Seven Seas Explorer christenend during an evening gala in Monte Carlo, Monaco on 13 July
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco christened Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ (RSSC) newest ship Seven Seas Explorer during an evening gala in Monte Carlo, Monaco on 13 July.
HSH Princess Charlene delivered a traditional maritime blessing before cutting a velvet rope to break a Primat bottle of Veuve Clicquot against the ship’s hull.
“It is an honour to be the godmother of this magnificent ship, Seven Seas Explorer,” said HSH Princess Charlene. “I am also thrilled by the discussions taking place between my Foundation and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings to implement my Water Safety programme on all their ships. Developing awareness of the risks attached to aquatic environments is, for me, a cause of most importance.”
The bottle breaking was followed by a 40-minute private performance by Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli.
“This is truly a special moment, not only for the RSSC brand, but for the entire Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) family,” said Frank Del Rio, NCLH’s president and CEO. “Seven Seas Explorer is not only the world’s most luxurious ship – she sets a new benchmark for luxury vacations and lays the foundation from which RSSC will continue to build. We have already begun a massive US$125 million refurbishment effort to ensure every ship in our fleet matches the luxury standard found on Explorer, and will introduce a sister ship in 2020.”
Seven Seas Explorer weighs 55,254gt and accommodates 750 guests in all-suite accommodation, The all-balcony ship boasts one of the highest space ratios and lowest crew-to-guest ratios in the cruise industry, five gourmet restaurants, theatres, lounges and much more.
The liner’s maiden voyage will depart on 20 July 2016, and the ship will spend her inaugural season in Europe before heading to Miami for a series of Caribbean voyages.
“Seven Seas Explorer is the most luxurious ship ever built, and we are truly grateful and privileged to have Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco serve as the ship’s godmother,” said Jason Montague, president and COO of RSSC. “Our guests have waited patiently for over a decade for a new RSSC ship, and once they sail Seven Seas Explorer I’m confident they will agree it was well worth the wait.”