If you’d told me one year ago I’d be raving about a cruise, I wouldn’t have believed you for a second, but a trip onboard the Regent Seven Seas Grandeur changed my mind forever. In the world of luxury cruises, this one is at the very top.
For starters, the service is impeccable. With a capacity for 746 guests and a crew of 548, Regent Seven Seas Grandeur provides among the highest staff-to-guest ratios in the industry. “No” is hardly a word you’ll hear on this ship. Everyone from the reception team to housekeeping will truly go out of their way to satisfy any of your requests.
Secondly, Seven Seas Grandeur is designed to within an inch of its hull. Award-winning Studio Dado gave its all for this project. Carefully curated lighting and lavish materials were used everywhere to create luxury spaces to match those in the best five-star hotels in the world.
Walking around, I found myself truly wowed. I never imagined a cruise ship could be so beautiful. Seven Seas Grandeur is home to a 1,600-piece art collection, including the unique Journey in Jewels Fabergé egg. With the help of the Regent app, I went around enjoying the artwork at my own pace. My highlights were the Picasso lithographs and The Enchanted Tree, an enormous tapestry by the Brazilian artist Walter Goldfarb, which one can admire while travelling in the glass lifts. Also worth mentioning is the bronze and hand-blown glass Bonsai Cherry Tree sculpture at the entrance of the Pacific Rim restaurant.
Left: Compass Rose, the largest restaurant on Regent Seven Seas Grandeur, boasts immersive interiors and opulent style. Right: Pacific Rim, the pan-Asian speciality restaurant creates a Zen-like ambience with its dimly lit architectural details and lotus-shaped windows.
And I suppose that the whole Compass Rose restaurant can be considered a piece of art. At the entrance, there is a stunning cascading waterfall sculpture made from metal and hand-blown glass, Inside, diners sit under a canopy of interwoven crystal and wood-edged illuminated trees, with thousands of crystal-faceted leaves on the pillars and branches. It truly is a magical place.
But it is not just the common areas that are beautifully designed. The cabins are proud examples of Studio Dado’s artistry and the craftmanship of the shipbuilders. Even the most modest suites are generously sized, beautifully appointed and have a private balcony. The best suite onboard is the palatial Regent Suite, more than 400 sqm of opulent, jaw-dropping luxury overlooking the bow of the ship with 270-degree views.
The Serene Spa & Wellness is a haven of calm, the ideal space to focus on yourself and help you reset. The gym, located just above the spa at the stern of the ship, is completely glass fronted. Running on the treadmill looking at the ocean definitely beats my usual gym routine during which videos on MTV are the only available entertainment. There are also daily group classes and one-to-one sessions can be easily arranged. The possibilities to burn calories continue on deck 12, where there is a running track, golf net and courts for paddle tennis and pickleball.
I mention the exercise facilities early because Grandeur is a gastronomic destination in itself. There is Coffee Connection, where nibbles and pastries are served from morning to evening, and afternoon tea is available at the Meridian Lounge. There are four specialised restaurants for elevated gourmet experiences: the Italian Sette Marie; Chartreuse for Parisian flair from the 1930s; Pacific Rim to explore the flavours of Southeast Asia and Prime 7, which is a carnivore’s paradise.
Left: living area of the Grandeur Suite. Right: Grandeur Superior cabin. All are expertly designed by Studio Dado, with plenty of storage room and generous balconies.
Breakfast is another time to be spoilt for choice. Order room service, go to Compass Rose or, my favourite choice, La Veranda, at the stern of the boat, where you can enjoy your first meal of the day al fresco, your skin kissed by the sun and the sea breeze.
At any time of day or night, drinks and cocktails flow freely on Seven Seas Grandeur. The informal ambience of the Pool Deck bar is counter-balanced by the elegance of the Observation Lounge, the bar at the bow of the ship, with floor-to-ceiling glass and decor inspired by the Art Nouveau movement. Watching the sunset over the ocean as one sips a perfectly mixed martini takes pre-dinner drinks to a different level.
In the evening, entertainment is guaranteed. Award-winning artists delight guests with live music, stand-up comedy, extracts from musicals… the choice proves how much care and thought goes into planning these cruises so no guest would ever feel bored.
The same attention is paid to picking the routes and the timing. For example, Regent Seven Seas Grandeur goes along the Mediterranean coast in summer, while in September and October it follows the eastern seaboard of North America to enjoy the autumnal colours in Canada and New England. When winter comes, it is time to explore the Caribbean.
Left: the lavish pool deck at Regent Seven Seas Grandeur. Right: Observation Lounge, where every night guests can enjoy live music and a wide variety of professional entertainers.
Whichever luxury cruise route you choose for your journey onboard Regent Seven Seas Grandeur, you are guaranteed an enormous variety of excursions, from pure sightseeing to wine tasting, art routes or just a good day of shopping. Guests can choose to go as a private party or join a group. I recommend the latter. I met fabulous people in the excursions and had a really fun time. I liked some of the places I visited so much, especially Kusadasi – on the southwestern coast of Turkey – that I am planning to go back next June and stay for at least a week.
For me, this is the uniqueness of a cruise, the chance to sample the world as if you were in a living travel catalogue, and in the case of Seven Seas Grandeur, the sampling is done in utter luxury.
More information about Regent Seven Seas Grandeur and bookings HERE.
Author: Julia Pasarón
All images ©RSSC
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