Cover Tatler Singapore sets sail on the luxurious Seven Seas Grandeur, exploring the Mediterranean in first-class style and elegance
Tatler Singapore sets sail on the luxurious Seven Seas Grandeur, exploring the Mediterranean in first-class style and elegance
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Tatler Singapore sets sail on the luxurious Seven Seas Grandeur, exploring the Mediterranean in first-class style and elegance
When opportunity knocks, you answer. And standing on deck aboard the Seven Seas Grandeur, taking in the cool breeze and spoils of nature, I am glad I took up the invite of Regent Seven Seas Cruises to live the high life at sea. This is just my first day on board, after leaving the little red dot two days ago to make my way to Madeira, where I join the cruise just past the midway point in its epic 14‑night transatlantic voyage that started in New York and concludes in Barcelona. Already, though, I am the most relaxed I have been in a long while.
Read more: Suite life on deck: What it’s like to live on a luxurious private residential yacht
This state of mind is perhaps unsurprising—I am, after all, on the latest luxury liner from premier cruise company Regent Seven Seas Cruises; one that is billed to be home to all manner of creature comforts. Over the next few days, I discover truth in this sell and fully indulge in all its amenities.
Above A glimpse into the extravagance of the Seven Seas Grandeur
In all honesty, “luxury liner” feels a bit lacking as a label for this modern floating marvel, which is captained by Luciano Montesanto for this voyage. Its accommodation, for one, is truly top‑tier: on this vessel, there are only suites, each one equipped with a private balcony that is among the biggest in the industry. And there are a staggering 15 categories of suites to choose from.
The Grand Suite I am staying in comes with a personal butler who is on call 24 hours a day, as well as a view that affords a rare chance to wake up, like clockwork every morning, to a stunning and dramatic display of purples marrying into blues during sunrise—just like watching my very own Rothko masterpiece being painted in the sky.
Speaking of art, the Seven Seas Grandeur houses an enviable collection of paintings and installations, which I have been told is valued at just shy of US$1 million. The jewel in the crown, no doubt, is the commissioned Fabergé egg christened Journey in Jewels. Encased in bulletproof glass, the objet d’art evokes the seven seas traversed by Regent Seven Seas Cruises’s fleet of vessels through its colours and gems.
Above The Compass
Rose restaurant
The Compass Rose restaurant
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Other standouts among the 1,600 works of art include The Enchanted Tree, a hand‑woven tapestry by Brazilian artist Walter Goldfarb that stretches about 12 metres, and Bonsai Cherry Tree, a custom bronze and hand‑cast glass installation created by art glass studio Savoy Studios.
It is fitting that the latter, a majestic creation that is nearly 3 metres tall, stands at the entrance of the Pacific Rim restaurant. After all, dining on board the Seven Seas Grandeur has been elevated to an art form. In‑room dining aside, there are seven concepts, including four speciality fine‑dining establishments, that serve up top‑notch culinary fare and fab ambience.
One of my favourites is Prime 7, a modern steakhouse. Imagine sinking your teeth into a perfectly aged prime New York strip in a surf and turf while taking in the uninterrupted panoramic view of the setting sun at sea as you sip on a glass of mouth‑watering Malbec wine. Oh, what a life.
The Prime 7 steakhouse on the Seven Seas Grandeur
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Further elevating sea voyage is a tranquil haven that is the Serene Spa & Wellness. There is a plethora of rejuvenating treatments designed to restore one’s energies physically, mentally and emotionally, but my favourite is hands down the deep‑tissue hot stone massage—which I go for every day. Suffice to say that melting away my worries as the ship gently rocks me into a state of bliss is definitely a top highlight of my holiday. Without fail, these sessions always seem to end with a quick power soak in the outdoor jacuzzi on my private deck, facing the glistening ocean, and finally, a lavish wash and blow.
The lifestyle on board may be pampering, but port calls at exciting cities compel me to peel myself away and step on shore. And again, I am glad I did. My bespoke day jaunts in Cartagena and Valencia are unforgettable, filled with merrymaking as I eat my way through the former, a naval base in the Murcia region in Spain, consuming my weight in tapas; and do the same in the latter, a former Roman colony, only this time, it is with drinks. Between exploring the cities on shore by foot and private charters (the tour groups are always kept intimate, which I appreciate), the guides always ensure that everyone is well taken care of.
Above The Seven Seas Grandeur is the perfect gateway to a world of unparalleled luxury
The Seven Seas Grandeur is the perfect gateway to a world of unparalleled luxury
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All too soon, the good times come to end as we pull into the port of Barcelona. The Seven Seas Grandeur, incidentally, requires one of the widest berths in the world. This is hardly surprising, given that the 55,500‑tonne ship has an overall length of 735 feet, a width of 103 feet and a draft of 23 feet—dimensions that allow for not just the luxuries on board, but also a maximum guest capacity of 825 and a crew of 542. The impressive space‑to‑passenger and crew‑to‑passenger ratios translate into never feeling crowded on board and incredible hospitality.
The Seven Seas Grandeur is truly the ultimate gateway to a world where luxury—which one revels in the minute one steps aboard—knows no bounds, and I leave its opulent embrace with not just wonderful memories of an indulgent voyage, but also a tinge of longing, already missing being thoroughly spoiled.
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Adriel Chiun is the Branded Content Editor of Tatler Singapore.
