Regent Seven Seas Cruises Announces Major Fleet Enhancement and Refurbishment - Cruise Line Fans: Cruise Forum, Reviews and Chat From Real Cruisers

MD11F · 09-16-2008, 11:27 AM

Fort Lauderdale, FL September 15, 2008-- Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced that it will invest approximately $40 million dollars to implement an extensive refurbishment and enhancement of the line's all-suite vessels: Seven Seas Voyager®, Seven Seas Mariner®, and Seven Seas Navigator®. This investment is in addition to the $20 million that was spent on the fleet over the past two years as the line re-branded under the Regent moniker.

"I am delighted to make this announcement as we are not only refurbishing the ships, we are adding many new luxury features that will enhance the guest experience," said Mark Conroy, President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. "This comprehensive enhancement program will see each of the ships emerge essentially brand new and positions our fleet as the standard-bearer in the luxury cruise category," he added.

The refurbishments will commence in December 2008 with the dry-dock of Seven Seas Voyager, followed by Seven Seas Mariner in January 2009, and Seven Seas Navigator in the first half of 2010, and result in a new look that is fresh, elegant and luxurious yet retains the familial warmth and charm for which Regent Seven Seas Cruises is lauded.

In addition to the scheduled technical work, almost every area of the ships will be refurbished, with public rooms being substantially re-designed with new furniture, using sumptuous materials like imported leathers, suede, and mahogany, along with warm color schemes and rich fabrics offset by lustrous marble and granite accents. The renowned marine architectural firm of Yran and Storbraaten of Oslo, Norway, is overseeing the design work along with Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Vessel Operations team. Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner will be refurbished at the Grand Bahama shipyard in Freeport, Bahamas. Final details and the location of Seven Seas Navigator's 2010 dry dock will be announced at a later date.
Highlights of the refurbishment program for Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner include:

The creation of a new alternative dining concept and venue - a steakhouse named Prime Seven -that will replace the current Indochine-menu Latitudes restaurants
The re-design of lounges and public rooms to create more spacious areas for relaxation
The creation of elegant new lounge and dining areas around the Pool Grill
New carpeting, wallpaper, upholstery, light fixtures, and drapes in most public areas and guest suite accommodations
More casual dining options with the addition of pizza ovens and ice-cream bars
The creation of an extended coffee and snack bar area on Seven Seas Voyager, similar to the very popular Coffee Connection on Seven Seas Mariner

"This significant investment not only demonstrates our commitment to our guests and the bright future of the Regent Seven Seas Cruises brand, it elevates the experience to new heights and provides a glimpse of what the future holds," stated Frank Del Rio, Chairman of Prestige Cruise Holdings, RSSC's parent company.

The refurbishment and product enhancements are the result of extensive feedback from RSSC's loyal guest base - through comment cards, personal interaction between the line's management and the guests in regular "town hall" meetings or through the online community.

"Mark and I spent a good deal of time on the ships this past spring speaking with our guests and travel agent partners and I trust they will be as elated with the fruits of this labor as we are," added Del Rio.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Announces Major Fleet Enhancement and Refurbishment

Texashorselady · 10-02-2008, 03:49 PM

I might be the only person who doesn't like these changes.

They're getting rid of a really great, unique, fresh, Asian-seafood restaurant...Latitudes. I love that place and so did everybody I ever talked to who ate there. So fresh, so special, and something you simply don't see everyday. And they're opening a (yawn) steakhouse in its place?? Well let's just go mainstream, why don't we!

They're taking the cozy intimate lounges and making them spacious. Hmmm. I suppose that would be good if you had a huge crowd of people and needed a lot more room to lounge in..which we DON'T on these small ships. I have never felt crowded on any Regent ship. I kinda like the small ship feel, that's why we book small ships. Fewer people, cozy nooks, lounges where you could talk to the piano player from your table if you wanted to. Just right. I'll take cozy over spacious any day.

And my favorite - they are adding more casual dining options like pizza and ice cream. Huh? On a luxury cruise? Sounds to me like they're trying to appeal to more people by cheapening things a little. Not that there's anything wrong with pizza and ice cream (or steak) but if they are going to add something new to a luxury cruise they should consider something like 'coffees from around the world' or a sushi table with sushi chefs standing by, or something similar that people who book this sort of cruise would really appreciate. Sheesh...at least make it gelato and not just ice cream!

Ok...I vented. I will still sail Regent because they are so great. I just hope this isn't a start of a downward spiral toward a more mediocre product.