Looking at the huge grey pieces of this 3D jigsaw on a late summer morning, it is hard to believe that in less than a year they will be transformed into 56,000 tons of floating opulence and indulgence.

The fourth and most luxurious ship of the Regent Seven Seas fleet will set sail on its maiden voyage from Monte Carlo to Venice on July 20, 2016, with 750 passengers on board, looked after by 542 crew.

In the meantime I am being given the first glimpse of what those passengers can expect.

First, I enter a large, windowless box in the shadow of Explorer's hull, and find myself in a gleaming marble bathroom complete with full-size bathtub and walk in-shower – the high-standard bathroom for the majority of cabins. 

Next door I find an even bigger bathroom for the occupants of penthouse suites, who don't get a bath but do get two washbasins and a shower big enough for two, with water jets seemingly pointing in all directions.

Nearby, I step into another big box to find a section of corridor leading to perfect mock-ups of a deluxe balcony suite with sea views from the bed, and a two-room penthouse suite.

All cabins have walk-in wardrobes and teak balconies ranging from extra large to ginormous. Both examples are decorated in nautical blues and tones of brown, and the bed linen comes from the same company that supplies the Pope.

On hand to show off the cabins and share his enthusiasm about the 'breathlessly elegant' new ship is Regent's president, Jason Montague. 'We have set out to build a ship that will far surpass the current standard for luxury and bear the distinction for being the most luxurious ship ever to set sail,' he says.

Book the 'spaciously intimate' Regent Suite and you will have the run of a 3,875 sq ft wonderland on Deck 14, with two bedrooms, a wraparound veranda, and conservatory overlooking the bow, a Steinway grand piano, black marble bar, gold chandelier and flat-screen televisions galore.

The suite also has its own spa with sauna, heated relaxation loungers and unlimited Canyon Ranch Spa Club treatments, along with a chauffeur and guide in every port and first or business-class flights included in the price (£42,799pp for the inaugural two-week cruise). For all passengers, almost everything is included in fares starting at £3,889pp – flights, excursions, unlimited drinks, gratuities, and dining in fancy French restaurant Chartreuse, Pacific Rim, which serves Asian cuisine, or the Prime 7 steakhouse.

Regent's Sarah Brooks said: 'If you are the sort of person who chooses the top-end suites on P&O, Celebrity or Cunard cruises, when you take into account those lines' many onboard extras, all-inclusive Regent Seven Seas cruises are comparable or even better value for money.'

For further information, go to sevenseasexplorer.co.uk or call 02380 682280.

(dailymail.co.uk)