Latest news with #RegentSevenSeas
The Independent
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
What's the secret to a truly stress-free holiday?
High-end cruising has entered a new era. Today's luxury travellers aren't looking for big flashy experiences. They want slow-paced, intimate travel and authentic cultural immersion. More than anything else, they're looking for ease: that feeling of being genuinely cared for, safe in the knowledge that they're experiencing the best of the best. That means excellent quality food and drink, of course – it's got to be restaurant standard and cater to all tastes – but also onboard enrichment experiences of the highest calibre. The great beauty of cruising has always been that not a second is wasted. Savvy travellers get to explore a rich and rewarding variety of exotic, off-the-beaten track locations, but instead of spending half their holiday stuck in motorway traffic, they're honing their swing in the golf net, or sipping on a cocktail on the upper deck as they travel from destination to destination. When they're onshore they want genuinely immersive experiences that get them under the hood of a destination: think cellar tours of local vineyards or speedboat cruises to hidden beaches. Done right, a high-end all-inclusive cruise is the ideal form of slow travel, offering a perfect balance of adventure and indulgence, proper pampering and a thrilling sense of discovery. The world's most luxurious fleet First among equals when it comes to the new era of luxury cruising is Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which offers more than 170 different itineraries visiting over 550 ports of call worldwide. Each of the six ships in their fleet is opulently appointed with beautifully designed communal areas and a huge array of amenities, but none of them has a capacity of more than 746 guests, ensuring space and freedom for all aboard. The all-suite accommodation means that the private spaces are similarly roomy, each having a private balcony and marble bathroom. And service is always impeccable with a crew-to-guest ratio that's nearly one-to-one, meaning that the team can always go that mile extra for all travellers. Across the ships, the food is uniformly excellent. As well as Regent's signature Compass Rose restaurant, with its daily changing menu of bistro classics like lobster bisque and New Zealand lamb chops, the different ships also feature a range of speciality dining venues. These include Prime 7, a New York-style steakhouse, Pacific Rim with its pan-Asian menu (be sure to try the miso black cod), and fine-dining destination, Chartreuse, where the chefs turn out sophisticated plates of upscale French cooking like Beef Tenderloin Rossini and Seared Foie Gras. With a number of long cruises on their roster, Regent has made sure that each of its ships is akin to an ultra-luxury, boutique floating hotel with an incredible variety of things to do during the day and top-level entertainment at night. There are courts for paddle tennis and bocce, and the onboard spa offers a range of exclusive bespoke treatments. The ships host talks by experts in their field and cooking lessons are also available on some of the ships at the culinary arts kitchens where visiting chefs guide guests in how to make wow-factor dishes that relate to the ports of call. In the evening, the Constellation Theatre hosts lavishly staged productions from a team of Broadway choreographers and artists. Destinations that match the onboard luxury Of course, none of this onboard luxury would mean much if the destinations weren't up to scratch, but Regent's superbly curated itineraries are up there with the very best. Its week-long trips include culture-packed European tours like Glories of Iberia which sails from Barcelona to Lisbon, and thrilling frontier explorations such as the Great Alaskan Adventur e from Whittier to Vancouver. Longer trips include four-week Legendary Journeys from Athens to Montreal, and fully immersive explorations of the Arctic. Long or short, these itineraries are all underpinned by a commitment to taking guests right to the heart of a destination with the kind of bespoke onshore activities and expert-led insights that mean on a Regent Seven Seas Cruises voyage, adventure is guaranteed.
