APOLLO MANAGEMENT closed the deal to acquire Regent Seven Seas Cruises from Minneapolis-based Carlson Cos. The luxury line's new parent company, Apollo subsidiary Prestige Cruise Holdings, immediately gave Regent the go-ahead to enter discussions with shipyards about building a new vessel. Prestige's board said it had provided Regent management "the authority to enter formal discussions with shipyards for a new-build, with a view to placing a firm order during the second half of 2008." Any vessel is likely to be about the size of Regent's 700-passenger Seven Seas Voyager, and delivery is expected in 2011.