Seven Seas Splendor
Fodor’s Expert Review
Ship Overview
Car...oceanic
When it debuted in early 2020 as the newest vessel in the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet—a title it will hold until late 2023 when sister ship Seven Seas Grandeur is christened—Seven Seas Splendor became the crown jewel of a luxury cruise line known for offering dazzling décor, impeccable service, and a wide array of itineraries to some of the world’s most coveted destinations. Carrying 732 passengers, Seven Seas Splendor masters the art of indulgence by offering guests an opportunity to enjoy grand, luxuriously-appointed spaces in an intimate, mid-size-vessel setting. The ship features 366 spacious suites, each with a private balcony, and guests are welcomed by a gracious crew of 567. Plus, with Regent’s all-inclusive pricing, pretty much everything—all onboard dining, unlimited wines and spirits, gratuities, valet laundry service, Wi-Fi, transfers, airfare, and even shore excursions—is included in the cruise fare. Free two-or-three-night land programs are also included on select voyages.Read More
As impressive as Seven Seas Splendor is physically, with its polished marble, gleaming crystal chandeliers and luxe upholstery and linens, the ship truly shines in the superb dining experiences it offers guests. Its eight restaurants are some of the best at sea and its onboard Culinary Arts Kitchen is a state-of-the-art teaching center (at an extra fee) ideal for food-lovers eager to learn how to create dishes inspired by the global destinations Regent visits.
A posh pool area with cushioned chaises, two whirlpools, and a chic al fresco bar, plus an aft infinity pool located off of the Serene Spa & Wellness center, offer plenty of space to relax, while several sophisticated lounges provide nightly entertainment as Seven Seas Splendor follows the sun to almost 250 ports of call on its currently scheduled itineraries.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW
What to expect on board
Staterooms & Cabins
The all-suite Seven Seas Splendor doesn’t skimp when it comes to creating enviable accommodations. The ship’s 10 suite categories are decorated in rich brown and Champagne hues and feature plush fabrics, soft leather, and elegant marble. Veranda Suites are 307 square feet (including an 88-square-foot balcony) and have a queen-size bed, sofa, table, and a bathroom with a glass-enclosed shower; similarly, Deluxe Veranda Suites range from 308 to 361 square feet, depending on the size of the balcony. Superior Suites are 415 to 464 square feet, including generously-sized balconies, with a king-size bed, walk-in closet and a more spacious bathroom with a separate shower and tub; Concierge Suites are the same dimensions as Superior Suites but with added amenities, including a free one-night pre-cruise hotel stay with breakfast and transfers and priority specialty dining reservations.
The ship’s top-tier suites also offer these upgraded amenities, plus the services of a personal butler. They include Penthouse Suites (561 to 644 square feet), featuring a generous living space and a balcony with a lounge area; Seven Seas Suites (814 square feet), offering a separate living room and bedroom along with a spacious balcony; Splendor Suites (821 to 918 square feet), also featuring a separate living room and bedroom, with the addition of a dining area; Grand Suites (1,277 to 1,836 square feet), featuring generous living and sleeping areas, a dining area and a second bathroom; and Master Suites (1,895 to 2,108 square feet), featuring even more spacious living and sleeping space, plus a massive wrap-around balcony. In a class all its own is the Regent Suite, which sprawls over 4,443 square feet (including a 1,292-square-foot wrap-around balcony with a private plunge pool) and features two bedrooms, a private in-suite spa (with sauna, steam room, jetted tub and free spa services) and a $200,000 custom-made Hästens bed.
Solo travelers have an opportunity to book a cruise at a reduced single supplement (25% to 50% above the per person double occupancy fare and 75% above for certain suites) on select voyages.
Accessible staterooms, which can accommodate travelers in wheelchairs needing wider doorways and roll-in showers, are very limited on Seven Seas Splendor and are only available in two Concierge Suites and a single Penthouse Suite. Most areas of the ship are accessible via the two elevator banks.
Food & Drink
As cosseting as the luxurious suites aboard Seven Seas Splendor are, Regent’s five-star formula goes well beyond that to deliver some of the finest dining experiences at sea—in a selection of beautifully designed restaurants. Meals at all eight dining venues are included in the cruise fare and reservations are only required for the four specialty restaurants: Chartreuse, serving exquisite French cuisine (from duck foie gras terrine to beef tenderloin with truffles); Pacific Rim, offering flavorful and generously portioned pan-Asian dishes (from Peking duck & watermelon salad to Thai red chicken curry); Prime 7, featuring classic steakhouse fare (from lump crab cake to signature surf ‘n turf); and Sette Mare at La Veranda, an Italian venue within the La Veranda restaurant serving traditional favorites (from spaghetti alla carbonara to ossobuco alla Milanese). These eateries are all very popular, so passengers need to reserve them in advance (possible 75 days before the sail date); Chartreuse and Prime 7 are also both open for lunch.
