No expense was spared in the creation of this ultra-luxury ship

The ship: Seven Seas Grandeur

• Built 2023
• The cruise Venice to Athens (10 days)
• Passengers 744 (maximum double occupancy)
• Crew 548
• Passenger decks 10; 375 staterooms
• Length 224 metres

Seven Seas Grandeur.

The ship

The sixth ship to join Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ all-inclusive luxury cruise line is the latest and greatest addition to the self-titled and trademarked “world’s most luxurious fleet”. The perfect Goldilocks size at 224 metres and with capacity for maximum 744 guests (not too big, not too small), the ship’s inaugural voyage was in November 2023. Home-ported in Miami, she sails in the Mediterranean, Canada and the Caribbean. Sophisticated in every way, this is a cruise you’ll want to dress well for.

Boarding

The elegant Observation Lounge… popular at sunset.

Along with many of the ship’s passengers, I’ve enjoyed a pre-cruise overnight stay at Hilton Molino Stucky Venice. We gather on the morning of departure to be escorted to a ferry boat, docked a few steps from the hotel entrance.

The ferry drops us with our luggage at a cruise terminal in Venice, where we check in, present passports, have our photos taken and receive sea passes. I look around for the ship, before being told the next leg of the journey is a 30-minute bus ride to the new Fusina (Venice) Cruise Terminal.

Built to support modern, sustainable cruising in the region by directing ship traffic away from the port in the historic centre of the city, it has an industrial warehouse aesthetic. Once finally settled in our suite, we nix plans to go back in to St Mark’s Square for more sightseeing. Shipboard cocooning has begun.

The design

Care for a (Faberge) Egg?

Let’s start with the Faberge Egg, shall we? The commissioned objet d’art, Journey in Jewels, is the first and only Faberge Egg to reside permanently at sea. It’s also proof that no expense was spared in the decoration of the ship. Sarah Faberge, founding member of The Faberge Heritage Council, is Seven Seas Grandeur’s godmother.

As soon as you board and enter the grand atrium, a crystal chandelier by Czech lighting experts Preciosa catches the eye. It’s one of more than 500 chandeliers on board.

Renowned Miami-based Studio Dado was responsible for the ship’s design, tasked with creating a peerless vessel of “refined style, matchless elegance and breathtaking beauty”. Think lots of gold, marble, designer lighting and rich textures. All the best that money can buy.

Tour the multi-million-dollar art collection to be further wowed. There are three Picassos on display in the steakhouse, Prime 7, and an impressive collection of paintings, sculptures, tapestries, photographs and glassworks throughout the ship.

The spaces

The popular Pool Deck offers sun and shade options.

The ship never feels crowded and even after a week onboard, I’m still discovering new elegant spaces. The well-stocked library is a peaceful refuge for guests avoiding the sun.

The pool deck is a hub of activity during the day, offering soft, cushioned sunbeds for lounging (sun and shade options), a gorgeous pool, two whirlpools and easy access to The Pool Grill and bar.

In the evening, guests gravitate to several cocktail lounges with live entertainment. The Observation Lounge, with its floor-to-ceiling windows, is popular at sunset.

The stateroom

Regent Suite Master Bedroom.

Guest accommodations are all suites, ranging from 28.5 to 413 square metres, and all have a private balcony. The Regent Suite is the largest, featuring the best furnishings and artwork. In the master bedroom, the bed is a Hastens Vividus, estimated to have cost a cool $US200,000 ($293,000).

Our 38 square metre Superior Suite has a combined bedroom and sitting area, walk-in wardrobe, interactive flat-screen TV and large marble bathroom with double sinks, deep bathtub, shower and L’Occitane products. Regent-branded bathrobes and slippers are great for getting cosy after a bath.

Decorated in elegant neutral shades, the suite resembles a spacious five-star hotel room. We appreciate the personalised mini-bar set-up, replenished daily with our drinks and snacks of choice. Drinking water is refilled in large glass bottles; guests are gifted a stainless-steel water bottle on the first day.

The private balcony has two chairs and a table, an appealing location for morning cuppas and sunset spritzes.

The food

Compass Rose.

