T+L’s Take: Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Brand New Ship

Spacious, elegant, and well laid-out, the cabins, which all have balconies, are billed as suites, and range in size from a 307-square-foot Veranda Suite to the 4,443 square-foot two-bedroom Regent Suite. Some of our favorite touches: leather-paneled headboards, which add warmth to the room; bedside reading lights; marble bathrooms with in-laid stone; and drawers, drawers, drawers. Clearly, the designers had couples in mind, as there’s space enough for two people to unpack and store everything from evening bags to bathing suits.

Three firms—Tillberg, CallisonRTKL, and Icrave—were tasked with bringing the Seven Seas Explorer to life. In many ways, the ship echoes the grand ocean liners of the 20’s and 30’s, with its impressive chandeliers (473, to be exact) and Art Nouveau-inspired restaurant, Chartreuse, which has gold-leaf wallpaper studded with crystal beads. But the Seven Seas Explorer, at its core, feels very modern and fresh. For example, on the pool deck, you’ll find a patterned, metal-cut out ceiling, and voile curtains for privacy. At the entrance to Pacific Rim restaurant sits a massive bronze sculpture that is modeled after a Tibetan prayer wheel. And in the Compass Rose dining room, some columns are covered beautifully in mother pearl—a nod to the sea.

At 4,443-square-feet, this two-bedroom, two-and-a-half bath suite feels like a grand apartment on New York’s Fifth Avenue—only here, you have the added bonus of your balcony view changing with each and every port, and a private car and driver to meet you in said port and whisk you off for a day of sightseeing. In the living room sits a custom Steinway piano by Dakota Jackson. The master bedroom has a $90,000 Savoir mattress. But one of the craziest perks is of staying in this $10,000 per night suite is the fact that you get your own personal spa, complete with unlimited Canyon Ranch SpaClub treatments.

The pool deck is one of the most spacious and inviting spaces we’ve seen on a luxury cruise ship. There are cool circular pods, where you can curl up with a book, and voile curtains that you can put down for privacy. Staff was attentive and helpful; one waiter even offered to clean our sunglasses. The poolside restaurant had an excellent buffet at lunch, and offered dishes that corresponded to that day’s port of call. For example, when we were docked in the south of France, the set up included bouillabaisse and salade niçoise.

Regent’s Canyon Ranch SpaClub features eight treatment rooms, a lovely outdoor pool, a salon, and separate relaxation areas and saunas for men and women. Some treatments, done in partnership with beauty brand Red Flower, are exclusive to ship. For example, the Indian Ocean detox ritual begins with a scrub of coffee, olive stones and fresh lemons, followed by a rich rhassoul clay body wrap to speed the removal of toxins. The treatment ends with a Turkish massage and an application of shea butter and fig cream.

Foodies will not be disappointed on this ship. The restaurants are sophisticated; the food is excellent; and what’s more, you are not charged extra to dine in any location. In fact, you’re guaranteed to dine at each restaurant one time during a sailing, so you don’t have to stress about missing out. Prime 7, designed by Icrave, is more polished take on your traditional steakhouse. You can order massive cuts of rib eye, prime rib, or a whole Maine lobster—with truffle fries on the side—and sit in a velvet banquette surrounded by beautiful art. Compass Rose, the main dining room on deck four, is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. One of the most decadent experiences there: a champagne lunch highlighting Spanish specialties, including endless slices of Jamón ibérico and hunks of manchego. A waiter explained that a buffet like this would typically be held on one of the at sea days during a cruise.

You don’t want to miss a cooking class and demo at the Culinary Arts Kitchen, which is run by Chef Kathryn Kelly. Regent’s sister brand, Oceania, is famous for its culinary centers, but this is the first one a Regent ship, and it is a stunning space, with floor-to-ceiling windows backing each of the cooking stations. During our hour-long course, we were able to make practical, delicious dishes such as a drunken limoncello cake, Asian Rumaki, and French mustard vinaigrette with greens—all recipes you could easily do at home.

If you are someone who likes to do shore excursions, then Regent will be a great choice in terms of value: most excursions are included within the price of your cruise fare. When we stopped in Sardinia, passengers had the option of doing a wine tasting, a bus tour to the famed Costa Smeralda, or a bus tour and ferry ride to Maddalena Island, at no additional cost. What promises to be a very special experience, however, are the Gourmet Explorer Tours—exclusive excursions that show off a destination’s culinary side. For $299 per person in Barcelona, you’ll wander the famous Boqueria and Santa Caterina markets; sample olive oil during a tasting; and then enjoy lunch at the two-Michelin star restaurant ABaC and go behind-the-scenes of chef Jordi Cruz’s kitchen on a tour.