Shownotes
Step aboard the Luxury Travelers Podcast, where host Rodney George and guest Lisette Thurman take you on a thrilling voyage into the world of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ new prestige class ship. Picture yourself in the lavish 9,000-square-foot Regent suite, complete with a two-story suite design, private elevator, and stunning balcony. Savor the flavors of a new Mediterranean restaurant and unwind in the exclusive connoisseur lounge. This episode is your VIP pass to the ultimate luxury cruising experience, filled with insider secrets and tantalizing details about the ship’s maiden voyage and christening in Los Angeles. Don’t miss the journey of a lifetime, because, as Rodney always says, "Remember, enjoy yourself—it’s later than you think!"
IN THIS EPISODE:
- (01:06) Prestige Class introduced: 844 guests with increased tonnage and new venues
- (04:05) Maiden voyage set for December, with christening in Los Angeles in February
- (04:53) Two-story Regent Suite 9,000 sq. ft. features an elevator and balcony, alongside new loft suites
- (06:45) Prestige Class offers more common area space and venues
- (10:26) Connoisseur Lounge confirmed for cigar enthusiasts, and negotiations in play for Vu Cuco and Opus One
- (12:15) Private dining room planned outside the Regent Suite, with flexibility for guest permissions on the Prestige Class
- (14:04) New season launch in July for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, extending Prestige Class sailings through 2027
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- The Prestige Class ship marks a new era for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, featuring an expansive 9,000-square-foot Regent Suite with a two-story design, including a private elevator and balcony, offering unparalleled luxury for guests.
- Norwegian Cruise Line's ownership enhances the Prestige Class with innovative venues, including a new Mediterranean restaurant and a Connoisseur Lounge, alongside increased tonnage and space for only 844 guests, ensuring a spacious and high-end experience.
- The maiden voyage is scheduled for December, with a christening ceremony in Los Angeles in February, marking a significant milestone for Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Bookings are already open, and strong brand loyalty is driving demand for top-tier suites.
RESOURCES:
Luxury Travelers Podcasts - Apple
Luxury Travelers Podcast - Spotify
Luxury Travelers Podcast - YouTube
Lisette Thurman - Regent Seven Seas Cruises - LinkedIn
GUEST BIOGRAPHY:
Lisette Thurman started her career in 1989 working in reservations at Norwegian Cruise Line and held a number of positions at Oceania and currently Regent Seven Seas Cruises as Strategic Account Director during her 30 years at Norwegian Cruise Line.
Transcripts
Lisette Thurman: Yes. It's 9,000 square feet. Fanta, I mean, phenomenal.
rst three or four houses put [:Lisette Thurman: yes. And it's going be two stories. Then what? You go up the stairs or elevator and there's gonna be a beautiful balcony, so it's just outrageous.
at? What's going on in there?[:Voiceover: Welcome luxury enthusiasts to the Luxury Travelers Podcast, hosted by Rodney George, the ultimate passport to opulent destinations, extravagant experiences, and [00:00:45] unparalleled indulgence. Whether one is a seasoned jet setter or daydreaming of the next lavish getaway, the Luxury Travelers Podcast has it all covered.
d prepare for a journey into [:Rodney George: Well, good morning, good afternoon, or. Good evening, wherever you happen to be, whatever time of day it is, when you finally get around to watching this episode, this is gonna be exciting because [00:01:15] I have a good friend out here today, Lizette Thurman, who actually started her career in 1989 at Norwegian Cruise Lines on the reservation desk,
Lisette Thurman: ta,
Rodney George: and she, and she's come full circle.
She went to Oceania, then [:Lisette Thurman: Thank you for having me, Rodney. It's a pleasure to be on with you today and I'm looking forward to, uh, [00:01:45] spilling some, uh, secrets on the prestige coming out.
ing because I have a feeling [:Lisette Thurman: Uh, yes and no. Uh, he, he, he, we always have his influence around, and this one is going to be totally different.
first of its class prestige [:Rodney George: So, 8 44 versus what? Seven 50? Seven
ed more guests, but actually [:She did [00:03:00] really well. She probably did the best that any of our ships have done. Um, and we, we still have space available. Um, so for those of you that have not been with Regent before, please take advantage. Uh, we're [00:03:15] looking at the regent suite. As you're familiar with, our regent suite is 4,400 square feet on Explorer class ships On the new ship, it's gonna be, um, almost 9,000 square feet.