Telegraph
24-05-2025
- Telegraph
Beat the summer heat with a Nordic-Baltic cruise
Temperatures are already climbing in the Med, with the mercury in Spain and Portugal expected to hit 37C in the coming week – and to soar far higher as the summer progresses. But there is another way. The Nordic and Baltic countries offer not only more comfortable temperatures in the peak holiday months, but also white-sand beaches, natural beauty and rich culture. And the best way to experience the best of it all in a single trip? Why, a cruise of course. Several companies offer summer sailings which combine Scandinavia and a handful of Baltic highlights, but amongst the most comprehensive is Regent Seven Seas' two-week itinerary, which takes in six countries (Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Poland and Latvia), and combines many of the elements which make a summer Nordic-Baltic cruise such a varied and appealing holiday option. Here are the highlights to look for when booking yours. Norway The cruise begins in Oslo, a capital set against the stunning backdrop of the Oslofjord and surrounded by snow-capped peaks and forests. Home of the annual Nobel Peace Prize ceremony, the city offers a wealth of cultural experiences as well as a lively waterfront, an abundance of green spaces (including the vast Nordmarka forest just outside the city), and plenty of opportunities for outdoor adventure. Denmark Meanwhile, Copenhagen, one of Europe's oldest capitals, exudes an air of refined elegance, and boasts an abundance of museums, theatres and galleries. Its iconic sites – like the brightly painted quays of Nyhaven, historic Tivoli Gardens and beautiful bronze of the Little Mermaid from Hans Christian Andersen's beloved fairy tale – are not to be missed. There are also a number of charming smaller cities, each with its own distinctive charm and hidden treasures. Chief amongst them is Aarhus, Denmark's second largest city, which captivates its visitors with rich cultural attractions and striking architecture. There's also a stop in Skagen, located at the northern tip of Denmark and referred to as 'The Land of Light', as it has longer days than anywhere in the country. It's famed for its art, bustling harbour and dramatic landscapes with large white sandy beaches. For something completely different, guests can enjoy a stopover on the fascinating island of Bornholme where only 40,000 people live. With its location right in the middle of the Baltic Sea, it's been a stopping point for sailors since the 1100s. It's also extremely picturesque, with charming fishing villages, craggy cliffs, lush forests and white-sand beaches. Sweden Across the Oresund Strait from Denmark lies Malmo, Sweden's third-largest city famous for the iconic Oresund bridge which connects Sweden and Denmark. Visitors can also explore its historic buildings, scenic parks, the charming Gamla Stan (Old Town) and the stately 16th-century Malmohus Castle. Justifiably dubbed the 'Venice of the North', Stockholm spans 14 small islands, with its 800-year heritage woven into every aspect of its identity. The city is renowned for its broad streets, waterside parks, captivating Old Town and a blend of magnificent old and boldly new architecture. A cruise also offers plenty of chances to explore some of the region's less well known seaside towns, with their beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters. Mandal, for example, sits on Sweden's southwestern coast where visitors can enjoy its picturesque harbour, quaint cobblestone streets lined with colourful wooden houses, breathtaking landscapes and pristine beaches. The scenic coastal town of Lysekil, also in Sweden, is home to the tranquil waters of the Gullmarsfjord and a thriving population of seals. Germany The cruise also makes port twice in Germany. The first stop is Warnemunde, a seaside resort and significant maritime port located in north-east Germany. It's also the gateway to Berlin, reached via a scenic drive across the picturesque landscapes of Northern Germany. Once in the city, you'll be immediately immersed in contemporary art and culture, historical monuments and a thriving restaurant and bar scene. The second German port of call is Kiel, a vibrant city with a long maritime heritage. As a key hub for shipbuilding, the city provides a gateway between northern Europe and the wider world, connecting the Baltic and North Seas. It's home to the eastern lock of the Kiel canal, the world's busiest artificial waterway which serves more than 60,000 ships each year. Its bustling harbour serves as a reminder of the country's seafaring history. Poland Continuing the journey east, the ship heads to Gdansk in Poland, a historic gem on the Baltic Sea, steeped in centuries of maritime heritage. Its medieval architecture and role as a key hub in the Hanseatic League tell the story of a city shaped by trade, conflict, and resilience. The streets are lined with colourful facades, bustling cafes and artisan shops making it a delightful