Regent Seven Seas Cruises

History, Review, Itineraries, Ships, Deck Plans, News

Regent Seven Seas Cruises cruise line logo
Rating:

Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet

Review of Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Regent Cruises (officially RSSC-Regent Seven Seas Cruises, rssc.com) is a top-luxury cruise line and trademarked travel brand (fka "Radisson Seven Seas"). RSSC's current owner is NCLH (Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings) - also the owner of the subsidiaries / sister-brands NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line and Oceania Cruises. RSSC's headquarters address is "1000 Corporate Drive, Suite 500, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33334 USA".

The RSSC ships are medium-size top luxury passenger ships, with a capacity of up to 700 guests each, all 6-star rated all-suite all-balcony vessels. Regent offers a generous space-to-guest ratio of over 70, and a staff-to-guest ratio of 1/1,6 - some of the best ratios in the industry. Regent cruise ships offer some of the world's best, all-inclusive luxury cruise deals. These are also among the most expensive cruise vessels in the world.

RSSC Regent Seven Seas Cruises logo

All Regent ships are named with the prefix "Seven Seas", connotating all the world's oceans. The name is a most proper one, especially for the Voyager - an ex-USSR's Navy ice-class ship-to-be. Bought as a hull, she is now one of the most recognizable top luxury passenger ships, sailing all the Seven Seas of the World.

The Regent brand serves a clientele of predominantly affluent, middle-aged and older travelers, who expect a quiet and relaxing atmosphere and sophistication on board. The brand line is the epitome for impeccable service of the highest standards. RSSC's all-inclusive vacation packages offer care-free world cruising in an ambiance of luxury, quality, and value.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships

RSSC is well-appreciated also as one of the best cruise brands for families celebrating anniversaries and birthdays. The top-luxury RSSC ships enjoy some of the highest passenger loyalty rates.

On June 6, 2022, NCLH announced an expansion of its fleetwide sustainability program "Sail & Sustain". Extending its animal welfare policy, the shipowner is now fully committed to responsible animal food sourcing practices (regarding pork, chicken, eggs, and seafood) within the global fleet's supply chain. The goal is by the year 2025, fleetwide (NCL, Oceania, Regent) to be sourced only cage-free eggs, crate-free pork, certified sustainable seafood, and chicken purchased from American and Canadian suppliers who meet GAP (Global Animal Partnership) standards.

In late-June 2022, RSSC announced a new Italian menu to be introduced in November 2023 (on the newbuild Grandeur) and later rolled out fleetwide. The new menu (developed for the Italian restaurant chain Sette Mari) includes items like Bruschetta al pomodoro (tomato), Cavatelli ai frutti di mare (filled pasta), Zucchini alla poverella, Insalata di Panzanella (bread salad) alla Masseria Salamina (17th-century castle in Fasano), Cozze gratinate al forno (stuffed mussels), Branzino in agrodolce (spigola in sweet-and-sour sauce), Pasticcini alla mandorle (Sicilian baked sweets), Chef Nino's Cioppino (fish stew), focaccia con pomodorini (Italian flat bread made with olive oil and flavoured with herbs).

Since January 2023, RSSC's President is Andrea DeMarco, who succeeded Jason Montague. Regent's and Oceania's Presidents both report to NCL's President (currently Harry Sommer).

In 2023 was launched the "Epicurean Perfection" culinary program grouping specially curated "Epicurean Spotlight Voyages". On select sailings, RSSC schedules food & wine-themed shipboard and land-based events like culinary-themed land tours and onboard cooking classes, tastings and food & wine pairings hosted by celebrity chefs and held at the ship's specialty restaurants.

Ship refurbishments

In January 2016, an USD 125 million drydock refurbishment plan was revealed for 3 ships in the RSSC fleet. The aim was to bring the vessels in line with the new Seven Seas Explorer (launched in 2016). The 2-year fleet upgrade plan started with the smallest 490-passenger Seven Seas Navigator (April 2016). Seven Seas Voyager was next (2016), followed by Seven Seas Mariner (2017).

