September 15, 2008
– Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced that it will invest
approximately $40 million dollars to implement an extensive
refurbishment and enhancement of the line’s all-suite vessels:
Seven Seas Voyager®,
Seven Seas Mariner®, and
Seven Seas
Navigator®. This investment is in addition to the
$20 million that was spent on the fleet over the past two
years as the line re-branded under the Regent moniker.
“I am delighted to make this
announcement as we are not only refurbishing the ships, we are
adding many new luxury features that will enhance the guest
experience,” said
Mark Conroy, President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
“This comprehensive enhancement program will see each of the
ships emerge essentially brand new and positions our fleet as
the standard-bearer in the luxury cruise category,” he added.
The refurbishments will commence
in December 2008 with the dry-dock of Seven Seas Voyager,
followed by Seven Seas Mariner in January 2009, and
Seven Seas Navigator in the first half of 2010, and
result in a new look that is fresh, elegant and luxurious yet
retains the familial warmth and charm for which Regent Seven
Seas Cruises is lauded.
In addition to the scheduled
technical work, almost every area of the ships will be
refurbished, with public rooms being substantially re-designed
with new furniture, using sumptuous materials like imported
leathers, suede, and mahogany, along with warm color schemes
and rich fabrics offset by lustrous marble and granite
accents. The renowned marine architectural firm of Yran and
Storbraaten of
Oslo, Norway, is overseeing the design work along with
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Vessel Operations team. Seven
Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner will be
refurbished at the
Grand Bahama
shipyard in
Freeport,
Bahamas. Final details and the location of Seven
Seas Navigator’s 2010 dry dock will be announced at a
later date.
Highlights of the refurbishment
program for Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas
Mariner include:
-
The creation of a new
alternative dining concept and venue – a steakhouse named
Prime Seven –that will replace the current Indochine-menu
Latitudes restaurants
-
The re-design of lounges and
public rooms to create more spacious areas for relaxation
-
The creation of elegant new
lounge and dining areas around the Pool Grill
-
New carpeting, wallpaper,
upholstery, light fixtures, and drapes in most public areas
and guest suite accommodations
-
More casual dining options with
the addition of pizza ovens and ice-cream bars
-
The creation of an extended
coffee and snack bar area on Seven Seas Voyager,
similar to the very popular Coffee Connection on Seven
Seas Mariner
“This significant investment not
only demonstrates our commitment to our guests and the bright
future of the Regent Seven Seas Cruises brand, it elevates the
experience to new heights and provides a glimpse of what the
future holds,” stated Frank Del Rio, Chairman of Prestige
Cruise Holdings, RSSC’s parent company.
The refurbishment and product
enhancements are the result of extensive feedback from RSSC’s
loyal guest base – through comment cards, personal interaction
between the line’s management and the guests in regular “town
hall” meetings or through the online community.
“Mark and I spent a good deal of
time on the ships this past spring speaking with our guests
and travel agent
partners and I trust they will be as elated with the
fruits of this labor as we are,” added Del Rio.