Seven Seas Explorer

Seven Seas Explorer in Cadiz, 2017
History
Name:	Seven Seas Explorer
Owner:	Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
Operator:	Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Port of registry:	Majuro,  Marshall Islands
Ordered:	10 July 2013[1]
Builder:	Fincantieri, Sestri Ponente, Genova
Yard number:	6250[2]
Laid down:	21 January 2015[3]
Launched:	30 October 2015[4]
Sponsored by:	Charlene, Princess of Monaco
Christened:	13 July 2016[5]
Completed:	30 June 2016[6]
In service:	July 2016—present
Identification:	Call sign: V7QK9 IMO number: 9703150 MMSI number: 538006712
Status:	In service
General characteristics
Class and type:	Explorer-class cruise ship[7]
Tonnage:	55,254 GT[2]
Length:	223.6 m (734 ft)[2]
Beam:	31 m (102 ft)[2]
Draught:	7.02 m (23.0 ft)[2]
Decks:	13 total decks 10 passenger decks
Installed power:	4 × MaK 8M43C Diesel generators producing 8,000 kW (11,000 hp) each[2] Total Installed Power: 32,000 kW (43,000 hp)[2]
Propulsion:	2 × 9,000 kW (12,000 hp) Wärtsilä[2]
Speed:	Service speed: 19.4 knots (35.9 km/h; 22.3 mph)[2] Maximum: 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph)[2]
Capacity:	750 passengers
Crew:	552 crewmembers

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.^[1]

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.^[1] 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 54,000 GT, providing more space per passenger.^[1] As on Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner, Regent intended to make Seven Seas Explorer an all-suite ship.^[1] The order for the ship reportedly cost US$450 million, with each berth costing over US$600,000,^[8] and was scheduled to debut in the summer of 2016.^[1] The debut of Seven Seas Explorer would reportedly mark an increase in Regent's capacity by up to 40%.^[1]

Construction

On 15 July 2014, Regent celebrated the steel cutting of the new ship at Fincantieri's yard in Sestri Ponente, near Genoa.^[9]

On 21 January 2015, a coin ceremony was performed for the laying of the ship's keel.^[3] Three different coins were welded into the keel: a 1921 Peace dollar, a 1959 Italian lira, and a commemorative coin minted for the ceremony.^[3]

On 30 October 2015, Seven Seas Explorer floated out from the dry dock at the shipyard following completion of her exterior outfitting.^[4] The remainder of the construction was completed with the ship in wet dock.^[4]

Delivery and christening

Seven Seas Explorer was delivered to Regent on 30 June 2016.^[6] She was christened in Monte Carlo by Charlene, Princess of Monaco on 13 July 2016.^[5][10]

In media

• The World's Most Expensive Cruise Ship Channel 5^[11]

Design and specifications

Seven Seas Explorer currently features a total of 377 passenger cabins, all of which are suite accommodations.^[2] There are also a total of 325 crew cabins, making for a total capacity of 1,360 passengers and crew.^[2] She currently has 13 decks, a length of 223.6 metres (734 ft), a draft of 7.02 metres (23.0 ft), and a beam of 31 metres (102 ft).^[2] She is powered by a diesel-electric genset system, with four total MaK engines, producing a total output of 32 megawatts (43,000 hp).^[2] Main propulsion is via two Wärtsilä propellers, each driven by a 9 megawatts (12,000 hp) electric motor.^[2] The system gives the vessel a service speed of 19.4 knots (35.9 km/h; 22.3 mph) and a maximum speed of 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph).^[2]

The ship features all-inclusive dining establishments, including a steakhouse, a main dining room, and a convertible buffet-restaurant.^[12] There is also a two-level theater and different lounges, including an observation lounge and a music lounge.^[12] 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.^[12]

Service history

Deployments

Seven Seas Explorer set sail on her 14-night maiden voyage on 20 July 2016 from Monte Carlo to Venice.^[13][5] The ship spent her inaugural season sailing in the Mediterranean, before re-positioning to Miami for cruises in the Caribbean.^[13][14] Since then, Seven Seas Explorer has also visited ports in Northern Europe, Africa, and South America.^[15]

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.^[16][17] In the latter half of 2020, she was to debut in Asia, and sail her maiden Alaska season in the summer of 2021,^[17] however, these voyages were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent suspension of cruises embarking through September 2021.^[18] The ship had also been due to sail in Oceania in the winter of 2021.^[19]

References

External links

• Regent Seven Seas Cruises official site page about the ship
• "Ultimate Cruise Ship," NOVA television program about the construction of the ship (aired Feb. 8, 2017) on PBS

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