cruise critic seven seas explorer

Regent Seven Seas Explorer review: luxury to the ends of the Earth

All-suite and all-inclusive – the Explorer is up there with the world’s best cruise ships

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The world of high-end cruising is no stranger to superlatives. Each new ship takes to the seas flanked by an armada of adjectives hailing the finest dining, glitziest entertainment and fanciest suites – but the Regent Seven Seas Explorer outdid them all. When she made her debut in 2016, she was proclaimed by her creators “the most luxurious cruise ship ever built”.

Six years later, how does the claim hold up? The facts and figures certainly provide some justification: the ship’s complement of 548 crew lavish their attention on the residents of just 373 suites – an enviable ratio even at the top end of the cruising market – and each cabin comes with a private balcony. The bathrooms are, collectively, clad in more than an acre of marble, more than 500 chandeliers adorn the ship’s ceilings and the walls are lined with 2,500 works of art, one of them an original Picasso.

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Yet the opulence extends well beyond fixtures and furnishings. The food (see below) is impressive by any standards, and exceptional given the challenges and constraints of serving a large number of people at sea. But the real luxury is space. On a recent sailing from Athens to Istanbul, the ship felt roomy and relaxed, even with most cabins occupied. There’s a good reason for that, said Luxury Travel magazine: “Explorer has one of the highest space-to-passenger ratios in the industry.”

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All that comes at a cost, of course. Later this year, Explorer will embark on a seven-night voyage from Canada to Alaska, for which the entry level price is £6,539 per person. That is, however, likely to be the full cost of your holiday: it includes return flights, full board, transfers between the airport and port, as many shore excursions as you wish – and even gratuities for the staff delivering five-star service in some of the world’s most inhospitable latitudes.

Even the smallest cabin on Seven Seas Explorer comes with a queen-sized bed, a separate living area with a sofa and desk, and an eight-square-metre private balcony. All the rooms are luxuriously appointed: thick carpets, marble surfaces and hardwood furnishings complete the five-star feel.

Ascending classes of suite add more space and more onboard privileges, all the way up to the spectacular regent suite. Four times the size of the average British home, it spans the top deck and offers panoramic views from its wraparound balconies. Facilities include an in-room spa with sauna, steam room and solarium – and a Steinway grand piano built specifically for the suite. Guests staying in what Regent describes as “the most luxurious address at sea” are treated to a private caviar service, a cocktail party for eight guests, a personal butler and guaranteed restaurant reservations.

Restaurants, bars and entertainment

Regent’s approach to dining sets it apart from many other cruise lines. With six restaurants, each offering a different a la carte dinner menu (as well as 24-hour room service), your only problem is likely to be food-related fomo. Three of the restaurants – the Pool Grill, the Italian themed Sette Mari and Compass Rose, which serves international classics – are open to all-comers. Reservations are required at the other three: the pan-Asian themed Pacific Rim, the opulent Prime 7 steakhouse and Chartreuse, where French favourites come with a modern twist.

The quality and variety of food on offer is remarkable, and all of it, including fine wines, are included in your fare. So too are drinks at any of the ship’s numerous bars, each of which has its own character. The glass-sided Observation Lounge, for example, is the ideal venue for a champagne cocktail at sunset, while the elegant Explorer Lounge lends itself to an after-dinner scotch.

Live music is laid on most evenings, not only in the bars but also the Constellation theatre, where the Regent Symphony Orchestra accompanies a variety of singalongs, musical revues and other performances. Karaoke night, another crowd-pleaser, takes place in one of the (well sound-proofed) lounges.

Excursions and activities

The programme of excursions depends, naturally, on where your cruise takes you, but whenever the ship is in port you will have a range of trips to choose from. Between Athens and Istanbul, tours included a guided visit to the archaeological site at Philippi, a small-boat trip to the uninhabited island of Rhenia and its picturesque beaches, and a river cruise down the Bosphorus, among many, many others. In Alaska, excursions include whale watching, glacier trekking, small-boat trips through fjords and sightseeing tours through mountains and forests. Private or small-group excursions are available at extra cost, as are helicopter and seaplane trips on some voyages, but the rest are included in the fare.

Practicalities

Regent Seven Seas Explorer will spend much of 2023 in Asia, Australasia and Alaska. The Tongass Exploration voyage, departing 6 September, will cruise from Vancouver to Seward over seven nights, with fares from £6,539 per person.

Holden Frith was a guest of Regent Seven Seas Cruises; rssc.com

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Holden Frith is The Week’s digital director. He also makes regular appearances on “The Week Unwrapped”, speaking about subjects as diverse as vaccine development and bionic bomb-sniffing locusts. He joined The Week in 2013, spending five years editing the magazine’s website. Before that, he was deputy digital editor at The Sunday Times. He has also been TheTimes.co.uk’s technology editor and the launch editor of Wired magazine’s UK website. Holden has worked in journalism for nearly two decades, having started his professional career while completing an English literature degree at Cambridge University. He followed that with a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University in Chicago. A keen photographer, he also writes travel features whenever he gets the chance. 