destination with its unique blend of culture, history and coastal beauty. Latvia The final Baltic port of call is Riga, the capital of Latvia, a captivating blend of rich history and vibrant modernity. As the largest city in the Baltics, Riga boasts a Unesco World Heritage-listed Old Town with cobblestone streets, Gothic spires and Art Nouveau architecture – ideal for sunny walks on balmy (though not too balmy, mind) summer days. How to do it Regent Seven Seas (023 80821390) has a 14-night cruise aboard Seven Seas Grandeur from Oslo to Stockholm from £12,199 per person (for a Deluxe Veranda Suite). It calls at Oslo and Mandal in Norway; Skagen, Ronne (Bornholm), Aarhus and Copenhagen in Denmark; Lysekil, Malmo and Stockholm in Sweden; Kiel and Berlin (Rostock) in Germany; Gdansk (Gdynia) in Poland; and Riga in Latvia. Departs 15 August 15 2026.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Yahoo
My Husband and I Lived on a Cruise Ship for 2 Months With Our 6-year-old Daughter—Here's What It Was Like
For Travel + Leisure's column Traveling As, we're talking to travelers about what it's like to explore the world through their unique perspectives. We chatted with TV host and anchor Christianne Klein of who packed up her life with husband Dan Sattel and then-six-year-old daughter, Livia, and lived aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Explorer for nearly two months, documenting their adventures along the way in their series, "Life Over Seas." Here's her story... I have been cruising since I was a child, mostly through Mexico and the Caribbean, and I always loved it. My family also took vacations to Europe, so when we learned about the Mona Lisa or Tower of London in school, I already had a touchpoint as I had been to these places before. As a result, it was important to me to have these experiences with our daughter, Livia, too, because I knew it was such a wonderful way to learn. We had been on cruises as a family before, but the longest one we'd done was about a week. I had heard about people living on board a ship, and I started thinking, my husband and I both work remotely and we homeschool our daughter, so why not extend our time away, move aboard a ship, work on those days at sea, and then explore the world and have amazing adventures when we're at port? So, I reached out to Regent Seven Seas Cruises to see if something like that was even possible, and they immediately said yes. We stayed on board for three legs, two that were about two weeks and another that was closer to three. I thought this was a magical, brand-new idea I'd come up with, but between the second and third legs, I was surprised to learn 167 other people were doing the exact same thing. When you go on a two-week vacation, and you're traveling halfway around the world, you essentially have six days where you feel functional. But this gave us the chance to be gone for almost two months from start to finish. We started in Sydney, went all around Australia and through New Zealand, including the International Antarctic Centre, where we experienced an Arctic ice storm. We were in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Rotorua. Then, we came back and went around Australia again, up to Cooktown and Darwin, where we saw a jumping crocodile. Then, up through Indonesia, including Komodo Island, where we witnessed Komodo dragons walking around in the wild in a place you can't easily reach. And then Surabaya and Bali, before going to Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur, and finally ending in Singapore. One of the reasons we wanted to go with Regent was because the excursions were all included, so we could determine what our lesson plan was going to be for our daughter. Many were these eco or animal adventures I knew would appeal to her, as well as cultural experiences. I wanted her to see how people around the world live and how we're all different, but we're also all the same. So, we talked about Antarctica and how dry it's one of the driest places on Earth, and went through Fiordland National Park, which is all glacier runoff. We walked through rain forests and learned about the different types—an Australian rain forest is significantly different from something in Indonesia, where there's tropical heat. We experienced everything from extreme cold to extreme heat. It was really a hands-on way of learning that is different than going through a book or tablet. We were able to physically show it to her. She is completely obsessed with animals. We had talked about dinosaurs in the past, and she wanted to know if crocodiles were around when dinosaurs were roaming the Earth. We saw cassowaries, these gorgeous birds that look like dinosaurs. She noticed their claws looked like a velociraptor's. These are just the kinds of things a 6-year-old observes. Once, she suddenly asked about the gestational cycle of penguins, completely catching us all off guard. What was so special is we were learning along with her. I had not seen a cassowary