spaces are wonderful, and better than Voyager, in my humble opinion.  Our current favourite ship, despite the small cabins. It's the quietest of the three ships, in terms of vibration, and perhaps the most stable in terms of movement.

I also like Navigator.  The standard balcony cabins are really nice, although you need to avoid ones in the back of the ship.  (Both Navigator and Voyager have a bit of a vibration aft.)  The public spaces are very nice, but it definitely is a smaller ship.  I like its intimacy.

Hmmmm....if someone asked me if they should book on the Mariner or Navigator or Voyager?   My answer is-yes!

DeepFreeze63

Yes to all the above! We were on the Splendor maiden voyage and she became my favorite ship BY FAR. My previous favorite was Explorer Concierge E (608 or 609). DW disagrees about the Explorer and prefers the Mariner, even with the small(er) G cabin - she loves the public areas and the stability of that boat. Because of itineraries our next cruises are:Explorer, Explorer, Voyager, and Voyager - go figure.

17 hours ago, Travelcat2 said:   Voyager was our favorite ship for about 13 years (until Explorer was launched).  The Concierge suites are well laid out with a good size closet (at least as big as Explorer).  Bathrooms on Mariner, Voyager and Navigator are smaller than Explorer and, of course, these ships do not have Pacific Rim (Navigator only has one specialty restaurant - Prime 7).  The service and food are equal on all of the ships so pick the best itinerary best suits you.     Are you cancelling the transatlantic cruise April 1st?  Just curious as we have friends on that sailing.  

No Jackie, seriously thinking about canceling our Barcelona to Lisbon cruise whicl leaves on April 27. We

were also planning to spend a few nights prior to the cruise in Barcelona ( very bummed). However, we are

holding out hope for our September cruise on the Splendor Rome to Athens.

Thank you so much to everyone who weighed in on my question. I have read all the comments and

I have also made some notes. My take away is that three ships I asked about are all

great with their plusses and minuses. So, now I have to start looking at itineraries.

So bummed that we will likely be canceling our April cruise but now I have the fun

of planning another cruise. 

Just got back from 20 days on the navigator Bali to Sydney.   Will post more details later, but my 2 cents...

The navigator is sorely showing her age in the places where you normally don't consider - like the life boats used for tendering.

Our biggest issue however, was a nasty odor of "head" (poop) in almost all the public areas, the worst being in the aft port side of the compass rose dining room.  It was so offensive we couldn't eat in there after a few meals.

OK, so that ship is probably going to be off our list for any future cruising.

Thank you for that honest review.

I have a feeling that I am about to narrow down my search for a good itinerary to either the 

Splendor or the Explorer otherwise I am afraid that we will be disappointed.

A Penthouse suite on the Mariner ticks all our boxes.

6 hours ago, Wendy The Wanderer said: Looking at the layout of the Concierge D on Explorer, it's a bit smaller in square footage than a standard Voyager cabin

Are you sure? I think that the suite size, excluding balcony, on Explorer is larger than on Voyager for D, E & F grade; or am I reading the specs wrongly?

7 hours ago, Wendy The Wanderer said: I've been all three of the older ships.  Looking at the layout of the Concierge D on Explorer, it's a bit smaller in square footage than a standard Voyager cabi n, but perhaps a bit more square in shape on Explorer, with the bed facing the window.  The PH on Voyager is very nice, just a little bigger than standard but with a great layout.  I really like Voyager, the ship.    

 Are you looking on the rssc.com website - under "Our Ships"?  Just double checked and the following pertains to concierge suites sizes on Explorer and Voyager:

Explorer - Suite only - 332 sq. ft.  Balcony 83 - 132 sq. ft.

Voyager - Suite only: 306 sq. ft. with a 50 sq. ft balcony

In my opinion, even if they were the same square footage, Explorer is laid out much better than on any other Regent ship (especially the bathroom with 2 sinks, a lovely bathtub and shower and tons of storage.  

For others that are interested:

Mariner - Suite only - 252 square feet with a 49 sq. ft. balcony.

Note:  There are a handful of tiny suites on Explorer that were originally supposed to be for solo passengers.  Perhaps you were accidentally looking at them?  Most people I know would not stay in one of the tiny suites.

4 hours ago, makai 7 said: Just got back from 20 days on the navigator Bali to Sydney.   Will post more details later, but my 2 cents... The navigator is sorely showing her age in the places where you normally don't consider - like the life boats used for tendering. Our biggest issue however, was a nasty odor of "head" (poop) in almost all the public areas, the worst being in the aft port side of the compass rose dining room.  It was so offensive we couldn't eat in there after a few meals.

This now has us thinking about our Navigator cruise, May 2021.  Should we reconsider, especially since you were not able to dine in Compass Rose?

Where will we find more of your details, when you post?

Also, we are in a state of flux with our upcoming Splendor cruise on April 1st.

10 hours ago, makai 7 said: Just got back from 20 days on the navigator Bali to Sydney.   Will post more details later, but my 2 cents... The navigator is sorely showing her age in the places where you normally don't consider - like the life boats used for tendering. Our biggest issue however, was a nasty odor of "head" (poop) in almost all the public areas, the worst being in the aft port side of the compass rose dining room.  It was so offensive we couldn't eat in there after a few meals.

Surprised and disappointed that you had such a bad experience on Navigator.

We sailed on her twice last year, once after the refurbishment, and found Navigator to be in good order.

Looking forward to your review; recent reviews on CC don’t mention the serious issues you have raised.

What was the reaction of staff members on board to your complaints about the offensive smell?

Well then I stand corrected.  Guess I didn't calculate the balcony inclusion correctly.

I agree that the Explorer D layout looks very nice.  It helps somehow when the cabins are squarish rather than longish, I find. That's why I find the Voyager PH so nice, despite it not being much bigger than standard--there's less waste space in the hallway.

15 hours ago, flossie009 said: Surprised and disappointed that you had such a bad experience on Navigator. We sailed on her twice last year, once after the refurbishment, and found Navigator to be in good order. Looking forward to your review; recent reviews on CC don’t mention the serious issues you have raised. What was the reaction of staff members on board to your complaints about the offensive smell?

Sorry, a bit busy right now.  It will be a few more days before I have time to summarize the trip.

I just want to clarify that it was NOT a bad experience overall,  just that the smell was quite detrimental to our enjoyment of other aspects of the cruise.  The interior is in good order.  The exterior is falling apart,  and so are the tenders.

We didn't discuss the odor with senior staff,  it is an issue with their hvac and air intake locations and there is nothing to be done to rectify. 

I love the Voyager and the Mariner both. The biggest difference in standard cabin is the size (Mariner little smaller but both a good walkin closet) and Voyager and Navigator both have a good shower and a good bath. On the Mariner or a good shower (take those) or a bad bath.

What I miss on the Navigator is a the bar in front (Observation lounge). We like to sit there with a nice drink round 17:00 - 18:00.

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