Seven Seas Explorer
{{short description|Cruise ship operated by Regent Seven Seas Cruises}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
| {{Infobox ship begin
|display title=ital }} {{Infobox ship image |image= Seven Seas Explorer Cadiz.jpg |caption=Seven Seas Explorer in Cadiz, 2017 }} {{Infobox ship career |Hide header= |Ship country= |Ship flag= |Ship name=Seven Seas Explorer |Ship operator=Regent Seven Seas Cruises |Ship owner=Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings |Ship registry=Majuro, {{flag|Marshall Islands|civil}} |Ship awarded= |Ship builder=Fincantieri, Sestri Ponente, Genova |Ship laid down=21 January 2015 |Ship launched=30 October 2015 |Ship sponsor=Charlene, Princess of Monaco |Ship completed=30 June 2016{{cite web|url=http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/15547-fincantieri-delivers-regent-seven-seas-explorer.html|title=Fincantieri delivers Regent Seven Seas Explorer|website=Cruise Industry News|date=2016-07-01|access-date=2016-07-01}} |Ship in service=July 2016—present |Ship out of service= |Ship identification=*Call sign: V7QK9
|Ship status=In service |Ship notes= }} {{Infobox ship characteristics |Hide header = |Header caption = |Ship class = Explorer-class cruise ship{{cite web|url=https://www.rssc.com/news/details?newsid=18633|title=Regent Seven Seas Cruises Names New Ship to Launch in 2020|website=Regent Seven Seas Cruises|access-date=2020-02-19}} |Ship displacement = |Ship length = {{convert|223.6|meters|feet|abbr=on}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fincantieri.com/globalassets/prodotti-servizi/navi-da-crociera/seven-seas-explorer/scheda_cruise_seven_seas_explorer.pdf|title=Seven Seas Explorer|website=Fincantieri|access-date=2020-02-19}} |Ship beam = {{convert|31|meters|feet|abbr=on}} |Ship height = |Ship draught = {{convert|7.02|meters|feet|abbr=on}} |Ship decks = *13 total decks
|Ship power =
|Ship propulsion = 2 × {{convert|9,000|kW|HP|abbr=on}} Wärtsilä |Ship speed = *Service speed: {{convert|19.4|kn}} |Ship capacity = 750 passengers |Ship crew = 552 crewmembers |Ship notes = }} |
Seven Seas Explorer is an Explorer-class cruise ship currently operated by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Debuting in 2016, she became the first new-build ship for Regent in more than a decade and the largest ship to ever operate for Regent.
History
= Planning =
On 10 July 2013, Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced it had entered into a contract with Italian shipbuilder, Fincantieri, to build a new vessel named Seven Seas Explorer.{{Cite news|last=Sloan|first=Gene|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2013/07/10/regent-seven-seas-new-ship/2505267/|title=Luxury line Regent Seven Seas orders new ship|date=2013-07-10|work=USA Today|access-date=2020-02-18}} The ship was initially designed to house 738 passengers, a 5% increase in passenger capacity over existing Regent vessels at the time, and would also be 12% larger, at {{GT|54000}}, providing more space per passenger. As on Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner, Regent intended to make Seven Seas Explorer an all-suite ship. The order for the ship reportedly cost US$450 million, with each berth costing over US$600,000,{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise/Regent-sees-strong-demand-for-its-Seven-Seas-ExplorerBy-Tom-Stieghorst/285752|title=Regent sees strong demand for its Seven Seas Explorer|last=Stieghorst|first=Tom|date=2015-08-31|website=Travel Weekly|access-date=2020-02-18}} and was scheduled to debut in the summer of 2016. The debut of Seven Seas Explorer would reportedly mark an increase in Regent's capacity by up to 40%.
= Construction =
On 15 July 2014, Regent celebrated the steel cutting of the new ship at Fincantieri's yard in Sestri Ponente, near Genoa.{{Cite news|last=Bleiberg|first=Larry|url=https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/travel/cruises/2014/07/15/regent-seven-seas-cuts-steel-on-new-luxury-ship/12667671/|title=Regent Seven Seas cuts steel on new luxury ship|date=2014-07-15|work=USA Today|access-date=2020-02-18}}
On 21 January 2015, a coin ceremony was performed for the laying of the ship's keel.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rssc.com/news/details?newsid=2804|title=Regent Seven Seas Cruises Celebrates Keel Laying Milestone For Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built, Seven Seas Explorer|date=2015-01-21|work=Regent Seven Seas Cruises|access-date=2020-02-18}} Three different coins were welded into the keel: a 1921 Peace dollar, a 1959 Italian lira, and a commemorative coin minted for the ceremony.
On 30 October 2015, Seven Seas Explorer floated out from the dry dock at the shipyard following completion of her exterior outfitting.{{Cite news|last=Sloan|first=Gene|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2015/10/30/regent-explorer-luxury-cruise/74867160/|title=It floats! 'World's most luxurious' cruise ship takes to the water|date=2015-10-30|work=USA Today|access-date=2020-02-18}} The remainder of the construction was completed with the ship in wet dock.
= Delivery and christening =
Seven Seas Explorer was delivered to Regent on 30 June 2016. She was christened in Monte Carlo by Charlene, Princess of Monaco on 13 July 2016.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rssc.com/news/details?newsid=2693|title=Regent Seven Seas Cruises Officially Welcomes Seven Seas Explorer to Fleet: Glitz, Glamour, Royalty and Music Highlight Christening Ceremony in Monte Carlo|date=2016-07-13|work=Regent Seven Seas Cruises|access-date=2020-02-18}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Seven-Seas-Explorer-christened-in-Monaco|title=Seven Seas Explorer christened in Monaco|last=Stieghorst|first=Tom|date=2016-07-13|website=Travel Weekly|access-date=2016-07-14}}
=In media=
Design and specifications
Seven Seas Explorer currently features a total of 377 passenger cabins, all of which are suite accommodations. There are also a total of 325 crew cabins, making for a total capacity of 1,360 passengers and crew. She currently has 13 decks, a length of {{convert|223.6|m|ft|abbr=}}, a draft of {{convert|7.02|m|ft|abbr=}}, and a beam of {{convert|31|m|ft|abbr=}}. She is powered by a diesel-electric genset system, with four total MaK engines, producing a total output of {{convert|32|MW|hp|abbr=}}. Main propulsion is via two Wärtsilä propellers, each driven by a {{convert|9|MW|hp|abbr=}} electric motor. The system gives the vessel a service speed of {{convert|19.4|kn|km/h mph|abbr=}} and a maximum speed of {{convert|20.5|kn|km/h mph|abbr=}}.
The ship features all-inclusive dining establishments, including a steakhouse, a main dining room, and a convertible buffet-restaurant.{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/regent-debuts-details-of-most-luxurious-ship-ever-built.html|title=Regent Debuts Details of 'Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built'|last=Shillinglaw|first=James|date=2015-01-13|website=TravelPulse|access-date=2020-02-19}} There is also a two-level theater and different lounges, including an observation lounge and a music lounge. There are multiple suite categories among the offered accommodations, with each category of cabin showcasing different layouts and design elements, as well as including verandas with every cabin.
Service history
= Deployments =
File:Kaohsiung Skyline 2023.jpg, Taiwan in 2023]]
Seven Seas Explorer set sail on her 14-night maiden voyage on 20 July 2016 from Monte Carlo to Venice.{{Cite web|url=https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/regent-debuts-details-of-most-luxurious-ship-ever-built.html|title=Regent Debuts Details of 'Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built'|last=Shillinglaw|first=James|date=2015-01-13|website=TravelPulse|access-date=2020-02-18}} The ship spent her inaugural season sailing in the Mediterranean, before re-positioning to Miami for cruises in the Caribbean.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cruise-international.com/seven-seas-explorer-christened-in-monte-carlo/|title=Seven Seas Explorer christened in Monte Carlo|last=Pickford|first=Mary Ann|website=Cruise International|date=14 July 2016 |access-date=2020-02-18}} Since then, Seven Seas Explorer has also visited ports in Northern Europe, Africa, and South America.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rssc.com/news/details?newsid=48025|title=Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built Sails Maiden Voyage to South America in Early 2019|date=2018-11-20|work=Regent Seven Seas Cruises|access-date=2020-02-18}}
As of February 2020, Seven Seas Explorer was sailing Caribbean voyages and Panama Canal transits, and re-positioned to Europe in April, sailing Northern Europe and Mediterranean itineraries.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rssc.com/news/details?newsid=11943|title=Regent Seven Seas Cruises Announces New 2019-2020 Deployment|date=2017-08-11|work=Regent Seven Seas Cruises|access-date=2020-02-18}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.rssc.com/news/details?newsid=36095|title=Regent Seven Seas Cruises Announces 2020-2021 Itineraries|date=2018-08-13|work=Regent Seven Seas Cruises|access-date=2020-02-18}} In the latter half of 2020, she was to debut in Asia, and sail her maiden Alaska season in the summer of 2021, however, these voyages were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent suspension of cruises embarking through September 2021.{{Cite web |date=28 April 2021 |title=Voyage Suspension FAQ |url=https://www.rssc.com/sites/default/files/2021-04/RSSC_VoyageSuspensionFAQ_042821_EMEA_APAC.pdf |website=Regent Seven Seas Cruises}} The ship had also been due to sail in Oceania in the winter of 2021.{{Cite news|url=https://www.rssc.com/news/details?newsid=76179|title=Regent Seven Seas Cruises Unveils 146 New Extraordinary Voyages for its 2021-2022 Season|date=2019-08-07|work=Regent Seven Seas Cruises|access-date=2020-02-18}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|IMO 9703150}}
- [http://www.rssc.com/ships/seven_seas_explorer/ Regent Seven Seas Cruises official site page about the ship]
- [https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/video/ultimate-cruise-ship/ "Ultimate Cruise Ship,"] NOVA television program about the construction of the ship (aired Feb. 8, 2017) on [https://www.pbs.org PBS]
{{List of ships built by Fincantieri}}
{{Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships |state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Seven Seas Explorer}}