The list of numerous onboard renovations included refurbishing of most public spaces, a complete redesign of all staterooms, ship technology, and equipment upgrades. After the fleet renovation program was completed, RSSC started offering free unlimited Internet and Wi-Fi to all cruise passengers (regardless of cabin categories).

As a top-luxury, all-inclusive cruise line, RSSC provides deals inclusive of beverages (including fine wines and premium spirits) and all-inclusive cruise fares (with roundtrip airfare, shore excursions, gratuities included). The line's newly expanded shore excursions program offers complimentary 3-night land tours in new locations (Cape Town South Africa, Hong Kong, and Beijing China, Angkor Wat Cambodia). The experience features African safaris, China's Great Wall, an elephant camp in Thailand.

On February 11, 2019, RSSC announced its partnership with Vero Water (eco-friendly bottled water supplier) to eliminate all single-use plastic bottles fleetwide. In the period April-June 2019, all Regent cruise liners were outfitted with Vero Water (onboard purification) systems eliminating ~2 million plastic bottles annually. Project's implementation schedule for 2019 included the ships Voyager (April 5), Explorer (April 8), Mariner (June 5) and Navigator (June 18). All RSSC cruise customers are provided complimentary with re-useable Vero Water bottles (Regent-branded, 1 per person) to be used ashore and after the voyage to take home as a souvenir.

RSSC ships

Follows a list of common features regarding the RSSC line's vessels:

  • Owner/operator (Regent Seven Seas)
  • Hallmark ("The Regent Experience")
  • Registry/ Flag (Bahamas), ship class (Single)
  • Private Island (Princess Cays)
  • Dining options: Compass Rose main restaurant (open seating), 2-3 alternative restaurants, 24hr room service.
  • Dress-Code: day Casual, Formal evenings - men (dark suit/dinner jacket), ladies (cocktail dress), tipping free.
  • SPA services by "Canyon Ranch", sauna-steam-fitness, casino, 1 outdoor pool (2-3 Jacuzzis)
  • All-Suite ships. Regent cruise suites sizes range from 23 to 112m2, with a large living area, walk-in closet, safe, refrigerator, minibar, marble bathroom (full-size bathtub, separate shower), King-size beds (lowest categories with twin-beds converting to Queen), Butler-service for Penthouse and higher.

Among RSSC boats' best features are:

  • All-suite, all-balcony spacious luxurious accommodations (higher categories are butler-served). Highly personalized and attentive service, tipping-free environment.
  • Single open-seating dining in "Compass Rose" and "La Veranda", gourmet cuisine. Alternative dining venues (including "Signatures", operated by Le Cordon Bleu of Paris, and "Prime 7")
  • Spa and fitness by "Canyon Ranch SpaClub", complimentary steam room and sauna. Tennis courts, outdoor pools, walking/ jogging tracks. Complimentary 24-hour room service, 24-hour complimentary Coffee Corner.
  • European-style casino, library, nightclubs, and themed lounges, spacious public areas. Cabaret-style revues, special shows. Enrichment programs (with guest lecturers)
  • "Club Mariner" youth program (ages 5 to 17), available during the summer months, and on the holiday trips to Alaska, Bermuda, the Baltic and the Caribbean.
  • "Regent Travel Concierge" (exotic shore excursions). Port-intensive itineraries. Includes a travel agent finder.

In 2019, RSSC introduced fleetwide an innovative plant-based menu items. Beginning October 1 (2019), over 200 plant-based gourmet cuisine specialties are available for ordering at breakfast, lunch and dinner. Naturally, the upgraded shipboard menus target mainly vegetarian and vegan passengers. The new dishes include:

  • Wild Mushroom Tart with Brittle Pie Crust, Red Pepper Coulis and Mushroom Duxelles
  • Falafel Fritters with Harissa Mayo, Mint, Capers, and Cucumber
  • Summer Berry Pudding Chantilly
  • Spiced Potato and Green Pea Samosas with Tamarind Chutney
  • The upgrade also included adding themed cuisines (Greek, Italian, Mexican, Middle Eastern, Asian / Korean, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Thai), light salads and soups, Power Bowls, Poke Bowls, home-made pasta and noodles, decadent desserts (like Peach and Blueberry Cobbler with Cornmeal-Almond Topping).

