The mosT luxurious ship in The world

Sleek and gleaming, the new Seven Seas Explorer embodies opulence at sea. Cathy wagstaff sets sail from rome to Barcelona, and discovers excellence really is in the detail.

with her serene highness princess Charlene of monaco as godmother, it seems only natural that Seven Seas Explorer has been hailed as the most luxurious ship ever built. opulence is in her dnA; each polished surface, each Versace place setting and each sparkling crystal in its 158 chandeliers is a celebration of personal success. The christening of the newest ship in the regent seven seas Cruises fleet took place in monte Carlo on 13 July, fêted with a primat of Veuve Clicquot (the equivalent of 36 normal bottles) and a private performance from italian tenor Andrea Boccelli.

when i board Seven Seas Explorer in rome for her second-ever voyage, i’m immediately drawn to the dazzling elegance of a crystal chandelier suspended over a carpet of rippling chocolate and cream and a sweeping staircase. The deck 4 lobby drips with gold, and everywhere there is marble. every detail, down to the gleaming stair rods and leather-tiled floor of the library, has been considered.

watching the ocean go by in my suite (all staterooms are suites with private balconies aboard Explorer) on deck 8, a bottle of Champagne Jacquart is waiting on ice. At 43 square metres, my superior suite has more than enough space to make me feel at home, with a walk-in wardrobe and dressing area, a cosy living area separated by heavy drapes, and a ‘suite slumber Bed’ dressed in Corinelli linen that faces my private balcony and the mediterranean sea beyond. The oversized