Seven Seas Explorer Review

4.5 / 5.0
262 reviews
Seven Seas Explorer docked in Ward Cove (Ketchikan) on July 24, 2023 (Photo: Aaron Saunders)
Pacific Rim aboard Seven Seas Explorer (Photo: Aaron Saunders)
Seven Seas Explorer's attractive open decks (Photo: Aaron Saunders)
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Editor Rating
4.5
Very Good
Overall
Colleen McDaniel
Editor-In-Chief

Well before Seven Seas Explorer launched in July 2016, Regent Seven Seas was calling it the "Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built." That is a bold statement when it comes to ultra-luxury cruising. In many ways, the ship lives up to the billing, with extraordinary features and tiny details that will make even the most discerning passenger exceptionally happy.

To begin with, the cabins -- they're all suites -- are beautifully designed and feature some of the largest balconies in the industry. (Balcony sizes range from 55 to 994 square feet.) At the very top is the Regent Suite, a two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom cabin that is so indulgent and well-appointed, passengers staying there might never want to leave.

Then, there's the dining, with two restaurants that make their debut for the line on Seven Seas Explorer: Chartreuse and Pacific Rim. The line's signature steakhouse, Prime 7, remains one of the best at sea, and its main dining restaurant options, Compass Rose and La Veranda/Sette Mari, set the bar high for "standard" cruise ship dining.

Our 2023 Alaska sailing showed cuisine was uneven, unfortunately: meals taken in Charteuse and Pacific Rim were stellar, but some dishes in Compass Rose disappointed. Wines and beverages in general were a strong point, however: Seven Seas Explorer boasts a stellar connoisseur wine list that begs to be explored.

The ship features more than an acre of granite and an acre of marble, almost 500 chandeliers and some 2,500 pieces of art, including works by masters such as Pablo Picasso and Marc Chagall. And that's not just in the public spaces, which are impressive. Suites feature incredible marble and stone detailing in their bathrooms and on surfaces like desks and bars.

Those looking to poke holes in the "most luxurious" claim might point to the ship's entertainment, which is OK but not extravagant as one might expect. Likewise, the spa feels like it missed an opportunity to create a more expansive thermal suite complex, with features such as a therapy pool.

With its over-the-top features and world-class dining, Seven Seas Explorer delivers a luxurious experience that feels like something special. Whether the ship is the world's most luxurious is a judgment call, but Seven Seas Explorer makes a good case.

Pros

Gorgeously decorated ship; emphasis on quality wines and intuitive service

Cons

Entertainment needs refining; cuisine is uneven

Bottom Line

An inclusive luxury experience with room for improvement

About

Passengers: 750
Crew: 542
Passenger to Crew: 1.38:1
Launched: 2016
Shore Excursions: 513

Inclusions

Included with your cruise fare:

  • All beverages (except premium selections)

  • All gratuties

  • Most shore excursions

  • All dining venues

  • Airfare

  • Pre-cruise hotel stay (on most itineraries)

  • Wi-Fi Internet Access

  • Room Service

Not included with your cruise fare:

  • Select shore excursions

  • Premium/Reserve Beverages

  • Special Alcohol Tasting Seminars

  • Optional Wine Pairing Degustation Lunch

  • Spa Treatments

  • Onboard Shops

  • Casino Games

Fellow Passengers

Passengers on Seven Seas Explorer are generally 60 and above, with a heavy percentage (around 80) hailing from North America. Australians and passengers from the U.K. are common as well. Passengers are well off, with a net worth of around $2 million, and most have cruised before, many with Regent Seven Seas. Families are in the minority, though children can be found sailing with their parents and grandparents during the summer or over holidays (our 2023 Alaska sailing had a large number of families travelling with kids and teens, so they're not uncommon on some sailings).

Seven Seas Explorer Dress Code

During the day, passengers wear comfortable clothing appropriate to the sailing climate. Poolside, bathing suits and cover-ups (for women) are common, though swimwear is not allowed indoors. Women wear shorts and T-shirts or blouses, capris, jeans, dresses or skirts indoors, while men go with jeans or shorts and T-shirts or polo shirts.

At night, elegant casual is the name of the game. That means skirts or slacks with blouses or sweaters, pant suits or dresses for ladies; slacks and collared shirts for men. Jackets are optional, but they're fairly common. Jeans, T-shirts, baseball caps, shorts and sneakers aren't appropriate in any public space after 6 p.m. Cruises of 16 nights or more will include two optional formal nights, where women might wear evening or cocktail gowns or formal pants suits; men might wear tuxes or suits. Elegant casual dress still is appropriate even on formal nights. Cruises of 15 nights or less don't feature formal nights.

The final night of the cruise allows passengers to dress more casually, but most stick with elegant casual.

Regent Seven Seas Explorer Inclusions

Regent Seven Seas is one of only a few truly all-inclusive cruise lines, and as such, a cruise on Seven Seas Explorer will be virtually hassle-free when it comes to figuring out what costs extra. Cruises on this ship include wine, spirits, beer, soda, water, coffee, tea and sports drinks, all gratuities, entertainment, dining (including at least one dinner at every specialty restaurant onboard), unlimited Wi-Fi, and most shore excursions. Cruises also include economy-class airfare for domestic flights and business-class airfare for intercontinental flights for U.S. passengers.

Depending on cabin category booked, items such as flight upgrades, hotel stays and transfers to the port might be included.

The onboard currency is the U.S. dollar.

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More about Seven Seas Explorer

Where does Seven Seas Explorer sail from?

Seven Seas Explorer departs from Vancouver, Seward, Singapore, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Sydney, Auckland, Klong Tuey, Bangkok, Laem Chabang, Bangkok, Klong Tuey, Laem Chabang, Bali, and Tanah Ampo

How much does it cost to go on Seven Seas Explorer?

Cruises on Seven Seas Explorer start from $3,477 per person.

Is Seven Seas Explorer a good ship to cruise on?

Seven Seas Explorer won 20 awards over the years.
Seven Seas Explorer Cruiser Reviews

Seven Seas Explorer - Very good but not 5 Stars

14 Night Tokyo to Bangkok cruise on Seven Seas Explorer - in F1 Superior Suite single occupancy. First time on Regent and chose this cruise for the port variety.Read More
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markjd63

many10+ Cruises

Age 61s

Beautiful, scenic Alaskan cruise, well-designed ship, falls short in some areas

That was a solid decision as we loved our Seven seas suite which was in the very front of the ship, deck Seven.Read More
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sheldondusty

many10+ Cruises

Age 60s

Great Ship shame about the Excursions

Overall the service on the Explorer has been good, staff friendly and helpful so no complaints at all there.Read More
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Bluster

few6-10 Cruises

Age 77s

The Cruise to Nowhere

We joined the Regent Seven Seas Explorer on 12 December 2022 in Singapore for the cruise titled ‘Coastal Beauties of the Pacific’ which completed in Sydney on 29 December and on the same evening departedRead More
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Bobsbest

many10+ Cruises

Age 70s

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Fleet
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