Luxury aboard Regent Seven Seas Splendor
All suites are spacious with good-sized balcony, walk in wardrobe, double vanity bathroom and lounge area as standard so you can’t go far wrong, but upgrades are available for more space, wrap around balconies, 24/7 butler service and additional luxurious touches. Our tour of the ship took us to all levels of accommodation and WOW! the top-level suites have literally everything you can think of – even a grand piano! They are huge and stylish, with plush furnishings, beautiful décor and I’d happily live in one for the rest of my life, Amen.
But the suites are just a part of the picture; the public areas, corridors, bars and restaurants have the same attention to detail with stunning artwork, chandeliers and plush fabrics at every turn. The service is impeccable, the staff are lovely and welcoming, and the food – oh my, the food…
Over the three days Regent tried to ensure everyone sampled a variety of restaurants and alongside delicious lunches at the Pool Grill and scrumptious breakfasts at La Veranda, I was treated to evening meals at: Compass Rose, the largest of the speciality restaurants, kitted out with huge chandeliers and Versace dinnerware; Chartreuse, offering chic, fine-dining with a Parisian flair; and Prime 7 for a succulent and oh so tender filet mignon grand finale. Each meal was exquisite, and each restaurant had a lovely ambience. Regent is all inclusive so any of these perfect dining experiences can be enjoyed as often as preferred although advance reservations are recommended for the speciality restaurants.
The all inclusive doesn’t stop at fine dining and top shelf drinks either, there’s also the opportunity to select from a wide choice of shore excursions at each stop (of which there are many on each of Regent’s port intensive itineraries). Our taster cruise took us from Ancona, Italy across to Dubrovnik, Croatia where we had the best part of a day to explore before continuing our journey along the Italian coast all the way to Rome. The various included excursions at Dubrovnik ranged from tuk tuk tour, countryside escape, coastal towns and village visits – plenty to whet the appetite. I opted for a relaxed visit to the Old Town and a chance to walk the city walls without the crowds of high season and it was the perfect introduction to such an interesting and pretty city.
Back on board I was also lucky to sample the Culinary Arts Kitchen with a short cookery class. There is a supplement for these classes but with top chefs, high tech equipment and the swankiest kitchen I’ve cooked in it was lots of fun and an added extra I’d recommend. Our visit was perfectly timed to enjoy the sunset (with a mandatory glass of bubbles) while we cooked, and it rounded the day off perfectly.
All in all this was a really lovely experience and I can’t sing the praises enough. From the moment we set sail, leaving the twinkling lights of Ancona behind us, waking up to the terracotta tiles of Dubrovnik on day two, to skirting the dramatic Italian coastline on day 3 (we even passed a smoking Stromboli) every step of the journey held a new treat. If you love the luxury and comfort of a top hotel, the delights of fine dining and the opportunity to visit new cultures and explore a range of cities I know you’ll love Regent Seven Seas. I’m converted – please give me a call if you would like to be too!
