Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ long awaited order for a new ship has been announced. The 738-passenger Seven Seas Explorer is scheduled for delivery in summer 2016. The all-suite, all-balcony vessel is approximately $450 million, giving Regent the claim of the most expensive luxury ship ever built.
“This new ship order represents an exciting time of growth for our company as we build the next generation of cruise ships for the world’s most inclusive luxury cruise line,” said Frank J. Del Rio, parent company Prestige Cruise Holdings’ chairman and CEO. “Seven Seas Explorer will be the most luxurious cruise ship ever built, boasting one of the highest space ratios and staff-to-guest ratios ever seen in the modern era of cruising, enabling us to deliver the highly personalized service and extraordinary experience that is the hallmark of the Regent brand.”
Del Rio said the design will make “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.”
Architectural and interior design firms Tillberg Design AB, RTKL Associates and ICrave are designing the vessel, which will feature 369 suites ranging from 300 square feet to 1,500 square feet. Other planned features of the ship include six open-seating gourmet restaurants, Regent’s signature nine-deck atrium, the two-story Explorer Theater, three boutiques and an expansive Canyon Ranch SpaClub. The ship will be powered by diesel-electric engines with a service speed of 20 knots. Seven Seas Explorer will be a “green ship,” employing some of the most advanced environmental systems and state-of-the-art technology.
With the Seven Seas Explorer, Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ overall fleet capacity will grow nearly 40 percent, making the brand the world’s largest luxury cruise line.
Although there were talks with shipyards after Prestige Cruise Holdings bought the line in 2008, the drop in the economy put the newbuild plans on hold. Last year, there were again announcements indicating that Regent would be ordering, but the firm commitment came this summer.
“This new ship order is part of our disciplined growth strategy to expand our footprint in the luxury market,” said Kunal S. Kamlani, president of Regent. “Since we purchased the Regent Seven Seas Cruises brand in 2008, the ships have sailed full with industry-leading yields. 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.”
The Details
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