Before this past weekend, I had only the opportunity to tour a Regent Seven Seas Cruises' vessel, the Seven Seas Navigator to be specific, in San Diego, but I had not yet sailed aboard the luxury line. Now, after two days on the new Seven Seas Explorer, I have a fuller appreciation for the cruise company.
Touted by the brand as "the most luxurious ship ever built," the Explorer (and the line, for that matter) had a lot to live up to, and I mostly concur with its self-assessment. Luxury is certainly subjective, but if you consider a ship constructed by designers with carte blanche and a sparing of no expense the best, then you too will agree.
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Perhaps the first thing to stand out about the ship is its stellar passenger space ratio, or the degree to which the ship is uncrowded. At a size of 54,000 gross tons and a capacity of 750 guests, it has a PSR of 72. Compare that to Crystal Cruises' Crystal Serenity which comes in under at 64.37, for instance, and you have a ship that is more spacious than the competition.
More sizable than most are private balconies onboard. Our Concierge Suite had a massive verandah that was nearly as long as it was wide. In fact, the suite overall was outfitted splendidly with a bed that was nicely positioned towards the windows for a restful view, plentiful storage and a bathroom with a sizable tub and shower, not to mention an exclusive lineup of refreshing L'Occitane's Mer & Mistral bath amenities.
Also impressive for a ship of Seven Seas Explorer's size is its double-decker Constellation Theater. Most other comparable vessels have only a one-story show lounge. The singular production of "My Revolution" that we saw here was not quite as stellar as the venue itself but still a fun performance.
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Where Regent Seven Seas Cruises once more begins to shine is in regards to its dining. Not only are all the restaurants delightful to foodies, but patrons also have the opportunity to learn how to craft such cuisine themselves in the Culinary Arts Kitchen, where classes are taught so that guests can recreate gourmet dishes back at home. I, a non-cook to be sure, even learned how to craft three courses in only an hour and a half.
More than anything, the Seven Seas Explorer impresses with its attention to detail. Entrances to dining rooms and the spa are grand with a scale comparable to shoreside resorts. The art collection is just stunning. And the service is absolutely seamless. Like my wife remarked, great service is one you never give a thought to but is simply there when you need it unprompted, and that is exactly how it wowed us.
In other words, Regent Seven Seas Cruises lives up to its reputation, and we already can't wait to set sail with the company again.
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