SEVEN SEAS VOYAGER Lounges on board VOYAGER

You might imagine that bars and lounges would be one of the highlights on a ship that proudly includes beverages in your fare — and in theory, Regent’s Seven Seas Voyager should deliver exactly that. In reality, my experience felt more like a study in contrasts: attractive spaces, friendly staff, decent cocktails… yet noticeably short of the “uncompromising luxury” the brand loves to market. Voyager Lounge on Deck 4, all dressed in purples with its bucket chairs and banquettes, is supposedly the late-night hotspot for karaoke and dancing. At least, that’s what the brochures say. On my cruise it was the opposite — silent, empty, and certainly not the buzzing after-hours scene one might expect on a premium line. Horizon Lounge on Deck 5 fares better. This is the ship’s social hub, draped in warm pumpkin and gold tones with pretty beaded dividers and a sleek bar. Afternoon tea here is a genuinely pleasant ritual, complete with pastries, finger sandwiches and soft background music. Later, guitar sets and show-band performances make it a lively pre-dinner venue, and the aft outdoor seating is a lovely touch — even if part of it doubles as the smoking area. But the real gem for me was the Observation Lounge on Deck 11, stylish in greys and whites and often mysteriously empty. With sweeping views and genuinely delightful bar staff who learn your name (and your drink) in no time, it’s a wonderful retreat. The cocktails — especially the signature ones named after Regent’s ships — are fun, but again, not quite six-star: the spirits selection felt more mass-market than ultra-luxury.