'GRANDEUR' MAKES GRAND IMPRESSION

The aerial show in the Centrum
(Photo: Gerry)

MIAMI -- The day before Thanksgiving, Royal Caribbean scheduled a "coming out party" to show media and travel agents the revitalized Grandeur of the Seas, making a stop here on her way to Panama. From her shiny new appointments and new specialty restaurants to the spectacular new aerial show in the atrium, Grandeur made a grand impression.

Originally launched in 1996, the 74,000-ton Vision-class ship accommodates just over 2,000 guests. In June, Grandeur completed a $50 million makeover that included:

• Three new specialty restaurants: Chops Grille, Giovanni's Table and Izumi. 
• The R Bar, combining sophistication with a retro feel.
• A poolside LED outdoor theater screen
• New furnishings and appointments throughout
• An aerial theater in the six-story Centrum atrium

The venues and new technology, such as the touch-screen location finders throughout, will be familiar to anyone who has sailed on Oasis or Allure. Royal Caribbean is taking the best of what's been deployed on those ships and upgrading the rest of the fleet with those features.

My overall first impression? In a word, elegant.

The colors are vibrant but understated (despite one guest's comment that "there's a lot of purple"). The art and sculpture works provide a perfect complement and set a tone that says, "relax -- you're on vacation."

A few of the highlights for me:

• The Centrum. The six-story atrium is beautifully done on its own merits. But add a "Cirque du Soleil"-styled aerial show and the result is dazzling. Several times a day the busy centerpiece of the ship becomes a theater as performing artists do their aerial magic on ropes and swings in a symphony of light and motion. One part of the show even features a shimmering shower of snow. It's not to be missed.
• The Viking Crown is one of our favorite haunts on Royal ships, with its 360-degree views. On Grandeur it's been expanded and connected to the popular Izumi Asian specialty restaurant. There's no better place to toast your day at sea.
• The R Bar. Readers here know we are all about the preservation of art deco and the celebration of the martini. The ship's R Bar combines both. Nestled at the base of the Centrum, it was nonstop as guests kept the three bartenders in constant motion.
• The outdoor theater by the pool -- nothing like a movie under the stars, right? We have already given RC our wish list of films we want to see, such as "Casablanca," "Romance on the High Seas," "Singing in the Rain" ... in short, give us the classics!

Other new additions include a "Royal Tots and Babies" nursery for children 6 to 36 months; the "Chef's Table," a private dining experience for up to 12 guests. Enjoy a five course-meal with wine for $95 a person, and the Park Cafe, which was praised for its made-to-order sandwiches.

Royal's brass was there for the occasion, including President and CEO Adam Goldstein, who  offered a champagne toast in a late-evening ceremony in the Centrum.

Grandeur will sail a Caribbean itinerary from Panama during Spring, 2013, then will move to Baltimore for the rest of the year for cruises to Bermuda, Canada, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. 

Here's a video that provides more details. And watch for more pictures of the Grandeur, coming soon. -- Gerry