In upholding the luxury and sophistication for which the Regent Seven Seas Cruises brand has become renowned, new fleet addition ‘Seven Seas Splendor’ also includes a makeover with a twist for its dining area, thanks to Oslo-based YSA Design.
The Seven Seas fleet stern section outline is part of the brand identity, having remained unchanged across four generations of vessels.
Following close co-operation between YSA Design, the ship’s naval architect and builder Fincantieri, ‘Seven Seas Splendor’s’ 11th-deck ‘La Veranda’ aft restaurant features projecting enclosed balconies to offer diners both starboard and portside an oceanside view without compromising the ship’s sleek lines.
According to Anne Mari Gullikstad, YSA Design CEO and project leader for La Veranda, the owner’s brief demanded both an enhanced passenger experience and a solution that met the aesthetic values of the ship design. “The unrestricted views create a feeling of openness in a relatively narrow space,” she said, “while the bays were constructed in such a way that they do not detract from the ship’s side aspect, cast shadows over cabin balconies below or obscure views from the bridge.”
The glass-sided projections were at the heart of YSA’s concept for La Veranda as a complete dining space, added Gullikstad, which – drawing on the meaning of its name – captures the essence of al-fresco dining in a new way. The bright and colourful décor evokes the outdoors and breaks up the longitudinal view through the restaurant, diverting the eye towards the sea and sky outside. There is even an open-air space complete with balcony, ‘garden pavilions’ and outdoor seating.
In the interests of durability, the area’s garden pavilions were made from tough, sustainably sourced teak and timber, while outdoor chairs are upholstered in hardwearing fabrics resistant to fading from sunlight. Indoors, the floor is a mix of stone and parquet, while the walls feature stone, onyx and marble.
As well as being sturdy, these materials are in keeping with the identity of the cruise line, the designer said.
Described as ‘luxury perfected’, the vessel is the embodiment of the Regent marque, with interiors that are lavishly appointed with all the comforts that guests have come to expect from a Seven Seas vessel, Gullikstad claimed.
In reflecting Regent’s brand aspirations through La Veranda, YSA Design drew on a relationship with the cruise line that dates back to 1999 with the ‘Seven Seas Navigator’, she said.
