Miami-Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced at July 10, 2013,
that it has entered into a definitive contract with Italy 's Fincantieri shipyard to
build the most luxurious cruise ship in the era of modern cruising with
delivery scheduled in summer 2016.
Accommodating just 738 guests, the new ship will be
named Seven Seas Explorer and will be the luxury line's third all-suite,
all-balcony ship. At 54,000 gross-registered tons, Seven Seas Explorer will be
the largest vessel in the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet. The contract price
for the vessel is approximately US$450 million, making Seven Seas Explorer the
most expensive luxury liner ever built. Financing for the project is being
arranged by Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank with support from
SACE, Italy 's
export credit facility.
"This new ship order represents an exciting time
of growth for our company as we build the next generation of cruise ships for
the world's most inclusive luxury cruise line," said Frank J. Del Rio,
Prestige Cruise Holdings Chairman and CEO. "Seven Seas Explorer will be
the most luxurious cruise ship ever built, boasting one of the highest space
ratios and staff-to-guest ratios ever seen in the modern era of cruising
enabling us to deliver the highly personalized service and extraordinary
experience that is the hallmark of the Regent brand."
According to Del
Rio , "The moment you step aboard, you'll know
you've arrived somewhere special. The ship's upscale yet timeless design,
extreme use of exotic stones and polished woods, designer furniture, rich
fabrics and sophisticated lighting combined with what promises to be a
museum-quality, eclectic art collection will clearly position Seven Seas
Explorer as the new standard in luxury cruising."
Seven Seas Explorer will feature spacious and
sophisticated designer suites, ultra-elegant public areas, a wide-range of
gourmet dining options, a world-class spa and many other amenities all created
with the personality, warmth and soul of classic and timeless design. "At
Regent, we believe more is best," Del
Rio quipped.
World-renowned architectural and interior design firms
Tillberg Design AB, RTKL Associates and I Crave are designing the vessel, which
will feature 369 suites ranging from 300 square feet to 1,500 square feet ,
six open-seating gourmet restaurants, Regent's signature nine-deck atrium, the
two-story Explorer Theater, three boutiques and an expansive Canyon Ranch
SpaClub®.
The specifications for the ship call for a hull 732 feet long, with a beam
of 102 feet
and a draft of 23 feet .
The ship will be powered by diesel-electric engines with a service speed of 20
knots. Seven Seas Explorer will be a "green ship" employing the most
advanced environmental systems and state-of-the-art technology.
With the Seven Seas Explorer, Regent Seven Seas
Cruises' overall fleet capacity will grow nearly 40 percent, making the brand
the world's largest luxury cruise line.
"This new ship order is part of our disciplined
growth strategy to expand our footprint in the luxury market," said Kunal
S. Kamlani, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. "Since we purchased
the Regent Seven Seas Cruises brand in 2008, the ships have sailed full with
industry-leading yields. We strongly believe that now is the right time to
expand our fleet as our loyal guests have asked for a greater array of
itineraries and our travel partners have proven that there is pent-up demand
for a new Regent ship."
Commenting on the announcement, Fincantieri CEO
Giuseppe Bono said: "I am extremely pleased with this new order, which is
all the more important because it establishes our global leadership in this
sector and strengthens our presence in the luxury segment with the addition of
another prestigious brand to our client list, also thanks to the fundamental
synergy created by the country through agencies designated to promote
Fincantieri exports."
Further details about the ship will be announced in
the coming months.
Seven Seas Explorer will join a fleet of three
award-winning luxury vessels that appear continuously on annual "world's
best" and "top" awards lists by noted media including Travel
& Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, Luxury Travel Advisor plus many more.
Seven Seas Navigator, Seven Seas Mariner and Seven
Seas Voyager carry guests in luxury to ports in Australia ,
Europe, Asia, South America , Alaska ,
New England , Canada ,
Africa, India , South Pacific
and the Caribbean . Public areas are
resplendent with rich fabrics, textures and furnishings. Guests can choose to
dine in several open-seating gourmet restaurants, including Prime 7, a contemporary American
steakhouse and Sette Mari at La
Veranda , the line's Italian dining experience. Amenities
include elegant bars, a show lounge, casino, library, Internet center, card
room, outdoor pool and the Canyon Ranch SpaClub®.