Regent orders new ship, touts it as most luxurious in cruising

By Jerry Limone

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has ordered a new ship, a 738-passenger vessel that will be called the Seven Seas Explorer.

Scheduled for delivery in the summer of 2016, the Explorer will be Regent Seven Seas’ first new ship since the Seven Seas Voyager made its debut in 2003. It will also be the cruise line’s largest ship, at 54,000 gross tons. The ship will be constructed by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for about $450 million, Regent said.

“We strongly believe that now is the right time to expand our fleet, as our loyal guests have asked for a greater array of itineraries and our travel partners have proven that there is pent-up demand for a new Regent ship,” said Kunal Kamlani, Regent Seven Seas’ CEO.

Regent Seven Seas is touting the Explorer as “the most luxurious cruise ship in the era of modern cruising.”

Tillberg Design AB, RTKL Associates and ICrave are designing the all-suite ship. Suites will range in size from 300 square feet to 1,500 square feet, and each will have a balcony. The ship will have six open-seating restaurants, Regent’s signature nine-deck atrium, a two-story Explorer Theater, three boutiques and a large Canyon Ranch spa.

Frank Del Rio, CEO of Regent Seven Seas parent company Prestige Cruise Holdings, said the Explorer will “boast one of the highest space ratios and staff-to-guest ratios ever seen in the modern era of cruising.”

“The ship’s upscale yet timeless design, extreme use of exotic stones and polished woods, designer furniture, rich fabrics and sophisticated lighting combined with what promises to be a museum-quality, eclectic art collection will clearly position Seven Seas Explorer as the new standard in luxury cruising,” Del Rio said.