Ship Review: Regent Seven Seas Explorer

This cruise was an educational trip for me - one to see Alaska again after being away for far too long and two, to experience a luxury small ship cruise line, in this case, Regent Seven Seas.  This was my first time on Regent and the Seven Seas Explorer - following are my insights.  

I had seen a good number of pictures of the ship prior to boarding, but pictures and seeing in person are two different things.  I was surprised at how big the Explorer is - I thought for sure with only 750 guests she would be smaller.  Not a negative - just not quite what I had in my head. 

Regent markets itself as the most luxurious cruise line with unrivaled space at sea.  While I can't speak to it being the most luxurious,  the Explorer is a beautiful ship.  The overall decor is lovely - ornate but not overly so.  I can speak to the unrivaled space: public spaces were never crowded, no lines, getting on and off the ship was a breeze, lounges, dining areas and deck space always had plenty of seating.   There may have been 750 guests on board but you would have never known it.  It truly felt like a few hundred.

Getting around the ship was easy - I learned the layout within a few hours.   Coffee, food, beverages, Spa - all easy to find.  

A not so hidden gem - the library with leather floors.  

The cabins were lovely.  I was in a Concierge E - plenty of space, more storage than I knew what to do with, a lovely verandah, a walk-in closet and a big bathroom with both a tub and shower.  Nice!  The refrigerator was well stocked and we had an espresso machine.  The Explorer is an all suite ship - every cabin has a private verandah (no inside cabins).  I didn't get to see the other categories, but using mine as a standard I am certain all categories are nice options, especially the penthouse and higher suites.    

Overall service was spectacular.  Room stewards, wait staff, bar and dining room staff, front desk - all excellent.  The majority of the staff are from the Philippines and India.  Regent has trained the entire staff very well - service is most definitely an elevated experience in comparison to premium lines I have been on.   

Specialty restaurants (Prime 7 (Steak House), Chartreuse (French) and Pacific Rim (Asian)), the main dining venue Compass Rose, La Veranda for breakfast and La Veranda and the Pool Grill for lunch were all excellent.  Each venue has its own unique ambiance.  The weather was a bit cool for us to eat outside, but I would recommend the deck areas outside of La Veranda.

I am not a foodie so to speak but I know good food.  I wouldn't rate the restaurants at a Michelin star level but non the less, the food and experience in every restaurant was excellent - nice options to choose from, many I would not have access to on a regular basis.  You could try as many or as few options as you wanted - multiple starters to multiple desserts - never a problem.  The presentation of every plate was beautiful.  

Each specialty restaurants can be booked once on a 7 day cruise.  They are in high demand so difficult to get a second seating.  The Compass Rose is easier to book for larger groups as they have plenty of 2-4-6 and 8 seat tables.  

The lounges were nice.  The entertainment more low key, soft music - ie guitar, piano.  The Observation Deck was quite nice for night caps.  Several evenings there were trivia type contests - winners received points that could be turned in for branded items.

Evening shows are not my thing so I attended only a few. That said, some loved the shows, some not so much.  Like food, I find these experiences to be personal - what one person raves about another not so much, so I take all this with a grain of salt.  I always say try it, and if you don't like it, leave. Lots of other things available.  The casino was very active especially blackjack.  There is a cigar bar up by the Observation lounge.  

I didn't use the spa services but walked through the area and the facility looked nice, especially the treatment rooms.  There is an infinity pool at the back open to all - nice and quiet and somewhat undiscovered.   The workout rooms are one deck above.  ​

Excursions are included in your fare and there are a good number to choose from - just be sure to book early as they fill up quickly, including the ones that have an extra cost to them.  

My overall feel: Regent is definitely an elevated experience.  It's not any one thing but all the little things combined that make the difference. This sounds funny, but in the Coffee Connection, all of the pillows on the seats had the "karate chop" in the middle (not sure if I am describing it right) - but every time someone left their table and the wait staff cleaned up the area they made sure the pillows were "just right".  A little thing, but a nice touch which I felt happening all around the ship. ​

Would I sail with Regent again?  Absolutely.   Aside from a few transfer delays, the experience from start to finish is one I could repeat.  

If you are looking for an elevated experience combined with good value, Regent Seven Seas is definitely one to look at.   

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