in real life, either. It was a lot to take in, and the best way for us to digest it all was by taking journaling—not just for our website, but for us, too. Livia absorbed so much in such a short period of time, and I know she's going to remember a lot of it for the rest of her life. Of course, I was concerned about her being away from family and friends for that long. But it didn't become an issue. She immediately made friends on board, and even became best friends with the captain's son. She also FaceTimed with her friends back home. It was so cute watching her friend from ballet, who was asking about all the things she did and animals she saw. She said to Livia, "It's just not the same without you here." You have that moment as a parent hearing something like that. But then Livia was telling her friend about being able to see white tigers and clouded leopards. At one point, Livia said to her, 'You have to try escargot. It's snails, and you'll love it!' Of all the things in the world, that was not something I thought we were going to hear from her. But she discovered it on board and had it every single day. It's her favorite food now. For her birthday, I contacted Regent and the chef was kind enough to share the recipe from the Compass Rose with us, and we made it at home. The first two weeks of the journey, we felt like we were on vacation. When we first got on board, we completely unpacked, and our daughter filled the space with her toys. It really made the switch in our minds that this is home for now. We live on the Explorer. We became close with the crew and other travelers on board. We were exactly where we're supposed to be. One thing I was afraid I was going to miss was cooking, but the food on board was incredible. Plus, I noticed I had so much more time for self-care and work because I wasn't cooking, doing errands, or taking my daughter to and from any of her activities. You have this extra built-in time for yourself. We'd use the time to go to high tea, explore the ship, enjoy music, and get dressed up for dinner. My husband loved hanging out on our balcony and working out in the gym. We also had time for spontaneous activities. We spent an extra day in Sydney and saw "Jesus Christ Superstar." We were accidentally in Melbourne during the Australian Open. My husband is a huge fan and we got to see [Novak] Djokovic play—and win. But every day was a surprise. When we woke up in the morning, we might have known we were going to the Singapore night safari, but we didn't know we'd be feeding an Indian rhino and kangaroos, having meerkats jump on us, and petting a koala. Seeing our daughter play with other kids in Sydney outside the Opera House, or in Surabaya, Indonesia, running up and down these tiny streets and having fun together, we realized the importance of travel. It was so cool to see people from around the world all wanting the same thing. To be a parent, have these experiences, and see the world through my daughter's eyes—it wasn't just educational for her, it was also a huge learning experience for us. It was so interesting to see what she picked up on, how she's changed, the confidence she built. On our last night, I had to comfort my daughter until 3 a.m. because she didn't want to leave. You always wonder about that as a parent. How is my child going to feel when this is all over? It was equal parts heartbreaking and powerful. We've established in her a love for travel, seeing the world, meeting new people, and having these experiences that we were able to create together as a family. Watch their adventures on and stay tuned for 'Life Over Seas: The Seaquel," coming soon. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
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Travel + Leisure
18-05-2025
- Travel + Leisure
My Husband and I Lived on a Cruise Ship for 2 Months With Our 6-year-old Daughter—Here's What It Was Like
For Travel + Leisure's column Traveling As, we're talking to travelers about what it's like to explore the world through their unique perspectives. We chatted with TV host and anchor Christianne Klein of who packed up her life with husband Dan Sattel and then-six-year-old daughter, Livia, and lived aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises' Explorer for nearly two months, documenting their adventures along the way in their series, "Life Over Seas." Here's her story... I have been cruising since I was a child, mostly through Mexico and the Caribbean, and I always loved it. My family also took vacations to Europe, so when we learned about the Mona Lisa or Tower of London in school, I already had a touchpoint as I had been to these places before. As a result, it was important to me to have these experiences with our daughter, Livia, too, because I knew it was such a wonderful way to learn. We had been on cruises as a family before, but the longest one we'd done was about a week. I had heard about people living on board a ship, and I started thinking, my husband and I both work