So we're excited about that. Oh my
So, Lizette, if I'm correct, [:Lisette Thurman: Yes. She went up for sale last week. So, and currently is, you know, you can book, book away.
l, we're, we started, uh, we [:I, I had a client that's been on every one of your ships and he said, I don't even know. Where I want to go, but I want to go somewhere just so I got the bragging rights that I've been on every one of region ships. Wonderful. Wonderful. That's called Brand loyal. [00:04:00] Brand loyal. Any idea when the first, uh, the, the maiden voyage christening and all that stuff's gonna be,
Lisette Thurman: maiden voyage is going to be December, and the christenings gonna be in February, so we're gonna take her out in December.
r showcasing out. Those will [:Rodney George: of course. And I will of course [00:04:30] accept.
I actually met, I actually met, uh, your, your former CEO on a, on a christening of the Riviera in Barcelona. Uh, I guess that was probably nine, 10 years ago.
s when you had the Frank Del [:Rodney George: The Frank Del Rio special, they still call it that.
Lisette Thurman: Mm-hmm. Okay.
Rodney George: So we, you said something earlier that kind of tripped a trigger with me.
The regent suite is 9,000 square feet.
square feet. Fanta, I [:Rodney George: I think that's probably bigger than my first three or four houses put together. Yes,
a beautiful balcony. So it's [:What's going on in there? And we're gonna have loft suites, two story loft suites.
Rodney George: Yeah.
of our ships. That's new. So [:Rodney George: But you're still gonna have Pacific Ram.
Lisette Thurman: We're still gonna have all the regular venues.
Okay. But in addition to, we have the Mediterranean restaurant and then the name of that is ul.
t sounds like you're sneezed [:Lisette Thurman: They're making us a little tight lift. We're gonna be a drip campaign that's gonna be going out with that, but we're, [00:06:00] we're entertaining.
be the navigator and we're, [:It's just a lot of little surprises that are coming up on that.
re, but only about a hundred [:Lisette Thurman: correct. Based on our seven C Society members and all our past guests, they're looking for more venues, more things to do.
So [:Rodney George: That seems to be a trend in, in the luxury marketplace right now to give people more room to, as we would used to say, down south when I was a kid to mosey about. Yeah, so staffing is [00:07:00] probably somewhere close to one-to-one,
Lisette Thurman: one-to-one as usual. So that's going to be status quo, and then it's just gonna be more, more space.
some of our restaurants will [:So it's gonna be a very large area. [00:07:30] So it could be alfresco dining. And then, uh, compass rows will also have an outdoor area to dine. So a lot of times when you get back from an excursion and it's later and a lot of lunch is over, where there's gonna be an, a specific spot where you could have [00:07:45] lunch and casual.
PM. [:Rodney George: Oh, Mevo would be no on that. Okay. Our country club did that. Our yacht club did that, and once that starts, it seems to never stop as far as where the quality of, [00:08:15] of what people wear.
l at all as far as dining is [:I know with Explorer. Explorer when. It was coming. It was, it was named, [00:08:45] uh, I believe, the most luxurious ship in the world. And then it was followed by splendor and grandeur, and they got accolades of equal significance. What about this new category? Prestige?
new category, so there'll be [:Same of its class that will be coming on probably the next year or so. So that's going to follow. And then, you know, maybe another one as well. So it's just a matter of they're trickling in because we have to, everybody has to keep up with the [00:09:15] Joneses. So we need new tonnage out there.
Rodney George: You guys from just in the last 15 years or so.
lot of people in the cruise [:Lisette Thurman: so it, it's just a matter of, you always have to look in your rear view mirror because there's great products out there and as you know, you're, you know, an ambassador in travel, so that's a wonderful thing.
[:Rodney George: Well, it's, it's like somebody told me, I don't know, probably close to 50 years ago, [00:10:00] there's only one way in life that you can coast and that's downhill. So you don't want to ever think, okay, we're out in front far enough now that.
your shoulder and wanting to [:Lounge for cigar [00:10:30] smoking in that,
Lisette Thurman: yes, there is a connoisseur lounge.
Rodney George: Okay, good.
Lisette Thurman: Yay. Because that's kind
there and do some guy talk. [:And so it's a good place to go and, and, uh, have a nice strong cocktail and a good cigar and nice glass of [00:11:00] scotch.
Lisette Thurman: Yes.
