Regent Seven Seas Will Return with Seven Seas Splendor in the U.K.
by Daniel McCarthy
Regent Seven Seas on Wednesday announced it would return to sailing in September and that it would do so with Seven Seas Splendor, the brand’s newest ship that has its debut cut short by COVID-19 last year.
Regent will sail Seven Seas Splendor starting on Sept. 11. Its debut sailing will be an 11-night voyage roundtrip from Southampton that includes ports of call in England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland.
After that sailing, Regent will then head to the Mediterranean before crossing to the Caribbean in early 2022.
While many of those first sailings are sold out, Regent said that there is still some opportunity for guests to sail in the Mediterranean and then in the Caribbean in 2022.
“Come September we will have the double celebration of our return to the seas as we also recommence the inaugural season of the ship that perfects luxury, Seven Seas Splendor,” said Jason Montague, president, and chief executive officer, Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Like its sister brands, Regent is coming back into service with a vaccination requirement for all guests and crew members, as well as an enhanced safety protocol onboard.
Seven Seas Splendor was one of TMR’s five new ships to be excited about post-COVID. The ship was scheduled to make its debut in February 2020, right before the pandemic hit.
Splendor is outfitted with eye-popping luxury touches, such as its 15 different suite categories and more than 46,000 square feet of Italian marble onboard, including the marble-detailed bathrooms in each of its 375 guest suites and 500 crystal chandeliers illuminating the ship's interior. Each balcony space per suite will average 138 square feet.
Elsewhere, the ship’s Observation Lounge, inspired by an English garden, will incorporate a light and airy color palette. A chandelier comprised of hand-painted porcelain flowers, peonies, and roses are the centerpiece. Specially commissioned art by Gorman Studios incorporates hand-painted English roses and flowers on glass screens to reflect the look of porcelain chandeliers.