Compass Rose, the ship’s main dining room, invites guests to “build their own meal” by choosing proteins, sauces and sides from an extensive menu. Filet mignon with jumbo scallops, lobster tail and garlic butter sauce, for example, or whole Dover sole with a side of asparagus and potato Dauphinoise, served on gold Versace dinnerware. The kitchen is very accommodating of special requests and dietary requirements. Nobody blinks when my friend orders three desserts.

The al fresco Sette Mari restaurant.

Everything is included in the cruise fare, which means no supplementary charges at specialty restaurants Prime 7 (steakhouse), Chartreuse (French), Pacific Rim (pan-Asian) and Sette Mari (Italian). The latter’s selection of antipasti and Italian classics is very popular, especially on warm evenings, when guests can enjoy their meal al fresco on the aft deck. It’s not possible to book in advance for Sette Mari.

Compass Rose main dining room offers passengers the chance to build their own dish.

We eat lunch most days at the Pool Grill, refuelling with tasty burgers, salads, nachos and grilled fish. The simple pleasure of breakfast in bed, courtesy of room service, is enjoyed often.

Wellness

The fitness centre is top-tier.

Serene Spa & Wellness takes a holistic, innovative approach with latest-technology treatments, including the Zero Gravity Wellness Massage and the Poultice-Powered Muscle Release treatment, alongside more traditional massages, body wraps, facials and manicures.

I’m tempted to try the Tahitian Hydration Ritual, featuring warm monoi oil and frangipani flowers, but the only available appointments are in the middle of port days when I’m out on excursions.

No excuse to skip a workout: the fitness centre is top-tier, equipped with Technogym Strength Machines, spinning bikes, rowing machines, treadmills, Pilates and HIIT classes.

On sunny days, guests make use of the outdoor recreation facilities, including a Bocce Court, Golf Net, paddle tennis court, jogging track and shuffleboard set-up.

The pool and deck area is lovely, and the heated whirlpools are popular.

Guests staying in the exclusive Regent Suite have access to a private sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, treatment area, and unlimited in-cabin spa treatments.

Entertainment

Seven Seas Grandeur tends to attracts older, discerning couples. Most go to bed early, retiring after dinner or a show in the 500-seat Constellation Theater. However, the bar manager tells me there’s always one bar on the ship that stays open until the last man or woman is ready to call it a night.

Cooking classes in the Culinary Arts Kitchen with executive chef Kathryn Kelly book out quickly. Reservations are recommended.

A small casino is well-patronised, offering poker, blackjack and roulette. The stakes are high on the night I stop by.

Daily enrichment lectures cover information sessions on upcoming ports and general interest presentations on historical and cultural topics.

It’s a busy itinerary, and I’m off the ship every day on shore excursions (sometimes two a day). The fare covers unlimited complimentary shore excursions in each port.

The crew

An open-door policy means the general manager’s door is, quite literally, open to guests who want to have a chat, make a request or iron out any grievances. I overhear a woman complain about the 45 minutes of her life she’ll never get back after being taken to a Turkish carpet sales pitch during a shore excursion in Istanbul. The GM is charming and patient and genuinely interested in the feedback.

The crew-to-guest ratio is impressive - more than 2:3 - and there’s always a helpful crew member nearby to make a Moscow Mule, pick up and drop off laundry (the same-day complimentary service is very handy) or provide a refreshing cold towel at the end of a hot day.

The verdict

If a woman declares herself “the most beautiful”, her appearance will inevitably be compared with others. Regent Seven Seas Cruises invites comparison to other lines with its confidence that it is “the world’s most luxurious fleet”.

In many regards, the ultra-luxury Seven Seas Grandeur lives up to its launch hype. The all-balcony suites are a dream, dining is top-notch and the complimentary shore excursion program opens a world of cultural immersion possibilities. The ship is beautiful, an elegant ode to the finest things that money can buy.

The details

A 10-night voyage, Icons of Greece, departs Athens on October 5, 2025, and disembarks in Venice. From $13,440 a person in a Deluxe Verandah Suite. See RSSC.com

Our rating out of five

★★★★★

Swell

The luxe, spacious suite resembles a stylish apartment at sea. Can we move in?

Not so swell

For those who haven’t made reservations ahead of embarkation, there’s a wait for tables at the ship’s popular restaurants.

The writer was a guest of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.