The other four onboard eateries are La Veranda, the indoor/outdoor buffet restaurant that’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner; Compass Rose, the elegant main dining room serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a rotating selection of chef’s specials and all-time favorites; the al fresco Pool Grill, where guests can enjoy burgers, pizzas, and salads for lunch or dinner; and Coffee Connection, serving specialty coffees and snacks. Room service is also available 24 hours a day.
The nightlife aboard Regent ships matches the overall vibe. There’s a sophistication to the six bars and lounges, which range from the panoramic Observation Lounge, a posh, forward-facing space on deck 11 with live piano music that’s a popular pre-dinner gathering spot, to the Splendor Lounge on deck 4, which features a stage where the ship’s band or duo entertain, typically until midnight. The equally elegant Meridien Lounge on deck 5 is an alternative venue for socializing and also features musical performances, while the chic Pool Bar on deck 11 is staffed by friendly bartenders serving frozen cocktails, Aperol spritzes, and other favorite vacation libations. And for aficionados of cigars and cognac, there’s the intimate Connoisseur Club on deck 11.
Entertainment
The two-level Constellation Theater (decks 4 and 5) lives up to its name with gleaming miniature dome lights illuminated against a backdrop of sapphire blue and polished wood banquette-style seats. It is Seven Seas Splendor’s main entertainment venue, the setting for theatrical reviews that channel the nostalgia of the cruise line’s mostly 55-plus passengers with tributes to disco, Broadway musicals, and special performances by international musical talent—plus the ship’s staff get to perform in their own Crew Show. All Regent ships also feature equally elegant bars and lounges where a resident five-piece band, a piano player and a duo who perform crowd-pleasing hits from the past several decades that include tributes to Frank Sinatra, ABBA, and assorted rock ‘n roll icons. For all its polished sophistication, the ship’s entertainment is refreshingly down-to-earth and unstuffy. There’s nothing cutting-edge about it, but that’s what Regent passengers seem to love.
Spa & Fitness
Onboard indulgence gets physical in Serene Spa & Wellness, a deck 5 enclave of polished marble and heated tile where dozens of globally sourced, nature-based massages, facials, and body treatments are on the menu, from a body polish using sea lavender and samphire (an algae) to a Brazilian bamboo massage. Spa services cost extra—prices are a bit above what you might pay on premium cruise lines but similar to what’s charged on most luxury vessels—and spa guests can also enjoy the Hydrothermal Suite with its multi-sensory aromatherapy steam room, chill room, infrared sauna, and experiential showers. Beauty salon and barber services are also available at an extra charge. All passengers, not just those who book spa appointments, can enjoy the aft infinity-edge pool. The fitness equipment and yoga, Pilates, and meditation classes are also available to all guests.
Key cruising tips
Health & Safety
Regent’s COVID-19-related polices remain subject to specific local health regulations in the port of embarkation and the ports visited, but as of late 2022 the line only requires a pre-embarkation negative COVID-19 PCR or antigen test for passengers who are unvaccinated; vaccinated passengers need only show proof of vaccination (with booster doses possibly required for some destinations). Regent says that vaccination/testing requirements will be relayed to guests approximately 30 days prior to boarding. Onboard health and safety measures include increased hand sanitizer stations, continuous ship-wide cleaning and upgraded medical-grade air filters to remove 99.9 percent of airborne pathogens.
Dress Code
This is a sophisticated ship and passengers are generally well-attired, especially when dining in specialty restaurants and attending onboard gala celebrations, such as the Captain’s Welcome Reception. The daytime dress code is resort casual—although after 6:00 PM casual wear (t-shirts, shorts, sneakers) is only allowed at the Pool Grill and Pool Bar. Evening attire is elegant casual (pants or skirt and a blouse or a dress for ladies and slacks with a collared shirt for men), but on sailings of 16 nights or more, formal and semi-formal attire is optional on two of the evenings.
Junior Cruisers
Children are welcome aboard Seven Seas Splendor, but they must be at least six months old on the day of embarkation (one year if the itinerary features three or more sea days) and all passengers under age 18 must occupy the same stateroom as their accompanying adult. There are no onboard activities for children, with the exception of select sailings (typically during the summer and holiday period in family-friendly locales) when Regent’s Club Mariner program, designed for age groups 5-8, 9-12 and 13-17, is supervised by specially trained counselors.
Service
Regent’s personable and well-trained crew members are up to the task of matching the upscale ambience of its ships. Guests aboard Seven Seas Splendor can expect waiters, bartenders, and stateroom attendants to greet them by name and know how they like their coffee and what they like to drink. Passengers in top-tier suites have a personal butler at their service to keep their in-suite bars stocked, deliver late afternoon canapes, and deal with mundane tasks such as restaurant reservations and clothes pressing.
Tipping
Staff and crew gratuities are included in all Regent cruise fares and additional tips are not expected or encouraged—but some passengers do give specific crew members they have gotten to know, especially a friendly stateroom attendant or bartender, an added tip as a thank you.