Grandeur of the Seas Cruise Ship: Overview and Things to Do

Grandeur of the Seas has been in service since 1996, making it an older ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet. In fact, up until 2020, the cruise line had every intention of ditching the ship, transferring it to the Royal Caribbean Group-owned Pullmantur Cruises.

However, those plans have since changed and cruisers still have time to enjoy the Royal Caribbean experience aboard the vessel, for at least a little while longer.

So, why should you give this older ship a try? What can you expect to see, do and experience while aboard Grandeur of the Seas? Here’s everything you need to know. 

Grandeur of the Seas Stats

When it comes to size and number of guest rooms, Grandeur of the Seas doesn’t necessarily impress in any significant way. However, for some cruisers, that could be ideal.

After all, mega ships quite often can feel overwhelming and just too big. So, if you’re looking for a ship that’s on the smaller, more manageable, easily-navigable side, here’s what Grandeur can provide you: 

• A 73,817 gross tonnage
• A length of 916 feet
• 11 passenger decks
• 12 total decks
• A capacity for 2,440 guests at maximum occupancy, or 1,992 guests at double occupancy
• An international crew of 760 members 

Construction and Refurbishment

Ordered in 1992 and built in Finland between 1995 and 1996, Grandeur of the Seas has been in service since late 1996. This Vision-class cruise ship underwent a five-week, $48 million refurbishment in Spain in 2012, which brought it up to more recent standards. 

Changes made during the 2012 dry-docking period included adding new entertainment options and children’s programming, new restaurants, new WiFi services, new flat-screen televisions in all of the staterooms and a new way-finding system.

The Concierge Lounge and Diamond Lounge were also added in 2012. The refurbishments were part of a larger effort to revamp the entire Vision class.

Now, frequent cruisers will find that Grandeur of the Seas offers all of the classic Royal Caribbean venues and restaurants that the brand has become known for, even if it doesn’t have some of the flashier, new venues and offerings that can be found on the brand’s latest ships.

Royal Caribbean Vision-Class Ships

As mentioned, Grandeur of the Seas is a member of Royal Caribbean’s Vision class. The Vision class includes six ships: Grandeur of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Splendor of the Seas.

Grandeur of the Seas was the third Vision-class ship to enter service, following Legend of the Seas and Splendor of the Seas, and it was the largest Vision-class ship when it launched (though it was quickly surpassed by the much larger Rhapsody, Vision and Enchantment of the Seas ships). 

Several of the other Vision-class ships were transferred to other cruise lines, much as was the plan for Grandeur. Both of Grandeur’s predecessors, Legend of the Seas and Splendor of the Seas, were sold to Thomson Cruises.

If you enjoy cruising on Grandeur of the Seas, but want something a little bit newer and/or larger, you might want to consider sailing on Enchantment of the Seas, which is the largest ship in the Vision class, and which debuted in 1997.

Staterooms and Suites

Grandeur of the Seas offers a range of staterooms and suites, including…

• 996 total staterooms
• 380 ocean-view staterooms
• 122 balcony staterooms
• 399 interior staterooms
• 14 wheelchair-accessible staterooms
• 112 suites 

Which one is the right stateroom for you? Across all of your options, you’ll find that the decor is slightly outdated — it is a decade old, after all. Think early 2010s nautical hotel decor — lots of blue and green fabric, contemporary art-style carpet and light-hued wood. However, for all of the slightly outdated decor, these staterooms are quite spacious, all across the board. 

In the interior staterooms, you’ll find a good amount of space for two travelers, though some staterooms are designed with up to four travelers in mind, thanks to pull-out beds and sofa beds, as well as connecting cabins.

Ocean-view staterooms feature a little more space, including a sitting area, and big, wide, circular windows that look out over the ocean, right next to your bed. Just like with the interior staterooms, the ocean-view staterooms are great for two passengers, but can also work for groups of three or four, if needed.

Balcony staterooms are even larger, with the same style of sitting areas, but there’s the additional balcony living space that’s furnished with seating for two and even a table. Each balcony features large, floor-to-ceiling glass doors that offer ocean views even when you’re not enjoying the fresh air.

Suites on Grandeur of the Seas include junior suites, grand suites, an owner’s suite and a royal suite. The junior suites offer larger interior and exterior spaces, with larger sitting areas and even a bathtub, a feature that doesn’t come standard in all staterooms. The grand suites, meanwhile, are an even larger option, each with a sleeping area, sitting area and foyer.

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Owner’s suites are even larger, but it’s the royal suite that really takes top prize, with more than double the space than you’ll find in an owner’s suite. The royal suite includes a huge living room, a king-size bed in a separate bedroom, a piano and even a jacuzzi. 

