Frankie Valli Joins RSSC

Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced today that legendary performers Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons will board Seven Seas Voyager in Los Angeles on January 12, 2009 for a private performance. The 700-guest vessel will be in port overnight preparing for a 116-night World Cruise departing January 13. The only guests aboard for the evening will be the 250 world travelers who are booked for the entire voyage.

“We are delighted to be able to offer our full World Cruise guests this special treat,” said Mark Conroy, president of RSSC. “We wanted to provide something unique and memorable for these valued guests as they settle into their sea-going home for the winter,” he added.

During their 40+ year career, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons have sold over 100 million records making them the most long-lived and successful white doo-wop group. Their first big hit was “Sherry”, followed by such classics as “Big Girls Don’t Cry”, “Walk Like a Man”, “Candy Girl”, “Stay” and “Rag Doll”. The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990, and Frankie and has enjoyed renewed acclaim through the hit Broadway show “Jersey Boys” and guest appearances on the TV hit series “The Sopranos”.

The 116-night Grand Circumnavigation of Seven Seas Voyager visits 54 ports on five continents before returning to Fort Lauderdale on May 8. The all-suite, all-balcony vessel will visit French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, the Philippines, China, Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, India, the Arabian Gulf, Egypt, Jordan, Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Spain and Bermuda. In addition to special complimentary events and excursions planned throughout the trip, guests will also have the opportunity to meet celebrity guest lecturers such as humanitarian Terry Waite or NASA astronauts Charles Duke, Gene Cernan and Edgar Mitchell.

Official Press Release Regent Seven Seas Cruises dated 9th October 2008.

RSSC Major Fleet Refurbishment

Regent Seven Seas Cruises announced that it will invest approximately $40 million dollars to implement an extensive refurbishment and enhancement of the line’s all-suite vessels: Seven Seas Voyager®, Seven Seas Mariner®, and Seven Seas Navigator®. This investment is in addition to the $20 million that was spent on the fleet over the past two years as the line re-branded under the Regent moniker.

“I am delighted to make this announcement as we are not only refurbishing the ships, we are adding many new luxury features that will enhance the guest experience,” said Mark Conroy, President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. “This comprehensive enhancement program will see each of the ships emerge essentially brand new and positions our fleet as the standard-bearer in the luxury cruise category,” he added.

The refurbishments will commence in December 2008 with the dry-dock of Seven Seas Voyager, followed by Seven Seas Mariner in January 2009, and Seven Seas Navigator in the first half of 2010, and result in a new look that is fresh, elegant and luxurious yet retains the familial warmth and charm for which Regent Seven Seas Cruises is lauded.

In addition to the scheduled technical work, almost every area of the ships will be refurbished, with public rooms being substantially re-designed with new furniture, using sumptuous materials like imported leathers, suede, and mahogany, along with warm color schemes and rich fabrics offset by lustrous marble and granite accents. The renowned marine architectural firm of Yran and Storbraaten of Oslo, Norway, is overseeing the design work along with Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Vessel Operations team. Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner will be refurbished at the Grand Bahama shipyard in Freeport, Bahamas. Final details and the location of Seven Seas Navigator’s 2010 dry dock will be announced at a later date.

Highlights of the refurbishment program for Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner include:

• The creation of a new alternative dining concept and venue - a steakhouse named Prime Seven -that will replace the current Indochine-menu Latitudes restaurants
• The re-design of lounges and public rooms to create more spacious areas for relaxation
• The creation of elegant new lounge and dining areas around the Pool Grill
• New carpeting, wallpaper, upholstery, light fixtures, and drapes in most public areas and guest suite accommodations
• More casual dining options with the addition of pizza ovens and ice-cream bars
• The creation of an extended coffee and snack bar area on Seven Seas Voyager, similar to the very popular Coffee Connection on Seven Seas Mariner

“This significant investment not only demonstrates our commitment to our guests and the bright future of the Regent Seven Seas Cruises brand, it elevates the experience to new heights and provides a glimpse of what the future holds,” stated Frank Del Rio, Chairman of Prestige Cruise Holdings, RSSC’s parent company.

The refurbishment and product enhancements are the result of extensive feedback from RSSC’s loyal guest base - through comment cards, personal interaction between the line’s management and the guests in regular “town hall” meetings or through the online community.

“Mark and I spent a good deal of time on the ships this past spring speaking with our guests and travel agent partners and I trust they will be as elated with the fruits of this labor as we are,” added Del Rio.

