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Cruise on the most luxurious ship of the world, with Picasso and BlingBling

SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER, the most luxurious ship of the world? BlingBling and Picasso included ...
by Earl of Cruise
As the mass market, or in a more smothening wording - volume market, is filled with seeming "uncountable" 2,000 (small!), 3,000, 4,000, 5,000 and 6,000 or 7,000 passenger vessels, there is no other choice than escaping into the luxury market.
Seven Seas Explorer - Regent Seven Seas Cruises
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES brandnew SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER - courtesy REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES 
For smaller companies it is the only way to live in the niche of the 5star market. As they can´t compete with the megalodons of the cruise industry. And the former elitarian cruise turned into an industry for the masses - "democratization of cruises". Some of those big business companies have some "gem stones" in their portefolio, CARNIVAL - SEABOURN, TUI - HAPAG-LLOYD CRUISES, ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISE LINES - AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES, GENTING - CRYSTAL and APOLLO - REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES, but APOLLO owns too OCEANIA and NCL. A special cruise offer in the luxury category is SEACLOUD CRUISES, owned by a German fonds emission house.
The "singles" in the luxury cruise are SLIVERSEA - owned by the families Vlassov and Lefévre, SCENIC, PAUL GAUGIN CRUISES - a part of the Polynesian Beachcomber hotels, SEA DREAM YACHT CLUB - owned by Atle Brynestad, PONANT - owned by a French family fonds, I guess I have forgotten none.
What is the standard for being 5star, or as it is named in the USA 6star? For us European, there is no 6star. Claimed or named as such or not. Each company claims on its own his standard and stars. A big confusion for the customers, named as guests in the luxury business. It is, when used visiting markets, the one crying the loudest and weirdest, is getting the most attention. There is no international organisation which is checking the international hospitality industry and the cruise ships in special. So we have only "self claimed" announcements about from the lines, or printed in cruise test books, as FROMMER´s, FRODO´s, BERLITZ, KREUZFAHRT GUIDE to name a few. And then there are travellers and their blogs or columns in several print magazines and newspapers. Each with an own starting point for luxury.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises - Seven Seas Explorer - Veranda Suite
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES Veranda Suite on SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER - courtesy REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES 
Luxury is per definionem what someone does not need ... it is too opulence, outstanding but not vulgar. The modern, now ancient definition of luxury, started in 17/18th century in France at the court of Louis XIV. But today real luxury is still for the few, who can afford and it is not for masses. The so called democratisation of luxury has created two kinds of luxury - that with and without luster.
For me personally, a luxury cruise ship shouldn´t have more than 400 or max 500 passengers on board and crew passenger ratio of min 1:1. And space, space and space. No blingbling, neon, squeeking loudspeakers, plastic, prefabricated food and crews running around as if in an ant hill. With that a ship for the max 500 guests on board must be big.
For me, all luxury offers, with more than 500 guests on board and less than 1:1 crew (service!), are more or less a top offer, yes, but in the mass market!
Regent Seven Seas Cruises - Seven Seas Explorer - Observation Lounge
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES Observation Lounge on SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER - courtesy REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
The SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER is gathering crowds in the ports, thanks to her marketing and the claimed luxury. As I have read, even Russian Billionaires are watching the ship entering the port of Monaco. And after embarking at Quai Rainier III. the light flashes from smartphones and kameras drowned the sunlight - why photographing with a flash when the sun is shining bright is a miracle to me.
Regent Seaven Seas Cruises - Seven Seas Explorer - Deckplan - decks
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES Deckplan of SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER - courtesy REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
The SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER has 224,1 meters in length, 31,1 meter width and 7,1 meter draught. Passenger capacity 750 in 375 suites with 552 crew (1,36 pax to 1 crew), and 10 decks. REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES payed € 412 million for its new "most luxurious ship of the world".
The top suite has 412,7m² or 4.443ft². The Veranda Suite, as the "starter" has 20 m2 or 219 ft2 and a balkony of 8 m2 or 88 ft2 - not really a suite, as a suite has to have min two rooms with a door ... therefore a stateroom. But 20m²? The EUROPA of HAPAG-LLOYD is starting at 27m² and a balkony. But on SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER the walk in wardrobe is a real walk-in wardrobe.
Regent Seven Seas Cruise - suite - Seven Seas Explorer
The starting price is US$ 7,200 per person for a week in the Mediterranean in the Veranda Suite. But when you consider it is All-Inclusive from the business-class flights to and from Europe, spacious stateroom, all excursions, dining and drinks it provides incredible value, according to Del Rio. Not only according to him. I would say it is a good offer for an upscaled cruise.
And compared to a yacht, even a Russian billionaires one, this stateroom is bigger than most of the cabins on these yachts. And even the master suites are sometimes smaller than the Explorer Suite.
But the same stateroom is offered in the Caribbean for US$ 4,300 ... okay there is no trans Atlantic flight needed, but still a flight.
This looks to me like a bargain. And here we have it. The Caribbean cruise is original and covering cost? Or the Mediterranean cruise is overpriced.
And REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES does often give bargins on its sailings.
To me bargains are downgrasing the product.
But seeing in the promo video the "standard alcoholic beverage" for the guests on board "the most luxurious ship ever built" ... I am expecting the beverage above the "normal everywhere drinks" ... The Med is definitely overpriced.
