Seven Seas Prestige will turn the centre of its Starlight Atrium into a nightly performance space when the new Regent Seven Seas Cruises ship enters service in December 2026.
The focal point is an installation rising through 11 decks and assembled from more than 300 handcrafted Bohemian crystal rods. Created with Czech crystal house Preciosa Lighting and interior design studio Studio DADO, the work has been designed to change in mood and brilliance throughout the day rather than function as a conventional static chandelier.
Each evening it will become the centrepiece of Lumière, a choreographed display of light and music that Regent describes as its first sound-and-light show.
What is Lumière?
Lumière is scheduled to begin nightly at 6.25pm in the Starlight Atrium. The programmable installation will respond to a specially arranged orchestral soundtrack, transforming the ship's principal arrival space into a stage before dinner.
The performance has been designed to be seen from every level of the atrium. Regent says guests will be invited to enjoy a glass of Champagne at Galileo's Bar while watching the display, positioning the event as a shared evening ritual rather than a production confined to a theatre.
The precise timing is an important part of the idea. A short performance at the same time each evening gives passengers an easy meeting point and creates a recognisable transition between the daytime programme and the ship's restaurants, bars and evening entertainment.
More than 300 Bohemian crystal rods
The installation combines a centuries-old glassmaking tradition with modern lighting, control and engineering systems. Its more than 300 individual rods were handcrafted in Bohemian crystal and can be dynamically programmed to produce different colours, moods and visual effects at various times of day.
Preciosa Lighting is based in the Czech Republic's Crystal Valley, a region closely associated with Bohemian glassmaking. The company is a long-standing Regent partner and worked on the installation with Studio DADO, which has also contributed to Regent's Explorer-class ships and the interiors of Seven Seas Prestige.
Regent president Wesley D'Silva said the company wanted an exceptional focal point for its first new ship class in a decade, bringing traditional craftsmanship to life through contemporary technology and engineering.
The heart of the Starlight Atrium
The Starlight Atrium is intended to provide the principal arrival moment aboard Seven Seas Prestige. By allowing the crystal work to extend vertically through the ship, the designers have made it visible from several perspectives rather than treating it as decoration for a single deck.
That scale also allows the same artwork to serve two purposes. During the day it will be a changing sculptural feature, while at 6.25pm its lighting and musical programming will create a defined performance. Guests may therefore encounter it differently as they move around the ship and as the atmosphere changes from morning to evening.
The installation continues a wider trend in new cruise-ship design in which atriums are used as active social and entertainment spaces. Here, however, Regent is aiming for a relatively brief, repeatable moment that fits the character of an ultra-luxury ship rather than a large-scale spectacle.
Seven Seas Prestige prepares for debut
Seven Seas Prestige is the first vessel in Regent's new Prestige class and the cruise line's first new ship class for ten years. The 76,550gt vessel will accommodate 822 guests in 411 suites, served by 630 crew members.
The ship is due to enter service in December 2026. Its Starlight Atrium, new suite categories, 11 dining choices and other newly developed public spaces are central to Regent's attempt to give the class a distinct identity while retaining the line's all-inclusive luxury positioning.
Lumière may prove to be one of its most recognisable features. Unlike a suite or restaurant experienced by only part of the passenger complement at any one time, the atrium installation is both a permanent landmark and a daily event around which guests can gather.