Seven Seas Explorer Reviews

A grand staircase. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

In the spa. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

Great service. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

Outdoor dining. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

La Veranda dining. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

The prayer wheel outside of the Pacific Rim restaurant weighs 6,000 pounds and cost $500,000. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

The weight, however, was more of an extravagance than the cost as the shipyard had to engineer support. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

Pacific Rim. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

Chandelier, one of hundreds. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle.

Murano glass. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle.

Stylish decor. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle.

Photo. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle.

A well-equipped gym. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

Murano glasswork in Compass Rose. Each piece was hand-crafted. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

Pool deck on Regent Seven Seas Explorer. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

Murano glasswork topping the columns in the theater. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

Beautiful artwork throughout. Note the chandelier. There are 158 crystal chandeliers in the public rooms on Seven Seas Explorer. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

The Regent Suite's master bathroom. Throughout Seven Seas Explorer 45,876-square feet of marble was used, with more than half of it being Carrera marble from Italy. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

The Savoir No. 1 bed in the master bedroom of the Regent Suite cost $150,000. © 2016 Ralph Grizzle

An all-balcony, all-suite ship like Seven Seas Mariner, Regent’s new Seven Seas Explorer, built at a price tag of US$450-million, began sailing in July 2016.

In the works since 2008, the 750-guest Seven Seas Explorer will offer some of the largest and most luxurious suites at sea. Her interiors are nearly unparalleled in the industry; an impressive fact considering the kind of competition Regent is up against from competing lines like Crystal Cruises, Seabourn Cruises and Silversea.

See these posts from our July 2016 sailing:  Seven Seas Explorer Photo Gallery & ‘World’s Most Luxurious Ship’? Seven Photos For You To Be The Judge

She was not the biggest ship to set sail in 2016, but she could very well be one of the most important; her massive Regent Suite will see that her arrival does not go unnoticed.

Here are just a few points of differentiation found aboard the upcoming Seven Seas Explorer:

The (Very) Suite Life

Aboard Seven Seas Explorer, guests will stay in one of 375 spacious suites. Each room aboard the ship will feature its own private balcony, and 93 percent of those will have verandas larger than 83 square feet. That’s as large as some early interior cruise ship cabins were 20 years ago. Regent calls this a “spacious outdoor oasis for guests to enjoy the scenic vistas and ocean breezes in total comfort.”

Master Suites offer chic Park Avenue styling, replete with rosewood polished furniture and crystal chandeliers. These two-bedroom suite features a modern sophisticated and elegant design. Located at the bow of the ship on decks seven and eight, the four Master Suites measure between 1,900 square feet and 2,100 square feet and boast spacious living areas with bars for entertaining and balconies up to 1,000 square-feet. Adjacent to each bedroom, guests will find ornate marble and stone bathrooms with shower and tub.

Grand Suites and Explorer Suites share a common design element with striking high-contrast emerald accents blended perfectly with the rich grey, brown and cream décor elements. Both suites feature two full baths, and living areas with rich marble mosaics, exotic woods and unique furniture pieces based on haute couture fashion.

The Grand Suites range up to 1,800 square feet and offer expansive private balconies, while the Explorer Suites stretches to 1,350 square feet and feature slightly larger living spaces.

The Seven Seas Suite was created by famed interior designer Dakota Jackson, who was an inspirational driving force behind the suites aboard Oceania’s Marina and Riviera. At Regent, Jackson created the glamorous look for the Seven Seas Suite.

The Seven Seas Suites offer between 825 square feet and 925 square feet of luxurious space, and exudes a cosmopolitan apartment feel with vibrant golden colored ceiling accents that reflect on the plush and tony furnishings. The rooms flow effortlessly from living rooms to dining areas to bedrooms, with sliding glass doorways leading to the spacious private balconies throughout. A magnificent white marble bathroom sits adjacent to the oversized bedroom.

Penthouse Suites are sumptuous and alluring, inspired in part by sapphire jewels. These can be up to 625 square feet with stylish entertainment centers that separate the living rooms and bedrooms. A marble-topped bar and intimate dining area welcomes guests upon entering the suite, as the sumptuous living room beckons them to move further into the suite. Sliding glass doorways in both the bedroom and living room lead to an oversized balcony with chic outdoor furnishings.

At the top of the pack is the Regent Suite. Coming in at a jaw-dropping 3,875 square feet, the suite handily steals the moniker of “largest shipboard suite” away from Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, which features the 2,249-square-foot Grand Duplexes that are spread out over two levels.

Nearly double in size, the Regent Suite aboard Seven Seas Explorer features absolutely everything designers could possibly think of, all complemented by a 958-square-foot balcony that’s bigger than six average mainstream cruise ship staterooms put together.

If that wasn’t enough, the suite also features its own in-suite Spa with heated thermal loungers, a private garden, two-and-a-half marble and stone-detailed bathrooms, separate living and sleeping rooms, and bank after bank of striking floor-to-ceiling windows. You’ll never look at shipboard accommodations the same way again.

Lavish Public Rooms & Sumptuous Diversions

Elsewhere on the ship, Regent’s Seven Seas Explorer boasts a number of firsts for the line, including the first culinary instructional center aboard a Regent ship, and a brand-new lounge. In the Culinary Arts Kitchen aboard Seven Seas Explorer, guests will be provided with an experience similar to that of one of the prestigious cooking schools in France, both in terms of layout and design. This isn’t designed to just be pretty eye-candy; this is the real deal, with 18 individual cooking stations spread out across three separate rows. Guests will use their very own cooking stations during classes for more personalized (and authentic) training. It’s not tucked away in the depths of the ship, either. Instead, it resides in a commanding perch high up on Deck 11, surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows.

In keeping with Regent’s small-ship feel, big-ship amenities philosophy, Seven Seas Explorer will sport a two-tiered theatre modeled after the golden age of Hollywood. Capable of seating 694 guests at a time, the Constellation Theater will be decorated with hand-blown Murano glass lamps crafted in Italy, complemented by the subtle and somewhat angelic motif of a swan.

While Seven Seas Explorer will have all of the dining and lounge venues that Regent loyalists have come to expect, she’ll also have a brand-new public room for the line.

Situated on the port side of Deck 5, the Meridian Lounge is located just steps away from the Constellation Theater and functions as the ideal pre-or-post show watering hole. Designed with taupe leather furnishings and dark wooden accents complemented by blue carpeting, the room will feature a proper dance floor that is situated adjacent to an intimate stage area that will host live musical performances.

In the end, Seven Seas Explorer seems poised to leave her guests wanting for little – just as a good luxury ship should. She sets sail in July. Stay tuned for more Seven Seas Explorer Reviews on avidcruiser.com.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Reviews