TPG’s Ashley Kosciolek accepted a free journey from Regent Seven Seas Cruises to attend the disclosing of Seven Seas Grandeur. The opinions expressed under are fully hers and weren’t topic to evaluation by the road.
What do you get once you combine very good design with a great deal of marble and glimmering lights, mix it with free drinks, suggestions, Wi-Fi and shore excursions, and, for good measure, toss in a set that prices $11,000 per evening?
The result’s Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ brand-new Seven Seas Grandeur, which is without doubt one of the most costly cruise ships afloat. It value the cruise line greater than $517 million, together with $9 million for the artwork assortment, which includes a custom-designed Faberge egg.
Put in your finest costume or your best swimsuit or tux, and make an entrance at dinner by strolling down the atrium’s grand staircase. Join a cooking class on the onboard culinary kitchen, the place you may spend two hours sipping wine as a chef reveals you find out how to make a number of delectable dishes. Or get pleasure from night cocktails and reside piano music within the gorgeous top-deck Commentary Lounge.
In true Regent vogue, the road has managed to create a glamorous environment that can make any passenger really feel like they’re a very powerful individual on Earth. It does a wonderful job of catering to its goal market — mature adults who’re educated and properly traveled — in an environment the place rest is essential and shipboard life is finest loved slowly.
This is what I beloved about this glowing new ship — and what I did not.
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5 issues I beloved
The cabins
Speak about feeling spoiled. Though I did not have a butler on my crusing, my 332-square-foot Concierge Suite — which included a 132-square-foot balcony — was so properly appointed it felt like the kind of cabin that will include a private attendant on different cruise strains.
Along with separate sleeping and lounging areas (which may be separated by a curtain), I had a walk-in closet and a marble lavatory that felt no less than twice the dimensions of loos on commonplace cruise ships.
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However do not be fooled: Any such lodging is squarely within the center on Seven Seas Grandeur. There are six cabin classes under it and eight above, which means that lavish digs are just about commonplace once you sail on this ship.
I completely beloved touches just like the closet’s sliding door, which glides into the wall as an alternative of awkwardly opening out into the room; the plentiful retailers (each 110-volt North American and 220-volt European) and USB ports, with loads close to the vainness and on either side of the mattress; and the fashionable cabin controls, which permit passengers to vary the temperature and point out whether or not they want cabin service or want to be left undisturbed.
The design
The primary factor that units Seven Seas Grandeur other than its sister ships, Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Explorer, is its design. This latest ship within the Explorer Class was wholly put collectively by Studio Dado, the famend Miami-based design agency answerable for solely sure features of earlier vessels. It brightened up many public areas to make them really feel ethereal and spacious, reworked the choice eating places and ensured the areas circulate properly into each other.
The atrium space sparkles with a sweeping staircase, marble flooring and an overhead chandelier designed to resemble a tangle of diamond tennis bracelets.
The Compass Rose restaurant, the ship’s important eating room, felt like what you’d get if architect and designer Antoni Gaudí had been born within the time of “The Jetsons.” The decor melds vivid whites with pops of grey and cranberry, and tables are set amongst crystal-inlaid pillars harking back to timber. It is glitzy with out ever being cheesy. (Simply have a look at the Versace dinnerware on the tables.)
By no means in all my sailings have I seen such a grand MDR.
As for the opposite eateries, every has its personal tastefully lavish vibe. Whereas Italian restaurant Sette Mari at La Veranda stays pretty impartial as a part of the buffet space, the vessel’s different three specialty venues stand out in an enormous method. Asian restaurant Pacific Rim on Deck 5 looks like an elite New York Metropolis supper membership with an Asian twist, full with darkish partitions and earth-toned furnishings. A panoramic sculpture of a tree, populated with a whole bunch of pink glass cherry blossoms, greets passengers on the entrance.
The Prime 7 steakhouse and French restaurant Chartreuse are situated throughout from each other on Deck 10. Each entryways are bedecked in leather-based accents that steadiness masculine and female aesthetics. Prime 7’s entrance includes a brown leather-based patchwork with handles that make the items appear like suitcases or steamer trunks. Chartreuse’s entryway is outfitted with massive black leather-based 3D flowers designed by Chanel.
Inside, Prime 7 matches what it serves with vivid pink chairs surrounded by brown tones. Chartreuse’s inside design can also be pretty literal, with blacks and grays punctuated by pops of chartreuse-colored glass and glittering overhead lighting fixtures in the identical hue.
Moreover, a rigorously curated artwork assortment of 1,600 items is unfold all through the ship, full with a digital tour that is provided by way of the Regent cell app. The gathering is anchored by a custom-designed Faberge egg that is displayed in a case on the heart of the visitor companies space.
It is clear that an immeasurable quantity of consideration was given to each design selection, from colours to art work to furnishings.
The Pool Grill
Once I sidled as much as the Pool Grill on the ultimate day of my crusing and ordered a burger, I used to be not anticipating it to be my favourite meal on the ship, but it surely was. Name it probably the most nice surprises on my voyage.
Along with the truffle beef burger with caramelized onions and truffle aioli, I additionally requested for a aspect of candy potato fries, an order of tomato bruschetta and a caprese panini, figuring I might attempt a bit of every. Thankfully for my abdomen, however sadly for my waistline, every was so phenomenal that I ate each chew.
