Two Fleets to be Renewed for 2016 | Cruise News – Jan. 21, 2016

Two Fleets to be Renewed for 2016

Cruise News – Jan. 21, 2016

Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line are going all out to bring their ships to the next level – with Regent investing $125 million in sprucing up older vessels, and Norwegian investing $400 million in new standards they’re calling The Norwegian Edge.

According to Frank Del Rio, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (parent company to Norwegian, Regent, and Oceania Cruises), it’s not the ship, it’s the brand that sells a cruise. From service to food to itineraries, Del Rio believes that an older ship can emerge from an extensive drydock even better than the day it originally launched. And he’s clearly putting his money where his mouth is when it comes to updating and enhancing the lines’ ships.

Regent’s Renewal

Seven Seas Navigator, the exclusive, 490-passenger luxury ship, will be given the same elegant style as Seven Seas Explorer, touted by the line as the “world’s most luxurious cruise ship.” The renewal will affect all suite categories, all lounges, the library, casino, boutiques, reception area, and signature restaurants Compass Rose and La Veranda.

She will be followed into dry dock by Seven Seas Voyager in late 2016 and Seven Seas Mariner in spring 2017.

“Seven Seas Navigator is one of our most beloved ships, so it’s fitting that she is the first to undergo this extraordinary refurbishment,” said Jason Montague, president and COO for Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “These renovations will bring a new level of elegance to the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet.”

Highlights of the upcoming Seven Seas Navigator refurbishment include updates to the Navigator, Penthouse, Concierge, and Deluxe Suites; a redesigned reception area; enhancements to Compass Rose, La Veranda, Galileo Lounge, and Navigator Lounge/Coffee Connection; as well as enhancements to the ship’s library.

Following the dry dock, Seven Seas Navigator will spend the summer traversing the Mediterranean and late fall in South Africa.   In 2017, the ship will offer “Navigate the World,” the line’s first world cruise in six years.

New for Norwegian

The Norwegian Edge program will see extensive revitalization efforts on nine of the fleet’s ships, turning them into essentially new vessels. The changes already made aboard Norwegian Epic and Norwegian Gem — with new dining venues, new flooring, new furniture, and interactive digital signage — was just the beginning. A total of seven additional ships will go into dry dock for enhancements: Pride of America and Norwegian Sun in spring 2016; Norwegian Dawn in summer 2016; Norwegian Spirit, Norwegian Sky, and Norwegian Pearl in winter 2017; and Norwegian Jade in spring 2017.

“We’ve worked really hard to deliver a great experience … and we believe there’s an opportunity to deliver a new standard of excellence,” said Norwegian’s president and COO, Andy Stuart, adding that the $400 million investment is divided into three core areas: longer, more extensive drydocks, a big investment in the line’s two destination experiences (Harvest Caye and Great Stirrup Cay), and the onboard dining experience.

This year, all ships in the fleet will offer upgraded complimentary dining room menus and the addition of optional à la carte priced items, like grilled lobster tails, in the main dining rooms. The line will also expand specialty dining menus across the fleet.

In addition, Great Stirrup Cay will debut new amenities, which will be announced at a later date, and its upcoming Harvest Caye in Belize will feature an expansive pool, exclusive beach, shallow lagoon for watersports, private luxury cabanas, and other features.

“The new standards of The Norwegian Edge program will entice our guests to return again and again to ships that will look and feel as if they were just delivered, with all new menus and new dining experiences, visiting incredible exclusive destinations that reflect the quality finishes, amenities, and outstanding service found across the Norwegian fleet,” added Stuart.

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^{Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line (2), Regent Seven Seas Cruises (2)}

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