In December, Carol and I were onboard the newest Regent ship, Seven Seas Grandeur, for the inauguration and naming ceremony. Now let’s get right down to it – this is one of the most elegant, if not the most elegant ship afloat! Everything about it is refined, from the number of passengers on board to the all-inclusive feel. The decor is subdued and relaxing with plenty of space for the number of guests aboard. You never feel crowded or have to wait in a line.
Many of our clients are attracted to Regent because of their all-inclusive nature. Many items that we pay extra for on many cruise ships are included with Regent (something to remember when looking at the price). In general, these include:
· Free roundtrip air on domestic flights
· Free roundtrip business class air on intercontinental flights
· Free unlimited shore excursions
· Free unlimited beverages
· Free pre-paid gratuities
· Free specialty restaurants
· Free transfers between airport and ship
· Free unlimited WIFI
· Free valet laundry service
· Free 1-night pre-cruise hotel package
So when we take into account everything that’s included with Regent, we find it to be a great value. Carol and I love the line and REALLY love this new ship.
Dining onboard was fabulous and our only regret was that we could not get to all the different restaurants to try them all out, but we did our best (and maybe added a pound or two). The main dining room on board is the Compass Rose and would certainly feel like a specialty restaurant on any other ship. As you enter the room, you are surrounded by crystal “trees” that form the walls and ceiling. Then as you are seated you see the Versace plates on the table. Now I don’t know about you, but when I’m at home there are not Versace plates in front of me.
I honestly can say there was not one item of food on this whole cruise that I could find fault with. Some of the other food venues on board include:
· Chartreuse – the French restaurant
· Pacific Rim – a pan-Asian restaurant where a Cherry-blossom tree welcomes you
· Prime 7 – just what you would think it is – a really great steakhouse with a copper cow at the entrance.
· La Veranda – the ships “buffet” area for breakfast and lunch, but oh, so much more. Bright settings with white linens and beside all the normal offerings, you can get omelets made to order for breakfast, pasta made to order for lunch or visit a true carving station at lunch. And, yes, you can sit in the sunshine and open air if you like.
· Sette Mari – in the evening La Veranda becomes Sette Mari, a fine Italian restaurant with white linens and fine China.
· The Pool Grill – open for lunch,
this offers hot dogs, hamburgers and chicken burgers all fresh and made to order. It also has a large buffet that changes each day – BBQ, Italian or Asian, for example.
· If these are not enough, there is always Room Service and the Coffee Connections, a self-service buffet at the ship’s coffee shop offering pastries, yogurt, fruit, small sandwiches, wraps and cookies.
On the entertainment side, you won’t find the large production shows like on the large ships. Instead you’ll enjoy more intimate, high talented offerings in the main Constellation Theater. There are also many other options for things to do onboard, from piano bar to solo guitar entertainment. But there is also trivia, golf putting, casino events, pickleball, shuffleboard, lectures and art all around the ship. And the Grandeur has a great culinary kitchen where classes are held and you have a very hands-on experience with the chefs on board.
Lastly, the staterooms are roomy with lots of storage. There are no “inside” or “outside” cabins on this elegant of ship. The lowest priced stateroom is the Veranda Suite (yes, all staterooms on this ship are Suites). These are 219 square feet with a 88 square balcony (all staterooms on the Grandeur have balconies). When you consider that most contemporary cruise line balconies can be 40 square feet, these are relatively large even in the lowest level suite. There are many other types of suites onboard, but you get the idea. There really are NO bad suites on this ship.
But is you really want the high-end experience, try out the Regent Suite – a very large living area, two bedrooms and two and a half baths, private spa and sauna, etc.
No matter what suite you choose, the bathrooms are spacious and include everything you might need. But, of course, the inclusions increase with price of the suite. For intense, dual sinks are offered in Superior Suites and above.
All in all, like I started with, this is one of the most elegant, if not the most elegant ship afloat! Be sure to check the picture (click on the picture to enlarge and scroll)
