Already popular for the fine cuisine served across its fabulous fleet of luxury liners, Regent Seven Seas is taking the flavors farther with culinary-inspired shore excursions on its sparkling new Seven Seas Explorer inaugural season in the Mediterranean, which begins tomorrow, July 13.

The one-of-a-kind, flavorful epicurean adventures ashore will feature several exquisite gourmet restaurants and the hands-on Culinary Arts Kitchen. The new collection of Gourmet Explorer Tours will enhance and expand upon the curriculum offered at the Culinary Arts Kitchen aboard the ship by providing adventures that allow guests to explore the destination and local culture through its epicurean offerings. Each tour, which will be escorted by the chef instructor from the Culinary Arts Kitchen and a local guide, is a wine and food lover’s dream come true.

“Our Gourmet Explorer Tours were specifically designed to match the unrivaled level of guest experience found on board Seven Seas Explorer,” said Jason Montague, president and chief operating officer for Regent Seven Seas. “We have created an unbelievable collection of culinary-inspired tours where our guests can partake in true once-in-a-lifetime epicurean experiences. Our tours were expertly crafted to provide our guests with unique opportunities to dine at a highly coveted and world-renowned Michelin-starred restaurant, visit iconic markets and vineyards.”

The tours were curated and handcrafted by the line’s Executive Director of Culinary Enrichment, Chef Kathryn Kelly, who partnered with a network of Michelin-starred chefs and local culinary experts to create a food-lover odyssey into the culinary landscape of the destinations.

On-land experiences in Nice, Provence & more 

There will be nearly two dozen tours offered to Seven Seas Explorer passengers that include such excursions as:

• Sorrento, Italy – where participants can immerse themselves in the exciting tastes of Campagnia by making cheese at the artisanal fromagerie, watching a culinary demonstration by a master chef, and wining and dining amid the luxury gardens of the stunning Don Alfonso.
• Monte Carlo, Monaco –where guests get to go to a wine tasting at Cave Bianchi in Nice followed by dinner at the famed La Chèvre d’Or restaurant highlight a special night out with fellow foodies. Guests gain an appreciation for local and traditionally-inspired dishes hand-selected for the evening affair.
• Saint Tropez, France –where guests can sample three Provence varietals at the famed La Croix winery, and then enjoy a gourmet dining experience at the renowned La Vague d’Or, a Michelin 3-star restaurant in the heart of Saint Tropez.
• Barcelona, Spain – this one highlights the rich Catalan culinary scene with guided strolls through the famed Boqueria and Santa Caterina markets, followed by an memorable lunch and kitchen tour from Chef Jordi Cruz at ABaC, a famed 2-star Michelin restaurant.

“We are creating something truly special and sure to be enjoyed by both die-hard foodies and peripheral fans of the culinary arts,” said Kelly. “With our Gourmet Explorer Tours we have an incredibly diverse array of options for our guests, ranging from the crème-de-la-crème of luxury with our day in Saint Tropez to a more casual farm-to-table experience in Greece. I cannot wait to begin!”

Gourmet Explorer Tours start at $79 per person

Regent Seven Seas Cruises is the only line to offer free unlimited shore excursions in every port-of-call in every destination. The special Gourmet Explorer Tours are provided as part of Regent Choice Shore Excursion packages and are priced from $79 per person and ranging up to $799 per person. The new Seven Seas Explorer is slated to take luxury to new levels when she debuts next week with one of the highest space ratios in the cruise industry and a one-of-a-kind 3,875-square-foot suite, extravagantly designed lounges and showplaces, and lavish gourmet restaurants.

Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers the most all-inclusive fares in the industry. Fares come with round-trip air, seamless personalized service, top-rated cuisine, fine wines and spirits, unlimited Wi-Fi for one device per stateroom,  a large selection of free sightseeing excursions in every port, all gratuities, and a pre-cruise luxury hotel package for those guests staying in concierge and higher suites. It boasts an award-winning fleet of all-suite vessels that includes Seven Seas Navigator, Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager.