Reviewed by: Richard Boyce
Date: 22 December 2023
Cruise line and ship: Regent Seven Seas Cruises – Seven Seas Explorer
Year built: 2015
Size of ship: 224 meters in length – 55,254 grt
Passenger capacity: 750 (Crew: 552)
Where the ship cruises: Worldwide
Currency onboard: USD
Check in and boarding – Passengers booked into suites and past passengers have a dedicated check in queue. For us agents, boarding was quick and seamless. A handy reminder for all passengers regardless is that all bags are scanned and checked, firstly in the terminal, then once again after boarding. Plan ahead especially if wearing or carrying any metal items such as belts, watches and other belongings.
First impressions – I was immediately struck by dark walls, heavy and comfortable looking furniture and chandeliers everywhere. But the ship has a long list of passenger spaces which have widely ranging atmospheres… more on this later. Safe enough to say the feel is very much like walking into the foyer of a luxurious boutique hotel.
Suites – there are no cabins on this ship; every room is a suite with balcony. All rooms feature large wardrobes, marble bathrooms, luxurious finishes, glorious looking beds, a seating area and high grade balcony furniture. I noted that all suites had a USB port next to the bed – very handy and a nice touch. All rooms also had metal drink containers provided complimentary in an effort to reduce single use plastics. Note – bring a power point adaptor with you.
All suites receive a welcome bottle of sparkling wine, with guests in each area of the ship invited to attend a small pre-departure get together with their neighbours. Let the party begin!
What else is included as you go higher in room grade? A lot as it turns out. Concierge suites and above are fitted with an Illy coffee maker and as the suites get larger, so does the lounge area, bathroom, wardrobe and balcony. Passengers in the higher grades also receive a one night pre cruise hotel stay with transfers.
The larger suites feature a generous amount of space, with enormous wardrobes, bathrooms and the largest balconies I have seen on any ship. If you’d really like to spread out, the Regent Suite is quite simply staggering. Taking up the entire forward end of Deck 14, this gigantic suite has two bedrooms, a large lounge area with grand piano, bar, indoor and outdoor dining areas, its own spa / bathroom with heated relaxation beds and a wardrobe / dressing area that I wondered how anyone could possibly fill it up with clothing or shoes! By the way, this suite comes with its own butler, barman, dedicated concierge and private car with driver in every port.
Value for money – Remember, buying a so called suite on other ships, adding a compatible beverage package, adding every shore excursion – you may well pay far more than a comparable suite onboard Explorer.
Washing – the best news here is you won’t have to! Gone is the gauntlet of self serve laundries or coming back to find your clothes on the floor. A valet laundry service is included for all grades of suite!
Passenger areas – I was quite keen to see the much hyped infinity pool at the rear of the ship and was surprised to find this is actually part of the spa area (Deck 5 aft). This isn’t ever a part of the ship that I would frequent so I was then keen to see if the main pool would function well for all other passengers. Fortunately the main pool is large with beautiful sun lounges scattered about, most of which have shade. Food is never far away with a pool side grill and the ‘buffet’ next door.
Lounges – there are two. The Explorers Lounge (Deck 4 midships / port) and the Meridien Lounge (one deck above). Both serve as multi function spaces for entertainment, dancing, trivia games etc. There is also a large amount of comfy seating opposite Reception for those who love to people watch, and outside the Compass Rose Restaurant should you be waiting for a table.
The Observation Lounge is perched high on the ship looking forward over the bow on Deck 11. This dark and moody space, with appropriate bar and well spaced furniture provides arguably the best views on the ship. There is also a small dance floor here for those who still have energy into the wee hours.
Just aft of this room (starboard) is the Library which is large, beautifully decorated and well stocked, though curiously without the sort of furniture that might invite you to linger. There is also a card room on the port side for those wishing to take up an entertaining round of Bridge or Canasta.
Entertainment – At the forward end of Decks 4 & 5 is the Constellation Theatre. There are no columns in this room meaning every seat has good sight lines of the stage. While I didn’t experience any performances myself, I did note that the seating was comfortable and was advised drinks and snacks are served to your seat.
Smoking – If you’re a smoker, there are dedicated outdoor areas that won’t make you feel like you’re in the naughty corner – with the same furniture as found elsewhere. There is also a dedicated cigar lounge indoors near the Card Room (yes you can smoke here too). A nice range of cigars are available for purchase.
Casino – it’s not large and is tucked out of the way on Deck 4 / midships in its own room. We were assured it is very popular, often operating well into the night.
Sports and exercise – the top level of the spa area features a small gym (Deck 6 aft). Higher up on Deck 12 there is a jogging track, golf net, shuffleboard court, bocce court, paddle tennis court and a small putting green. Quite impressive for a ship this size.
