My wife, Heidi Leppert, and I are back to present another one of our “He Said, She Said” cruise reviews about our first shared luxury voyage—aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ spectacular Seven Seas Explorer no less.

Accommodations

He said: To start, it’s worth noting that the Seven Seas Explorer is a gorgeous ship, more on the inside than on the outside, especially when you step into the atrium and look up at the massive chandelier and lofty opening to the pool deck well above. After a quick glass elevator ride up to our Concierge Suite (She said: while sipping on a “welcome aboard” glass of Veuve Clicquot), our high praise continued.

Besides a massive balcony, the bathroom was impressively sized as well. Although I’d rather just have a huge shower, it was nice to see that, next to the bathtub, it was a larger size than is typical. Besides, I know my wife enjoyed the use of the tub, so all is well for including it. (She said: The tub was actually a shower/tub combo, so you could each have your own shower if you so desired.)

She said: If I was going to take a world cruise, I might choose Regent for the layout of the room alone. The room boasted more than ample hanging and drawer space. The bathroom is large and luxurious, and the living area and bedroom itself never felt cramped. All of the finishes in the room were luxurious and expensive and stylish.

Personally, I loved how the bed faced the window, not only for the wonderful ocean views but because when the ship is rolling, you’re just rocking head-to-toe instead of feeling like you’re going to fall out of the side of the bed.

READ MORE: Regent Seven Seas Cruises Makes a Grand First Impression with Seven Seas Explorer

Activities

He said: We mostly enjoyed everything we could together, but on a short 2-night preview cruise, there were a couple of experiences we had to try out individually. In my case, I had the chance to partake in a cooking class at the Culinary Arts Kitchen, a marvelous facility with separate stations for every student. All the tools, an electric range top, sink and ingredients awaited our preparation.

I must say I think I did a pretty fine job of crafting more dishes in an hour and a half than I probably do the rest of the year. That’s what microwaves are for, right? I was actually very proud of how my seared scallop and drunken cake turned out, and I definitely learned a lot in a short period of time. (She said: I’m still waiting for you to bring those new culinary skills home. Ahem. Although you are my favorite onion chopper, honey.)

She said: I enjoyed the Indian Ocean Detoxifying Ritual in the Canyon Ranch Spa, which is not for the modest. I’m really glad it was me and not Jason. (He said: Thank you for taking one for the team, love.) (She said: It’s what I do.) The treatment starts with a full body scrub, followed by a shower to rinse and then a mini-massage combined with the application of a wonderful shea butter and fig cream. It left my skin very smooth for days, and it was a wonderful way to relax.

After my treatment, I enjoyed the heated tile loungers and then spent a few minutes outside by the generously-sized aft infinity pool. The prices seemed on the higher side, but after all, you’re on a luxury cruise. (He said: In fact, they may have seemed high because they bundle the service charge within each line item.)

READ MORE: What Sets Regent Seven Seas Cruises Apart

The Cafe

He said: As one would expect, participating in any activities on board (even those where you’re making food) will work up an appetite, and the food onboard the Seven Seas Explorer is great. If anything I was slightly surprised by fewer choices than are available on corporate cousin Oceania Cruises' newest ships, but the customizable choices available at Compass Rose more than made up for it, but you’ll read about those in part two. In the meantime, I’ll let Heidi tell you about The Cafe.

She said: Although our trip was just a whirlwind two days, I had a chance to grab a magazine – on cruising, naturally (He said: Two of my articles are in the latest issue of "Cruise Travel" to be exact.) – and enjoy a second breakfast. The cafe was bustling, but I had no problem finding someone to take my coffee order, which was delivered promptly. There is a small buffet with a lovely spread of fruit and pastries which I believe changes to sandwiches and cookies as the day progresses.

The coffee menu was impressive, with many different drinks to choose from, which is a definite plus for me. In cafes on some other cruise lines, I’ve found the selection to be very limited, and I’ve sometimes been met with confusion when ordering what we Americans consider to be basic drinks, such as an iced mocha. Kudos to Regent for making me feel right at home. Except I don’t have an endless supply of chocolate croissants at home, which is probably a good thing.

La Veranda

He said: As shipboard buffets go, La Veranda is a great one, complete with tables inside or just aft on the al fresco deck, which was our choice on that lovely Los Angeles afternoon. We only had time to grab a quick lunch here on embarkation day, but it made a delicious first impression with a wide variety of premium items including fresh shellfish like bay shrimp and crab legs as well as prime rib.

She said: I really wish we had more time to eat in the buffet, but one can only pack so many meals into two days. My slice of prime rib was absolutely delicious, one of the best I’ve had from any restaurant. I topped it with horseradish shavings, a new twist for me on the classic horseradish sauce, and every bite was juicy and full of flavor. Regent knows how to do beef, as I will further attest to in our article next week featuring the Compass Rose dining room.

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