5 reasons why you want to go on a culinary cruise with Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Going on a culinary cruise: it’s the most delicious holiday I never knew I would ever take. In fact, I can’t wait to go again. Cruising not your thing? Just wait, because I’m giving you 5 reasons why you’ll want to take a culinary cruise with Regent Seven Seas Cruises too.

Honestly: cruising didn’t appeal to me. The very idea of bobbing around at sea among hundreds of elderly people and not being able to leave whenever I wanted? No thanks. But I was persuaded – ‘it’s really delicious and fun, yes, you’ll love it too, just wait and see’ – and so I ended up on one of the most luxurious cruises in the world, Regent’s Seven Seas Splendor. Because hey, if you have to be persuaded, you might as well go with the best straight away, right?

Regent: a luxury destination in its own right

Under the motto ‘Under the Midnight Sun’, the journey would sail through Northern Europe, meaning that, besides the luxurious culinary experiences on board, we could also visit several Scandinavian cities. If I put it like that, it already sounds great, right? It gets even better…

Because, as soon became clear: at Regent, it’s not about the destinations you visit, because honestly: this ship is a luxury culinary destination in its own right. Of course it’s wonderful to visit different ports and countries, but with five restaurants (three of them specialty restaurants) on board and a culinary studio offering cooking workshops, food lovers essentially never need to leave the ship.

A diverse crowd

And so it happened that, on an ordinary Wednesday morning in Riga (Estonia), I boarded what soon turned out to be a far from ordinary ship: Regent’s Seven Seas Splendor. The first thing I noticed: where were the walking frames? Okay, there were older guests (70+) on board too, but the crowd turned out to be quite diverse. I immediately learned two important things: all food and drinks on board are free – including top-notch wines and cocktails! – and as long as you have your special card (credit-card sized) with you, everything will be fine.

5 reasons why you’ll want to cruise with Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Reason 1: the food and drinks on board

Starting your day with a caviar, Bloody Mary or Sangria breakfast or an extensive room-service breakfast in your room, looking out over the water, having lunch by the pool and dining elegantly in one of the specialty restaurants in the evening… Forget lining up at a chaotic buffet; Regent has fantastic restaurants. A total of 86 chefs work in the ship’s kitchens. There are even three butchers on board! Every day, a tasting meal is prepared from the dinner menu, which the executive chef assesses for presentation and taste.

Whether you want Italian, French, Asian, American steaks or another world cuisine, you can have it all here and it’s all very good. The fact that the restaurants here are every bit as good as Michelin-starred establishments is also evident from the décor. At specialty restaurant Prime 7, for example, there’s an original Miró and a Picasso screen print on the wall. Remarkable? Absolutely! But not really surprising, because Regent employs a genuine art curator.

A sip of Louis XIII Rémy Martin: also possible

And of course sommeliers are ready to serve you the finest wines. These are included in the price, but if you’d rather drink a very posh Bordeaux, you can do that too – and reassuringly, it doesn’t cost much more here than it would in a shop. The quality of the restaurants is every bit as good as that of a Michelin-starred establishment, including the exceptionally high level of service. And would you like to sip a cocktail before and/or after dinner? There are five cocktail bars on board, and most cocktails are included in the price. If you really want to go all out and order a glass of Louis XIII Rémy Martin, you do have to pay extra ($245 for 30 millilitres).

Reason 2: the culinary activities

For food lovers, Regent’s Seven Seas Splendor is a celebration in itself, quite apart from the selection of different (specialty) restaurants on board. The luxury cruise line has a special Epicurean Perfection programme. In short: a voyage of discovery for culinary pleasure-seekers, both on board and ashore. On the ship, you can take in-depth cooking workshops at the ultra-modern culinary training centre Culinary Arts Kitchen, enjoy regional barbecues on deck, and take part in various gastronomic land activities, tours and private tastings.

I experienced first-hand how much fun it is to visit local producers with a local guide and take part in exclusive tastings. For example, I visited a cider producer in Finland with several other guests from the ship and went to a tasting at a traditional salmon smokehouse. There are also excursions to local markets, led by the ship’s chefs, where you search together for regional delicacies for dinner on board. And what about chefs taking you to their favourite restaurant ashore? I had lunch at restaurant RADO in the centre of Tallinn (Estonia), which is listed in the Michelin Guide. Great fun!

Reason 3: large yet intimate

Some people might like the idea of sailing on the largest cruise ship in the world, but for those who prefer something a little more elegant: Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ ships are large and still feel very intimate. Seven Seas Splendor has 373 suites, ten decks and accommodates up to 746 guests and 548 crew members, but it’s never crowded or noisy, you never have to stand in line anywhere, and the personal attention is fantastic. The service is unparalleled; everyone here is focused on one thing: making sure you lack nothing. The staff on board are incredibly friendly, wherever you go. And impressively, it never feels forced.

Reason 4: the most relaxing way to travel ever

When cruising on Regent Seven Seas Splendor, you visit a different destination every day. In a short amount of time, this allows you to visit different countries and cities without having to pack and unpack your suitcase or change accommodation each time. There are various activities you can book at every port, often at no extra cost. Free shuttle buses run to and from the city throughout the day, and everything is wonderfully organised. The fact that you don’t have to arrange anything yourself is incredibly relaxing.

And another lovely thing: as soon as you come back on board, you never have to wait long for a refreshing drink or snack. In fact: I’ve never experienced service as fast as it is here on board. And because everything is included, even gratuities, you really don’t have to worry about a thing – seriously: I didn’t even see my wallet up close during the entire trip. On many cruises, there are all kinds of additional costs, from a drinks package to gratuities; with Regent, you really know in advance what you’ll spend. Very convenient.

Reason 5: there’s always something to do

Whether you want to see a Motown show, a tribute to Abba or a dance show, there’s live music and performances every evening, and even – for those who want more than entertainment – enriching Speaker Series sessions covering geopolitics (what is China’s future role on the world stage?) and how to stay fit and healthy while still eating well (very useful when fantastic food is within reach 24/7). I also tried to stay fit, and at the most beautiful location where I’ve ever stood on an exercise bike: on the aft deck, looking out over the Baltic Sea.

A lottery ticket worth winning

The only people who are negative about cruising are people who have never cruised, I heard someone on board say. And I completely agree. I’m going to buy a lottery ticket for the first time in my life, because I’ve already decided: I want to go again. And I already know which ship: the new Seven Seas Prestige, due to be completed in 2026. I’ll have to win the jackpot first, but then this really will be the most luxurious cruise you can take. Weighing 77,000 tonnes and accommodating just 850 guests, Seven Seas Prestige will make you feel as though you’re travelling with your private butler. And honestly: that sounds wonderful to me!

Find more information here about the wonderful cruises of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

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