The standard of the poolside meals is value writing residence about as a result of it is pretty much as good as or higher than the meals you’d discover in the principle eating rooms on most different cruise strains’ ships. Sure, the fare in Seven Seas Grandeur’s important eating room and various eating places can also be improbable, however you’ll count on these meals to be standouts. But it is clear that the ship’s culinary workforce places effort into each meal on board, even probably the most informal.
The quiet areas
As somebody who’s at all times in search of an opportunity to flee the frenetic tempo of life ashore, I can not stress sufficient how a lot I appreciated a few onboard quiet areas that afforded me a spot to learn that wasn’t my cabin.
I discovered the gorgeous Commentary Lounge on Deck 11 to be pretty quiet through the daytime, particularly on port days. It was straightforward to snag a desk by one of many sweeping home windows so I might benefit from the view. The house additionally serves as a venue for every day trivia and a spot to catch reside piano music within the night.
Libraries are being phased out on most mainstream cruise ships, however I used to be happy to be taught that there is one on Deck 11 of Seven Seas Grandeur. It is a darkish, cozy house with wall-to-wall books, tables for perusing coffee-table titles, cozy seating and even a few alcoves for individuals who must focus.
The Culinary Arts Kitchen
I am a agency believer that the true mark of one thing’s high quality is whether or not it is able to profitable over a skeptic.
I despise cooking. Between looking for substances, prepping all the things, doing the precise cooking after which washing all of the dishes afterward, I discover it irritating, time-consuming and extra trouble than it is value.
Nonetheless, I attempted one among Regent’s famed Culinary Arts Kitchen cooking lessons with one of many ship’s onboard cooks, and I had a blast. (I think a part of the reason being as a result of all the things was prepped and ready for me once I bought there, so all I needed to do was toss it in a pan after which eat it.)
The chef was pleasant and humorous, and she or he took the time to clarify among the historical past and methods behind every dish we cooked.
What I skilled was an abridged model that lasted solely an hour, throughout which era we made spaghetti in lemon sauce, adopted by crepes with blueberries and ice cream. Usually, the lessons — which begin at $89 per individual — final about two hours and have a number of dishes. Areas are restricted, so e book early.
3 issues I did not take care of
The leisure
The present I noticed — “Marauder’s Ball,” the one one of many ship’s 4 manufacturing reveals provided through the christening voyage — featured pirates pillaging jewellery and different riches from the rich elite as they attended the launch of a brand new ship.
General, it felt too busy with props like ropes and flags that distracted from the principle motion, and the present felt too lengthy for a way free the plot was. Additional, it is unusual to me that the one present time every evening is 9:30 p.m., which is late, given that the majority reveals run for a full hour.
All of that mentioned, the singers and dancers had been phenomenal, and it is clear Regent sunk plenty of time, cash and creativity into the costumes and units. Nonetheless, the top end result simply did not stack up when put next with leisure on larger cruise ships.
The room service
You recognize a ship is nice when most of what you are placing underneath the “didn’t like” column is little stuff. That is the case right here.
Complimentary room service is simply one other perk of an upscale, inclusive cruise ship. Regent offers room service breakfast playing cards that you just fill out and grasp exterior your door at evening for supply the next morning. On the second evening of the crusing, I hung my order — a cheese omelet with a aspect of extra-crispy bacon and low — and went to mattress.
The following morning, somebody from the room service division referred to as to let me know my order was on the best way and to apologize that it was coming quarter-hour early — one thing I did not thoughts in any respect.
My meals arrived, and the one who delivered it kindly set all the things up for me, together with a white tablecloth. The plating was nice, and I used to be so excited to dig in — till I minimize into my omelet and found it wasn’t the cheese omelet I had ordered, however a ham-and-cheese omelet. Since I do not eat ham, I referred to as room service to politely request a alternative.
I used to be impressed with how shortly the alternative omelet arrived, however once I minimize into it, it was undercooked and inedible. When the egg ran out onto the plate, I gave up and went to the onboard cafe for an extremely stale bagel as an alternative.
General, the service was great, however the in-cabin eating expertise wants a bit extra work.
Crowded public areas
Though many of the ship’s public areas appeared like they’d be the right measurement in proportion to the dimensions of the vessel, I discovered {that a} couple had inadequate house.
On a couple of event, I ventured to Espresso Connection, the onboard cafe, for a cuppa (attempt the gingerbread cappuccino), and each desk was full. The house is at capability for seating, so it isn’t attainable so as to add extra. Nevertheless it’s clear the cafe is extra standard than its seating space can deal with.
The identical is true of the adjoining Meridian Lounge, which often hosts cocktail hours and afternoon tea. The cocktail occasion I attended shortly turned overcrowded with standing room solely. I attempted to take a look at afternoon tea, however I could not discover an obtainable desk, so I left. (That was disappointing, as I used to be advised afternoon tea was a spotlight.)
Backside line
Regent’s Seven Seas Grandeur is without doubt one of the most elegant and opulent ships afloat. Its design is outstanding, exuding an upscale air that is unequalled on every other vessel I’ve sailed. The cabins are beautiful properties away from residence.
The ship’s slower tempo means you may linger over a meal or a dialog by the pool and you will not really feel such as you’re lacking out on a signature exercise. That, blended with an abundance of calm, quiet areas and an absence of fear about your ultimate invoice, means extra room for rest in your Seven Seas Grandeur trip.
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