A Soviet hull that will become a floating building
No other ship in this fleet has a history like hers. Her hull was built at
the Admiralty yard in St Petersburg for a Soviet research vessel. It was then
towed to Genoa, where T. Mariotti grafted a luxury superstructure onto it. The
result went to sea in 1999.
One hundred and seventy metres, twenty-eight thousand eight hundred and three
gross tons, two hundred and forty-five suites, four hundred and ninety guests,
three hundred and forty-five crew. She is the smallest ship in the fleet, and
the only one under five hundred guests.
She leaves the fleet in January 2028
On 3 March 2026 the line announced that this ship will pass to Avora
Residences in January 2028, under a nine-year charter with a nominal purchase
option. She will become the Avora Lumina, a floating building whose spaces are
sold as primary residences, on rolling three-year world voyages.
This is not the first plan announced. On 21 March 2025 the line announced a
sale to Crescent Seas and a departure as early as late 2026, with a farewell
cruise on 2 October. That timetable changed. It is also why this page carries
dates in 2026 and 2027 but none in 2028: that is not an inventory gap, it is
the end of her career with this line.
What is included, and the misunderstanding about flights
Start with what almost everyone thinks they know. This line built its
reputation on included flights. They are no longer included by
default. Since 1 July 2024 two fare structures exist side by side: the
standard fare covers the cruise only and leaves the guest to arrange flights,
while the higher fare includes round-trip air with a choice of class,
transfers and a chauffeur credit. Check which one is on your booking, because
the gap is considerable from Montreal.
The rest is generous and consistent from one text to another. Shore
excursions are included, with no cap on how many, which is rare. Gratuities are
prepaid. Drinks are included, wines and cocktails among them. Every speciality
restaurant is included, with no cover charge. Wi-Fi is included. So is valet
laundry.
Two qualifications worth knowing. The pre-cruise hotel night exists only from
Concierge suites upward, and the butler only from Penthouse suites upward. They
are not universal inclusions, whatever the brochure sometimes suggests.
If you were looking for another ship
The Seven Seas Mariner and the
Seven Seas Voyager are the two closest hulls
in spirit, on a larger scale. The
Seven Seas Prestige takes over at the top
end at the end of 2026. The full fleet to compare.
Booking from Quebec
The contract is with Seven Seas Cruises S. de R.L., headquartered in Miami,
and is governed by the general maritime law of the United States. A claim for
personal injury, illness or death goes to the United States District Court for
the Southern District of Florida in Miami, or to a Miami-Dade County court.
Every other claim goes to binding arbitration in that same
county, and the contract imposes a class-action waiver.
The deadlines differ by claim type, and the second one surprises people. Six
months' written notice and one year to sue, for personal injury. But
thirty days' notice after the cruise ends for any other claim,
and six months to act. Damaged luggage, a service not delivered, a cancelled
call: thirty days from disembarkation. Baggage liability is also capped, unless
value is declared and a fee paid.
The carrier reserves the right to cancel the cruise, change its date, its
port of embarkation or its destination, shorten it or substitute the ship, at
any time and without notice. Nothing establishes a Quebec licence for it. Your
protection comes from here: Voyages AquaTerra holds a licence from the Office
de la protection du consommateur, your payments pass through a trust account,
and your departure is covered by the compensation fund for travel agency
customers.