Formerly Radisson Seven Seas Cruises until a renaming by the Carlson Group in 2005 to give the vessels a deservedly more upscale connotation, the cruise line has transformed itself from a mishmash fleet of oddly different ships to a much more streamlined and modern three-ship fleet.
Fleet
Gone are the Radisson Diamond and Song of Flower, while thePaul Gauguin, based in the South Pacific, is marketed by but not owned by thecompany. Taking between 500 and 700 passengers, the trio is the largest in theluxury market when compared in size to Silversea and Seabourn. The two largestships, the Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager, offer all-suiteaccommodations while the smaller Seven Seas Navigator has 90 per cent suiteaccommodations.
Itineraries
The three ships together trade worldwide.
Dining and Decor
The two largest Regent ships offer, as an alternative to themain restaurant, a very good French menu, a formula-style Asian sampler mealand Mediterranean style restaurant with antipasto and dessert buffet and servedmain course. The Navigator’s has an Italian menu. The décor is sophisticatedEuropean.
Programs
Regent ships have an excellent enrichment programsspotlighting the ports and special theme cruises.
Onboard Experience
The first two ships also offer more public rooms andspecialty restaurants than the immediate competition but curiously, theatmosphere is often more subdued and private because so many passengers choseto spend time in their accommodations, venturing out for meals and perhaps adrink before dinner and the evening show.
Competitors
Overall food and service would be on par with Seabourn andSilversea but the two large Regent ships offer more venues and more elaboratelystaged shows than Seabourn or Silversea. All three lines have worldwideitineraries and draw a mixture of North Americans, Europeans and Australians.
