By
Rebecca Gibson |
Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) is to carry out an extensive US$125 million fleetwide refurbishment programme over the next two years.
The investment will fund significant renovations of most public spaces along with a complete redesign of all categories of suites to ensure all ships are at the same standard as Seven Seas Explorer.
Seven Seas Navigator, the line’s smallest ship that carries just 490 guests, will be the first to enter drydock on 31 March, followed by Seven Seas Voyager in late 2016 and Seven Seas Mariner in spring 2017.
“Seven Seas Navigator is one of our most beloved ships, so it’s fitting that she is the first to undergo this extraordinary refurbishment,” said Jason Montague, president and COO and RSSC. “These renovations will bring a new level of elegance to the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet, strengthening our position as the undisputed leader in the luxury cruise segment, operating the most luxurious ships at sea.”
Some highlights of the Seven Seas Navigator refit, which will take place in Marseille, France between 31 March and 13 April, will include updated décor, furniture, soft furnishings and lighting in the library, casino, boutiques, and the reception area, which will be illuminated by a gypsum diamond cut lighting fixture.
Several of the ship’s signature restaurants and lounge areas will also be redecorated and refitted with contemporary furnishings, including the 132-seat cocktail bar Galileo Lounge, Coffee Connection and Navigator Lounge, which transforms into a small night club with a Steinway piano as a centerpiece each evening. Aesthetic changes will also be made to the 384-seat Compass Rose dining room and La Veranda, which offers casual indoor and al fresco buffet dining for breakfast and lunch before turning into the fine dining restaurant Sette Mari La Veranda for dinner.
Meanwhile, the Navigator Suite will be redesigned and feature a new custom-made Elite Slumber Bed with pure cotton sateen bedding, and new carpets, chairs, drapes and an ebony wooden vanity with a white marble top in the bedroom and living area. Similarly, the Penthouse, Concierge and Deluxe Suites will be outfitted with new décor, a padded leather headboard on the Elite Slumber Bed, and a new sofa, table and artwork in the lounge area.
Following her drydock, Seven Seas Navigator will embark on a ten-night ‘Flawless French Riviera’ voyage, which features calls in Spain, France, Monaco and Italy. The ship will then spend the summer in the Mediterranean and the autumn in South Africa before offering a ‘Navigate the World’ itinerary in 2017 – RSSC’s first world cruise in six years. Beginning and ending in Miami, the cruise will circumnavigate the globe in 128 nights, calling at 62 ports in 31 countries on six continents.