Sailing with style

Deborah Stone gets a taste of luxury on Seven Seas Splendor

Today Falmouth, tomorrow the world! Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ new ship Seven Seas Splendor made her debut with a charming four-night jaunt along England’s south coast visiting Dorset and Cornwall, a perfect setting for her understated elegance.

It was all over too quickly, though, and after an early autumn dip into the Med, it’s off to her spiritual home, Miami, for a winter in the Caribbean.

It’s been a strange beginning, because the ship was christened by model Christie Brinkley in Miami in February 2020, only managing a couple of sailings before lockdown.

Now, while still glistening, her great British unveiling came at the same time as an announcement of a new new ship, her sister Seven Seas Grandeur, ready to launch in November 2023. Seven Seas Splendor is a ship that has it all, with things that are generally extras – drinks, speciality restaurants, wi-fi, excursions and flights – all part of the package.

It’s a pleasingly small ship, just 750 passengers, and cabins are all super-smart – every one is a balcony suite. Top of the tree is the Regent Suite, said to be the biggest room sailing the seven seas. Stretching across the front of the ship, high above the captain’s wheelhouse, it’s a vast, luxurious penthouse with sun deck hot-tub, grand piano, two bedrooms (one with a £200,000 Swedish bed) and its own spa with sauna and steam room – perfect for the unlimited spa treatments that come with it. And you get a car and driver in every port so you don’t have to stoop to the unlimited (and excellent) free excursions everyone else gets.

But everyone has luxury – even the entry-level Veranda Suites have a queen-sized bed, comfy outside seating and a free mini bar that’s restocked as fast as you can drink it. Butler service starts at the Penthouse Suite level with pretty much whatever you want – bottle of wine here, bottle of gin there – along with daily canapes and chocs.

Dining is different to most cruise ships in that there isn’t actually a main dining room. Nearest to it is Compass Rose, rather grand yet not overwhelming, where daily dishes sit beside a wide array of always available favourites such as salmon and steak. Then you’re spoilt for choice. Prime 7 is a steakhouse where even the New York strip is a decent 12oz – although you can have a porterhouse (18oz or the mighty 36oz) or whole lobster. Pacific Rim cherry picks the best of Asia with tempura, Korean barbecue and much more. Sette Marie is an Italian in a posh way, a light pasta dish served between starter and main course, while Chartreuse, dark and Parisian in its décor, is richly French.

At lunch, even the on-deck offerings from the Pool Grill are top notch, shrimp skewers and oysters alongside cooked-to-order burgers and pizza. La Veranda is a conventional, albeit smart, breakfast and lunch buffet (although, for now, not self-service) with one half turning into Sette Mari for dinner. At lunch La Veranda also has a sheltered outdoor spot, serving grilled shrimp and other freshly sizzled small plates. And Coffee Connection serves specialist drinks – something else that’s usually charged for by cruise companies.

Too much choice? There’s also free 24-hour in-room dining, with the dinner menu based on the expansive menu in Compass Rose.

There’s plenty to do on board, in a reassuredly understated way. On deck there are not only rattan sun loungers but also huge, circular rattan beds with mattresses, big enough for two (or more!). The pool is large enough for a good wallow and there are hot-tubs too.

What’s unusual on this cruise ship is there’s no daily entry fee for some of the spa facilities. Anyone can pop in to enjoy the wood-panelled sauna with its sea views, steam room and cold room. A tucked away treat is the open-air infinity pool pouring over the back of the ship. There are plenty of treatment options, which do cost extra – and incur an 18 per cent service charge. A big, glass-walled gym full of top-notch machines runs the width of the ship and has free Pilates, yoga and meditation classes.

For the less active there’s a library and card room while on deck are lightly sporty pastimes… a net-covered paddle-tennis court, golf net, bocce (boules) court, shuffleboard, 18-hole putting green and croquet.

The Culinary Arts Kitchen is a sleek, stainless steel spot with 18 cooking stations for engaging cookery lessons, but at a cost – around £65.

Entertainment covers most bases. Early evening singers and pianists do pop covers in the Splendor Lounge, a livelier band takes to the stage later on in the Meridian Lounge while late evening drinks in the Observation Lounge are accompanied by a solo singer/pianist.

Shows in the glitzy Constellation Theatre are all-singing, all-dancing affairs, pop, rock and country covers with vague storylines.

But life on board is relaxed, like being in a grand hotel. The décor is old world – marble, gleaming wood and big black and white photos of historic European settings – mixed with contemporary chandeliers and other touches.

Because of its modest size, Seven Seas Splendor is easy to get around – no hiking from one end to another. And you never have to want for anything. Even if you don’t want to make a shore visit, it’s wonderful enough to stay onboard and enjoy the food and drink.

And it’s not as if the ship is abandoning Europe for the warm waters of the Caribbean. She’s back in Europe in May with some summer Southampton departures to northern waters.

More information at www.rssc.com