Dining – You won’t be starved for choice but many of the alternative dining areas are booked out well in advance before the ship even sails. The advice here is not to stress and wait until you are onboard. There is a dedicated office near reception for dining reservations and many people change their preferences once onboard so remain flexible and it’s likely you will be able to enjoy a variety of dining options. The most popular dining time is 7:30pm, so dining outside this peak period may work to your advantage. Guests booked in the Regent Suite have a small dedicated dining room downstairs just for them to entertain friends, if the in room dining and multiple offerings elsewhere don’t appeal.
The buffet – isn’t one, at least not compared to any other ship. La Veranda (Deck 11 aft) is large and airy and looks more like a glamorous restaurant. The self serve dessert station had spectacular looking offerings that even tempted people such as myself that don’t really like dessert. Authentic pizzas, made to order steaks, lovely salads and a cheese station that really was hard to ignore. This dining area also spills out to the back deck. Tables not under cover have large market umbrellas instead. All tables are ready set with cutlery and glassware. This is hardly buffet territory at all.
The main restaurant – Compass Rose (Deck 4 midships) is a simply gorgeous room. Photos don’t do this light and airy room justice. I noted plenty of tables for two and four. The menus aren’t as extensive as I thought they might be but are varied with beautiful quality, plenty of healthy options including dietary – and are artfully served on large Rosenthal Versace plates. You’re unlikely to be disappointed!
Pacific Rim (Deck 5 port / aft) – At the entrance you walk past a Tibetan Prayer wheel – be prepared for an evening of Pan-Asian flavours in elegant surroundings.
Chartreuse (Deck 10 port / aft) – This is a restaurant with a modern French menu and attention to detail you’ll notice. The décor has a Parisian feel, matching the French inspired menu.
Prime 7 (Deck 10 starboard / aft) – Think American steak house and you’re about on the money. New York strip, porterhouse, filet mignon, smoked salmon with a phenomenal tamarind-whiskey sauce… you won’t leave hungry! This is a beautiful room with intricate ceiling and deep tub chairs inviting a long meal.
Sette Mari (Deck 11 aft / La Veranda) – in the evenings enjoy an extensive menu of authentic antipasti and Italian specialties served á la carte and paired with fine Italian wines. The venue is part of La Veranda (the buffet that isn’t one!)
The Culinary Arts Kitchen (Deck 10 port / forward) provides you the opportunity to take classes with the talented onboard chefs. These highly sought after classes are well worth booking in advance and are perfect for anyone who wants to polish their skills or learn new ones in a commercial grade kitchen.
Coffee. Yes there is the truly undrinkable American stuff onboard – fair enough as this ship does carry many US passengers. However those from other countries including Australia will be relieved to find a barista in the Coffee Connection (Deck 5 midships) serving up your favourite coffee based concoctions. This venue also features an adjacent outdoor space on the Promenade Deck which is really a lovely touch. Naturally – it’s all included.
Speaking of the Promenade deck, it really is more like a large balcony. It is entirely truncated both ends by the lifeboats, meaning those wanting to walk around the ship need to seek out the higher decks.
Drinks. All bars, in room and everywhere else throughout the ship are open and complimentary. Those who have experienced this on other lines often find that some popular beverages are considered top shelf and are extra cost, or that there is a limit on how many drinks you can have per day. Throw that concept out the window as you won’t find it here. There are of course options to purchase truly top shelf wines and spirits, many of which are rare or vintage. There are a smattering of well known Aussie labels served however the wine list is truly international. It’s a good opportunity to let your taste buds go exploring.
I did note that while all tables were set with large wine glasses, the servings poured were small to say the least. I’ve never understood why ships do this… perhaps this is meant to be elegant but I find it somewhat frustrating when barely two sips later it is time to wave the wine waiter down again.
Shore excursions – awesome news here – they’re included in all ports. You may take as many tours in each port as you can reasonably achieve each day. There are some offered at extra cost that feature helicopter rides or more exclusive experiences however most of us will find more than enough to do in each port – and how nice that its all included… just relax and go exploring! Shuttles are also provided complimentary where the ship is further away from town or docked in a security area.
Staff and service – as a veteran of many cruises I’ve become somewhat immune to the onboard crew on many ships being – shall we say – barely friendly? On this ship however I immediately noted genuine smiles from everyone – especially at reception which traditionally is where you’re most likely to find the least friendly crew. How refreshing!
Shopping – there are two boutiques onboard (Deck 4) – which from what I could see looked, naturally, high end. I would have liked to check the sizes of clothing offered but with the ship being in port of course the shops were closed. When open they are duty free.
WiFi – yes, this too is included. There is a small business centre (Deck 5) should you have wisely left your laptop at home. On this note, all Regent ships will soon be upgraded with StarLink technology, hopefully eradicating the frustrating and expensive internet usually ‘featured’ on most ships.
Final thoughts – this ship is one classy lady. No one, no matter what your budget, will find this ship to be stuffy or that you need to own a small Caribbean Island to fit in. Luxury means very different things to different people and as such Regent offers a small, well appointed ship that does just that, offering whatever luxury you could wish for. For that, I suspect, Seven Seas Explorer achieves this splendidly.
