Keel Laid for ‘World’s Most Luxurious Ship’

Updated: November 19, 2020 (Originally published January 23, 2015)

Italian shipbuilding group Fincantieri has laid the keel for what is being described as the “world’s most luxurious ship.”

The first building block for Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Seven Seas Explorer was placed this week during a special keel laying ceremony at the Fincantieri shipyard in Genoa, Italy, marking a significant milestone in the construction of the ship.

At 56,000 gross-registered tons and carrying only 750 guests, Seven Seas Explorer will have one of the highest space ratios in the cruise industry and a market leading staff-to-guest ratio. The design of the ship is designed by world-renowned architectural interior design firms Tillberg Design AB, RTKL Associates and ICRAVE. Seven Seas Explorer will join the award-winning Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet in the summer of 2016.

“With construction beginning in earnest today, we took a major step closer to realizing our vision, to provide our guests with a vessel that will be hailed as the most luxurious ship ever built,” said Montague. “Every inch of the Seven Seas Explorer will exude elegance and grandeur, and that extends to all aspects of the ship from the lavish suites to the gourmet restaurants and stylish public spaces. We even ensured that the keel coins convey a sense of luxury.”

Living up to its unofficial “most luxurious” title, a butler in a black Rolls Royce Phantom delivered the three symbolic coins to the keel laying event on a red velvet pillow. The coins, which will be welded to the keel, included a rare 1921 U.S. silver coin known as the Peace Dolla, symbolizing the safe passage of Seven Seas Explorer; a 1959 silver Italian Lire representing the year the Fincantieri shipyard was established; and a commemorative coin specially minted for this occasion.

Reservations for Seven Seas Explorer’s maiden voyage and inaugural season opened January 19, 2015, exclusively, of course, for Seven Seas Society members. They will become widely available starting February 4, 2015.

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