Splendor! The Pre-Christening Inaugural Transatlantic Cruise! A LIVE Joint Blog!

[forgap]

Rich, a part of me wants you to enjoy the ship, enjoy the sites, and enjoy your time with Ginny.  Another part of me wants pictures and narrative every hour on the hour.   What could possibly be preventing you from giving minute by minute live updates like the New York Times does?  😎

[ClefsDor]

We have 11 months to go before our first cruise with Regent and on the Splendor. Thank you to all for taking the time to post on your vacation and whetting our appetites for what we can expect!

[Mr Rumor]

Look what was here to greet us when we returned to our room tonight.  We’re on the Maiden Voyage after all!  Now bring on the MV door plaque!

[Mr Rumor]

13 hours ago, Hambagahle said:

The more I learn about Captain Serena the more I regret that she won't be on board for our 14 March cruise.  What a shame!!  But she certainly deserves some leave.

 

Gerry, Captain Serena confirmed to me she will be leaving the Splendor on February 25.  She spent seven months in 2019 in Ancona, with only two one-week breaks, so, yep, she needs a break.  She’ll return to her beloved Splendor in mid-May!

 

6 hours ago, Zqueeze1 said:

Does the Splendor have an infinity pool like the Explorer?  How is the chow onboard?  We need food porn. 
 
All of the comments about the Splendor and the wonderful time all are having has us contemplating cancelling an Oct cruise and booking the nine day Splendor cruise departing Miami on 28 Nov!  Karen and John better book this, too.

 

Yes, on the infinity pool, Z.  Haven’t had a chance to visit it yet.

 

So far, so delicious on the grub.  How about a little Pacific Rim food porn, for starters?  Splendor has debuted two new PR desserts; one of them is Don Papa Rum Cake, with white chocolate coconut mousse.  It’s great!

6 hours ago, forgap said:

Rich, a part of me wants you to enjoy the ship, enjoy the sites, and enjoy your time with Ginny.  Another part of me wants pictures and narrative every hour on the hour.   What could possibly be preventing you from giving minute by minute live updates like the New York Times does?  😎

Ha, the internet going down, like it did tonight, Jennifer!  But, rest assured, John Paul Rumor has just begun to blog!

[1teach53]

10 hours ago, Zqueeze1 said:

Rich:  thanks for posting the pics on Seville as well as others contributing to this thread. El Alcazar is on my Iberian bucket list as well as the Camino De Santiago. If you recall, The Boss and I were not able to do the Seville tour in Nov 16 when we were all on the Explorer’s TA due to both of us getting very sick. Consequently, we missed all the Spanish ports except for Malaga. 
Does the Splendor have an infinity pool like the Explorer?  How is the chow onboard?  We need food porn. 
Hammie: homework for you:  food porn pics during your Panama Canal cruise!  
All of the comments about the Splendor and the wonderful time all are having has us contemplating cancelling an Oct cruise and booking the nine day Splendor cruise departing Miami on 28 Nov!  Karen and John better book this, too. 

Enjoy the rest of the cruise and peg the fun meter!

Z and TB

Lol!! If we win the lottery!😻💞😻

Karen 

[victoria81]

Here are my photos from the first cooking class ever held on the ship (at least for passengers). It was the Mediterranean cooking class. 
 

If anyone following this is from the Naples, Fl area and wants to talk please let me know. 

[Hambagahle]

Great photos - thank you both!    Question for victoria81 - any idea who the chef will be for the cooking classes on the 14 March cruise from San Diego?   I am more than curious and am signed up for 3 or 4 of them but there is a chef I would prefer to avoid!!

 

Rich - thanks for the explanation about the Captain.  Of course she needs leave...just so sorry we won't meet her!

[victoria81]

23 minutes ago, Hambagahle said:

Great photos - thank you both!    Question for victoria81 - any idea who the chef will be for the cooking classes on the 14 March cruise from San Diego?   I am more than curious and am signed up for 3 or 4 of them but there is a chef I would prefer to avoid!!

