The Best New Cruise Ships of 2023

Table Of Content

• I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. These were my 8 favorite amenities on the world's largest cruise ship.
• How much does it cost to go on Seven Seas Explorer?
• Former ships
• The new issue of Explore Florida & the Caribbean takes you places
• An introduction to Regent ships
• Elevate Your Cruise with Unique Onboard Experiences

The smaller of the two beaches is great for snorkeling while the other is idyllic for swimming, tanning, and water sports. Enjoy the crystal clear waters on a transparent kayak, or glide gently over the calm waters of the playa. The clarity and turquoise color of the water is so mesmerizing you may not want to leave. If you are looking for a remote uncrowded beach, head to the northwestern side of the island, some 20 miles away from Willemstad, and enjoy a day on this beautiful beach. Enjoy the hike up to Curacao’s highest point some 372 meters (1,200 feet) above sea level and enjoy panoramic views of the island. This is best done in the morning to take advantage of cooler temperatures and to ensure plenty of time to rest and hike leisurely.

I sailed on Royal Caribbean's Icon of the Seas. These were my 8 favorite amenities on the world's largest cruise ship.

Take a tour of the lighthouse and the rustic shipwreck which makes for great views and interesting attraction respectively. Curacao is an island bursting with colors and surrounded by awe-inspiring landscapes. True to this, the island has plenty of art galleries that showcase interesting works of sculptures, figurines, paintings, and photographs, plus stunning murals out on the streets. Fort Amsterdam is located at the edge of Punda guarding the entrance of the harbor and the Sint Anna inlet. Learn this and more interesting history about the Jews of Curacao at the Jewish Museum adjoined to the synagogue. One of the most popular attractions in Curacao is the Mikvé Israel-Emanuel Synagogue.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises® Innovates Luxury Cruising With Unique Immersive Overnights Sailings - Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings

Regent Seven Seas Cruises® Innovates Luxury Cruising With Unique Immersive Overnights Sailings.

Posted: Tue, 23 Jan 2024 08:00:00 GMT [source]

How much does it cost to go on Seven Seas Explorer?

If a cruise is threatened with a hurricane, however, the ships are often diverted and you may miss your chance to explore this amazing port of call. The Mega Pier is for large cruise ships that cannot fit under the Island’s Queen Juliana Bridge. This pier is located in Otrabanda, and is where you are most likely to dock when cruising with major cruise lines such as Carnival Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Celebrity Cruises. The 1,196-foot-long, 20-deck Icon of the Seas is packed with bars, restaurants, and things to do. Any shorter of an itinerary, and you might not have time to experience all it has to offer.

Former ships

Elizabeth Rhodes is a special projects editor at Travel + Leisure, covering everything from luxury hotels to theme parks to must-pack travel products. Originally from South Carolina, Elizabeth moved to New York City from London, where she started her career as a travel blogger and writer. Its Serene Spa is one of the best in the luxury market, thanks to its blend of serene indoor/outdoor space, array of thermal treatment options and design that takes advantage of high ceilings and natural lighting.

The newest of the ships, the 2003-built Seven Seas Voyager, measures 42,363 tons, which is about 12% smaller than the slightly older, 48,075-ton Seven Seas Mariner. The three ships in the simply named Small Cruise Ship Class are considerably older than the line's Explorer Class ships and aren't quite as big — or opulent — as their sisters. In an effort to improve passenger flow, for instance, Regent turned around the grand staircase in the central atrium on Seven Seas Splendor as compared to how it was laid out on Seven Seas Explorer. A major focal point of the vessel's interior, the staircase now cascades down from the public areas on Deck 5 toward the magnificent, marble-floored promenade on Deck 4. This promenade leads directly into Seven Seas Splendor's main restaurant, Compass Rose.

An introduction to Regent ships

Regent Cruise Ships are luxury vessels designed for hundreds of guests rather than thousands. Chosen as the World's Best Small Cruise Line by the readers of Travel + Leisure magazine and Conde Nast Traveler, Regent Seven Seas Cruise Ships share certain distinctions in accommodations, service, dining and amenities. The ambiance on a Regent Cruise ship is personal, individual, and accommodating.

