Australia gets new winter luxe season with Seven Seas Navigator sailing May to July

• Australian cruisers are about to be hit by a wave of luxury vessels and new choices.
• Both Regent Seven Seas and Oceania are sending new vessels.
• And Regent is bringing in Seven Seas Navigator to sail a winter season in 2027 – a first.

Regent Seven Seas is trialling a three-month ultra-luxury winter season using the refurbished Seven Seas Navigator next year.

The 496-passenger ship, which will be refurbished before her new May to July season in Australia and the Pacific, will sail a series of distinctly Australian and Pacific itineraries, giving Aussies and international guests the chance to sample one of Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ most intimate vessels.

The move is part of a broader swing towards luxury homeported cruising in Australian waters, which has already seen Oceania Riviera and Oceania Vista sailing locally, while Silversea, Viking and Seabourn have all committed ships to Australian summer deployments.

Now Regent joins that momentum – and launches winter.

Winter season ‘selling like hot cakes’

Built in 1999 and long admired for her small-ship feel, Seven Seas Navigator was previously earmarked to leave the Regent fleet and be converted into a high-end residential vessel.

When that deal ended, Regent opted instead to reinvest in the ship, announcing plans for a multi-million-dollar refurbishment before redeploying her on new global itineraries — with Australia and the South Pacific firmly in the spotlight.

Lisa Pile, Vice President Sales & General Manager, Asia Pacific, told Cruise Passenger the new winter itineraries are already creating “huge interest”, particularly in the overseas market.

“Seven Seas Navigator will be doing the most beautiful sailing through the South Pacific and also for the first time, winter in Australia.

“She is going from Fremantle to Darwin, to Cairns, round-trip Cairns. She’s doing Fiji, all in those non-traditional cruise months, which is, of course, the perfect months for travel to those areas, which is the dry season.

“They have just been selling like hot cakes. I think people have got a taste of luxury cruising close to home and different itineraries in the dry season in those parts of Australia.”

While Regent has not yet released detailed design plans for the refit in November, the cruise line has confirmed the ship will undergo a significant upgrade.

Based on Regent’s recent refurbishments across the fleet, guests can expect refreshed suites, updated soft furnishings and finishes, and enhancements that align Navigator with the brand’s current ultra-luxury aesthetic — contemporary, elegant and understated, while preserving the ship’s classic appeal.

Navigator will continue to carry just under 500 guests, reinforcing her positioning as a boutique-style luxury ship well suited to Australia’s remote ports and smaller harbours.

Pile said, “We have had huge interest. Absolutely. Yes, huge. I mean, I’m not exaggerating when I say huge.

“I think it’s a reflection of those that are wanting close to home sailings, but don’t forget, it’s not only Australians buying it. It’s international.

“We have attracted a lot of British people coming and Europeans because they are also wanting to do those parts of Australia in that really beautiful time. There is no better place on earth than doing the Kimberley and the Northern Territory or going from Western Australia to the Northern Territory and down to Cairns in the dry season”

Pile is also celebrating Regent’s biggest selling month on record in January, including results from Australia.

Local itineraries centre stage

Following her refit, Seven Seas Navigator will sail a series of standout Australia and Pacific journeys that place local cruising firmly at the heart of Regent’s global deployment.

Among the highlights is a west-to-north Australian voyage from Fremantle to Darwin, linking Western Australia with Indonesia and the Top End. The itinerary includes calls in Bali, Lombok and Komodo before arriving in Darwin — a route that showcases the growing appeal of Australia as both a destination and a home base for luxury cruising.

From Darwin, Navigator will embark on an extensive Top End and Queensland coast journey, sailing to Thursday Island, Cooktown, Cairns, Townsville and Airlie Beach before continuing south to Brisbane and Sydney. The itinerary blends remote Australian regions with Great Barrier Reef gateways and overnight stays, offering a deeper exploration of the country’s northern coastline.

Later in the season, Regent has scheduled an even more ambitious Sydney-to-Fremantle voyage, spanning more than three weeks. This sailing combines Australia’s east coast, the Torres Strait and Darwin with Indonesian ports before crossing the Indian Ocean to Western Australia — a rare itinerary that highlights the advantage of smaller luxury ships operating in the region.

Pacific and beyond

Australia’s deployment is complemented by Navigator’s South Pacific program, including voyages to the Cook Islands, Tonga and Fiji. Calls at Rarotonga and Aitutaki will be a major drawcard for Australian travellers seeking all-inclusive luxury in the Pacific without the need for long-haul flights.

Navigator will also sail in Japan and Asia as part of her wider seasonal program, positioning her for Australian and Pacific voyages and reinforcing Regent’s strategy of using Australia as a key hub within a global itinerary network.

The decision to base Seven Seas Navigator in the region for an extended period is a clear vote of confidence in the Australian luxury cruise market.

With ships from Regent’s sister brands and competitors already committing to Australian summers, Navigator’s arrival strengthens Australia’s reputation as a serious destination for high-end cruising — not just a stopover on world voyages, but a region worthy of dedicated ships and bespoke itineraries.

For Australian cruisers, it means unprecedented access to Regent’s all-inclusive luxury experience close to home — and the return of a much-loved ship, newly refreshed, with an entirely new future sailing Down Under.

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