About Regent Seven Seas Cruises - Regent Seven Seas, a Prestige Cruise Holdings company, operates a fleet of medium-sized luxury cruise ships that visit over 300 ports on all seven continents, including Antarctica. RSSC is consistently rated among the world’s top three cruise lines by readers of luxury travel magazines. Travel professionals worldwide voted RSSC the “World’s Best Luxury Cruise Line” for the fourth consecutive year as part of the 2007 Travel Weekly Awards and readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine voted RSSC “World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line” in 2007. For further information, contact Regent Seven Seas Cruises, 1000 Corporate Drive, Suite 500, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33334. For brochures, call toll-free (866) 284-4079; for reservation information call toll-free (800) 285-1835.

About Prestige Cruise Holdings - Prestige Cruise Holdings (PCH) is a subsidiary of Apollo Management L.P. and the parent corporation of Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises. Formed in 2007 to manage select assets in Apollo Management’s cruise investment portfolio, PCH is led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Del Rio, the founder of Oceania Cruises. PCH is the market leader in the Upper Premium and Luxury segments of the cruise industry with more than 4,450 berths between the Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises brands, a number the company expects will grow to more than 6,700 berths by 2011.

Official Press Release Regent Seven Seas Cruises dated 15th September 2008.

RSSC Best at Sea

The luxury guest accommodations of Regent Seven Seas Cruises have been rated best in the world by readers of Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. In the 2008 Conde Nast Traveler Gold List, RSSC is named “Best by Rooms”, and in the 2008 World’s Best Awards just published by Travel + Leisure magazine, RSSC once again ranks # 1 in the “Cabins” category.

“It is extremely gratifying to receive such recognition from the discerning readers of the country’s top two consumer travel magazines,” said Mark Conroy, president of RSSC. “Our guest suites have set the bar for luxury cruising,” he added.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises operates the world’s only all-suite, all-balcony cruise ships, the 700-guest sister ships Seven Seas Voyager® and Seven Seas Mariner® in addition to the all-suite 490-guest Seven Seas Navigator®. RSSC offers the largest lead-in suites in the cruise industry, measuring 356 sq.ft (on Seven Seas Voyager). These standard suite accommodations include a private balcony, walk-in closet and marble-appointed bathroom with full size tub and separate shower stall.

About Regent Seven Seas Cruises - Regent Seven Seas, a Prestige Cruise Holdings company, operates a fleet of medium-sized luxury cruise ships that visit over 300 ports on all seven continents, including Antarctica. RSSC is consistently rated among the world’s top three cruise lines by readers of luxury travel magazines. Travel professionals worldwide voted RSSC the “World’s Best Luxury Cruise Line” for the fourth consecutive year as part of the 2007 Travel Weekly Awards and readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine voted RSSC “World’s Best Small-Ship Cruise Line” in 2007. For further information, contact Regent Seven Seas Cruises, 1000 Corporate Drive, Suite 500, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 33334. For brochures, call toll-free (866) 284-4079; for reservation information call toll-free (800) 285-1835.

About Prestige Cruise Holdings - Prestige Cruise Holdings (PCH) is a subsidiary of Apollo Management L.P. and the parent corporation of Regent Seven Seas Cruises and Oceania Cruises. Formed in 2007 to manage select assets in Apollo Management’s cruise investment portfolio, PCH is led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Frank J. Del Rio, the founder of Oceania Cruises. PCH is the market leader in the Upper Premium and Luxury segments of the cruise industry with more than 4,450 berths between the Regent Seven Seas and Oceania Cruises brands, a number the company expects will grow to more than 6,700 berths by 2011.

Official Press Release Regent Seven Seas Cruises dated 10th September 2008.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises Launch 2009 Atlas

Ultra luxury cruise line Regent Seven Seas Cruises announces the early launch of their 2009 Cruise Atlas, due to a steady increase in demand for the 2009 season. Featuring all cruise information, itineraries and prices for the complete 2009 cruise calendar, the Cruise Atlas showcases the entire Regent deployment including previews of the 2009 World Collections and Masterpiece Series.
 
Highlights include:

Due to demand Seven Seas Voyager (350 suites) will be taking over the Discovery Collection in 2009, previously hosted by Seven Seas Navigator (245 suites).
 
Seven Seas Mariner will be taking a voyage along the Pacific Rim with stunning and intricate itineraries for the new Ring of Fire World Collection.

