Regent Seven Seas

Let's get the origin story out of the way, because Regent has had more name changes than a witness in protection. The line started in 1992 as Radisson Diamond Cruises, built around the genuinely weird twin-hull Radisson Diamond — a ship that looked like two pontoons holding up a Marriott. It morphed into Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, then in 2006 finally settled on Regent Seven Seas. Then in September 2014, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings scooped up the parent company, Prestige Cruises International — picking up Oceania in the same transaction. Regent has been an NCLH brand ever since, which matters mostly because corporate parent earnings calls now talk about luxury yields with the same energy normally reserved for the latest mega-ship's go-kart track.

The all-inclusive thing is the entire personality. Most luxury lines include some stuff and charge for the rest. Regent decided that was tacky. The fare includes unlimited shore excursions in every single port — yes, even the long ones with private guides. It includes round-trip business-class air on intercontinental flights from US and Canadian gateways (economy on shorter ones, upgradeable). It includes every drink onboard, and that is not a euphemism for house wine — premium spirits, vintage wines, the actual good champagne. It includes specialty dining across all the venues (Prime 7 steakhouse, Chartreuse French, Pacific Rim pan-Asian, Compass Rose main), all with zero cover charges and zero service fees. It includes unlimited Wi-Fi on multiple devices. It includes a pre-cruise hotel night for Concierge-tier suites and above. And yes — gratuities are entirely included. There is no daily auto-grat line item. There is no envelope handoff on the last night. The only place tipping shows up is the spa — more on that in a moment.

The fleet is small and getting newer. Six ships, in order: Seven Seas Navigator (1999, 490 guests), Mariner (2001, 700), Voyager (2003, 700), Explorer (2016, 750), Splendor (2020, 750), and Grandeur (2023, 744). The three newest — Explorer, Splendor, Grandeur — are sister ships and home to what Regent loudly claims are the largest standard suites at sea. The entry-level Deluxe Veranda Suite on those three is 307 square feet with a private balcony, which sounds modest until you remember that on a Princess or Holland America ship you'd be in 220 square feet and grateful for it. The top-end Regent Suite on Splendor and Grandeur clocks in around 4,400 square feet with a private spa, in-suite Steinway, and a price tag that comfortably outpaces most people's annual mortgage. Seven Seas Prestige arrives December 2026 as the new flagship — same Explorer-class DNA, evolved interiors, debut Mediterranean sailings already on sale.

The drama file is thin — and that is the whole brand promise. Regent has had exactly seven CDC-recorded VSP outbreaks since 1994. Seven. Over thirty years. Most mainstream lines clock that in a quarter. The most recent was a May 2025 norovirus event on Seven Seas Explorer — the April 12 to May 3 Vancouver-to-Whittier "Return to the Frontier" voyage — where 22 of 666 passengers and 2 of 545 crew got sick. Ship was deep-cleaned between voyages, CDC signed off, life went on. Compared to the headline norovirus rampages other lines absorb annually, this is a footnote. Drama score: 20. Honestly we considered 15.

Who actually sails Regent. The demographic is straightforward — 60-plus, household income generally $300K-and-up, heavily US and Canadian, with a meaningful UK and Australian contingent on world cruise segments. Repeat-guest percentage is one of the highest in the industry; Seven Seas Society members routinely show up with hundreds of nights logged. The dress code is country-club elegant — no formal nights in the cruise-formal-night sense, but no shorts in Compass Rose at dinner either. Children are technically welcome and practically rare. There is a kids' program on select sailings only, and nobody books Regent for the waterslide.

The verdict. Regent is for the couple who has done a few cruises, decided they hate the nickel-and-diming, and would rather pay one number that includes everything and walk off the ship having signed for nothing but a spa massage. It is exceptional for luxury seekers, romantic couples, foodies, and frequent cruisers chasing port-rich itineraries. It is genuinely not for families with young kids, anyone watching a per-night number, anyone who wants nightlife past 11pm, or anyone whose idea of vacation is a 24/7 buffet and a flowrider. Skip it if you want a party. Book it if you want a holiday where the loudest noise is the wine sommelier asking if you'd like another taste of the Brunello.