Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which took root in 1992 with the merger of Radisson Cruises with Seven Seas Cruises, is unquestionably one of the most venerable brands in the ultra-luxury segment.
As such, the key selling points for Regent Seven Seas Cruises are “longevity, reliability, trust and quality of service with long-standing staff,” said Steve Odell, the line’s senior vice president & chief sales officer.
“Then it comes down to dollars, and I think one of the big things that the consumer looks at is the value proposition – what’s included in the fare,” he said. “We offer the most inclusive fares of our competitors. We layer in things like specialty restaurants, unlimited shore excursions and laundry service, which truly sets us apart from everyone else. No one else does that.”
Guests also are privy to complimentary WiFi, which has been enhanced with the installation of Starlink across Regent’s six-ship fleet.
The Travel Advisor Equation
Travel advisors provide the line with its greatest source of business and will continue to do so going forward, Odell said. “It’s our job to nurture those travel advisors and get them to recognize us above the competition.”
On that front, Regent features a “huge sales force across the globe to support them,” he said, along with the Regent Elevate program, which was unveiled last year and includes the greatly enhanced RSSC University and a robust array of sales and marketing tools.
“We also have what’s considered to be the best call center operation in the ultra-luxury business – travel agents tell us that,” Odell said, noting that the center is in-house rather outsourced, providing the line with the ability to control and customize it.
The atrium aboard Regent Seven Seas Explorer. (Source: Claudette Covey)
New Class of Ships
Advisors will have much more to sell when Regent unveils the first of two new 77,000-ton Prestige class ships – the 850-passenger Seven Seas Prestige – which is scheduled to be delivered to the line from Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard in 2026. The second ship, which has yet to be named, is set to debut in 2029. Bookings for Seven Seas Prestige are expected to open in mid-2025, Odell said.
The vessels will feature one of the highest guest-to-space rations in the industry. “There will be more space in the suites and public spaces – basically it’s all about giving guests a bigger environment,” he said.
By comparison, Regent’s three Explorer class ships in at approximately l55,000 tons and carry 750 guests.
Portrait of the Guest
It should come as no surprise that Regent guests are well-heeled, experienced travelers. The age demographic, however, varies depending on the itinerary. “I would say the average age is probably 40 to 60 on seven-day Alaska cruises,” Odell said. “That tips a little older on longer cruises and in other destinations – but if you’re looking at the summer season, you get multigenerational families, solo travelers and generally a younger demographic.”
Seventy-five percent of Regent’s business is generated from North America. “We are very America-centric, and we cater to the American market – but the international markets are important as well,” Odell said.
The Booking Picture
“We’re tracking ahead of last year,” Odell said, “and we’re projecting well for 2025. We’re on sale early – so the people who book early get the best deals.
“The business environment is very strong – in part because we have very strong business partners – the travel advisors.”
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