The Mariner caters to only 700 guests, making her one of the most spacious cruise ships in the world. She offers the luxury of single, open-seating dining in four distinctive restaurants featuring the finest cuisine afloat. In fact, chefs of the famed Cordon Bleu of Paris, the most prestigious culinary authority in the world, assist in the direction of one of the Mariner's restaurants. And in the six-star tradition of Regent Seven Seas, the Mariner provides the highest level of personal service, with a staff to guest ratio of 1:1.6.
Complimentary pouring wines at dinner, complimentary in-suite bar set-up and a no-tipping policy are just a few of the inclusive Regent Seven Seas Cruises features which further differentiate the Mariner from the usual cruise offerings. A sparkling entertainment program with celebrity guest appearances, a computer equipped Internet Cafe, bridge instruction, dance hosts, a state-of-the-art Judith Jackson Spa and an exclusive new Cordon Bleu Classe Culinaire workshop at sea provide an extraordinary breadth of activities and entertainments for guests. And in port, Regent Seven Seas Cruises' talent for providing outstanding destination experiences - coupled with an extensive on-board lecture and enrichment program - will continue to attract and satisfy the most discriminating and widely-traveled guests.
For those who enjoy world cruising and long voyages, the Mariner offers an opportunity to step up to an unprecedented degree of luxury and personal service never before available on a ship of this range. Those who have cruised on more intimate ships will be delighted to discover that the Mariner preserves the personal touch while offering a wider variety of facilities, activities and cruising range than is available aboard smaller ships. Discriminating travelers, no matter what their needs, will find that the luxurious Seven Seas Mariner will satisfy their most demanding requirements. The all-suite, all-balconied Mariner signals a new Age of Enlightenment in cruising, and the only class is Superb!
With everything he does, Chef Michael Lomonaco reaffirms his commitment to the elevation of American Cuisine. Through his vibrant, freshly sourced restaurant fare, lively television hosting and media contributions and academic and philanthropic activities, Lomonaco's name has become synonymous with New American Cuisine.
Beginning with a stint at Le Cirque where he worked with revered Chefs Alain Sailhac and Daniel Boulud, Lomonaco has always created bold and flavorful fare using the highest quality ingredients. In 1989, Lomonaco took the helm at The 21 Club, a foundering institution from a bygone era of dining. Bringing with him a commitment to excellence, Michael introduced a menu of bold and elevated flavors, redefining American cuisine and, in the process, turning the staid and clubby restaurant into a world class dining destination. After that, he moved up - literally. 1997 found Lomonaco on the 107th floor, as the executive chef of Windows on the World. He created an inspired menu reflecting and expanding on the best of American Cuisine. Critics and diners alike applauded his work and Windows quickly became one of the country's highest grossing and most beloved restaurants. Wild Blue, an intimate sister concept to Windows, was also conceived and created by Lomonaco during this time. It too received rave reviews, and combined with the revitalized Greatest Bar on Earth, completed Michael's suite of popular spots at the top of the World Trade Center. Lomonaco also left his imprint on the popular New York spots Noche and Guastavino's, consulting on the development of their menus and concepts.
Michael's influence is felt far beyond the New York restaurant sphere, however. As the television host for Epicurious, the Travel Channel's acclaimed food program, he's brought millions of Americans into his home and into discussions with the world's best food personalities. While hosting Michael's Place on the Food Network from 1995 to 2000 he introduced the world to his food and helped to prove that food television was a viable medium through his mass appeal and popularity. Michael has made a number of television appearances including spots on "The Today Show", "The David Letterman Show", "Good Morning America" and PBS' popular "In Julia's Kitchen with Master Chefs".
His cookbooks have found their way into kitchens far and wide. The 21 Cookbook is now considered a classic by many and his recent Nightly Specials, co-authored by award winning writer Andrew Friedman, helps home cooks practice the spontaneous creativity that is such an important part of Lomonaco's food. He has also regularly contributed recipes to publications like Gourmet, Food and Wine, The New York Times, New York Magazine, Bon Appetit, Travel+Leisure. Lomonaco shares his passion for American food in other venues as well. As a teaching chef he lectures and teaches at CUNY, the Culinary Institute of America and Institute of Culinary Education school, to name a few. He's also appeared as a guest chef at the International Hotel Show, and the Chicago Restaurant show.
Lomonaco, strongly dedicated to community support, co-founded the Windows of Hope Family Relief Fund which gathered support for restaurant workers' families in the wake of September 11, 2001. In addition, he participates in cooking demonstrations and events that benefit good causes including the March of Dimes, City Harvest and Share Our Strength. The opening of Porter House New York in October 2006 marked the return of Michael Lomonaco to the New York restaurant scene. Part of the prestigious Restaurant Collection at Time Warner Center joining the ranks of Thomas Keller's Per Se and Masayoshi Takayama's MASA, Porter House New York is Lomonaco's sophisticated re-imagining of the steakhouse. A prime beef menu with a broad range of seafood and Michael's characteristic bold flavors is housed in a handsome space designed by Jeffrey Beers. Porter House New York is Michael's home-base kitchen, a place where he can be found by his fans and discovered by others: a place as hospitable as Michael, where people will return to time and again.