According to statistics, 9 of 10 plant-based meals are eaten by no-vegans, and luxury travelers are increasingly interested in plant-based fare. RSSC's 200 plant-based food selections are integrated into ship's daily menus, instead of listed on separate menus. The offerings were developed by the company's VP of Food and Beverage - Bernhard Klotz, in cooperation with celebrity chef Christophe Berg.

NAVIGATOR

  • Built (1999), Builder (T. Mariotti, Italy)
  • Capacity (490+340 passengers+crew)
  • Cabins (252, balconied 216, all-suite, all-oceanview)
  • Accommodation types and sizes (balcony-included, 6 suite categories, ranging from 28 to 49 m2) - 36 Window Suites (decks 5-6, 301ft2), 158 Balcony Suites (decks 6-7-8-9, 301 ft2), 40 Penthouse Suites (decks 10-11, 301 ft2), 10 Navigator Suites (deck 9, 448 ft2), 4 Grand Suites (decks 7-8, 539 ft2), 4 Master Suites (decks 9-10, 920 ft2)
  • Technics: tonnage 28,550 GRT, length 172m, width 25m, draft 7m, 13 decks, speed 36km/h
  • The vessel has no sisters, its hull being constructed in the former USSR (Russia) as an ice-class naval vessel. It was purchased by RSSC and finished in Genoa Italy.

MARINER

  • Built (2001)
  • passenger capacity (700), staff and crew (445)
  • cabins - 354 balconied suites, 8 suite categories, ranging from 23 to 112 m2)
  • cabin types and sizes (balcony-included, 8 suite categories, ranging from 23 to
    112 m2) - 262 Deluxe Suites (decks 7-8-9-10, 252 ft2), 60 Penthouse Suites (decks 8-910-11, 376 ft2), 12 Horizon Suites (deck 7-8-9-10, 359 ft2), 2 fwd Seven Seas Suites (deck 10, 505 ft2), 8 aft Seven Seas Suites (decks 7-8-9-10, 561 ft2), 2 Grand Suites (deck 11, 623 ft2), 6 Mariner Suites (decks 8-9-10, 650 ft2), 2 Master Suites (deck 9, 1204 ft2)
  • ship specifications tonnage 48,075 GRT, length 216m, width 28m, draft 6m, 8 decks, 5 elevators, speed 37km/h
  • The world's first with all-suite, all-balcony cabins, and the world's first to feature a "Le Cordon Bleu of Paris" restaurant at sea.

VOYAGER

  • Built (2003)
  • Capacity (700+447 passengers+crew)
  • Cabins (Cabins (354 balconied suites, accommodation types, and sizes equal with those of the Mariner ship)
  • Technics: tonnage 42,363 GRT, length 204m, width 29m, draft 7m, 9 decks, 5 lifts, speed 37 km/h
  • The world's 2nd all-suite, all-balcony ship. and the world's 2nd to feature a "Le Cordon Bleu of Paris" restaurant (after her sister-ship Mariner).

(Explorer class/newest) EXPLORER, SPLENDOR, GRANDEUR

  • Year-Built: 2016 (Explorer), 2020 (Splendor), 2023 (Grandeur)
  • Builder (Fincantieri, Italy)
  • Capacity (738+542 / passengers+crew)
  • Cabins (369 balconied suites, 16 suite categories)
  • Technics: tonnage 56,000 GRT, length 224m, width 31m, draft 7m, 10 decks, 8 lifts, speed 37 km/h

These are RSSC's largest ships as well as the world's most expensive luxury passenger ships, also having the largest Suite at sea.

(Coronavirus crisis) passenger shipping pause 2020-2021

Due to the COVID pandemic, NCLH's entire fleet (all vessels of the brands NCL-Norwegian, RSSC-Regent and Oceania) is with an expanded cancellation policy.

All bookings on pre-scheduled itineraries (departures March 14, 2020, through May 31, 2021) were given the option to cancel (up to 48 hours prior departure) without penalties. All affected bookings received a full refund (100%) in FCC (future cruise credit) transferred to a booking made within 1 year (any itinerary, fleetwide) from the canceled departure date. RSSC's Regent Reassurance policy was expanded to offer penalty-free cancellations (for any reason) up to 15 days prior departure with full refunds (100%) in FCC.

Eventually, NCLH canceled all RSSC cruises leaving between March 14, 2020, and mid-September 2021.

Operations resumed in 2021-2022 with the ships SPLENDOR (Sept 11, 2021/Around Britain from Southampton UK, follows a Mediterranean mini-season), EXPLORER (Oct 16, 2021/Mediterranean from Venice), NAVIGATOR (March 9, 2022/Caribbean from Miami and Barbados), MARINER (Dec 18, 2021/Panama Canal from Miami to San Francisco), VOYAGER (March 26, 2022/Mediterranean from Civitavecchia-Rome).

Itinerary of Regent Seven Seas Cruises

The RSSC vessels call on 300+ ports worldwide (including Antarctica). They sail to the most exotic sea ship travel destinations, with almost unlimited shore excursions. The class of these vessels allows visiting more intimate ports, not accessible to larger ones, though they sail on relatively longer itineraries - from 1 week to almost 3-month cruises.

RSSC's destinations include:

World Cruise 2026 (Seven Seas Mariner)

On March 22, 2023, was opened for booking RSSC's ever-longest World Voyage (themed "The Sense of Adventure") planned for the Mariner ship.

The 154-night (5-month-long) itinerary departs from Miami (Florida USA) on January 10, 2026, includes 431 free tours/shore excursions, and visits 77 destinations (ports and islands, including 16 overnight ports and 47 UNESCO sites) in 41 countries on 6 continents. The route includes 3 new for RSSC ports - two islands in New Caledonia (Lifou, Mare) and Indonesia's Waingapu (on Sumba Island/East Nusa Tenggara).

Prices varied between USD 95,000 per person with double occupancy (Deluxe Veranda) and USD 266,500 pp (Master Suite).

Epicurean Voyages 2023-2024-2025 (food and wine-themed RSSC cruises)

The 2023-introduced "Epicurean Perfection" culinary program groups specially curated "Epicurean Spotlight Voyages" which focus on food & wine-themed shipboard and land-based events.

Next are listed the voyages/ships announced by RSSC in late-February 2023 when the new program was promoted.

  • (departure October 30, 2023/ship Seven Seas Splendor) "Epicurean Spotlight with Chef Fearing" is attended by William Dean Fearing (1955-born American celebrity chef).
  • (departure November 6, 2023/ship Seven Seas Splendor) "Epicurean Spotlight on Wine with Honig Wineries" includes a land tour to Honig Vineyard & Winery in Rutherford (CA USA).
  • (departure March 9, 2024/ship Seven Seas Voyager) "Epicurean Spotlight on Wine with Caldwell Vineyard" includes a land tour to Caldwell Vineyard in Napa (CA USA).
  • (departure April 14, 2024/ship Seven Seas Splendor) "Epicurean Spotlight on Wine with CAST Wines" includes a land tour to CAST Wines estate in Geyserville (CA USA).
  • (departure May 8, 2024/ship Seven Seas Voyager) "Epicurean Spotlight on Wine with Sbragia Family Vineyards" includes a land tour to Sbragia Family Vineyards estate in Geyserville (CA USA).
  • (departure August 14, 2024/ship Seven Seas Grandeur) "Epicurean Spotlight with Chef Tommaso and Celebrity John O'Hurley" is attended by Tommaso Barletta (1955-born Italian chef, owner of "Tuscany il Ristorante" in Westlake Village CA USA, also the President and CEO of Rustico Food Inc) and John George O'Hurley Jr (1954-born American actor/comedian, game show host and TV personality).
  • (departure March 31, 2025/ship Seven Seas Explorer) "Epicurean Spotlight with ZAP: Zinfandel Advocates and Producers" includes an excursion to Grass Valley (CA USA).

