There she was, docked and shimmering in the sun, smartly bearing SEVEN SEAS GRANDEUR across her newly christened bow for all to admire. Passport in hand for an easy check-in and boarding process at Long Beach Cruise Terminal, I noticed the superlative tag line accompanying Regent Seven Seas branding: “An Unrivaled Experience.”
Challenge accepted. We had two leisurely, luxurious days and nights to unpack and check out every corner of the all-suites / all-balcony ship, including its multimillion-dollar art collection, Serene Spa & Wellness, signature restaurants, lounges, and Broadway entertainment venue.
Regent x Fabergé
You cannot miss it. On a pedestal of turquoise and pearls, encased in a vitrine that slowly rotates for optimum viewing, Seven Seas Grandeur displays the ultimate symbol of opulence, a genuine Fabergé egg. Part of the ship’s 1,600-piece curated art collection, Journey in Jewels is the first such objet d’art to reside permanently at sea. The centerpiece of the ship’s “wow” atrium, the piece has been exclusively “designed to reflect the stunning beauty of the world’s oceans in their dance with Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ heritage of luxury and perfection.”
Regent Suite
An accommodation highlight is the $11,000-per-night two bedroom Regent Suite with a personal butler — at 4,443 square feet, this is among the largest suites at sea. A first for any cruise ship, the master bedroom has its own spa retreat. Get museum vibes from two rare framed Picasso lithographs on the living room wall, enjoy dinner with the ship’s senior officer in the Regent Suite’s dining room, or get lost in your thoughts gazing at the horizon beyond the ship’s bow. And from the enormous massive furnished balcony, there are panoramic ocean views forever from the private pool and spa. Somewhat smaller but impressively elegant, the ship’s additional categories of Distinctive Suites include individual butler service as well.
Well laid out over 10 decks, the brand new Seven Seas Grandeur is considered to be a smaller (fewer than 1,000 passengers) ship. Her capacity is 746 guests plus 548 staff, among the highest space and staff to guest ratios in the industry.
Dining Options
Circumnavigate the teaming buffet at La Veranda for lunch, grab a truffle beef burger with sweet potato fries at Pool Grill or a casual bite at the Coffee Connection, but save room (and remember to reserve ahead) for Grandeur’s over-the-top specialty dining options. The largest restaurant, Compass Rose, is the premier dining experience at the heart of the ship, where even the place settings are Versace. Enter Chartreuse, the French bistro, beneath a Chanel-designed chandelier to find a Parisian-style room of cozy dining booths and windows. At the intimate Sette Mare, Italian fare is the specialty at dinner. Bright red chairs and vintage leather accents decorate Prime 7, where meat lovers can indulge in the look of an authentic century-old New York steakhouse. Pan-Asian cuisine is served in a space with muted lighting and a striking décor at Pacific Rim where the entrance is adorned with a 2,000-piece glass Bonsai cherry tree in full bloom.
Culinary Arts Kitchen
Come hungry, since you get to eat everything you make. Excellent fun and a memorable experience (in what could be the brightest ocean view room on the entire ship), a chef-led cooking class has 18 individual workstations for hands-on instruction. Starting with a sparkling strawberry cocktail, our pasta and crêpe menu was inspired by regional cuisine in Ancona, Italy on the Adriatic Sea, the shipyard where Seven Seas Grandeur was built. Make a selection from the two dozen additional classes on offer and walk away with new recipes and professional cooking tips.
Evening Entertainment
Order a cocktail and settle in for the show; there’s not a bad (plush) seat in the house at the tiered Constellation Theater. At 9:30 every evening, a cast of personable actors, that are also talented singers and dancers, belt out some of the best-loved hits in new Broadway-style productions. These full-scale musical revues backed by the five-piece Regent Signature Orchestra, and highly acclaimed. .Afterwards, hit the dance floor in one of the bars and lounges, try your luck at the casino, sip a fine cognac in the Connoisseur Club, or wander up to the top deck’s art-deco Observation Lounge to enjoy drinks and live music on the grand piano. P.S. Don’t overlook the comfortable Library for low key time to simply unwind.
Truly All-Inclusive
Marketing executives understand that when you’re going on a luxury cruise, no one wants to draw a line where luxury begins and ends. This is why, by ticking the box on most everything you can imagine — even before you step aboard — the all-inclusive Regent Experience is in a class apart.
Yes, this means unlimited open bars, fine dining in specialty restaurants, prepaid gratuities, free unlimited Wi-Fi, and complimentary laundry service. But it also means free roundtrip air travel from 29 gateway cities (business class on intercontinental flights), airport to ship transfers, and unlimited shore excursions.
Where To?
In its first full year of operation in 2024, Seven Seas Grandeur spends winter cruising the Caribbean, Mexico, and Central America on 10-night voyages in and out of Miami. Following a 16-night cruise north to New York City, she sails to Barcelona, Rome, Venice, Athens, Istanbul on various itineraries, and to Monte Carlo in July for a dedicated spotlight on Fabergé. This voyage features the ship’s Godmother, Founding Member of The Fabergé Heritage Council and great-granddaughter of the legendary artist-jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé, Sarah Fabergé. Back across the pond in time for fall foliage, there are Boston and Montreal cruises before Grandeur heads back to Miami and through the Panama Canal to Los Angeles.
Book your favorite destinations well ahead, as “waitlisted” is already popping up here and there on the calendar.
Photos: Laurie Jo Miller Farr