remotely and we homeschool our daughter, so why not extend our time away, move aboard a ship, work on those days at sea, and then explore the world and have amazing adventures when we're at port? So, I reached out to Regent Seven Seas Cruises to see if something like that was even possible, and they immediately said yes. We stayed on board for three legs, two that were about two weeks and another that was closer to three. I thought this was a magical, brand-new idea I'd come up with, but between the second and third legs, I was surprised to learn 167 other people were doing the exact same thing. A family photo posing with a koala at the Billabong Sanctuary in Townsville, Australia. When you go on a two-week vacation, and you're traveling halfway around the world, you essentially have six days where you feel functional. But this gave us the chance to be gone for almost two months from start to finish. We started in Sydney, went all around Australia and through New Zealand, including the International Antarctic Centre, where we experienced an Arctic ice storm. We were in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Rotorua. Then, we came back and went around Australia again, up to Cooktown and Darwin, where we saw a jumping crocodile. Then, up through Indonesia, including Komodo Island, where we witnessed Komodo dragons walking around in the wild in a place you can't easily reach. And then Surabaya and Bali, before going to Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur, and finally ending in Singapore. One of the reasons we wanted to go with Regent was because the excursions were all included, so we could determine what our lesson plan was going to be for our daughter. Many were these eco or animal adventures I knew would appeal to her, as well as cultural experiences. I wanted her to see how people around the world live and how we're all different, but we're also all the same. So, we talked about Antarctica and how dry it's one of the driest places on Earth, and went through Fiordland National Park, which is all glacier runoff. We walked through rain forests and learned about the different types—an Australian rain forest is significantly different from something in Indonesia, where there's tropical heat. We experienced everything from extreme cold to extreme heat. It was really a hands-on way of learning that is different than going through a book or tablet. We were able to physically show it to her. She is completely obsessed with animals. We had talked about dinosaurs in the past, and she wanted to know if crocodiles were around when dinosaurs were roaming the Earth. We saw cassowaries, these gorgeous birds that look like dinosaurs. She noticed their claws looked like a velociraptor's. These are just the kinds of things a 6-year-old observes. Once, she suddenly asked about the gestational cycle of penguins, completely catching us all off guard. What was so special is we were learning along with her. I had not seen a cassowary in real life, either. It was a lot to take in, and the best way for us to digest it all was by taking journaling—not just for our website, but for us, too. Livia absorbed so much in such a short period of time, and I know she's going to remember a lot of it for the rest of her life. Christianne, Dan, and Livia at the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple near Bali, Indonesia. Of course, I was concerned about her being away from family and friends for that long. But it didn't become an issue. She immediately made friends on board, and even became best friends with the captain's son. She also FaceTimed with her friends back home. It was so cute watching her friend from ballet, who was asking about all the things she did and animals she saw. She said to Livia, "It's just not the same without you here." You have that moment as a parent hearing something like that. But then Livia was telling her friend about being able to see white tigers and clouded leopards. At one point, Livia said to her, 'You have to try escargot. It's snails, and you'll love it!' Of all the things in the world, that was not something I thought we were going to hear from her. But she discovered it on board and had it every single day. It's her favorite food now. For her birthday, I contacted Regent and the chef was kind enough to share the recipe from the Compass Rose with us, and we made it at home. Christianne and Livia looking at holiday decorations on board the Regent Seven Seas Explorer. The first two weeks of the journey, we felt like we were on vacation. When we first got on board, we completely unpacked, and our daughter filled the space with her toys. It really made the switch in our minds that this is home for now. We live on the Explorer . We became close with the crew and other travelers on board. We were exactly where we're supposed to be. One thing I was afraid I was going to miss was cooking, but the food on board was incredible. Plus, I noticed I had so much more time for self-care and work because