Chasing Authentic Flavors: A Foodie's Journey Aboard Seven Seas Splendor

By Community Member · Seven Seas Splendor (Regent Seven Seas)

I ditched the ship's formal dining to hunt down street tacos in Cozumel and pasta from a grandmother's kitchen in Naples—here's what I learned about eating like a local.

I'll be honest: I booked the Seven Seas Splendor mostly for the ship itself. The all-suite accommodations, the fact that gratuities are included, the promise of fine dining—it all sounded luxurious and perfect for someone who loves to eat well. What I didn't expect was that this ship would become my launchpad for the most authentic culinary adventure of my life. See, one of the best-kept secrets about cruising on Regent is that their ports actually allow you time to explore, and their concierge team doesn't try to steer you toward the obvious tourist traps. They steered me toward the real stuff instead. My first wake-up call came in Cozumel. I had booked a snorkeling excursion through the ship—standard cruise fare—but after about two hours of fish-watching, I ditched my group and headed into town. I know that sounds wild, but I'd read about a specific taco stand run by this woman named María, and I couldn't let the opportunity pass. The concierge at the Seven Seas Splendor actually helped me figure out the timing, and even drew me a little map. "Go there before 2 p.m.," she said. "That's when she sells out." Finding María's stand felt like discovering buried treasure. It was liter…