Seven Seas Explorer

Launched in 2016, Seven Seas Explorer is currently the newest RSSC / Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship, with fleet mates Voyager, Navigator and Mariner. The vessel's building cost of USD 450 million ranks it the most expensive luxury cruise ship ever built. The sister-ship Splendor is scheduled to launch in 2020.

History - construction and ownership

Regent Cruises (officially Regent Seven Seas Cruises / RSSC) is an all-inclusive, top-luxury cruise brand fka "Radisson Seven Seas". Until 2014, the company (as part of "Prestige Cruise Holdings") was owned by Apollo Management LP - one of the world's largest private investment equity funds. Since September 2014, RSSC and the sister company Oceania Cruises are owned by NCL Norwegian (shipowner), acquired at the total cost of USD 3 billion. Regent cruise ships are medium-sized, with capacity up to 800 passengers. The fleet consists of 6-star rated all-suite and all-balcony vessels with a space-to-guest ratio around 70 and staff-to-guest ratio 1-to-1,6 (some of industry's best). As building cost per berth, RSSC liners are among the world's most expensive ships.

The 56,000-ton, 750-passenger ship Seven Seas Explorer debuted in the summer of 2016. The vessel was launched on October 30, 2015, at Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard (Trieste Italy). The launching ceremony was attended by Robin Lindsay (RSSC's executive vice president) and Raffaele Davassi (shipyard's director). The launch godmother was Antonia Ronchi (Fincantieri employee).

Seven Seas Explorer was delivered on June 30 by Fincantieri's Sestri Ponente shipyard. It is the first newbuild for Regent Seven Seas in 14 years and what the company touts as the most luxurious vessel ever built. Seven Seas Explorer's features include the opulent 3,875-sq. foot Regent Suite, several gourmet restaurants and extravagant lounges.

Cruise itinerary program

Seven Seas Explorer itinerary program is based on luxury Mediterranean cruises around Italy (Adriatic Sea), to French Riviera, and Holy Land (visiting Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, Egypt). The itineraries are one-way, with departures from ports in Italy, Spain, Monaco, Portugal, Greece, Turkey.

In 2019 (January through March) was scheduled ship's maiden season in South America. Following 2-year service in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Africa and Northern Europe, the liner will call at 10 South American cruise ports during 5 voyages with the following departures.

• January 20 - 12-day from Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires, visiting Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina. 28-day from Rio to Santiago, visiting Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Falkland Islands.
• February 1 - 16-day from Buenos Aires to Santiago, visiting Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Falkland Islands.
• February 1 - 36-day from Buenos Aires to Los Angeles, visiting Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Falkland Islands, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala.
• February 17 - 20-day from Santiago to Los Angeles, visiting Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico.

Cabins

Like all Regent cruise ships, Seven Seas Explorer is an all-suite ship. The number of suite categories is 16. Seven Seas Explorer has a total of 375 suites, of which 100% have private balconies. The largest ones are the Regent Suites (2915 ft2).

The cost of the Regent Suite on the new Explorer ship signifies the ultimate Regent cruise luxury package experience. For an amazing 3,875 sq.ft suite accommodation (1181 m2, with the balcony), guest can enjoy the superior pampering vacation travel that the Regent Cruises are worldwide famous with. This accommodation is not only the largest but also the most expensive one at sea – yours for just £4,800 per person, per day.

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

Seven Seas Splendor offers cooking classes in its specially dedicated teaching kitchen. The dishes are crafted from local ingredients. Food-focused shore excursions are also available, added to the line's Gourmet Explorer Tours. They offer a chance to eat meals prepared by locally renowned chefs,  taste wines at estates, and visit local markets.

Follows the complete list of Seven Seas Explorer restaurants and food bars.

• Compass Rose (main dining room restaurant, open-seating breakfast, lunch and dinner; features European Continental dishes and alternative choices - vegetarian, specialities from the Spa menu, select dishes from Regent's Chartreuse menu with gourmet French cuisine)
• Chartreuse (Regent’s new speciality restaurant with French cuisine, also serving speciality cocktails with Chartreuse liqueur; offers one of the most exquisite gourmet experiences at sea)
• Prime 7 (reservations-only dinner restaurant with American Steakhouse menu)
• La Veranda / Sette Mari (casual dining venue; operates as ship’s self-service buffet restaurant; in the evenings, the buffet transforms into “Sette Mari” Italian dinner restaurant, complimentary)
• Culinary Arts Kitchen (cooking school with 18 cooking stations in 3 rows; each is equipped with quartz countertop and stainless steel sink; the cooking school has floor-ceiling windows, and boasts 12 different classes themed as fish and shellfish, food and wine, mini-desserts, healthy cooking, etc. As part of the program, Regent Seven Seas also offers “Gourmet Explorer Tours” ashore)
• Pacific Rim (Pan-Asian restaurant, dinner-only)
• Pool Grill (fast food).

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

While the design of Seven Seas Explorer is decidedly more contemporary luxe than that of ship's fleet mates, the line strikes a balance between its much-loved traditional features and a more modern ambience.

Follows the complete list of Seven Seas Explorer lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

• Constellation Theater (2-deck high main show lounge for grand music and show productions; also features “Cirque Rock ‘n Roll” aerial acrobatics spectacle)
• Atrium (2-deck high open-floor area)
• Club.com (Internet computers room); Library
• Connoisseur Club (smoking lounge with comfortable leather armchairs; offers hand-rolled Cuban cigars)
• Card Rooms (hosts bridge tournaments and lectures)
• Explorer Lounge and Bar (disco nightclub; operates as a piano bar during the day with resident pianist performances)
• Meridian Lounge (serves as an entertainment lounge with leather furniture, blue carpeting, dark-wood panelling, antique flooring; has its own bar; serves speciality cocktails)
• Coffee Connection (patisserie, speciality coffees)
• Horizon Lounge (with a large dance floor; hosts daily trivia shows and offers Afternoon Tea)
• Observation Lounge (grand piano bar with live music performances in the evenings)
• The Boutique (duty-free shopping arcade: luxury jewellery, precious stones, brand perfumes, watches, designer clothes, accessories, gifts, souvenirs, Regent-logo wear)
• Casino (with 2 sections: for the slot machines, and for the gaming tables)
• Lido Pool area (with a large swimming pool, 2 Whirlpools, sunbathing area with loungers, tennis tables, seating area; served by the Pool Bar)
• Canyon Ranch SpaClub and Wellness Center consists of 8 Treatment Rooms, Saunas (incl infrared sauna), Steam Rooms (incl aromatic steam room), Cold Room (temperature 54 F / 12 C), Thermal Suite, Shower Room (varying degrees of water pressure, therapeutic audio effects / waterfalls, thunderstorms), Relaxation Room, infinity pool (resistance swimming pool/aft), also Beauty Salon, Gym and Aerobics Studio. Some of the Spa's features include the cocoon-inspired design, central-location Swarovski crystal sculpture, chrysalis (made of silk wrappings), marble flooring, light-grained wood, exquisite treatments.
• Fitness Center (deck 6) has floor-ceiling windows and modern equipment (cardio and weight machines, free weights), separate studio for classes (cycling, yoga, Pilates).
• The Top Deck (Power Walking/Jogging Track; sports court: mini-golf putting green; Golf Net; Shuffleboard; Paddle Tennis court).

Regent's Seven Seas Explorer is the world's ever first cruise ship with a Pickleball Court. “The installation was done by Adventure Golf Services (a company specializing in custom designed mini-golf courses).

• This is a combo court serving 2 sports - Pickleball and Paddle Tennis.
• Pickleball is a racquet sport that combines elements of badminton, court tennis and table tennis. The game is played by 2, 3 or 4 players using solid paddles (made of wood or composites) to hit a perforated polymer ball over a net.
• The company also installed other products - paddle tennis court, shuffleboard, 18-hole putting green course, GolfCourt Hitting Bay (golf driving range), Bocce court. All these products use patented interlocking panels fabricated in Traverse City (Michigan USA).
• Adventure Golf Services is the leading manufacturer and installer for the cruise ship industry, with signature products like miniature golf courses, putting greens, shuffleboard, bocce ball, croquet courts, golf driving cages.