Fun, food, friends, and football live! Splendor February 8-22, 2023

[kjbacon]

The wait is finally over and today we reunite with Mudhen for our next adventure on Regent together! This will be our first cruise on The Splendor and I just can’t wait. Food was my career and now is my hobby so expect plenty of food porn. We also look forward to a Philadelphia Eagles 🦅💚🦅 victory on Sunday. Everyone, please feel free to chime in and join the fun!! 

[Zqueeze1]

Two of my favorite things: food porn and live reports!   We wish you and Mudhen a great and fun filled cruise and look forward to your posts. 
Z and TB

[crusin7]

We just got off the Splendor.  Good luck with the internet.  I couldn’t post any pictures. Cheers!

 

[RachelG]

Agree with Zquese--love trip reports and food porn.  Hope you are able to post. 

[kjbacon]

The Splendor is gorgeous and it’s now our favorite ship. The back deck of La Veranda has some privacy dividers that are beautiful.

 

Lunch was great with the signature prime rib, perfectly cooked, and this is the first time I’ve seen the option of the ribs.

 

We are wowed with the Observation Lounge, a huge improvement and we will be spending plenty of time enjoying it.

 

So far, all crew members have been terrific. We had a wonderful reunion with head sommelier, Georgiana. The list of included wines has improved and the Bordeaux we had with lunch was very, very nice.

 

Day one is always so special!!

Edited February 8, 2023 by kjbacon

[pingpong1]

Our first Splendor cruise will be in November, so we're looking forward to yours and Mudhen's reports and pictures!  Best Regards.

[kjbacon]

Last night was a great night! The Mudhen and kjbacon reunion was a fabulous time. We had cocktails in the Observation Lounge and agree with other posters that Gino is very good. We had a Washington state Merlot that was nice. We have been very pleased with the complimentary wines.

 

We had picked Sette Mari for dinner to have the Miami skyline in view but the weather was not (and is not) cooperating. It is very windy! Dinner was indoors instead but was still a wonderful night.

 

We had a Tuscan Chianti from the complimentary wine list that was very good. We shared two pasta appetizers that were mixed with a very weak shells in champagne clam sauce and a good mushroom risotto.

 

 

Jack had the lamb chops with potatoes for his main and said the lamb was good and the potatoes were excellent. I had an impromptu Veal Milanese (built out of the veal parm) that was absolute perfection. 

 

 

Service was excellent. Since we had done our duty so well (sampling lots of the complimentary wine list), we opted out of dessert and stumbled back to the cabin for a much needed good night’s sleep.

 

Day one was fantastic! Today is the first of two sea days.

[2012_Alaska_bound]

17 hours ago, kjbacon said:

Lunch was great with the signature prime rib, perfectly cooked, and this is the first time I’ve seen the option of the ribs.

 

Yum. I've never seen the ribs out either!

[kjbacon]

Everything continues to be wonderful, except for the weather. We are in quite the storm and it is expected to last all day again today.

 

Yesterday, we had lunch in chartreuse and dinner in Prime 7. Highlights from lunch included the goat cheese appetizer and the onion Gruyère tart on salad.

 

 

We had a very nice Bordeaux at Prime 7. The complimentary wines have improved. The tomato soup amuse bouche is always one of my favorites.

 

 

The crab cake appetizer converted to a very good main course with the addition of sone truffle fries.

 

Today we will be bouncing around a good bit again and have the wine connoisseur’s lunch.

[CruiserFromMaine]

I enjoyed the included Chianti as well. And the Observation Lounge is a great place in the evening if you enjoy piano music—Gino is fabulous!

 

We we’re surprised at the quality of the internet access, considering what we had read. It wasn’t perfect but very good. Food and service were excellent! 

[RachelG]

I like the idea of the crab cakes for a main course.  I always end up eating too much and get full before the main course in P7.

[carolina cruisin]

3 hours ago, RachelG said:

I like the idea of the crab cakes for a main course.  I always end up eating too much and get full before the main course in 

8 hours ago, kjbacon said:

Everything continues to be wonderful, except for the weather. We are in quite the storm and it is expected to last all day again today.

 

Yesterday, we had lunch in chartreuse and dinner in Prime 7. Highlights from lunch included the goat cheese appetizer and the onion Gruyère tart on salad.

 

 

We had a very nice Bordeaux at Prime 7. The complimentary wines have improved. The tomato soup amuse bouche is always one of my favorites.

 

 

The crab cake appetizer converted to a very good main course with the addition of sone truffle fries.

 

Today we will be bouncing around a good bit again and have the wine connoisseur’s lunch.

We are onboard and riding along. Everything so far is great, except the weather. Should calm down later today. Looking forward to Aruba tomorrow. 

[mrstanley]

Yep… very bumpy onboard.

The complimentary red wines have not improved. We find them bitter . The smoked salmon served in La Veranda is awful. Have had much better on past Regent cruises. Looking forward to better weather in Aruba! 

[Wendy The Wanderer]

Interesting.  I had good smoked salmon several times in La Veranda just the week before last.

 

Hoping for good weather in the south!

[makai 7]

Enjoy the cruise!  We will be on splendor in October, and I can’t wait!
I never thought to make the crabcakes a main.  What a fabulous idea!

