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What’s your idea of a perfect Mediterranean cruise? For me, it’s a comfortable and well-appointed ship, an interesting itinerary, all-inclusive fare, great dining and enrichment, and most of all, service that exceeds expectations. I recently sailed with Regent Seven Seas Cruises^® from Barcelona to Athens on a terrific nine-night voyage. Here are my takeaways from the cruise:

The Itinerary. An exciting journey is a must for me. I enjoy returning to cities I love, but I also want to visit new destinations on every trip. On my voyage, it was a pleasure to rekindle my passion for Barcelona, Cannes, Pisa, and Athens, and a thrill to discover gems like Tunis, Monemvasia, Palermo, and a high point: Malta. Sailing into Malta’s Valetta harbor, with its massive fortifications and beautifully preserved baroque palaces, made a big impression on me. I also loved the ancient Byzantine city of Mystras, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, that’s about an hour-drive from the port of Monemvasia in the Greek Peloponnese region. Dating back to the Middle Ages, Mystras’ richly painted churches and monasteries are a window into the city’s storied past. To ensure guests had a wide range of choices that aligned with their passions, Regent offered over 60 shore excursion options on my itinerary, including themed experiences focused on food and wine, active/adventure, and art.

The Dining & Enrichment. During my voyage, I appreciated having a choice of dining venues, day and night. Breakfast at La Veranda was a great way to start my morning, with a special menu that changed daily. Lunch at the ship’s pool grill on a lazy day at sea was just what I wanted. In the evening, I enjoyed a perfectly prepared filet mignon at Prime 7 Steakhouse, an authentic rigatoni bolognese at Sette Mari, and a simply grilled branzino at Compass Rose, the main dining room. On nights when I wanted to stay in my suite wrapped in a bathrobe, I ordered from the extensive room service menu and was served on my balcony. Every day, there were activities, lectures, live music, and opportunities for fun and enrichment onboard. I loved the jazz trio playing Bossa Nova classics in the Galileo lounge, listening to a lecture about Italian history by a knowledgeable expert, and watching the night sky as we sailed from one port to the next.

The Service. Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ forte is its onboard service—warm, genuine, and heartfelt. Because the ship was my floating resort for 10 days, the staff got to know me and my quirks fast. I am a creature of habit: I prefer green tea (not coffee) for breakfast, a table by the window in the dining room, and hypoallergenic pillows on my bed, among many preferences. Regent crew members like Joshua, my caring butler, Niño and Apple in Compass Rose, the General Manager Lui Toro, my five-star housekeeper Darlyn, and over 200 onboard professionals made my cruise extra special. The people truly are the essence of the brand.

A Bigger & Wider Mediterranean. Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ 2025-2026 season is longer than ever, with voyages into December of this year, and a new season starting in early 2026. Guests choose from five different ships in the fleet, with the ability to combine sailings back-to-back for a longer itinerary. On selected voyages, the brand is also offering journeys with overnight stays in sought-after ports like Istanbul, Italy’s Amalfi Coast, Marseille, and Lisbon—the perfect opportunity to immerse yourself in a destination and explore even further.

The Bottom Line. Although there are hundreds of ships sailing the Mediterranean, for me, Regent Seven Seas Cruises is a cut above. When you combine above and beyond service with a rich value proposition, great itineraries, small and elegant ships, and a high level of dining and entertainment onboard, you get an experience that is hard to match—perhaps you get a perfect Mediterranean cruise.