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• Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Seven Seas Explorer Reviews, Questions, And Answers

By BarbarianPaul , September 4, 2016 in Regent Seven Seas Cruises

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BarbarianPaul

My wife and I will be traveling on the Seven Seas Explorer later this fall, and we're eager to hear the opinions and experiences of those lucky travelers who cruised on it this summer! Would love to hear your thoughts!

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Did anyone out there take the Venice - Rome Cruise in early August? I was originally booked on it but had to reschedule for a letter cruise this November, from Jerusalem to Rome.

Read the Emperor Norton's posts below. There are also several Cruise Critic review (including a largely unimformative crotchety negative one that should be taken with a shaker of salt)...

I have indeed read those reviews...but the thread is specific to that particular maiden cruise, which understandably was far from perfect. Rather than wallow in all that negativity, where everyone seems to be jumping on the same persnickety bandwagon, I thought it might be worthwhile to hear how subsequent voyages have gone, as well as connect with cruisers booked on upcoming itineraries who are as curious and excited about the ship as I am. At least it's worth a try!

I distinctly remember another cruise which was not the Maiden, and it may have been The Emporer, but things had still not "ironed out" completely. Lots of the comments were subjective, in my opinion. I don't know that you will get "pure" posts for a while. It has only been about 6 or 7 weeks or so. I always feel that it isn't really real until about 3 months. Nevertheless, this is a new ship and beautiful (even though some don't like the colors) and what could be better. There are a lot of bed measurings going on which are a surprise to me! My TA was on it and said it was really, really nice. She had a comment on some of the Silversea Suites that they were narrow, but in general she said all was well. We are going to be on her in December and it would have to be mighty bad to make me unhappy.

Exactly, Caroldoll! Bad to make me unhappy as well. :) We just love reading on our balcony and watching the world sail by, even if we have to bundle up. No amount of bed measuring can change that experience...

travelingfrog

As a big fan of healthy food I often struggle with menu choices on the cruise ships. While some dishes and desserts are truly amazing, at some point your body needs something to detox. For those of you who sailed on Seven Seas Explorer so far, are there some healthy options like protein shake, veggy juice, porridge, etc..?

As a big fan of healthy food I often struggle with menu choices on the cruise ships. While some dishes and desserts are truly amazing, at some point your body needs something to detox. For those of you who sailed on Seven Seas Explorer so far, are there some healthy options like protein shake, veggy juice, porridge, etc..?     Sent from my iPad using Forums

You can always get blended veggies juice made fresh for breakfast on the pool deck on any of the regent ship. Lots of salad options at lunch. I usually make a big salad for lunch.

Johnthesailor

While I can't speak to the menu on the Explorer, on both Voyager and Mariner there is always a "Canyon Ranch" menu selection on the dinner menu which is a lower calorie, lower fat and salt preparation of the main entree. The times I've had it I've enjoyed it very much. Eating a bit more lightly can serve to decrease the need to detox.

You can always consult with the chef the day before and special arrangements can be made if you need a special menu.

And as was mentioned, in the AM you can get your veggies/nuts, etc. blended to order on the pool deck.

Silver Sweethearts

My TA was on it and said it was really, really nice. She had a comment on some of the Silversea Suites that they were narrow, but in general she said all was well.

Did she mean to say "Penthouse Suite"?

Since I am still working and need to get back into my business clothes when I return, I generally eat light the entire cruise. If you are proactive, meaning that the crew and staff cannot read your mind, they will try their best assist whatever way possible.

For an example, for pasta dishes, I specifically ask for 1/2 servings. If I get ice cream, it is only 1/2 scoop. When we go to Prime 7, we ask to skip the sliders that come before the meal.

Just remember, the pool deck breakfast opens and closes earlier than the regular breakfast.

This may just be me, but I do not feel well if I overeat and I do not like to get out of my routine too much - others seem to enjoy every morsel of food they can consume - but if you want to eat healthy, it is not difficult to do so.

I was wondering the same thing. She could have meant "Seven Seas Suites" but we found them to be so well designed and laid out that we changed one of reservations to that suite.