 

Rich - thanks for the explanation about the Captain.  Of course she needs leave...just so sorry we won't meet her!

Allegedly Chief Noella.  Sorry for the sideways photo. I checked with destinations and this is whom I heard them say so hopefully it’s accurate and one that you like. 

[victoria81]

Regent staff are doing the best they can. I’ve been very impressed with the staff. Usually I’m the vocal one letting the staff know that they are not meeting my expectations and asking how to fix it. This time I’m struggling to find anything that the staff is missing. Yes, the ship is going through it’s growing pains. But the ship is different than the staff. I personally find it disrespectful to bad mouth a staff member on this site and was trying to be helpful in answering a question. I didn’t have any problems with my class. 
 

On a different note, I’m really enjoying the a Broadway lectures. According to regents web page we where scheduled to have some Boston person so this is of more interest to me. 

[liptastic]

11 hours ago, Mr Rumor said:

 

Gerry, Captain Serena confirmed to me she will be leaving the Splendor on February 25.  She spent seven months in 2019 in Ancona, with only two one-week breaks, so, yep, she needs a break.  She’ll return to her beloved Splendor in mid-May!

 

 

Yes, on the infinity pool, Z.  Haven’t had a chance to visit it yet.

 

So far, so delicious on the grub.  How about a little Pacific Rim food porn, for starters?  Splendor has debuted two new PR desserts; one of them is Don Papa Rum Cake, with white chocolate coconut mousse.  It’s great!

Ha, the internet going down, like it did tonight, Jennifer!  But, rest assured, John Paul Rumor has just begun to blog!

Oh thanks for posting this delicious desert. Nice to hear there are new choices in PR. Have to admit I didn’t really enjoy the twice we ate there, maybe wrong choices I made but we have booked it for our April cruise and looking forward to it. 

Enjoying the updates thanks to all for taking the time.  Jean.

[victoria81]

There was a fantastic brunch today. Apparently on all Sunday sea days the ship has a fancy brunch. Hopefully you get to experience this for yourself. 
 

Just met with the CEO and had a wonderful conversation. I find that the staff here, regardless of position, wants to hear from the passenger. Very refreshing to have the open door policy. 

[Mr Rumor]

Good afternoon on Sea Day 2!   We have some swells due to bad weather up north, but they don’t seem to to be crimping anyone’s style.  It’s 64F at the moment and partly sunny.  

 

This is my first chance to mention that Regent introduced a new Saturday morning tradition on Splendor yesterday, “Saturday Marys.”  Regent’s plan is to roll out “Mary” fleetwide within the next few months!

 

 

Assistant F&B Director Nebojsa serves up one of Splendor’s first trio of Bloody Marys.  

 

[Mr Rumor]

Delving a little farther back now, to embarkation day.  I’m aware that not everyone likes cabins with the “bump” balcony (which means a little less balcony space), but we covet the “bump” for views like this one of the Splendor getting its nourishment for the crossing.  We’re in 614, by the way.

 

The scene in our room after we had finished our unpacking on Thursday.  The only thing missing from this photo is the word “Home.”  Even though Splendor is brand new with a lighter, brighter look, stepping foot on it still felt to Ginny and me (and Stowie) like coming home.  

[Mr Rumor]

Just because I like this shot (Pool Bar, noonish)

[JAG2003]

The beautifully reappointed Meridian Lounge features 27 new Splendor cocktails!, perfectly prepared by Head Bartender Caitlin.  A fun extravaganza.  

[Mr Rumor]

Victoria touted the Splendor’s inaugural Sunday brunch in words, now I’ll praise it with pics!  
 

(Advisory:  some may regard one or more of the photos below as constituting food porn. Proceed with caution—or abandon!)

 

 

 

 

“I’ll take the Z cut, please.”

 

 

 

Thanks for the wonderful Nutella and whipped cream crepe, Mangesh!

