Regent Seven Seas Explorer – The Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built ....

Everyone’s definition of luxury is different, and most luxury items come at a price that’s just beyond your normal spend for that item. That’s what makes it a luxury and something people strive to attain. Officially welcomed to the Regent Seven Seas Cruises' fleet on July 13, 2016 in Monaco and christened by Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco, this ship is no exception. It’s all suite accommodation and there’s no such thing as an inside cabin. The ship itself exudes luxury the minute you step aboard to a champagne greeting. I’ve grown to love Murano glass and Swarovski Crystal in their many forms and there’s plenty of it on this ship. There’s also more than an acre of granite and over an acre of marble to be found on the floors, on the counter tops and in the cabins. If you appreciate art - search the ship for the two Picasso’s and the Chagall among the 2,500 artworks aboard. It all makes for a luxury setting that’s not ostentatious and dripping with gold.

As the price includes a suite with balcony and ocean view it’s already moved you up the price scale, but unlike most cruises it also includes your unlimited choice of excursions, an open bar policy including premium brands, all service charges and gratuities, speciality dining and Wi-Fi. When you consider that a 24-hour Wi-Fi rate with some cruise lines is £25 and a drinks package is approx. £50 per person per day, the leap to the Regent price tag becomes more of a small jump. When the cruise isn’t sailing from the UK they even include the flights and if you’re flying to join the ship in Europe, they sometimes upgrade you to business class according to your cabin grade. The Explorer tends to pass through the UK when repositioning, so we don’t often get the chance to see her on a ship visit.

With just 375 suites and a maximum of 750 passengers the ship is a perfect size to give you all the creature comforts you expect at sea. The entry level suite is the only grade without a walk-in wardrobe and you only have to go up to the 4th of 14 grades to get a bath. The pool deck is rarely crowded as everyone has their own private balcony, all suites have mini bars, and everyone has complimentary room service. If you’re happy to mingle, there are double bed cabanas and sunbeds around the pool deck which includes two shaded whirlpools and the quieter Infinity-Edge Plunge Pool that is located on Deck 5.

We had an extensive tour of the ship and cabins and a presentation in the two-tiered Constellation Theatre before being treated to lunch. One of the joys of cruising is the dining and Regent didn’t disappoint. The main restaurant is the Compass Rose, and this was our menu:

Sea Scallops with Herb Beurre Blanc, Crispy Leeks and Spring Onion Mashed Potatoes *** Creamy Porchini Mushroom Soup. Candled Garlic *** Latin Spice Crusted Fresh Halibut Fillet, Sweet Potato Mash, Rabe Broccoli and Daikon Slaw Or Roasted Black Angus Beef Tenderloin with Morel Jus, Vegetable Bouquetiere and Fondant Potato *** Individual Diderot Chocolate Mousse with Grand Marnier Crème Brulee Center Vanilla Sauce

As our groups had already been assigned to guides for the tour, they already knew that there weren’t any vegetarians on our table, but the vegetarians on other tables said that their meal was as lovely as ours.

Explorer offers open dining and you can eat whenever your chosen restaurant is open. The speciality restaurants need reservations as they’re more intimate with more tailored menus, but none of them are at a supplement. Pacific Rim is pan-Asian and the entry to the restaurant is hidden behind a fascinating giant bronze Tibetan prayer wheel sculpture.

Chartreuse offers a modern French fine dining menu in an art nouveau-inspired setting. The golden panels apparently sparkle at night as they’re embedded with crystals. Prime 7 has the atmosphere of what I imagine an exclusive Member’s Club to be – with quite masculine leather chairs, banquette booths and sumptuous dark colours. Prime New York Strip, Porterhouse Steak and succulent Filet Mignon are the popular stars of the menu and there’s a wine vault wall as you enter with a Sommelier on hand to make wine pairing recommendations. As with most ships, there’s outdoor dining available around the pool deck and on Explorer it’s La Veranda serving the usual salad bar and carving stations along with things with chips and it becomes an Italian Sette Mari indoor/outdoor dining venue at night.

All in all – the only disappointment for me was the lift side of the atrium which I think could have been a bit more of a showpiece looking up – but if I was actually cruising I doubt I would care!