Those who stay in one of the suites enjoy additional suite guest-only perks, such as priority check-in, complimentary concierge service, priority seating both at theatrical performances and at the pool, expanded in-room dining options, complimentary luggage valet and more. 

Dining

Dining aboard Grandeur of the Seas is very much the classic cruise experience. You can expect to find upscale sit-down dining in the main dining room, which is the primary choice for most cruisers, and American classics are typical fare. 

Dining venues include… 

• The Great Gatsby Dining Room (the main dining room)
• Windjammer Cafe
• Giovanni’s Table
• Chops Grille
• Izumi
• Park Cafe
• The Chef’s Table
• Cafe Latte-Tudes

While this doesn’t give you quite the range that you’d expect on a newer Royal Caribbean ship, it’s still plenty of options for most cruisers.

You have a handful of complimentary dining venues, which are included in the cost of your base cruise fare, but then a few upgrades, if you want them. And, the menus are varied enough at your complimentary dining venues that you don’t necessarily need to worry about eating the same meal twice.

Your complimentary dining options include the Great Gatsby Dining Room, Windjammer Cafe, Park Cafe and select room service. 

The Great Gatsby Dining Room offers standard sit-down cruise dining, with more formal menu options such as omelets and eggs benedict for breakfast, and pasta or prime rib at dinner.

Each dinner includes several courses. Dining is on a set schedule, though, so don’t expect to just pop into the main dining room any time during your cruise.

Windjammer Cafe is the more relaxed buffet area, but it also works on a strict schedule. The Park Cafe can be found in the adults-only Solarium, and it offers light eats, such as yogurt or oatmeal, or small sandwiches. 

If you’re willing to spend a bit more, you can enjoy upgraded options at the for-a-fee restaurants. These include Giovanni’s Table, Chops Grille, Izumi, The Chef’s Table and Cafe Latte-Tudes. 

The Chef’s Table is an intimate, adults-only dining experience that allows you to dine with a select group of your fellow cruisers, as the chef directly interacts with you. The five-course meal includes wine pairings. 

Chops Grille, meanwhile, is your classic American steakhouse, with surf and turf and all the traditional sides. Giovanni’s Table offers family-style Italian eats, while Izumi is the place to go for Asian cuisine. Cafe Latte-tudes serves Starbucks coffee and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream. 

Bars and Lounges

You can find nearly as many bars and lounges on Grandeur of the Seas as you can restaurants. Your watering hole options include… 

• South Pacific Lounge
• Viking Crown Lounge
• Schooner Bar
• R Bar
• The Casino Bar
• The Pool Bar
• The Solarium Bar

R Bar is a lively atmosphere, where you can find regularly scheduled events in addition to a menu of classic cocktails. The casino bar, pool bar and solarium bar, meanwhile, are all simply bars situated within the venues by the same names, so you can enjoy an adult beverage while you gamble or swim.

The Schooner Bar is a Royal Caribbean classic, with its nautical theme and great views of the promenade. South Pacific Lounge sits behind the Schooner Bar and is the place to go for lots of activity and performances, in addition to drinks. Lastly, the Viking Crown Lounge is a quiet spot during the day, but then turns into a nightclub after hours.

Things to Do on Grandeur of the Seas

Of course, you can’t just dine and drink for your entire cruise. When you’re ready for something fun to do, Grandeur of the Seas has a lot to offer. 

There are two pools on the ship. The main pool is for all ages and is surrounded by lounge chairs and four hot tubs. The cruise staff also do a nice job of keeping a running program of activities and events happening poolside. The second pool is in the adults-only Solarium, and is flanked by two hot tubs. The quiet atmosphere is for those ages 16 and up.

Other outdoor activities include the rock climbing wall, shuffleboard, and ping-pong tables, on the sun decks. 

If your idea of a good time is more geared toward relaxation than activities, you’ll appreciate the ship’s Vitality at Sea Spa, which offers a full menu of traditional spa services.

Of course, there’s also the Palladium Theater and Casino Royale, where you can either sit back and take in a show, or try your hand at the slots or gambling table.

Amenities 

In addition to all the fun you can have on a Grandeur of the Seas cruise, there are also plenty of amenities, to ensure that all your needs are taken care of. Amenities aboard Grandeur of the Seas include…

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• A photo gallery (for purchasing photos taken by the ship photographers)
• Shops selling souvenirs, jewelry, spirits and cosmetics
• A miniature art gallery
• An internet lounge
• Library
• Conference rooms
• A medical facility 
• Laundry service 
• A small fitness center
• Children’s programming for young children to teens
• Late-night babysitting services 

Grandeur of the Seas Itineraries

Grandeur of the Seas may be a little on the older side, but this ship still has a lot to offer, especially for those long-time cruisers wanting to sail on a smaller ship, or those first-time cruisers who don’t want to overwhelm themselves with too many options on their first voyage.

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