Recently TravelPulse offered me a gig to attend a press trip on the Regent Seven Seas Cruises Grandeur. (See my article in TravelPulse.) The itinerary started in Bermuda and ended in Miami so we decided to mix business with pleasure and spend a week in Orlando, afterward, to visit family and friends.

We booked a flight out of Seattle, as everything available out of Portland seemed to stop there first. We decided to take Amtrak to a station close to SEATAC, and we were on our way.

One thing I learned was to never again book a red-eye flight. We’re too old to put ourselves through the agony of sitting upright all night long, trying to at least grab a few hours sleep. As usual, we’re always tightwads when we travel, but it’s time to upgrade, for the sake of our health.

Upon arrival we were taxied to the ship, which is an hour long drive through the island. FYI, make sure you carry enough cash to cover the fare, as a lot of the drivers do not take credit cards.

Stepping onto the Grandeur brought a sigh of relief that our 15 hour trek was finally over and we could relax. We didn’t get to see much of Bermuda, since the ship departed the next day, but what we did see was aquamarine seas and the historic Royal Naval Dockyard. Trying to shake off jet lag we managed to walk through the ruins of the old forts and storehouses.

The original itinerary actually started in Miami, then visited the Bahamas before heading to Bermuda. Guests had 2 days and nights to explore the island before heading back out to sea.

The Grandeur is a beautiful ship and, quite frankly, we’re not used to this much luxury and personal service. It’s a smaller vessel with 372 suites holding 744 guests, a great size to avoid long lines and crowded elevators. For the most part our elevator rides were solo and we never had to wait for anything.

After a day at sea our first stop was historic Norfolk, where we wandered around the port adjacent to the Hampton Roads Naval Museum with the huge Battleship Wisconsin docked alongside.

Our next stop was Charleston where we hopped on a bus tour of the city. We’ve been there a couple of times but still learned some historical tidbits we hadn’t heard before.

Our third stop, before reaching Miami, was Port Canaveral. The ship sidled right up next to Jetty Park, which allowed us to walk to the beach and put our toes in the water. Just a few days prior, this park would have been mobbed to witness the Artemis launch.

We found the food, on the ship, to be a cut above anything else we’ve experienced at sea. Everything I ordered tasted like it was made on the spot. Usually, I feel the food on the huge ships are made for mass quantities of people and the quality declines. The cuisine on the Grandeur was top shelf.

Even room service was hot and fresh, every time, with a large selection of choices. Having the mini fridge stocked with whatever we chose, was a perk, as was the reusable glass water containers.

Complimentary laundry service was appreciated, as well as the high end bathroom toiletries. Much nicer than the wall-mounted dispensers on most of the ships we’ve encountered.

The main dining room, Compass Rose, is similar to most with the exception that in addition to the specialty menu, each night, guests can create their own plate by choosing entrees, sides and even sauces separately.

The three specialty restaurants, Pacific Rim, Chartreuse and Prime 7 offer Pan Asian, French and Steak menus and are complimentary in the all-inclusive policy of the Regent brand. All beverages are also covered, including wines and mixed drinks.

When it was time to disembark in Miami, we were taken to the Brightline station by Blacklane car service which made us feel like royalty. I could get used to this!

Overall, I’d recommend Regent Seven Seas Cruises for anyone wishing for a dose of luxe and can afford it. We’ve cruised with other smaller lines that charge just as much but don’t provide the service, luxury, nor cuisine that RSSC offers.