Photo courtesy of Regent Seven Seas Cruises
The construction of the most luxurious ship ever built is officially underway as Regent Seven Seas Cruises celebrated the placement of the first building block of the Seven Seas Explorer on Wednesday.
The special keel laying ceremony took place at Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy, representing a milestone within the cruise industry.
"With construction beginning in earnest today, we took a major step closer to realizing our vision, to provide our guests with a vessel that will be hailed as the most luxurious ship ever built," said Regent Seven Seas Cruises president and chief operating officer Jason Montague in a statement.
"Every inch of the Seven Seas Explorer will exude elegance and grandeur, and that extends to all aspects of the ship from the lavish suites to the gourmet restaurants and stylish public spaces. We even ensured that the keel coins convey a sense of luxury," Montague added.
The sophisticated ceremony featured a black Rolls Royce Phantom, which transported a butler and a red velvet pillow carrying three symbolic coins.
Company executives, including Montague, welded the coins into the ship's keel prior to the first building block being lowered into place in the dry dock.
Upon completion next year, Seven Seas Explorer will possess one of the industry's highest space ratios with 56,000 gross-registered tons carrying only 750 guests.
Living up to the brand's reputation of indulgence, the ship will also boast one of the highest staff-to-guest ratios.
The vessel is set to join Regent Seven Seas Cruises' fleet in the summer of 2016, with a maiden voyage scheduled for July 20, 2016.
View the keel laying ceremony below.
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