I wasn't cooking, doing errands, or taking my daughter to and from any of her activities. You have this extra built-in time for yourself. We'd use the time to go to high tea, explore the ship, enjoy music, and get dressed up for dinner. My husband loved hanging out on our balcony and working out in the gym. We also had time for spontaneous activities. We spent an extra day in Sydney and saw "Jesus Christ Superstar." We were accidentally in Melbourne during the Australian Open. My husband is a huge fan and we got to see [Novak] Djokovic play—and win. But every day was a surprise. When we woke up in the morning, we might have known we were going to the Singapore night safari, but we didn't know we'd be feeding an Indian rhino and kangaroos, having meerkats jump on us, and petting a koala. Seeing our daughter play with other kids in Sydney outside the Opera House, or in Surabaya, Indonesia, running up and down these tiny streets and having fun together, we realized the importance of travel. It was so cool to see people from around the world all wanting the same thing. Celebrating New Year's Eve 2025 in the Chartreuse Restaurant on board the Regent Seven Seas Explorer while docked in New Zealand. To be a parent, have these experiences, and see the world through my daughter's eyes—it wasn't just educational for her, it was also a huge learning experience for us. It was so interesting to see what she picked up on, how she's changed, the confidence she built. On our last night, I had to comfort my daughter until 3 a.m. because she didn't want to leave. You always wonder about that as a parent. How is my child going to feel when this is all over? It was equal parts heartbreaking and powerful. We've established in her a love for travel, seeing the world, meeting new people, and having these experiences that we were able to create together as a family. Watch their adventures on and stay tuned for 'Life Over Seas: The Seaquel," coming soon.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Nearly 25 guests, crew sick in luxury cruise gastrointestinal outbreak
Nearly 25 people got sick in a gastrointestinal outbreak on a Regent Seven Seas Cruises sailing that ended Wednesday. Among 666 guests on board its Seven Seas Explorer ship, 22 reported being ill, along with two crew members, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Their main symptoms were vomiting and diarrhea. The health agency listed the causative agent as unknown. The ship departed from Tokyo on April 26 for a cruise through Japan and Alaska before arriving in Vancouver, according to CruiseMapper. The cruise line consulted with the CDC's Vessel Sanitation Program and isolated sick guests and crew, among other measures, the agency said. Regent did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for comment. There have been 17 outbreaks of gastrointestinal illness on cruise ships that met the CDC's threshold for public notification so far this year, most of which were caused by norovirus. There were 18 outbreaks in all of 2024, and 14 the previous year. The CDC told USA TODAY in April that although 'the number of recent cruise ship outbreaks has been higher than in years prior to the pandemic, we do not yet know if this represents a new trend.' 'However, CDC data show a newly dominant strain is currently associated with reported norovirus outbreaks on land,' the agency said in an emailed statement. 'Ships typically follow the pattern of land-based outbreaks, which are higher this norovirus season.' The illness is frequently associated with cruises, but those make up just 1% of all outbreaks reported. Dr. David J. Weber, the Charles Addison and Elizabeth Ann Sanders Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at the UNC School of Medicine, previously told USA TODAY that the vessels are conducive to the spread of norovirus since passengers and crew are confined to relatively small spaces and often eat together. 'So, most (outbreaks) are not occurring on cruise ships, but the cruise ships are a perfect setting for it,' Weber, who is also a professor of epidemiology at the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, said in April. Seven Seas Explorer wasn't the only ship with illness on board this month. A number of passengers aboard Virgin Voyages' Resilient Lady had stomach flu symptoms during a cruise from Greece to Croatia and Montenegro that ended May 11. 'Out of an abundance of caution, our medical team isolated these travelers and immediately enacted enhanced sanitization procedures, including additional cleaning of cabins and high-contact areas around the ship,' the cruise line said in an emailed statement. 'We are working closely with health officials and their medical professionals.' The number of impacted passengers and cause of illness were not immediately available. Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@ This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 20+ people sick in Regent Seven Seas cruise gastrointestinal outbreak
