This was a 24-day cruise through the Caribbean and up the Amazon, and we went into it with some concerns. We've cruised many times before (Princess, Holland-America, Celebrity and Regent), but those were shorter cruises and on larger ships. We wondered if 24 days would be too long, would a small ship be confining or uncomfortable, were there specific issues with the Navigator itself (we'd read of some complaints about vibration). The answers to all of those concerns was an emphatic NO. This turned out to be the cruise of a lifetime and worth every penny.

Embarking: We live in Florida and thus received a discount since Regent didn't have to buy us an airplane ticket or put us up overnight prior to departure. The Ft. Lauderdale port was easy to access directly from the garage nearby, and embarkation was prompt and uncrowded. It was almost silly how many staff people were around to say "thanks for sailing with us" or "have a pleasant trip" or simply welcoming us. We came onboard at 2 and were in our rooms by 2:20, and the bags showed up by 3:00. The lifeboat drill came later and was well-handled. Since it is a small ship, there is only one muster station and easy to find.

Room: Regent excels with huge rooms and balconies, and ours was no exception. Our stewardess, who had been on other ships, had just joined the Navigator. She promptly introduced herself and was wonderful throughout the cruise, very early learning our preferences in fruits and beverages, and when we liked to go to meals. Everything seemed to be top quality, from the bathroom to the beds to the TV/internet access. Read more