Regent Seven Seas Set To Build Yet Another New Luxury Ship

Regent Seven Seas will build a second 750-guest Explorer-class vessel in 2020.

The surge in luxury ship construction shows no sign of abating, which means top cruise lines are betting on a booming future for the luxury travel market. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) said it has signed a contract with Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard to build a 750-guest sister ship to Seven Seas Explorer for its Regent Seven Seas Cruises brand for delivery in 2020. Seven Seas Explorer itself is set to make its debut this July.  

The new Explorer-class vessel, which will cost 422 million euros ($480.6 million), will be the second newbuild for Regent in the past 14 years. It will have many of the same high-end features and amenities that are being introduced on Seven Seas Explorer, including top dining, spacious accommodations and a new class of ultra-luxurious suites, as well as an innovative entertainment program.   

“We expect that the positive impact on earnings and impressive return on investment from Seven Seas Explorer will be significant and that her sister vessel will make a similar contribution,” said Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.    

Added Jason Montague, Regent’s president and chief operating officer: “The extraordinary demand generated by Seven Seas Explorer, including record-breaking booking volumes, reinforced our decision to expand our fleet with an additional ship that mirrors the same incredibly high standards of luxury.” 

NCLH’s new order for Regent comes as other luxury lines are engaged in their own major newbuild programs. For example, Crystal Cruises is set to build three new 1,000-guest ships starting in 2018. Seabourn will introduce its 600-guest Seabourn Encore in March 2016 and has a sister vessel, Seabourn Ovation, set for delivery in 2018.  

Silversea Cruises will introduce the 596-guest Silversea Muse next spring and there are rumors it will build more vessels. Ponant earlier this month announced plans to introduce four 184-guest luxury expedition vessels between summer 2018 and summer 2019. 

NCLH overall, which now has 23 ships with approximately 45,800 berths, is set to introduce five additional ships through 2020. Regent Seven Seas currently has three ships—the 490-passenger Seven Seas Navigator, the 700-passenger Seven Seas Mariner and 700-passenger Seven Seas Voyager—and will introduce the 750-guest Seven Seas Explorer this July, followed by the new 750-passenger Explorer-class vessel in 2020.