Rodney George: And just, uh, trade lies. Mm-hmm. So what else, what else is new about this ship that, uh, that you can let us in on? Anything, anything we haven't touched on yet?
re in negotiations right now [:So we're looking to do that. So we're very excited about that and we're in communication with Opus one as well, that hasn't been signed yet, but we're very excited about that as well. [00:11:30] So there's a lot of different things that are coming into play that of course will be a, uh, across the fleet, but we are just wanting to add new things.
To make us, you know, if, if we're gonna walk the walk, we gotta talk the talk.
Rodney George: Well, VU and [:Are you gonna have something like that on this new ship?
Lisette Thurman: You're talking about the private dining room that we have?
Rodney George: Yeah. Uh, you know, for like eight or 10 or 12 people?
Lisette Thurman: Yes.
Rodney George: Uh, on, [:Lisette Thurman: Yes. Uh, we do have a private dining room that's outside of the Region Suite.
trying to basically plan out [:Rodney George: So in addition to the [00:12:45] 9,000 square feet, there's a private dining venue for the region.
onal entertainment venues on [:Lisette Thurman: we're staying with the standard. You know, we don't wanna reinvent or recreate the wheel, so we're. Still doing. The headliner shows.
s brought on on grandeur was [:And [00:13:30] that's the wonderful thing about being owned by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, is because we all help each other out for the greater good.
at absolutely love. Dancing. [:And these people have already been to 133 countries, so they're anxious to, uh, to, to get on board and, and check that, that [00:14:00] portion of, of your new regimen out. Um, I know that, uh, you've got. Some sailings out through, I believe, April of 27. Yes. Is that right? And
Lisette Thurman: [:And that's coming up soon and the next two weeks. So the [00:14:30] rest we will roll out the rest of the itinerary.
ut there all the way through [:Did you say that's correct? Perfect. Perfect. Well, is there anything else? I mean, I, I, I, I know it has to be exciting. I, I drove past your home office on Tuesday when I was in Miami, uh, for some personal business. And, uh, and I could hear the [00:15:00] humming from the interstate, uh, of the wheels going round and round of what, what's next?
And, and it has to be an exciting time to be at Regent seven C cruises.
ship. And we're starting the [:We're really looking forward to it. And then the great part is actually [00:15:30] bringing her out, having a guest board and, and experience the product. So it's just gonna be, you know. It's incredible.
and say, I thought that the [:The game has changed.
t's gonna be incredible, the [:We're starting with our Serenity Suites because we want to make that a little [00:16:15] bit, you know, we do hop the lower categories, but we're also based on. On past and trends, we're selling the higher categories up. That's what sells first.
Rodney George: Well, it, it, it, and it's always been that way with you guys. It sells top down.
r to it in the industry, the [:Lisette Thurman: No, not a separate area. Some of the suites will actually have its own elevator in the suite, so you don't have to go up the stairs.
For [:Rodney George: Oh, wow. Okay. Mm-hmm. So, because the sleeping quarters are on a different floor from Correct. The main part of the suite. Okay. Yeah. Well that makes sense. That way we don't have difficulties of people falling downstairs and
Lisette Thurman: Exactly.
odney George: Now they can't [:All right. Well, I'm outta questions, so that means we must be getting close to done. Do you have anything else you wanna throw in here? Well, I just want you
ou. 'cause I do have cigars. [:Rodney George: I would love to smoke a cigar with you.
enough, her husband doesn't [:Lisette Thurman: All right, wonderful.
iate it. And I look, uh, and [:Rodney George: well, I don't know if that's a compliment or not, but I'll take it that way. No, that is
Lisette Thurman: a compliment.
Rodney George: Well, we got a lot of good people in our office and a lot of knowledgeable people in our office.
the other day how many years [:And for some, some reason or another, she wasn't able to show up and, and they sent, uh, I can't remember who they sent. I. But he, uh, yeah, Lizette and I call each other bro, and that, and [00:18:30] I know I'm not the only one. I, I know you have other bros out there, Lizette, but, uh, he gets up on the stage in front of a few hundred people and he goes, Hey bro, that's from Lizette.
So, bro, thanks for [:Lisette Thurman: look forward to lots of, uh, prestige bookings going forward.
and I'll leave you with this [:My good friend Dr. Philip Randall, who's a gerontologist in uh, Atlanta, told me, shared this with me about 40 years ago, and he said, Rodney. Enjoy yourself. It's later [00:19:15] than you think. Thanks for being on the show, Lizette.
Lisette Thurman: Goodbye. Thank you so much.
Rodney George: See you soon.
Lisette Thurman: Bye-bye.
Thanks for joining us on the [:
