Hi Amber, you were one of the first to step aboard Seven Seas Grandeur, what were your first impressions?
Having worked with Regent Seven Seas Cruises for many years, I had high expectations for the newest ship in the World’s Most Luxurious Fleet™ and it certainly didn’t disappoint. We entered into the Grand Atrium where a beautifully ornate crystal chandelier is the crowning jewel over the space. It felt so bright and luxurious - no detail has been overlooked. From the Italian marble to bespoke artwork, it really set the tone for what a trip onboard would be like. Plus, the welcome glass of Champagne really added to the experience.
You stayed in a Grandeur Suite - what was it like?
If you’re considering a cruise with Regent Seven Seas Cruises, I would thoroughly recommend treating yourself to a Distinctive Suite. The Distinctive Suites are the top suites on Seven Seas Grandeur and really elevate an already luxurious experience.
We were welcomed to our suite by our own personal butler (which comes as standard when booking a Penthouse Suite or above) who had already arranged a bottle of chilled Champagne for us to enjoy, as well as some exquisite canapes. Your butler is there to take care of your every need, so will unpack your suitcase should you wish for them to do so, make dining reservations on your behalf and keep your mini fridge stocked with your favourite beverages (don’t be afraid to tell your butler your favourite drink, they’ll make sure to stock up!)
The Grandeur Suite was incredibly spacious (at over 76 square metres) and boasts a living space complete with a six-person dining table, a fully-appointed marble bathroom with two sinks, a jacuzzi bath, a rainfall shower and a vast balcony with comfortable loungers and a table and chairs.
The suite itself was beautifully decorated, but it was all the thoughtful touches that made the difference. Like the walk-in wardrobe, luxury robes, an umbrella for any unexpected rainy days and plenty of charging ports around the bed for our convenience. We never wanted to leave!
Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers an all-inclusive luxury experience. Can you tell us about what’s included?
Regent Seven Seas Cruises prides itself on offering an ‘Unrivalled Experience.’ And what they mean by that is they are the market leaders when it comes to ultra-luxury cruising. To them, luxury is an all-inclusive offering that means guests don’t need to worry about any unexpected charges at the end of their cruise.
This is inclusive but not limited to; included flights and overseas transfers (on select departures, guests booking a Penthouse Suite or above would enjoy an upgrade to Business Class flights), included shore excursions (as many as you can fit into your time in port, without charge), speciality dining (no venue requires a cover charge so guests can experience Epicurean Excellence every single day of their cruise in a range of venues onboard), 24 hour room service (you can even enjoy dinner in your suite, if you would prefer), valet laundry service and more.
They really have thought of everything to give you the luxury experience you deserve.
What makes Seven Seas Grandeur so special?
Seven Seas Grandeur is the latest ship in the World’s Most Luxurious Fleet™ and is the sister ship to Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Explorer respectively, so expectations were high. The opulence and detail that went into elevating the experience on Seven Seas Grandeur will be evident to even the most seasoned Regent Seven Seas Cruises guest.
They’ve commissioned a bespoke Faberge egg - the only Faberge egg on the seven seas - that will feature exclusively on Seven Seas Grandeur. This doesn’t include the multi-million dollar art collection that has been handpicked, including works of Picasso and more.
Seven Seas Grandeur brings together a celebration of what guests enjoy on their other ships but elevated to that next level, so all of the amazing dining experiences that are offered across the fleet can still be found on Seven Seas Grandeur, with some surprising and welcome differences.
We met the culinary team whilst onboard, and they’ve designed brand new menus exclusively for Seven Seas Grandeur to take guests’ epicurean experience to the next level.
You were lucky enough to meet Vice President of Culinary Operations, Bernard Klotz. Tell us about that experience.
We were very fortunate to meet the team behind the amazing culinary experiences onboard the Regent Seven Seas Cruises fleet. It was a pleasure to hear first-hand how much work goes into crafting exciting culinary experiences that enhance every guest's stay. The team work hard to keep the menus new and refreshing, whilst maintaining recipes that guests favour time and time again.
The sommelier spoke at length about the work that goes into pairing each dish with the finest wine. And, when you dine in a Regent Seven Seas Cruises restaurant, you really appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into making the experience so memorable.
And what about the food itself? Did you have a favourite restaurant onboard?
Regent Seven Seas Cruises prides itself on Epicurean Perfection, which is evident in each dining experience onboard. My favourite restaurant is Pacific Rim, a Pan Asian restaurant found on the Explorer Class ships (Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Grandeur). Celebrating Asia’s culinary traditions, Pacific Rim perfectly balances delicious flavours. The food is delectable - we enjoyed lobster tempura along with vegetable pot stickers and aromatic duck. The food is simply divine, making it an extremely popular venue onboard.
What was your favourite area onboard Seven Seas Grandeur?
Beyond our Grandeur Suite (which was one of my favourite areas onboard), I particularly liked the Pool Deck. There are plenty of comfortable loungers surrounding the beautiful pool and two hot tubs for guests to enjoy. I also really liked the comfortable rattan furniture next to the pool area that featured heaters in the ceiling to take the chill away from cool evenings at sea. There is a bar on the Pool Deck as well, and the staff kept our glasses full and were happy to accommodate for whatever we would like. We tried a cocktail or two!
What should one wear onboard Seven Seas Grandeur?
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is very relaxed onboard - during the day, think ‘country club casual;’ jeans, shorts, t-shirts and tennis shoes are welcome. In the evening, the cruise line recommends ‘elegant casual;’ ladies can opt for a skirt or trousers with a blouse, a dress or a suit and for gentlemen, trousers and a collared shirt are requested.
On longer sailings, there may be formal evenings where guests can choose to dress up for the night in gowns and cocktail dresses, along with suits and/or dinner jackets.
Your butler, Prakash, fulfilled your every wish. How did he elevate your time onboard?
Prakash was a real ode to the Regent Seven Seas Cruises experience. He took care of us so well during our time onboard. You can tell that each staff member wants you to have the best experience possible, and Prakash was no different - he made sure that we had everything we wanted. He personalised our mini-fridge and nothing was too much trouble. He even helped arrange special pre-dinner canapes for us to host some of our friends in our suite - complete with chilled bottles of Champagne! The butler experience really does elevate your cruise.
Lastly, what was the highlight of your trip?
For me, the highlight of the trip, beyond how wonderful the ship is, was the included shore excursions that we enjoyed in Dubrovnik, Croatia. The tour was extremely well managed - we had tour tickets delivered to our suite a couple of days before which contained clear instructions on where to go and when, and what to expect. We met in the theatre and were assigned to a coach which took us into Dubrovnik for the day.
I had never visited Dubrovnik, but to have the stress taken out of the whole experience and to be driven just outside the city walls made an incredible difference. Multiple shuttles were running throughout the day, so we were able to head back to the ship whenever we were ready. Everything was on our terms so that we could make the most of our time there. It was unhurried and we were well looked after. The Unrivalled Experience that Regent Seven Seas Cruises offers truly extends beyond the onboard experience.