These exclusive experiences are scheduled for select voyages only and include culinary-themed land tours and onboard food & wine pairing, cooking classes and tastings hosted at the ship's specialty restaurants.

RSSC 2024-2025-2026 deployment

In August 2022 RSSC announced "2024-2025 Voyage Collection".

The schedule listed 160 itineraries (on all continents) ranging between 7-night and 150-night (Away in Wonder World Cruise 2025/4x Grand Voyages), 2x 14-night Alaskan sailings, and other popular regions like Western Europe and the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, New England USA and Canada.

Seven Seas Grandeur's inaugural season is in the Mediterranean (starting July 2024), follows a Transatlantic crossing from Barcelona to NYC New York.

In May-September 2024, Seven Seas Explorer has scheduled 15x 7-night and 2x 14-night Alaskan voyages (between Seward AK and Vancouver BC Canada). The season ends with the Transpacific relocation from Alaska to Asia (Vancouver to Tokyo) in September.

In April 2023, Regent Seven Seas Cruises unveiled 5 new Grand Voyages for the line's 2025-2026 collection. The sailings onboard 4 ships of The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet are due to cruise itineraries across 5 continents and a total of 194 ports of call with destinations like Europe, North America, Africa, Asia, Australia & New Zealand.

Regent has expanded their Grand Voyage collection to include five sailings in 2025-2026 due to the increasing popularity of extended luxury cruising. The prices for these voyages start at $44,999 per guest, and guests can choose from up to 589 free shore excursions and up to 9 overnight port stays.

The five sailings include the Grand Arctic Adventure, which is an 83-night voyage from New York to Barcelona on Seven Seas Mariner. The Grand Cultural Quest is a 117-night journey from New York to Barcelona on Seven Seas Mariner, with stops in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. The Grand Continental Sojourn is an 84-night voyage from Barcelona to Sydney on Seven Seas Navigator, with stops in Africa, Asia, and Australia. The Grand Asia Exploration is a 61-night voyage from Auckland to Tokyo on Seven Seas Explorer, and the Indian Ocean Odyssey is a 64-night voyage from Mauritius to Rome, with stops in Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean.

Regent Seven Seas’ 2025-2026 Grand Voyages include:

Sail on the Seven Seas Mariner on an 83-night Grand Arctic Adventure, where you journey from the eastern shores of North America to European ports, taking in awe-inspiring landscapes and enjoying overnights in ReykjavikOsloAmsterdam, and Bordeaux. Or embark on a 117-night Grand Cultural Quest, which takes you on a journey through Western Europe, the Mediterranean, and the Arctic, with stops in Greece, France, Egypt, and Jerusalem (Ashdod), among others.

Experience the Grand Continental Sojourn, an 84-night journey from Barcelona to Sydney aboard the luxurious Seven Seas Navigator. This voyage takes you to Morocco, the Canary Islands, Cape Town, Madagascar, Seychelles, Oman, Qatar, India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and Australia.

Or, discover Asia on the 61-night Grand Asia Exploration Grand Voyage from Auckland to Tokyo on the Seven Seas Explorer. This voyage takes you through New Zealand, Australia, Bali, Singapore, the Philippines, and more, with overnights in MelbourneBangkokHo Chi Minh CityShanghai, and Osaka.

