Engineering:Seven Seas Explorer

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Short description: Cruise ship operated by Regent Seven Seas Cruises


Seven Seas Explorer Cadiz.jpg
Seven Seas Explorer in Cadiz, 2017
History
Name: Seven Seas Explorer
Owner: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings
Operator: Regent Seven Seas Cruises
Port of registry: Majuro,  Marshall Islands
Ordered: 10 July 2013[1]
Builder: Fincantieri, Sestri Ponente, Genova
Yard number: 6250[2]
Laid down: 21 January 2015[3]
Launched: 30 October 2015[4]
Sponsored by: Charlene, Princess of Monaco
Christened: 13 July 2016[5]
Completed: 30 June 2016[6]
In service: July 2016—present
Identification:
Status: In service
General characteristics
Class and type: Explorer-class cruise ship[7]
Tonnage: 55,254 GT[2]
Length: 223.6 m (734 ft)[2]
Beam: 31 m (102 ft)[2]
Draught: 7.02 m (23.0 ft)[2]
Decks:
  • 13 total decks
  • 10 passenger decks
Installed power:
  • 4 × MaK 8M43C Diesel generators producing 8,000 kW (11,000 hp) each[2]
  • Total Installed Power: 32,000 kW (43,000 hp)[2]
Propulsion: 2 × 9,000 kW (12,000 hp) Wärtsilä[2]
Speed:
  • Service speed: 19.4 knots (35.9 km/h; 22.3 mph)[2]
  • Maximum: 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph)[2]
Capacity: 750 passengers
Crew: 552 crewmembers

Seven Seas Explorer is an Explorer-class cruise ship currently operated by Regent Seven Seas Cruises, a subsidiary of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Debuting in 2016, she became the first new-build ship for Regent in more than a decade and the largest ship to ever operate for Regent.[1]

History

Planning

On 10 July 2013, Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced it had entered into a contract with Italian shipbuilder, Fincantieri, to build a new vessel named Seven Seas Explorer.[1] The ship was initially designed to house 738 passengers, a 5% increase in passenger capacity over existing Regent vessels at the time, and would also be 12% larger, at 54,000 GT, providing more space per passenger.[1] As on Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner, Regent intended to make Seven Seas Explorer an all-suite ship.[1] The order for the ship reportedly cost US$450 million, with each berth costing over US$600,000,[8] and was scheduled to debut in the summer of 2016.[1] The debut of Seven Seas Explorer would reportedly mark an increase in Regent's capacity by up to 40%.[1]

Construction

On 15 July 2014, Regent celebrated the steel cutting of the new ship at Fincantieri's yard in Sestri Ponente, near Genoa.[9]

On 21 January 2015, a coin ceremony was performed for the laying of the ship's keel.[3] Three different coins were welded into the keel: a 1921 Peace dollar, a 1959 Italian lira, and a commemorative coin minted for the ceremony.[3]

On 30 October 2015, Seven Seas Explorer floated out from the dry dock at the shipyard following completion of her exterior outfitting.[4] The remainder of the construction was completed with the ship in wet dock.[4]

Delivery and christening

Seven Seas Explorer was delivered to Regent on 30 June 2016.[6] She was christened in Monte Carlo by Charlene, Princess of Monaco on 13 July 2016.[5][10]

In media

  • The World's Most Expensive Cruise Ship Channel 5[11]

Design and specifications

Seven Seas Explorer currently features a total of 377 passenger cabins, all of which are suite accommodations.[2] There are also a total of 325 crew cabins, making for a total capacity of 1,360 passengers and crew.[2] She currently has 13 decks, a length of 223.6 metres (734 ft), a draft of 7.02 metres (23.0 ft), and a beam of 31 metres (102 ft).[2] She is powered by a diesel-electric genset system, with four total MaK engines, producing a total output of 32 megawatts (43,000 hp).[2] Main propulsion is via two Wärtsilä propellers, each driven by a 9 megawatts (12,000 hp) electric motor.[2] The system gives the vessel a service speed of 19.4 knots (35.9 km/h; 22.3 mph) and a maximum speed of 20.5 knots (38.0 km/h; 23.6 mph).[2]

The ship features all-inclusive dining establishments, including a steakhouse, a main dining room, and a convertible buffet-restaurant.[12] There is also a two-level theater and different lounges, including an observation lounge and a music lounge.[12] There are multiple suite categories among the offered accommodations, with each category of cabin showcasing different layouts and design elements, as well as including verandas with every cabin.[12]

Service history

Deployments

Seven Seas Explorer set sail on her 14-night maiden voyage on 20 July 2016 from Monte Carlo to Venice.[13][5] The ship spent her inaugural season sailing in the Mediterranean, before re-positioning to Miami for cruises in the Caribbean.[13][14] Since then, Seven Seas Explorer has also visited ports in Northern Europe, Africa, and South America.[15]

As of February 2020, Seven Seas Explorer was sailing Caribbean voyages and Panama Canal transits, and re-positioned to Europe in April, sailing Northern Europe and Mediterranean itineraries.[16][17] In the latter half of 2020, she was to debut in Asia, and sail her maiden Alaska season in the summer of 2021,[17] however, these voyages were disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the subsequent suspension of cruises embarking through September 2021.[18] The ship had also been due to sail in Oceania in the winter of 2021.[19]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Sloan, Gene (2013-07-10). "Luxury line Regent Seven Seas orders new ship". USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/cruiselog/2013/07/10/regent-seven-seas-new-ship/2505267/. 
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 2.14 2.15 "Seven Seas Explorer". https://www.fincantieri.com/globalassets/prodotti-servizi/navi-da-crociera/seven-seas-explorer/scheda_cruise_seven_seas_explorer.pdf. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 "Regent Seven Seas Cruises Celebrates Keel Laying Milestone For Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built, Seven Seas Explorer". Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 2015-01-21. https://www.rssc.com/news/details?newsid=2804. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 Sloan, Gene (2015-10-30). "It floats! 'World's most luxurious' cruise ship takes to the water". USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2015/10/30/regent-explorer-luxury-cruise/74867160/. 
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Regent Seven Seas Cruises Officially Welcomes Seven Seas Explorer to Fleet: Glitz, Glamour, Royalty and Music Highlight Christening Ceremony in Monte Carlo". Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 2016-07-13. https://www.rssc.com/news/details?newsid=2693. 
  6. 6.0 6.1 "Fincantieri delivers Regent Seven Seas Explorer". 2016-07-01. http://www.cruiseindustrynews.com/cruise-news/15547-fincantieri-delivers-regent-seven-seas-explorer.html. 
  7. "Regent Seven Seas Cruises Names New Ship to Launch in 2020". https://www.rssc.com/news/details?newsid=18633. 
  8. Stieghorst, Tom (2015-08-31). "Regent sees strong demand for its Seven Seas Explorer". https://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise/Regent-sees-strong-demand-for-its-Seven-Seas-ExplorerBy-Tom-Stieghorst/285752. 
  9. Bleiberg, Larry (2014-07-15). "Regent Seven Seas cuts steel on new luxury ship". USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/picture-gallery/travel/cruises/2014/07/15/regent-seven-seas-cuts-steel-on-new-luxury-ship/12667671/. 
  10. Stieghorst, Tom (2016-07-13). "Seven Seas Explorer christened in Monaco". http://www.travelweekly.com/Cruise-Travel/Seven-Seas-Explorer-christened-in-Monaco. 
  11. "The World's Most Expensive Cruise Ship" (in en-US). https://www.channel5.com/show/the-worlds-most-expensive-cruise-ship. 
  12. 12.0 12.1 12.2 Shillinglaw, James (2015-01-13). "Regent Debuts Details of 'Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built'". https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/regent-debuts-details-of-most-luxurious-ship-ever-built.html. 
  13. 13.0 13.1 Shillinglaw, James (2015-01-13). "Regent Debuts Details of 'Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built'". https://www.travelpulse.com/news/cruise/regent-debuts-details-of-most-luxurious-ship-ever-built.html. 
  14. Pickford, Mary Ann (14 July 2016). "Seven Seas Explorer christened in Monte Carlo". https://www.cruise-international.com/seven-seas-explorer-christened-in-monte-carlo/. 
  15. "Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built Sails Maiden Voyage to South America in Early 2019". Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 2018-11-20. https://www.rssc.com/news/details?newsid=48025. 
  16. "Regent Seven Seas Cruises Announces New 2019-2020 Deployment". Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 2017-08-11. https://www.rssc.com/news/details?newsid=11943. 
  17. 17.0 17.1 "Regent Seven Seas Cruises Announces 2020-2021 Itineraries". Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 2018-08-13. https://www.rssc.com/news/details?newsid=36095. 
  18. "Voyage Suspension FAQ". 28 April 2021. https://www.rssc.com/sites/default/files/2021-04/RSSC_VoyageSuspensionFAQ_042821_EMEA_APAC.pdf. 
  19. "Regent Seven Seas Cruises Unveils 146 New Extraordinary Voyages for its 2021-2022 Season". Regent Seven Seas Cruises. 2019-08-07. https://www.rssc.com/news/details?newsid=76179. 

External links