Floating Indulgence on The Seven Seas Grandeur

Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ Newest Ship Takes Us to the Caribbean

First in the water on a bright Monday morning, I step off the floating platform’s ladder and let out a small squeak of surprise. Something slick and vaguely squishy has just brushed my leg. Several large, dark shapes bumble past in the water. A minute later, a professional wrangler has dumped one of the flapping creatures in my arms. “Watch out for the tail!” he says. “And keep away from the mouth if you don’t want a hickey!”

The writhing mass in my arms is a fully-grown stingray… and she’s not entirely pleased to be hugged by a nervous stranger. The moment lasts just long enough for a photo, during which my partner and I are spattered with water from her splashing wings. I then present her with a small squid, which she sucks out of my fist (thumb curled into my palm so she doesn’t take it with her) with surprising speed and aggression. Don’t come between a girl and her food!

We’re in St. John’s, Antigua for the day and it’s not even noon by the time we get back to the port. Our ship, the Seven Seas Grandeur, is the newest in a line of luxury cruise ships under Norwegian Cruise Lines’ luxury Regent Seven Seas brand. We cram a quick lunch in and then we’re off on a Jeep tour of the island, followed by a swim in the Caribbean Sea.

Every day is like this. We wake up each morning to the gentle swaying of the ship, docked in a new port, in a new country, with a new adventure planned out and catered to our desired level of activity. Most excursions, which are all offered free or at a reduced rate through Regent, live up to the hype.

In the course of a week, we go on a rickety 12-mile bike ride across Bonaire’s rocky eastern coast, visit with exotic butterflies at a garden in Aruba, hike through Grenada’s rainforest, sample homegrown spices at local markets, and sail a catamaran down the coastline of St. Lucia to see the famed natural “pitons” — volcanic peaks that jut 2,000-plus feet out of the ocean.

All of this is punctuated by educational driving tours through each island and extravagant meals at the five specialty restaurants on-board, all included in our package. Our one day at sea is spent lounging by the pool and drinking a coterie of frozen cocktails and mimosas, topped off by a relaxing spa treatment. I go with the Deep Sea Heat Mask body treatment, which combines a full-body massage with a slathering of warm paste that soothes sore back muscles.

The Grandeur lives up to its name, designed to give you the impression of a floating five-star resort with precisely placed golden and crystalline decorations. Outside the Prime 7 steakhouse, there are multiple authentic Picassos. At the entrance to Char- treuse, the French restaurant, is a floor-to- ceiling Gucci installment of gold-bordered flowers. We won’t even get started on the Fabergé egg.

The menus on-board Grandeur are extensive, from Pacific Rim’s Asian flair (sushi, seafood, Korean BBQ, etc.) to Compass Rose’s wide-ranging variety of options (pasta, meat, fish, veggies). A rotating cast of familiar-faced servers who seem to work at every restaurant on-board are constantly refilling your wine glass, bringing new courses, and generally making it so your only thought is what to order next.

This seems to be Regent’s overall theme. Don’t worry, don’t think, just enjoy. It’s almost intoxicating, even over-indulgent. Every evening, we come back exhausted from a day of adventure to a freshly made bed, squares of chocolate placed atop a daily “newsletter” with a list of all the activities you can enjoy. Our previous day’s laundry is pressed and hung neatly in the closet at our request. Our towels have been replaced; our belongings tidied. On the day before we de-board, our suitcase is lying open on the bed, ready to be packed — a gentle reminder that as much as you may want to, you simply cannot stay.

The stingray excursion is on day five of our week-long trip. By this time, even my frugal, humble partner has discovered a penchant for the finer things. We are, quite simply, spoiled beyond belief. The thought of returning home to a life of meetings, laundry, and dishes is almost obscene.

There is a reason, after all, why most people don’t — or can’t — just live on cruises. Maybe it’s not just the extravagant prices or the nomadic lifestyle. Perhaps a booking at Regent should come with a warning: Beware of an impending disdain for the mundane. If Grandeur taught us anything, it’s that you won’t come back the same.

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