Regent Seven Seas Cruise - Seven Seas Explorer
All the staterooms and suites have balkonies. The colour scheme is a loungy brown-beige in the cabins and suites. While claime to have a walk-in wardrobe, here you can. Which is a good thing. But those who expect an espresso machine - none. The Bath is made with marble, two wash tubs, a roomy shower, seperate bathtub ... only a steward/ess is missing handing the towel, isn´t included.
In the Explorer Suite, a bed is installed that would have cost US $ 150,000, and was provided with a horse hair (Rosshaar) mattress for an additional $ 90,000. I guess there are enough horses around, REGENT has not to breed extra horses for. But what if a guest is allergic to animal hair? It is exchanged.
Regent Seven Seas Cruise - suite - Seven Seas Explorer
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES Explorer Suite of SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER - courtesy REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
Regent Seven Seas Cruise - suite - Seven Seas Explorer
The crew is available 24h a day - 1 crew member per 1,36 guests in total. And there are duties, not direct related to passengers - the technical and nautical department on board. This is reducing the number of the "serving saints" by aproximately 90 crew members. The reality is 1crew member (steward/ess) for 1,63 guest on board, when all beds are occupied.
If you need desperately a snack inbetween the time you are in the restaurants, Entrecôte with delicious Pasta? ... no problem ... on the veranda? ... si heureux, immédiatement ... Passengers normally die of starvation on board.
And indeed, when you watch careful, and the steward is obviously out of your sight, he hurries up. Otherwise, their moves are toned and adequate for a luxury service.
While the dress code is "casual elegant". And thankfully, you won´t see guests in bermuda shorts or sweat pants walking and odd t-shirts walking around or entering the ding room. Ladies are wearing for diner "le petit moir" and the gentlemen jackets or suit jackets. Okay the first or second button of a shirt or polo shirt is open. The dress and fashion misshaps are reduced to a minimum.
Several bars will offer the guests an Aperitif. Canapees with Fois-Gras, caviar and shrimps will be served at a good live-jazz-cocktail. No peanuts. Champagne is served freely. Get the purchasers for REGENT a red carpet entrance at the Chateau´s?
Six restaurants are offered for dining. Three of those are exceptinel.
Regent Seven Seas Cruise - Chartreuse - Seven Seas Explorer
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES, Restaurant Chartreuse on SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER - courtesy REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
Jérôme Toumelin, a scholar of Alain-Ducasse, is cooking in the Chartreuse, strict French! Wonderful, but not with the charisma for a Michelin rating. Instead of Amuses Bouches, the Entré is served immediately ... looks like bean counting.
In the Prime 7 ground premiumsteaks made from the japanese Wagyu till Dry-aged-classics on your plate and surprise your palate. Also, very straight American Surf&Turf. While dining here you should look at the walls - Picassos and Chagall are greeting, originals. Trust is luxury too, they are not especially secured. It one is missing, all of a sudden, I guess, the luggae will be checked discrete.
Regent Seven Seas Cruise - Pacific Rim - Seven Seas Explorer
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES, Restaurant Pacific Rim on SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER - courtesy REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
The Pacific Rim is enlighted with darkeing lamps. Which is a nice contrast. But why there has been installed - press relese - US$ 500,000, 2,7t - Tibetan Prayer Mill makes me wonder at all. Inside are served Asian delicacies, such as Sashimi, Dim Sum and Pink Tiger Prawns. The service is excellent and the waiters seem to smell the whims and wishes of their guests. Here you feel as in Shangri-Lah.
Regent Seven Seas Cruise - Pacific Rim - Tibetian Prayer Mill - Seven Seas Explorer
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES, Restaurant Pacific Rim, the Tibetian Prayer Mill on SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER - courtesy REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
Regent Seven Seas Cruise - Compass Rose - Seven Seas Explorer
REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES, Restaurant Compass Rose on SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER - courtesy REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
You want to learn cocking like a chef? No problem, for an extra cash of US$ 89,00, you book a course at the Culinary Art Kitchen. After, you may desert the fabulous cuisine on board and cock in your cabin ... if you could.
As well not include is the SPA on board SEAVEN SEAS EXPLORER. It is a CANYON RANCH SPA, which you may know from other exclusive, or that sxclusive companies, and their boats. Therefore you may know the prices to pay for a treatment. But here a Midas was designing. At bit over the top - golden. The area is spacious and offers at the stern an infinity pool. It seem to become a must on every ship to have minimum one of these, yes dramatic and great, pools.
The two story Constellation theatre looks like an homage to the famous show palaces of the world. The guest has space and neat side table for drinks, and strech his legs. But the shows are good but less perfect than you may know from the mass market ships.
Space is offerd too in the touchy ancient library, with it floor to cieling windows. Earcup armchairs offer a tranquille reverie, with an included Cognac, if this vessel, the REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES, SEVEN SEAS EXPORER, really is the "most luxurious ship of the world" or not.
The eye is not really offend, over all, except, my tate, the SPA and the lobby - here we have the BlingBling. Mahagony, Murano glass, artworks, efficient service, over all excellent food, spacious public rooms, but smaller than expected cabins (sold as suites), but spacious real suites, the SEVEN SEAS EXPLORER is a good offer. But not the top of the luxury. Therefore are to many people on board. Even if you find nearly everywhere a place for yourself.


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