Seven Seas Explorer in
Cadiz, 2017
| |
History | |
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Name | Seven Seas Explorer |
Owner | Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings |
Operator | Regent Seven Seas Cruises |
Port of registry | Majuro, Marshall Islands |
Ordered | 10 July 2013 [4] |
Builder | Fincantieri, Sestri Ponente, Genova |
Yard number | 6250 [3] |
Laid down | 21 January 2015 [5] |
Launched | 30 October 2015 [2] |
Sponsored by | Charlene, Princess of Monaco |
Christened | 13 July 2016 [6] |
Completed | 30 June 2016 [1] |
In service | July 2016—present |
Identification |
|
Status | In service |
General characteristics | |
Class and type | Explorer-class cruise ship [7] |
Tonnage | 55,254 GT [3] |
Length | 223.6 m (734 ft) [3] |
Beam | 31 m (102 ft) [3] |
Draught | 7.02 m (23.0 ft) [3] |
Decks |
|
Installed power | |
Propulsion | 2 × 9,000 kW (12,000 hp) Wärtsilä [3] |
Speed | |
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. [4]
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. [4] 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. [4] As on Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner, Regent intended to make Seven Seas Explorer an all-suite ship. [4] 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. [4] The debut of Seven Seas Explorer would reportedly mark an increase in Regent's capacity by up to 40%. [4]
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. [5] Three different coins were welded into the keel: a 1921 Peace dollar, a 1959 Italian lira, and a commemorative coin minted for the ceremony. [5]
On 30 October 2015, Seven Seas Explorer floated out from the dry dock at the shipyard following completion of her exterior outfitting. [2] The remainder of the construction was completed with the ship in wet dock. [2]
Seven Seas Explorer was delivered to Regent on 30 June 2016. [1] She was christened in Monte Carlo by Charlene, Princess of Monaco on 13 July 2016. [6] [10]
Seven Seas Explorer currently features a total of 377 passenger cabins, all of which are suite accommodations. [3] There are also a total of 325 crew cabins, making for a total capacity of 1,360 passengers and crew. [3] 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). [3] She is powered by a diesel-electric genset system, with four total MaK engines, producing a total output of 32 megawatts (43,000 hp). [3] Main propulsion is via two Wärtsilä propellers, each driven by a 9 megawatts (12,000 hp) electric motor. [3] 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). [3]
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]
Seven Seas Explorer set sail on her 14-night maiden voyage on 20 July 2016 from Monte Carlo to Venice. [13] [6] 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]