Glaciers, forested islands and narrow waterways give Seven Seas Explorer one of its most impressive natural settings. During the Alaska season, voyages through the Inside Passage and Alaska can combine Juneau, Ketchikan, Sitka and Skagway with long stretches of scenic cruising where the landscape becomes part of the day rather than simply the view between ports.
Meals introduce a completely different kind of exploration. Pacific Rim brings Asian-inspired cuisine into a dramatic setting, Chartreuse turns toward contemporary French cooking and Prime 7 provides Regent's signature steakhouse experience. Compass Rose offers extensive customization, while La Veranda, Sette Mari and the Pool Grill provide alternatives when guests prefer something considerably more relaxed.
Explorer joined Regent Seven Seas Cruises in 2016 and carries approximately 746 guests. Every accommodation is a suite with a private balcony, an arrangement that becomes especially valuable in destinations where glaciers, islands and coastal scenery can appear outside at almost any hour.
The experience is also unusually inclusive. Shore excursions on many itineraries, specialty restaurants, premium beverages, gratuities, Wi-Fi, valet laundry and 24-hour in-suite dining are incorporated into Regent's cruise product. Penthouse Suites and higher categories add personal butler service, while additional privileges appear as guests move through the upper suite levels.
As Alaska's summer begins to fade, the ship's surroundings change dramatically. Explorer crosses the Pacific toward Asia, trading wilderness and glacier country for Japan, Korea and Southeast Asia. Longer combinations make it possible to experience that geographical transformation without repeatedly flying between separate vacations.
Sea days have plenty of structure without requiring a schedule. Serene Spa & Wellness and the fitness center provide one direction, while the Culinary Arts Kitchen offers hands-on classes for travelers interested in cooking. The pool deck, lounges and quieter public rooms give everyone else somewhere to disappear for a few hours.
The ship becomes more social after dinner, with cocktails, live music, performances and conversation distributed among several venues rather than concentrated into one enormous entertainment district. That restraint helps Explorer maintain a luxury-hotel atmosphere even when the evening is fully underway.
Few vessels combine such elaborate surroundings with such destination-driven itineraries. Explorer can feel perfectly at home beneath an Alaskan glacier or approaching a Japanese harbor, giving guests an impressive ship without allowing the ship to become more important than the places it was built to visit.