[kjbacon]

As much as we love the Explorer, we love Splendor more. The ship is comfortable and gorgeous with many improvements over her sister ship. The weather has been horrible but everything else is spot on. Service has been outstanding and the food has been extremely good with only the occasional miss.

 

The wine connoisseur lunch yesterday was spectacular, not to be missed and worth every penny. An enthusiastic staff, creative dishes, and truly fine wines made for a memorable afternoon. Georgiana is a gem.

 

 

The table set was so inviting.

 

 

The first course of lobster medallions with Bollinger Brut Champagne was a delightful start to this fine meal.

 

We were all surprised by the Foie Gras on banana bread with candied pineapple paired with a Cloudy Bay Sav Blanc. It worked beautifully!

 

The fish course was everyone’s favorite course, at least at our table. The miso glazed sablefish with chive mash was paired with a Shafer Red Shoulder Ranch Chardonnay, just amazing.

 

The meat couse was a perfectly roasted beef tenderloin, bordelaise sauce, potato confit, and a shallot compote paired with a Tenuta San Guido Sassicaia, a super Tuscan, that is now my absolute favorite wine.

 

Dessert was a Chocolate Cheesecake, infused with Irish stout, topped with toasted marshmallow that was really delicious. To be fair, I didn’t taste the dessert wine so I cannot comment.

 

Portions were perfect. We were full and satisfied but not stuffed.

 

Happy hour in the Observation Lounge was wild with waves crashing over the bow. Gino on piano is very good. We went to Sette Mari intending for a light bite but gave into temptation when we saw they had osso-buco and Gorgonzola crusted filet. Both dishes were fantastic!

 

 

Yesterday was a food day for the books. The weather conditions improved somewhat over night so it is not as rough as it’s been. Looking forward to more improvement there! Today, a light breakfast and a light lunch before our (weather hopeful) shorex in Aruba. 

[2012_Alaska_bound]

Wonderful food pix! Sorry you had a bumpy ride, but glad you didn't miss any of the delicious food because of it.

[gwesq]

GoBirds!!   Fly Eagles Fly!   I understand we’ll be having quite the Superbowl party onboard.  Can’t wait!

 

Looking out at clear blue waters now, and able to walk in a straight line for the first time in 2 days!  🙂

[Wendy The Wanderer]

3 hours ago, gwesq said:

GoBirds!!   Fly Eagles Fly!   I understand we’ll be having quite the Superbowl party onboard.  Can’t wait!

 

Looking out at clear blue waters now, and able to walk in a straight line for the first time in 2 days!  🙂

G., glad you're having a good time, sorry about the weather. Hopefully it'll be better while you're down among the islands. Good luck tomorrow!

[kjbacon]

Yesterday was Bonaire and we enjoyed a brisk, long walk through town. The Renaissance hotel and mall is worth seeing.

We had a very special dinner last night and I’m always amazed at how much Regent will do for you! I called our travel agent a couple weeks before boarding to ask if it was possible to get oysters. He contacted regent and they said they would if they could. These were some of the very best oysters Rockefeller that we’ve ever had. The tray was full and beautifully plated but I couldn’t snap the shot fast enough!!

 

We also shared the caviar service, another delicious and gorgeous platter.

 

And while it might not be a common pairing, we chose our favorite Lamb Korma for our main course and it was delectable. We also had delicious mixed veggies, rice, and chicken tandoori. Sides of fresh salad, relish, and raita were perfect.

 

 

If you love Indian food, I’d recommend that you request an Indian meal. Please give the staff a couple days notice and the chef prefers to create the menu. Well worth it!! Not my best pictures, true, but an evening of food that good with martinis and good friends beats great pictures any day.

 

Today is Curaçao with iffy weather but tonight we cheer for our Eagles 🦅💚🦅 in the Super Bowl!!

[gwesq]

3 hours ago, kjbacon said:

Yesterday was Bonaire and we enjoyed a brisk, long walk through town. The Renaissance hotel and mall is worth seeing.

 

 

 

Today is Curaçao with iffy weather but tonight we cheer for our Eagles 🦅💚🦅 in the Super Bowl!!

Must be a case of "FOOTBALL FEVER?"    Yesterday we were in Aruba!  🙂      

 

BIG GAME TONIGHT to cheer on our Iggles!   FLY EAGLES FLY!   27-23 Eagles!  

 

GO BIRDS!!!

[mrstanley]

Had the grilled veal chop in Prime 7 last night. Very tough and hard to cut. No flavor. Very dissatisfied. Smoked salmon still awful. On our cruise in November I couldn’t get enough of it. 

[gwesq]

16 minutes ago, mrstanley said:

Had the grilled veal chop in Prime 7 last night. Very tough and hard to cut. No flavor. Very dissatisfied. Smoked salmon still awful. On our cruise in November I couldn’t get enough of it. 

Same issue with the veal in Sette Mari

[Roccaforte]

I had the veal Marsala in Sette Mari.  It was tough and lacking in Marsala flavor.  Probably the only disappointing meal we had,

[gwesq]

Seems they may be having a VEAL issue onboard, as there are issues with Veal CHop, Veal Marsala, and Veal Scallopine.   Maybe we'll stick to fish.