Seven Seas Navigator's Final Season Set for 2026

Published on Aug 15, 2025, 10:43 am CDT

6 min read

Regent Seven Seas Cruises will retire the 1999-built Seven Seas Navigator after a three-voyage European farewell season between August and October 2026. The program opens with a culinary sailing from Le Havre on August 12, followed by a nine-night reunion cruise roundtrip from Barcelona on August 24. The final sailing departs October 2 from Istanbul, hosted by chief commercial officer Wes D'Silva. After the curtain call, Navigator will transfer to startup Crescent Seas for conversion into a residential ship. Regent entered the ship into service under its former Radisson brand in 1999, and loyalists are being invited to join the send-off.

Key Points

Why it matters: Regent is orchestrating a high-profile goodbye for its smallest ship, blending fan-service events with alumni appearances.
Travel impact: Three limited sailings in August to October 2026 are expected to sell quickly, with commemorative programming and keepsakes.
What's next: Post-retirement, the ship joins Crescent Seas for a residential-at-sea relaunch planned for late 2026.
Epicurean Spotlight voyage runs August 12 to August 24 from Paris, Le Havre, to Barcelona.
Reunion cruise features Regent alumni including founding president Mark Conroy and GM Davor Josipovic.
Final sailing October 2 from Istanbul includes a gala, tributes, and memorabilia auctions.

Snapshot

Seven Seas Navigator will take a final bow in Europe with three commemorative voyages. The series begins August 12, 2026, on a 12-night Epicurean Spotlight cruise from Paris, Le Havre, to Barcelona led by Regent's culinary leadership. A nine-night Reunion Cruise follows on August 24, 2026, roundtrip from Barcelona, with panels, cocktail events, and friendly crew and officer cooking competitions alongside appearances by Regent alumni. The closing chapter, A Toast to Legacy, departs October 2, 2026, from Istanbul for 12 nights, hosted by CCO Wes D'Silva, and features a gala evening, engraved keepsakes, surprise entertainment, and auctions of Navigator memorabilia. After the farewell, the ship will exit the Regent fleet and transition to Crescent Seas for a residential conversion.

Background

Navigator entered service in 1999 when the brand operated as Radisson Seven Seas Cruises, later rebranded as Regent in 2006. The 496-guest ship earned a following for its intimate scale, all-suite accommodations, and high crew-to-guest ratios, with the most recent refurbishment completed in 2019. Regent is simultaneously preparing for growth at the top end of its fleet, including the late-2026 debut of the new Seven Seas Prestige class and a robust 2027-2028 Voyage Collection. For longtime Regent loyalists, the farewell season provides a chance to sail Navigator one last time while sampling enhanced culinary and enrichment programming that anticipates the brand's next chapter. The transition to Crescent Seas extends the vessel's life in a different segment, the residential-at-sea niche.

Latest Developments

Seven Seas Navigator final season: what to expect

Regent has packaged three commemorative voyages that lean into food, nostalgia, and legacy. On August 12, 2026, the Epicurean Spotlight voyage departs Paris, Le Havre, for 12 nights to Barcelona with events led by Regent's executive culinary team. The Reunion Cruise, nine nights roundtrip from Barcelona beginning August 24, 2026, features notable alumni, including founding president Mark Conroy and longtime hotelier Davor Josipovic, plus panels, cocktail hours, and crew and officer cooking competitions. The finale, branded A Toast to Legacy, sails October 2, 2026, from Istanbul for 12 nights and is hosted by CCO Wes D'Silva. Expect a gala night, engraved keepsakes, surprise entertainment, and onboard auctions of Seven Seas Navigator memorabilia.

From luxury cruise to luxury address at sea

After Regent's final sailing, Navigator will transfer to Crescent Seas, a new residential-cruise brand backed by real-estate interests. Plans call for a refit budgeted around $50 million to $70 million and approximately 210 to 290 for-sale residences priced roughly from $650,000 to $10 million, plus annual service assessments. Crescent Seas targets a December 2026 inaugural season with extended stays and global routing, supported by amenities such as butler service, gourmet dining, and Starlink connectivity. A second vessel, Insignia, is slated to follow in 2027 after refit. For travelers considering a life at sea, Navigator's conversion underscores how legacy luxury hardware is being repurposed for residential cruising.

Alumni tributes and a curtain call for a fan favorite

Programming across the farewell season leans into Regent's institutional memory. Alumni appearances are scheduled on the Barcelona reunion sailing, while the final voyage layers celebratory touches with emotional farewells. Regent has also flagged the retirement of beloved cruise director Ray Solaire after five decades at sea, adding another milestone to the season's arc. The net effect is a limited three-sailing window that blends culinary showcases, storytelling, and guest nostalgia, designed to honor Navigator's role in shaping Regent's ultra-luxury identity since 1999.

Analysis

Regent's send-off balances two strategic goals. First, it monetizes pent-up demand among loyalists who want one last turn on an intimate, classic ship. Packaging the events as Spotlight, Reunion, and Legacy sailings creates clear reasons to book, complete with alumni, keepsakes, and charity-style auctions. Second, the farewell clears space for the brand's next wave, led by Seven Seas Prestige and a larger slate of longer journeys. Recent momentum, including the high-profile Skyview Regent Suite and a 2027-2028 program with 234 voyages, signals Regent's confidence in sustained luxury demand. The ship's post-Regent life with Crescent Seas reflects a broader industry trend, where older tonnage is repurposed rather than scrapped, especially when size and suite layouts suit residential concepts. Residential cruising remains a niche with execution risk, but Navigator's strong bones, service heritage, and small-ship proportions make it a credible platform for the model. For travelers, the 2026 farewell offers scarce inventory, layered programming, and a tidy bookend to a 27-year run.

Final Thoughts

If you have history with the ship, the three farewell voyages are the moment to say goodbye, collect a keepsake, and enjoy a last lap of small-ship service before Regent pivots fully to its next-generation build. With alumni programming in Barcelona and a gala-filled finale from Istanbul, capacity will be tight. Book early, especially if you want specific suite categories or dining reservations. A long and well-loved career deserves a proper encore, and that is exactly what Regent has curated for the Seven Seas Navigator final season.