Explora Journeys vs Regent Seven Seas: I sell both. Here's when each wins.
Regent is the most all-inclusive line in luxury cruising, and that's the heart of this comparison. Explora is the more contemporary, lower-headline-price option. Whether Regent's everything-included fare or Explora's design-and-value pitch wins comes down to how you actually travel. Here's the honest read.
Pick Explora if…
- You want a contemporary, design-hotel aesthetic over traditional grandeur
- You want the lower headline fare and a larger entry-tier suite
- You'd rather hire your own private guides than take included group excursions
- You're focused on the Mediterranean or Caribbean
Pick Regent Seven Seas if…
- You want the most all-inclusive fare in luxury cruising, excursions and (on Ultimate) air included
- You want the largest suite at sea, the Regent Suite
- You want worldwide itineraries, including full world cruises
- You prefer a richly traditional, formal-luxury ship
Side by side
| Dimension | Explora | Regent | My read | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ship size & feel | Explora I: 63,900 GT · up to 922 guests | Seven Seas Grandeur: 56,000 GT · ~750 guests | Regent is the more intimate ship. | Regent |
| Entry suite size | Ocean Terrace, 377 sq ft | Veranda Suite, from ~307 sq ft | Explora's entry suite is larger. | Explora |
| Top suite size | Owner's Residence, 3,014 sq ft | Regent Suite, 4,443 sq ft | The Regent Suite is the largest suite at sea. | Regent |
| Shore excursions | Extra, booked per port | Unlimited, included at every port | This is Regent's signature, and it's a real advantage. | Regent |
| What's included overall | All-inclusive onboard; air, transfers, excursions extra | Excursions, dining, drinks, gratuities, laundry, internet; Ultimate fare adds air + transfers + chauffeur | Regent is the most all-inclusive line at this tier, full stop. | Regent |
| Headline price | Lower per night | Higher per night, but nearly everything is bundled | Explora wins on sticker; Regent's bundle closes much of the gap once you'd have paid for excursions and air anyway. | Explora |
| Design language | Contemporary design-hotel: Molteni&C, Manutti, Patricia Urquiola | Traditional opulence, richly furnished, a Fabergé egg aboard Grandeur | Taste call. Explora reads modern; Regent reads classic-grand. | Even |
| Itinerary breadth | Mediterranean, Caribbean, Northern Europe; focused and growing | Worldwide, including full world cruises | Regent sails far more of the planet. | Regent |
| Dining | 9 venues, most included; steakhouse and Japanese included | Multiple specialty restaurants, all included | Both include their specialty rooms. Close to a wash. | Even |
| Fleet & newness | Two 2023/2024 ships; fleet growing to six by 2028 | Grandeur is 2023; Seven Seas Prestige arrives 2026 | Both have current, modern hardware. | Even |
"Edge" is my honest read for the typical hotel-luxury buyer, not an absolute. On any specific voyage the answer can flip, which is the entire point of talking it through before you book.
The parts that actually decide it
Regent owns the all-inclusive argument
If 'all-inclusive' is the deciding word, Regent wins it cleanly. Unlimited shore excursions are included at every port, and the Ultimate All-Inclusive fare adds roundtrip air, airport transfers, and private chauffeur service on top of the dining, drinks, gratuities, laundry, and internet that come standard. No luxury line bundles more.
Explora is all-inclusive onboard but charges separately for excursions and air. On a port-heavy itinerary where you'd take the ship's excursions anyway, Regent's math can quietly beat Explora's lower headline fare. The case for Explora here isn't 'more included', it's 'I'd rather not take group excursions, I'll hire my own guides, and I want the lower base fare and the more contemporary ship.' For a certain hotel-luxury buyer that's exactly right, and arranging those private guides is part of what I do.
The suite extremes tell the story
Regent's top suite, the Regent Suite, is the largest suite at sea at 4,443 square feet, with a price to match. Explora's Owner's Residence is 3,014 square feet. If the absolute top of the range is the question, Regent wins. But Explora's entry and mid suites tend to run larger than Regent's equivalents, so for the tiers most buyers actually book, Explora often gives you more room for the money.
Modern versus grand
These ships feel different the moment you board. Explora is contemporary and design-led, closer to an Aman or a Soho House at sea. Regent is richly, traditionally luxurious, deep finishes, a more formal register, even a Fabergé egg aboard Grandeur. Neither is better; they're aimed at different aesthetics. The Aman-and-Belmond buyer often leans Explora on look alone, but plenty of people want the grander room, and that's Regent.
Still deciding? That's the call.
This is exactly what the 30-minute Pre-flight is for. Tell me the voyage you're eyeing, the hotels you've loved, and how you like to travel, and I'll tell you honestly which ship is the right one, and book whichever it is. Same fare either way as booking direct.