Picasso art, grand pianos and personal butlers – welcome to the future of luxury cruises from Regent Seven Seas.
The company has unveiled its latest voyage World of Splendor that will take guests to 71 ports across six continents during a 140-day trip. And its Regent Suite, described as the most “exclusive residential address at sea”, is the pinnacle of its decadent rooms.
Starting in Miami in January 2027, it will conclude in New York in June. The round-the-world trip aboard the Seven Seas Splendor will visit Honolulu, Bora Bora, Singapore and Casablanca, with regional stops in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Doha and Jeddah. Travellers will also have the opportunity to explore 73 Unesco World Heritage Sites.
Prices start at $89,799 per person for a Veranda Suite H and go up to $837,299 per person for the Regent Suite. With prices based on double occupancy, it means couples will pay $1.7 million.
The Regent Suite is on the 14th floor and spans 412 square metres. It features a 120-square-metre wraparound veranda and a glass-enclosed solarium, complete with a sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.
Enhancing its opulence, the opulent suite also has artworks by Picasso and a grand piano. Package perks include complimentary first-class domestic or business-class international flights, personal car and guide services at each destination, in-suite spa services and an on-call butler.
“We have seen continued interest and demand to venture further afield and for longer durations and so we are thrilled to announce that our 2027 World Cruise will take place on board Seven Seas Splendor, offering more luxury travellers the opportunity to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience,” said Andrea DeMarco, president of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
Before the journey, travellers will get a one-night pre-cruise stay at a luxury hotel in Miami and can attend a pre-cruise gala. In addition to the 486 free shore excursions, a further three shore-side events will take place in Panama City; Colombo, Sri Lanka; and Malaga, Spain.
Launched in 2020, Seven Seas Splendor is known for its luxury and hosts an art collection valued at $5 million, including works by Joan Miro and Picasso. Every suite also comes with a private balcony. Reservations open on April 10, but pre-registration is already under way.
In 2021, Regent Seven Seas announced a cruise that set to sail around 31 countries in four months, departing from Miami in January 2024. All-inclusive, tickets started at $73,499 and reached $199,999 per head for a master suite.
The cruise sold out in three hours.
More information is available at www.rssc.com
Adele: The Stories Behind The Songs
Caroline Sullivan
Carlton Books
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
More from Aya Iskandarani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tax authority targets shisha levy evasion
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
As with cigarettes, shisha was hit with a 100 per cent tax in October 2017, though manufacturers and cafes absorbed some of the costs to prevent prices doubling.
21 Lessons for the 21st Century
Yuval Noah Harari, Jonathan Cape
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
