Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ newest and biggest ship won’t sail its Dec. 13 debut from Barcelona. Its first trip is now a Dec. 28 Caribbean cruise from Miami, reports say.
Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ shiny new ship is running late, and the guests booked on its first trip found out the hard way.
Seven Seas Prestige was supposed to welcome its first guests on Dec. 13, 2026, in Barcelona. That 14-night transatlantic sailing to Miami has been canceled, Cruise Hive reported Thursday. The ship’s first bookable voyage now leaves Miami on Monday, Dec. 28.
Regent hasn’t made a public announcement. The delay showed up in parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings’ third-quarter earnings report on Thursday, Oct. 29.
Here’s a look inside the ship’s Starlight Atrium from Regent Seven Seas Cruises:
Why was Seven Seas Prestige delayed?
Regent didn’t give a detailed reason. In a letter to booked guests quoted by Travel Market Report, the line said, “Following a thorough review of the construction schedule for Seven Seas Prestige, we have made the decision to allow additional time for final work to ensure the ship is introduced to the world at the exceptional standard our guests deserve.”
The earnings release spelled out the money side. NCLH said its fourth-quarter outlook includes “an unfavorable mix impact due to the delayed delivery of Seven Seas Prestige to late December and the cancellation of select voyages on Seven Seas Voyager transiting the Suez Canal.”
On the earnings call, CEO John Chidsey said, “We are preparing to welcome Seven Seas Prestige to Regent this December.” So the ship is still coming this year. It’s just skipping the big European send-off.
What happened to the Dec. 13 maiden voyage?
The original trip was a 14-night crossing from Barcelona to Miami, with stops in Malaga, Funchal and San Juan, Cruise Hive reported.
Guests on that sailing were told in late September that it was canceled, according to a Cruise Critic post quoted by Travel Market Report. They were offered “some compensation plus all money for cruise itself.” An Australian travel agency blog reported full refunds on amounts paid as of Sept. 28.
What is the first Seven Seas Prestige cruise now?
It’s an 11-night western Caribbean trip from Miami, departing Monday, Dec. 28, 2026, and returning Friday, Jan. 8, 2027. According to booking listings, the stops include:
Progreso, Mexico
Santo Tomas de Castilla, Guatemala
Harvest Caye, Belize
Roatan, Honduras
Falmouth, Jamaica
Grand Cayman
Cruise Hive says that sailing was always on the schedule as the ship’s second trip. So the new “first” cruise comes with New Year’s Eve onboard as a bonus.
How big is Seven Seas Prestige?
Big for a luxury ship, small next to a megaship. Regent says Prestige is about 77,000 tons and carries 822 guests with 630 crew. It’s the largest ship Regent has built and the first in a new class.
Fincantieri floated it out on Nov. 27, 2025, at its Marghera shipyard near Venice. NCLH’s latest filing says four Prestige Class ships are planned, with deliveries scheduled through 2036.
Demand doesn’t seem to be the problem. Chidsey said on the call that the ship’s top suite, the Skyview Regent Suite, “is already booked on over 70% of Prestige’s 2027 sailings.”
How did Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings do this quarter?
Pretty well. NCLH reported $2.9 billion in third-quarter revenue and adjusted earnings of $1.12 per share, ahead of its own guidance of 90 cents. It raised its full-year outlook too.
There was also a leadership change. Chidsey said longtime CFO Mark Kempa will step down after more than 25 years with the company. Chief Strategy Officer Meghan Montana takes over Jan. 1, 2027, and Kempa stays on as an adviser through June 2027.
NCLH didn’t say which Seven Seas Voyager trips through the Suez Canal were canceled, or why. If you’re booked on a Voyager sailing in that region, check your Regent account or call your travel agent.
For everyone else, the takeaway is simple. New ships slip. If you’re booking a maiden voyage, buy the travel insurance and keep your plans flexible.
Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.
Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Hat Tips:
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (Oct. 29), earnings release, Prestige delay and the earnings call
Cruise Hive (Oct. 29), canceled maiden voyage and new first sailing
Travel Market Report (Oct. 29), Regent’s letter and compensation details
Regent Seven Seas Cruises, ship specs and float-out; YouTube, Starlight Atrium video
Baird Maritime (Oct. 29), ship details
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