Seven Seas Splendor; Luxury Perfected
We were thrilled to be invited on Regent Seven Seas’ highly anticipated preview sailing of their brand-new ship, Seven Seas Splendor, taking us on a 3-day voyage from Ancona to Rome.
From the moment we were welcomed onboard with a glass of champagne by the attentive and friendly crew we knew we had arrived somewhere special. This is luxury all-inclusive cruising of the highest level.
Our ‘home’ for three nights was a Splendor Suite which boasted a separate bedroom, living and dining area, walk-in wardrobe (of course!) and a fabulous bathroom that featured both a bath and separate shower. The pièce de résistance was being pampered by our Butler who, during our 3 days at sea, brought us breakfast in our suite, afternoon tea and would have even run our bath had we asked! For those looking for a little extra space and an elevated level of service – I would highly recommend a Splendor Suite.
With only 750 guests on board, there is an outstanding choice of seven fine dining restaurants and I can honestly say that these are all exceptional – my waistline is living proof! We feasted on lobster at Compass Rose, dined on Miso Cod, sushi and tempura at Pacific Rim and enjoyed authentic Italian cuisine at Sette Mari at La Veranda – all complemented with a choice of fine wines (naturally!). The intricate design features in each restaurant enhanced the ambience, where the service was impeccable and always friendly. Guests can dine at all the restaurants at least once during their stay at no additional cost – there really are no hidden ‘extras’ with Regent! I could carry on about the lobster and caviar buffet brunch and afternoon tea in the Meridian lounge but hopefully, you get the gist of the fabulous dining onboard!
Regent Seven Seas is the only luxury cruise line to offer unlimited complimentary shore excursions as part of their cruises. We were fortunate enough to experience the Historic Dubrovnik and Village Life tour where not only did we see the sights and sounds of this beautiful city but visited a local house in the valley and sampled local meat, cheeses and wines – an authentic experience that we would otherwise never have discovered if not for Regent. After a morning sightseeing, it’s time to relax on an ultra-comfortable lounger on the spacious pool deck while being tempted to one of the ships speciality cocktails or glass of champagne.
Another highlight onboard was the Culinary Arts Kitchen on Deck 11 where guests can learn to cook dishes representative of their local ports of call, under the tutorage of a qualified chef. We learned to cook seabass (Italian style) and a Caribbean spiced bread pudding which was a nod to Splendor’s imminent journey to the Caribbean. These courses do carry a supplement but you get to eat what you’ve cooked if you need a snack while anticipating lunch after your sumptuous breakfast!
Evenings are an important part of cruising, with pre-dinner drinks and canapes in the Observation lounge and once guests have finished dining they have a choice of venues to carry on the night, should they so choose. In the Constellation Theatre, enjoy a variety of show-stopping performances whilst the Meridian Lounge offers the perfect vibe for an after-dinner drink.
A special mention must be made about the crew who, under the guidance of Captain Serena Melani (who is the first female in cruise history to Captain the launch of a new ship) were exceptional. Friendly and attentive they really do understand the importance of going the extra mile and making a Regent Seven Seas cruise a truly exceptional experience.
