The choice between cruising with Regent Seven Seas or Seabourn can be difficult -- if you don't know the subtle differences that make each line uniquely special. Both cruise lines place a high value on beauty; you'll see that in the architecture of the ships, suites, dining venues and other public areas. If you want to drink in beautiful interiors and landscapes, you can't go wrong with either option.
Let's discuss some of the other differences between Regent vs. Seabourn.
Fleet
Regent Seven Seas CruisesRegent Seven Seas has four cruise ships. Its flagship is the 750-passenger Seven Seas Explorer, which made its maiden voyage in July 2016. The 700-passenger Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner launched in 2001 and 2003, and the 490-passenger Seven Seas Navigator launched in 1999. Through the beginning of 2018, Regent spent $125 million upgrading and refurbishing Seven Seas Navigator, Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner.Seven Seas Splendor -- Explorer's sister ship that will also accommodate 750 passengers -- will debut in 2020.Seabourn Cruise LineSeabourn sails five ships. Seabourn Odyssey (2009) and Seabourn Quest (2011) accommodate 458 passengers and Seabourn Sojourn (2010) accommodates 462 passengers. They are sister ships; Quest was refurbished in 2016 and the other two were done in 2017. The line also has two newer 600-passenger sister ships: Seabourn Encore (2016) and Seabourn Ovation (2018).Additionally, Seabourn plans to enter the expedition niche with two new ships debuting in June 2021 and May 2022. Both ships will meet PC6 Polar Class standards for Antarctica and Arctic itineraries and will each sail with two submarines, two dozen Zodiacs and a kayak fleet. The 264-passenger, 23,000-GRT vessels will offer 132 balcony suites.Price
Regent is almost always more expensive than Seabourn. That is because Regent packages airfare, shore excursions and other perks into its cruise fares, so you'll need to carefully compare pricing between these two lines in order to determine what's best for your pocketbook. Both lines include open bars throughout the ship that serve beer, wine and spirits, and both lines say tips are neither expected nor required (i.e., they're already baked into the cruise fare).Choose Regent if you want the most all-inclusive experience.

Itineraries
Regent Seven Seas Cruises lives up to its name and sails itineraries across the globe each year. Likewise, Seabourn also offers a rich cruise calendar with voyages that can take you just about anywhere you wish to go. Regent has long offered world cruises while Seabourn offers a world cruise in 2020. Both lines sail Alaska, Asia, the Baltic, Northern Europe, the Caribbean (including Cuba), Greece and the Mediterranean, Mexico, the Panama Canal and Central America and South America.Choose Regent if you're looking to book a world cruise before 2020.While Regent had bowed out of the world cruise game for six years, it roared back with a 128-night voyage aboard Seven Seas Navigator in 2017 and has been offering a world cruise voyage every January since then. Seabourn won't offer an official world cruise until 2020.Or if you want to visit French Polynesia.

Shore Excursions
Regent and Seabourn pay close attention to the quality of the shore excursions they offer. Both use knowledgeable guides, keep tour groups small and ensure that transportation options are comfortable and air-conditioned.Choose Regent if you plan to take a lot of shore excursions.

Cabins
Architects for both Regent and Seabourn designed incredible accommodations that are a pleasure to spend time in, and both offer a range of ensuite amenities. The difference is in who gets what on each cruise line.Seabourn offers two tiers of in-suite amenities. All suites are outfitted with Egyptian linens, hypoallergenic pillows, robes and slippers, a bar setup and bath products by Therapies by Molton Brown. Those staying in premium suites also get extras such as an invitation to visit the bridge, fresh fruit and flowers, an espresso machine and free Wi-Fi -- among other perks.Regent takes the amenities concept even further by breaking down its offerings lineup into four categories. All suites, however, feature a welcome bottle of Champagne; European king-size "Suite Slumber Beds"; a personalized full-liquor bar setup and minibar replenished daily with soda, beer and water; L'Occitane bath products and a plush bathrobe and slippers; and 24-hour room service served course-by-course at dinner.Choose Regent if you're splashing out for a top named suite.

Dining
Both lines offer some tremendous options when it comes to mealtime, and neither charge extra fees for specialty restaurants. The main dining rooms on both lines are elegant with menus that appeal to both self-described "foodies" and those who enjoy more basic fare. Regent offers a steakhouse and several themed restaurants where you can indulge in French, Asian or Italian cuisine. Menus seem to have more choice than on Seabourn, especially for vegetarians. Seabourn, on the other hand, takes a more global approach to its menus and you can find a range of cuisines on menus throughout the ship. Its fleetwide Thomas Keller-designed restaurant, The Grill, is also a standout. New on Seabourn Ovation and rolling out to the other ships in the fleet soon is Earth & Ocean. In the evening, The Patio transforms into Earth & Ocean, a lovely spot to enjoy world cuisines with a menu that changes nightly. Choose Regent if you love a good steak.

Entertainment
When it comes to keeping you entertained day or night, Regent and Seabourn have you covered. Both have gorgeous sun decks and a variety of daytime activities including trivia sessions, wine tastings and guest lectures. In the evening, both offer several lounges that act as pre- and post-dinner gathering spots. On both lines, you can listen to live music, go dancing or play a hand of poker in the casino. Both offer Broadway-style theater performances and nightclubs (though Seabourn gets higher marks for the caliber of its shows and musicians). Since complimentary alcohol is included in both line's cruise fares, everyone tends to be out and about in the evening to enjoy a cocktail and mix and mingle.Choose Regent Seven Seas Cruises if you'd like to go to cooking school at sea.

Family
Choose Regent if you are traveling with young children.

Bottom Line
Choose Regent if you want an absolutely all-inclusive cruise experience with free shore excursions, the most over-the-top suite afloat or a steakhouse dining experience with a huge menu.Choose Seabourn if you adore caviar, want to explore Antarctica, love the music of Tim Rice, want to dine in a restaurant by Thomas Keller and love being in the water, whether by kayak, Zodiac, pedal boat or sailboat.Updated October 10, 2019
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