We just returned from the Explorer Rome to Lisbon cruise. Had a

Penthouse Suite, 858. We are frequent Regent cruisers and were not disappointed. Excellent service and food. What we liked: deck off La Veranda increased in size, easier access to tenders, spacious fitness area, larger Canyon Ranch spa, and Pacific Rim. What we did not like: interior decoration (subjective, I know) and access to the internet which was inconsistent to say the least. Regent did a good job with tours, never crowded, always on time. We did one Regent Choice tour all day to Florence and were greeted on our return by welcoming staff, music, etc. and the Captain checking us in. Lots of quiet places on the ship to be on your own. We will be back on the ship at the end of March for the transatlantic cruise.

briar14...sounds like the kinks are getting worked out. For our upcoming cruise, I stuck with the no extra charge shore excursions, since most of the choice excursions were longer (we want private time to explore the ports ourselves) and I believe involved a separate car and driver, which seemed a tad too indulgent. Reviews on these excursions have been mixed. Did you take any?

Judging from the photos we have seen of the Explorer's Seven Seas Suites and the interior space, narrow is not a word we would associate with them. We have chosen one on Deck 12 for a January cruise through the Canal. When you mentioned you had visited a SSS in person and liked it, we appreciated the confirmation that our choice may be a good one. Mahalo!!

Now that I think about it, it may have been Seven Seas Suites. It was one I was considering and I upgraded to Explorer Suite for one cruise. I don't want to ask or quote her as she did not say it was "bad", just narrow. No worries, I think the ship has to go a long way before anything is "bad".

IMO, the Seven Seas Suite is beautiful. We moved from a Grand Suite to the Seven Seas suite. Note: The Explorer suite is gorgeous but there is noise from the pool deck in some Explorer suites and the other Explorer suite is under the bridge. I asked the occupant about the noise and it was confirmed.

Travelcat2 - was the noise confirmed for the Explorer suite under the bridge, or under the pool deck? We are booked for one of the Explorer suites under the bridge and I'm still wondering what specific drawbacks the location has, other than it being far forward.....The Seven Seas Suites look gorgeous too, but we thought we'd enjoy the extra room and full bathroom...(and I like the emerald green accents)

The Explorer suite we toured was below the pool deck. Our experience under the bridge was on the Navigator which, IMO, is noisier than most ships (meaning being able to hear noise from other suites). We were hearing noise 24/7 and finally asked Reception where it was coming from. It was the bridge where people walk (sometimes heavily) back and forth consistently. We found it quite disturbing. Although the Explorer may be more sound-proofed than the Navigator, we didn't want to risk being under the bridge or pool again. We are staying in suites with 2 bathrooms on two cruises, in the Seven Seas Suite on one cruise, sailed in an "E" category suite in July and will spend two weeks in a F2 (or F1 - can't tell them apart) suite in November.

While we do not typically book the smaller suites, we found the concierge suites to be spacious with loads of storage and a huge bathroom. The

"F" category suites are the same as concierge (with a smaller balcony). I must admit that we are really looking forward to moving to a large suite for the transatlantic sailing in mid-November but we are happy that we have sailed in other categories as well.

briar14...sounds like the kinks are getting worked out. For our upcoming cruise, I stuck with the no extra charge shore excursions, since most of the choice excursions were longer (we want private time to explore the ports ourselves) and I believe involved a separate car and driver, which seemed a tad too indulgent. Reviews on these excursions have been mixed. Did you take any?     Sent from my iPad using Forums

No, we didn't take any. Other than Florence we took the regular tours or went out on our own.

For us the concierge suite seems fine, especially since there's a port almost every day on the early November cruise. Regarding noise, one occasionally hears of unexpected vibration issues on new ships, or, even, worse, plumbing problems. Am assuming no one has faced that on the Explorer, right?

It will be interesting to read the Emperor's response as there were pipe leaking issues in some suites on our sailing which I would suspect would have been corrected. I read somewhere (could have been on this thread) that there was vibration when the Explorer made a sharp turn in order to take a passenger to a port for a medical emergency. The only vibration we felt on the Explorer was expected -- when it is docking.

Emperor Norton

There was a leaky pipe problem IIRC on deck 10 (and some unfortunate room had no plumbing or electricity but again IIRC that was a one of a kind thing) and vibration pretty much every night while turning in circles. The vibration kept some up, but didn't bother me while sleeping.

Interesting about the vibration when the ship is going in circles. Was it felt aft only or throughout the ship? Our first of two November cruises is very port intensive so I'll prepare for some vibration when the ship is going in circles and waiting for the time when they can dock. The second cruise is transatlantic so it should be smooth sailing.

My DH is an engineer and has explained that all ships, spacecraft and airplanes have varying degrees of vibration. Some airplanes really "shutter" and/or "vibrate" when taking off and landing. Spacecraft go through vibration testing but I'm not sure that this is possible for a ship.

I read a review of the new Koningsdam where someone was complaining somewhat bitterly about the vibrations. But it sounds like to some degree they're unavoidable...and it's just the nature of the beast. And hopefully all the pipes will be leak free by November.

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