In 2009 we are offering even more 10 and 11 night cruises in the Mediterranean.
The Captain’s Homecoming cruise offers a truly diverse and cultured Baltic adventure in June 2009.
 
As befits this discerning traveller’s brand, Regent Ships will still be visiting the most popular and some of the smaller, lesser known ports across all seven continents to give guests the best possible cruise experience from the moment they step on board through to the destinations they visit.

01 August 2008 – abridged press release from Regent Seven Seas Cruises official Website.

Regent Launches Its Masterpiece Series for 2009

Regent Seven Seas Cruises launches its Masterpiece Series for 2009, a collection of 27 individual and outstanding cruises, all combinable within 4 longer Voyages. With such variety and no repetition of port calls, guests can truly tailor-make their own adventures in Asia, Africa, South America and Polynesia aboard the two most luxurious ships in the world, Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner.

Building on the success of Regent’s first-ever Masterpiece Series in 2008, the offering is even more splendid in 2009. Not one but two World Cruises early 2009, plus two mouth-watering Voyages later in the year: Asia-Pacific and Discovery. With ports of call such as Robinson Crusoe Island, Petropavlovsk, El Nido and La Digue and itineraries ranging from 7 to 121 nights, guests are truly spoilt for choice!

Seven Seas Voyager and Seven Seas Mariner are the world’s only two all-suite, all-balcony ships and with the best service, the best accommodation and the best cuisine at sea there is no other way to see the world. Notwithstanding Regent’s given luxuries of vast personal space, fine décor and dining worthy of the best high street restaurants, we pride ourselves on service beyond one’s expectations. As Captain Dag Dvergastein (Master of SS Voyager) puts it: “We receive you as a Passenger, We treat you as a Guest and We farewell you as a Friend”.

What’s more, with Regent’s all-inclusive fares, guests invariably experience the utmost in relaxation and indulgence on board: no bills to sign, no surprise charges, no gratuities to ponder on. Proof that tailor-made and carefree go hand in hand.

Masterpiece cruises are modular: guests can craft their own adventure by combining anything from two to seven individual cruises together (and save on combination fares!) for up to 121 nights.

01 August 2008 – abridged press release from Regent Seven Seas Cruises official Website.

NCL: Apollo has Landed!

Private equity group Apollo Management agreed in September 2007, to become a major shareholder in NCL. This has now been finalised and Apollo have spent $1 billion for a 50 percent share of NCL. Star Cruises, NCL’s previous sole shareholder, still holds the other 50 percent.

A cruise line statement said “the money and backing will enable the line to implement Freestyle 2.0, a series of fleet-wide enhancements announced aboard Norwegian Gem just after its naming ceremony in New York last month”.

NCL has spent massively over the last few years with many new builds as they try and see off the threat of the Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean International. With two F3 prototypes on order at over $1.1 billion per ship, (first one due in 2009) it is no surprise to see some form of outside investment.

So what does this do for Apollo, well in a short period of time they now own 50% of NCL, Oceania Cruises and have agreed to purchase Regent Seven Seas. Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas are to be run independently under the banner of Prestige Cruise Holdings.

Not sure about reaching for the stars but in the cruising world Apollo has landed!

Prestige Cruise Holdings

Prestige Cruise Holdings is the banner under which Apollo Management will run its ever growing cruise business. This consists of the five star Regent Seven Seas and four star plus Oceania Cruises, both to be run as separate cruise lines under the watchful eye of PCH. This is a common factor within the cruise industry, aka Royal Caribbean and Carnival Corporation.

Apollo Buy Regent Seven Seas

It has now been confirmed that Apollo Management have purchased Regent Seven Seas for an undisclossed sum.

Regent Seven Seas was formed by the merger of Radisson Cruises and Seven Seas Cruises in 1992. They currently own four ships and are branded as a 5 star cruise line. Their ships are Paul Gauguin, Seven Seas Navigator, Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager.

Berlitz Guide to Cruising, by Doug Ward, has named its top ships for 2007

1. Europa
2. Silver Cloud
3. SeaDream II
4. Silver Wind
5. SeaDream I
6. Queen Mary 2 (Grill Class)
7. Seabourn Legend
8. Sea Cloud II
9. Seabourn Pride
10. Sea Cloud
11. Seabourn Spirit
12. Crystal Serenity
13. Silver Shadow
14. Crystal Symphony
15. Silver Whisper
16. Seven Seas Mariner
17. Hanseatic
18. Seven Seas Voyager