Seven Seas Grandeur

Dinner aboard Seven Seas Grandeur can mean contemporary French cuisine at Chartreuse, steakhouse classics at Prime 7 or Asian-inspired dishes inside the striking surroundings of Pacific Rim. Compass Rose adds an unusually flexible main dining experience, while La Veranda and Sette Mari provide a more relaxed counterpoint. The variety allows dining to become part of the evening without requiring guests to reserve every night around a specialty restaurant.

Then there is the art. Grandeur is filled with commissioned works and dramatic interior details that give public spaces individual personalities. Rather than relying on one enormous atrium for visual impact, the design reveals itself gradually as guests move through restaurants, lounges and corridors.

Winter sends the ship toward the Caribbean, where Miami and Panama City can serve as gateways to tropical islands, Central America and Panama Canal voyages. Private balconies and outdoor decks become natural extensions of the accommodations as warm weather takes over.

Only after spending time aboard does the ship's relatively intimate scale become apparent. Grandeur carries approximately 746 guests, despite offering the restaurants, spa, lounges and public spaces associated with a considerably larger luxury vessel. Every accommodation is a suite with a balcony, continuing the all-suite approach of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

Days at sea can revolve around Serene Spa & Wellness, the pool deck or fitness center, while the Culinary Arts Kitchen gives food-minded travelers an opportunity to step behind the counter themselves. Enrichment programs and destination presentations offer another way to prepare for what lies ashore.

Not every voyage stays close to familiar cruise territory. Grandeur also ventures into South America, with longer programs capable of incorporating Brazil and the Amazon. The contrast between sophisticated coastal cities, tropical waterways and days aboard gives these itineraries a character completely different from a Caribbean sailing.

Many of the usual cruise transactions have already been removed from the equation. Eligible shore excursions, specialty restaurants, premium beverages, gratuities, Wi-Fi, valet laundry and in-suite dining are included, with additional privileges available in higher accommodation categories.

Grandeur certainly knows how to make an entrance, but visual drama is only part of the experience. Its stronger accomplishment is combining that design with an intimate passenger count, substantial culinary variety and itineraries capable of moving well beyond the expected luxury-cruise circuit.