3 lines are rated 6* - Regent, Seabourn & Silversea. I have travelled a number of times with the first two, on Splendour in July, Ovation in October & recently back to back cruises on Grandeur. It seems to me the gap is widening and they are not in the same category.
Regent have billed their two latest ships the most luxurious at sea and no-one seems to be challenging it. They are beautiful inside in every area of the ship (except for the perspex sheet over main dining room windows which restricts view).
The staff on both are as you would expect excellent, but I feel Regent shade it. Despite the larger ships they are quicker to learn names, drink preferences. Seabourn claims it offers intuitive service but we have found it reactive. What I do like on Seabourn is the greater presence of officers and more willingness to engage with passengers especially in the restaurants.
If service is close there is a wider gap on food. Pacific Rim has added a different dimension on Regent. Their steakhouse was always better than Seabourn's which may be why latter isn't trying to compete. It will be interesting to see if the replacement Solis comes up to the standards of Chartreuse.
In the main dining room there is more choice with Regent's daily specials not to mention an extra course. But it is on the always available they are streets ahead. Any cut of steak plus pork, lamb and veal offerings. Lobster, king prawn, dover sole with plenty of sides and sauces. And that's just the mains. On Seabourn the choice is much more limited and on a cruise longer than the 2 week ones we have done you could get bored.
Regent are far more generous with drinks from the moment you step on board and get your champagne before registration. To champagne and caviar Sunday breakfast they have now added Friday sangria & Saturday bloody marys - a step too far for me with my bacon and eggs but welcomed by many! Cocktails are always being brought round by the pool or you never wait long for your own choice of drink. The only time we managed to get a drink of champagne at breakfast on Seabourn was my wife's birthday and then it was just a glass for her. Caviar is not as readily available as is suggested
Obviously a huge range of excursions is included on Regent, but the benefit of that depends whether you like organised tours. Sometimes you do things simply because you have paid for it in the cruise price.
One of the huge benefits on Regent is the complimentary laundry service on Regent. Both offer free launderettes but queues on Seabourn are common. Regent will wash and iron a generous bagful each day, returning it the next on hangers or folded and wrapped in tissue as you wish. You could do a world tour with a couple of outfits! Imagine getting home, you are ready for your next trip and the only washing to do is what you travelled in
The recent statement from Seabourn's President seems more about improvements on the website than onboard. I can't say it shows any intention to narrow the ever growing gap with their rivals