Edited February 9, 2020 by Mr Rumor

[papaflamingo]

1 hour ago, Mr Rumor said:

  I’m aware that not everyone likes cabins with the “bump” balcony (which means a little less balcony space), but we covet the “bump” for views like this one of the Splendor getting its nourishment for the crossing.  We’re in 614, by the way. 
 

A quick question or two... Are you in an F Category cabin?  I apologize if you mentioned this earlier and I missed it. 

Also, I thought the Bump balconies were Bigger, not smaller.  We are in one in 2021 on Explorer (F-2).  It looks like there is more space as it angles out on the bump.  Is that not correct (we can still move it)?  

Thanks.  Love you pics and review.  

[forgap]

Thanks, Rich!  Your posts are starting to rival the NYT play by play!  Have fun!

[Mjflowers]

3 hours ago, Mr Rumor said:

Victoria touted the Splendor’s inaugural Sunday brunch in words, now I’ll praise it with pics!  
 

(Advisory:  some may regard one or more of the photos below as constituting food porn. Proceed with caution—or abandon!)

 

 

 

“I’ll take the Z cut, please.”

 

 

 

Thanks for the wonderful Nutella and whipped cream crepe, Mangesh!

That,

 

3 hours ago, Mr Rumor said:

Victoria touted the Splendor’s inaugural Sunday brunch in words, now I’ll praise it with pics!  
 

(Advisory:  some may regard one or more of the photos below as constituting food porn. Proceed with caution—or abandon!)

 

 

 

“I’ll take the Z cut, please.”

 

 

 

Thanks for the wonderful Nutella and whipped cream crepe, Mangesh!

That’s a hunka hunka piece of beef. Did you finish it?😜😜😜

[victoria81]

One of my disappointments with the ship is that I cannot get an alcoholic drink during bingo or tea time—or at least I haven’t figured out how to do it as the bar is closed. On Oceania they have bingo and tea in a room with an open bar. I’m disappointed as tea is held in the really fun bar with the new, wonderful drinks. I’ve been approved to post photos of the new bar drinks so will work on doing that. Besides that, I’ve enjoyed the sea day. A wonderful broadway lecture this morning followed by an even better brunch.  The passengers seem really nice and friendly and I’ve enjoyed being part of the discussion board. 
 

Please be nice to each other. There is so much hatred in the world and we are so fortunate to be able to get away and enjoy the good and bad parts of life. Regent wants us to have a great vacation and often go above and beyond to do there best in accomplishing this. 

[Mr Rumor]

11 minutes ago, forgap said:

Thanks, Rich!  Your posts are starting to rival the NYT play by play!  Have fun!

I got on a roll (as we roll a bit), Jennifer!

[Hambagahle]

Keep rolling along Rich (but not too much...).  The view from that "bump" balcony was very nice...  Funchal tomorrow ?   You and Ginny know it well.   Where do you plan to go?

[Mr Rumor]

14 minutes ago, Mjflowers said:

That’s a hunka hunka piece of beef. Did you finish it?😜😜😜

Ha, I didn’t even start it!  That photo was for my buddy, Z (Zqueeze1)!

[ronrick1943]

23 minutes ago, Mr Rumor said:

Ha, I didn’t even start it!  That photo was for my buddy, Z (Zqueeze1)!

Can you ask for cut with the bone?😛Thanks for all the food shots, all looks great, can't wait till April 1st when we board the ship.  Keep having a great time on your cruise.

[Zqueeze1]

34 minutes ago, Mr Rumor said:

Ha, I didn’t even start it!  That photo was for my buddy, Z (Zqueeze1)!

And it is definitely appreciated!  Nothing like a little beef on a Sunday morning. You have made me salivate in anticipation of our upcoming Explorer cruise on 2 March 20. I just walked 62 minutes so I can fit into my stretchy buffet pants. 
I love the idea of the Saturday Bloody Mary tradition and hope it will be in effect on the Explorer next month. I’ll make sure to pack my drinking safety googles (you could poke an eye out with the shrimp spear or crispy bacon after a couple of BMs).

Keep the great posts and pics coming!
Z and TB