Elevate Your Cruise with Unique Onboard Experiences

Cruises of 16 nights or more will include two optional formal nights, where women might wear evening or cocktail gowns or formal pants suits; men might wear tuxes or suits. Those looking to poke holes in the "most luxurious" claim might point to the ship's entertainment, which is OK but not extravagant as one might expect. Likewise, the spa feels like it missed an opportunity to create a more expansive thermal suite complex, with features such as a therapy pool. Here, we explain the distinctive features of Regent's two ship classes so you can plan the luxury cruise that's right for you. Bringing you the best in all-inclusive luxury begins with bringing you the most luxurious ships.

The room, which starts at $11,000 per night, is 3,026 square feet and offers a 1,417 square-foot balcony, and it includes an ensuite spa (for treatments in-cabin), Steinway baby grand piano and a mattress that retails for $200,000. To begin with, the cabins -- they're all suites -- are beautifully designed and feature some of the largest balconies in the industry. (Balcony sizes range from 55 to 994 square feet.) At the very top is the Regent Suite, a two-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bathroom cabin that is so indulgent and well-appointed, passengers staying there might never want to leave. Regent takes dining seriously onboard, and knows you want to be flexible with your schedule.

Shipboard art collection

Women wear shorts and T-shirts or blouses, capris, jeans, dresses or skirts indoors, while men go with jeans or shorts and T-shirts or polo shirts. Well before Seven Seas Explorer launched in July 2016, Regent Seven Seas was calling it the "Most Luxurious Ship Ever Built." That is a bold statement when it comes to ultra-luxury cruising. In many ways, the ship lives up to the billing, with extraordinary features and tiny details that will make even the most discerning passenger exceptionally happy. Multiple bars and lounges on these vessels in recent years have embraced the trend of ever-quirkier craft drinks. A new drinks menu has brought designer gin drinks that incorporate new-for-Regent Fever-Tree premium tonics and all sorts of spices, herbs and fruits.

Of those, 7x were for NCL-Norwegian Cruise Line, 2x for Oceania and 2x for RSSC-Regent. Most of the Red Flower's treatments are itinerary-based (with locally sourced ingredients). Follows the complete list of Seven Seas Grandeur bars, lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults. While the design of Seven Seas Grandeur is decidedly more contemporary luxe than the fleet mates, RSSC strikes a balance between its much-loved traditional features and a more modern ambiance. Along with the new menus, on Grandeur, Regent also introduced numerous plant-based dishes.

As such, you can eat whenever you want, with whomever you want at various open-seating restaurants, including the flagship Compass Rose. This restaurant features European-inspired dishes, as well as vegetarian, kosher, and health-conscious options. La Veranda is a buffet-style open-seating option, serving a mix of regional specialties and classic dishes for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Specialty dining is available by reservation at Prime 7 steakhouse, Pacific Rim (Pan-Asian cuisine), and the chic Parisian restaurant Chartreuse. In addition to these all-inclusive features, the ships themselves offer a luxurious environment in which to unwind and enjoy some R&R.

Starting at the top on Deck 12, a bocce court, pickleball court, shuffleboard, a golf net, and a putting green with holes inspired by famous golf courses around the world offer fun ways to soak in the ocean views on a sea day. The Observation Lounge, Card Room, Connoisseur Club, and Library (with countless travel books stocked so you can read all about your next destination) on Deck 11 are cozy spots to unwind. On Grandeur, 373 guest accommodations range from the entry-level Veranda Suites to the one-of-a-kind, 4,443-square-foot Regent Suite. Deluxe Veranda and Veranda Suites offer up to 361 square feet of space, outfitted with upscale finishes and, of course, their own balconies.

This stylish luxury line prides itself on delivering an unrivalled experience at sea on what is widely regarded as the world's most luxurious fleet. The final night of the cruise allows passengers to dress more casually, but most stick with elegant casual. Passengers on Seven Seas Explorer are generally 60 and above, with a heavy percentage (around 80) hailing from North America. Passengers are well off, with a net worth of around $2 million, and most have cruised before, many with Regent Seven Seas. With its over-the-top features and world-class dining, Seven Seas Explorer delivers a luxurious experience that feels like something special.