What's it like onboard Seven Seas Splendor?

The elegant, all-suite, all-balcony Regent Seven Seas ship, Seven Seas Splendor, is one of the most decadent luxury cruise ships cruising today. It's beloved by many for its refined atmosphere, attentive onboard service and perfectly furnished restaurants, lounges and deck spaces.

Cruise.co.uk Chief Marketing Officer, Loic Robertson, had the chance to spend a few days onboard this sparkling ship while exploring bucket list cruise destination the Norwegian Fjords. In this blog, he shares his thoughts on the ship, including some of his favourite places onboard, and his top tips for cruising with Seven Seas Splendor.

Read on to learn everything you need to know about cruising with Seven Seas Splendor...

Even before we embarked, we knew she was going to be special. Just from the outside as we walked up the dock to where the Seven Seas Splendor was berthed in Bergen, the pristine white paint exterior and beautifully styled balconies gave a hint of the luxury within. It was just the start of what can only be described as the most luxurious cruise ever. We had spent a lovely night pre-embarkation in Bergen - giving us a chance to explore this lovely city with its colourful shop fronts and rich Norwegian history. After exploring the lively fish market, we took the Fløibanen funicular railway up Mount Fløyen for the most amazing view over the city.

A short stroll through the woods along a well-marked trail brought us to a secluded lake where you could paddle Canadian canoes for free. Back down in the city and whilst exploring the colourful buildings of Bryggen we stumbled across a traditional Norwegian restaurant, “Bryggen Tracteursted” serving Norwegian “Tapas” with a modern twist - a selection of small local dishes which allowed us to try many of the specialities including stockfish, pink whale and reindeer tartar. The following day, we embarked Seven Seas Splendor. As you board, the level of service and luxurious surroundings are immediately evident. From being handed a glass of champagne whilst collecting the keys to our Suite, to our bags being magically whisked away and reappearing inside our Suite, it was all very slick and very impressive.

First impressions of the ship are truly spectacular - from the stunning sweeping staircase in the central atrium, the beautiful art adorning all the walls (there’s even a Picasso in the Prime 7 restaurant), to the ornate lifts quietly gliding between the decks - there’s a lot to take in and it’s all very stylish. Everywhere you look, staff are on hand - either to wish you a pleasant day or help answer a question. Everyone is eager to assist in any way they can and nothing seems to be too much trouble. We made our way to our Suite, where we were pleasantly surprised by the quality of the fittings and the space we had. A super-sized double bed, sitting area with sofa and enormous flat-screen TV, a walk-in wardrobe with lots of hanging space and drawers, a full-sized bathroom with double sinks, bath and a walk-in shower! And a proper hair dryer - everything has been thought of. Plus there’s a huge balcony complete with chairs and table for sundowners and a luxurious sun lounger. The welcome bottle of champagne on ice was a welcome surprise.

The highlight of the cruise was definitely the food - the range and quality of the food on offer is staggering. We loved the hustle and bustle of the very grand Compass Rose, which is the largest restaurant onboard. The food was exquisitely presented and we were able to choose whatever we wanted from the menu and in any combination. Do you want lobster with that steak? No problem. The best restaurant for steak was no doubt Prime 7, where they offer the most amazing range of cuts of meat - from the tenderest fillet to the tastiest Rib-eye. All served with wine recommended by the resident sommelier (although if you have your own wine preference, you can just ask for that).

The food highlights for us were definitely ‘Chartreuse’ and ‘Pacific Rim’. Chartreuse is a more formal dining experience serving classic French food with a modern twist. The decor is perfect and it’s the ideal restaurant for a romantic dinner.

The food is exquisite - served beautifully and elegantly. Every mouthful was a delight. Pacific Rim is the Pan-Asian restaurant where you are met at reception with a giant stone carving of a dragon which immediately sets the scene. Again the decor and ambience was perfect, as was the food which was some of the best Asian food we’ve ever had. There’s also 24-hour room service with an extensive menu of snacks and full meals. We used it a couple of times to order champagne, olives and dips while we were getting ready for dinner.

Around the ship, there are numerous bars to choose from, all stylish and exclusive in decor and each with a unique character. Our favourite was definitely the Observation Lounge which gave panoramic views of the sunset while enjoying a cocktail with live piano performances every night.

The Constellation Theatre had a wide range of entertainment on offer - from full-on musical shows to comedy and even a Beatles cover band. We found you had to time your dinner reservations carefully to allow time to eat and then get to the Theatre for the shows. The theatre filled up quickly so being prompt was important to get a good seat.

However, if you do happen to miss the start, we found you can quietly enter the Theatre’s Upper Level from Deck 5 where there were always plenty of seats available.

There are plenty of excursions on offer and many included in the price of the cruise, so not to be missed. Booking early is essential, but if your chosen excursion is full, you can always present yourself at the Excursions Desk the night before, or on the day as there are often cancellations.

On deck, there are plenty of activities to take part in - from lounging by the pool on the super comfortable loungers or in one of the numerous hot tubs to a relaxing game of mini-golf or paddle tennis. The games room is also definitely worth a visit where there are daily mah-jong and card games to join in with. Also of notable mention is the stunning Library which is a lovely room to quietly relax in with a huge selection of amazing books surrounded by works of art.

Finally, no ultra luxury cruise would be complete without a visit to the spa, and Seven Seas Splendor does not disappoint. An incredible infinity pool looks over the stern and the wake with separate male and female steam rooms and sauna to enjoy. The perfect place to chill and relax! And they also have champagne!

Top tips

• Book your shore excursions as soon as you confirm your cruise via the app. Spaces fill quickly, especially on the included excursions.

• If you do not manage to get an excursion of choice, check the night before or even on the day for cancellations. It’s often still possible to go.

• Time your dinner reservations carefully if you intend to attend the show in the Constellation Theatre. Shows are short at around 45-60 minutes.

• If you are not concerned about seeing a show, aim to book your table while the show is on as the restaurants will be a little quieter.

• Mention to your Balcony Suite butler your favourite tipple and they will make sure your Suite fridge is suitably stocked.