Join the 64-day Indian Ocean Odyssey journey, which takes you on a discovery of the Southeast coast of Africa, Arabia, the Mediterranean, Greece, Turkey, and Italy. Depart from Port Louis, Mauritius, and indulge in the fare and flair of the Mediterranean with overnight stays in Tanzania, South Africa, Seychelles, and Egypt.

Finally, join the 2026 World Cruise – The Sense of Adventure – which embarks from PortMiami, Florida, and discovers incredible destinations in the Americas, South Pacific, Australia & New Zealand, Asia, Africa, and Europe. You can explore 77 ports of call in 41 countries across 6 continents and sail for 154 nights on the Seven Seas Mariner, covering 39,911 nautical miles over more than 5 months. Enjoy 426 free shore excursions and 16 in-port overnight stays to explore fascinating locales such as Bora Bora, French PolynesiaDarwin, Australia; and Walvis Bay, Namibia, and access to 47 UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

In June 2023, RSSC opened for booking Voyage Collection 2025-2026, grouping 164 new itineraries (including 9 in Africa and Arabia) and 29 maiden ports. For the first time, Regent's guest can embark in Doha Qatar and Port Louis Mauritius.

The itinerary durations vary from 7 nights to the 154-night World Cruise 2026, along with 5 Grand Voyages. Among the highlights are 5 new ports in Madagascar and 2 Panama Canal transits on Seven Seas Grandeur. As part of the experience, passengers enjoy 'Included Unlimited Shore Excursions' at each port, and the collection includes 124 overnight stays in destinations like IstanbulBangkok, and Luxor.

The 2025 season for the latest addition to the fleet, Seven Seas Grandeur, commences with sailings in the Mediterranean. Grandeur then embarks on a northern Europe season, followed by a return to the Mediterranean in autumn. Finally, she concludes the year with a transatlantic voyage from Barcelona to PortMiami, exploring the Caribbean during the winter.

Seven Seas Splendor offers Mediterranean cruises before departing from Barcelona in August to reach Montréal, featuring Canada and New England itineraries. Subsequently, the ship is expected to head to the Caribbean and South America for the winter season.

Seven Seas Explorer is due to start her 2025-2026 Voyage Collection in Alaska and continue on to Asia, Australia, and New Zealand.

Seven Seas Voyager is due to navigate the Mediterranean and northern Europe, then proceed to the Middle East in December 2025, before venturing to the Indian Ocean and South Africa.

Seven Seas Mariner is to be stationed in the Caribbean, followed by northern Europe and the Mediterranean, and concluding with a return to the Caribbean. On January 10th, 2026, Seven Seas Mariner embarks on "The Sense of Adventure," Regent's 154-night World Cruise for 2026.

Seven Seas Navigator offers sailings in the Mediterranean and northern Europe before heading to Africa and the Middle East. In December 2025, Navigator will sail to the Indian sub-continent, Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand, followed by a journey through the South Pacific before returning to the Mediterranean.

RSSC cruises to Cuba

RSSC was the only North American luxury travel brand that was granted permission to offer cruises to Cuba. More visits to the unique Caribbean island country were added for season 2020, but the schedule was canceled due to the pandemic.

Note: According to the current Cuban law, US citizens of Cuban origin (born in Cuba) are not allowed to visit the island country (including on cruise ships). Regardless of their US citizenship status, Cuban-born Americans were denied booking on cruise itineraries visiting ports in Cuba. However, the situation changed in April 2016, after Carnival Corporation negotiated with the Cuban government for allowing ships with Cuban-born passengers, as such US citizens are allowed to visit the country on USA-Cuba charter flights. The Carnival-fathom line started Miami to Cuba cruises in May 2016.

Alaska Airlines offers regular nonstop flights to Havana from Los Angeles (California USA). An 80-min ling JetBlue flight from Fort Lauderdale (Florida) to Havana costs less than USD 100. Previously, air travel from the USA to Cuba was thought charter flights only.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises related cruise news