Royal Caribbean is best known for building some of the biggest and most innovative cruise ships in the world. Its newest vessels are filled with waterslides, surf simulators, ice-skating rinks and high-tech entertainment.
Grandeur of the Seas offers a completely different version of Royal Caribbean.
The Vision-class vessel entered service in 1996, making her the oldest ship currently sailing in the cruise line’s fleet. Measuring around 73,000 gross tons and carrying fewer than 2,000 guests at double occupancy, Grandeur of the Seas is a fraction of the size of Royal Caribbean’s biggest ships.
My sister and I booked a four-night cruise from Tampa with two sea days and one stop in Cozumel, Mexico. The biggest draw was the price! We paid just $466 per person, including gratuities, taxes and port fees. This came out to around $116 per person, per day.
Although the price was right, the negative reviews online had us second guessing our choice. Some cruisers described Grandeur as very dated, boring, and ready for retirement. In addition, some cruise websites even ranked her as the worst ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.
No one wants to waste their time or money on a disappointing vacation, so we boarded with very low expectations. I had sailed on other Vision-class ships, including Enchantment, Rhapsody and Vision of the Seas, but it had been several years since my last cruise on one of Royal Caribbean’s oldest vessels.
Although I knew Grandeur of the Seas would lack the bells and whistles of a mega-ship, I wondered whether the ship would feel neglected after nearly three decades at sea.
After four nights onboard, I found Grandeur of the Seas to be much better than the reviews suggested. The ship was not perfect, but many of the things I expected to dislike ended up surprising me.
1. Grandeur of the Seas was maintained better than I expected
My biggest concern was the ship’s overall condition. I have sailed on older cruise ships where broken mirrors, widespread rust, and worn furniture made the vessel feel neglected. There is a major difference between a ship looking dated and a ship being poorly maintained.
Grandeur was certainly dated, but she did not feel neglected during our cruise. The public spaces were clean, the furniture was in good condition, and there were few obvious signs of deterioration. We noticed cosmetic wear when looking closely, but nothing that negatively affected our cruise.
In fact, we could hear the ship being actively maintained during our cruise. The occasional sound of drilling or clanking was not exactly relaxing, but it was nice to see the crew caring for the ship.
The overall decor of the ship still reflects the 1990s; however, an outdated design does not automatically make a ship dirty or uncomfortable. Once onboard, “Lady G,” as many loyal cruisers affectionately call her, quickly grew on me.
I had prepared myself to find rust and worn-down spaces everywhere. Instead, Grandeur of the Seas looked similar to other older Royal Caribbean ships I have sailed on recently, and even better than some newer vessels.
2. The ocean views were one of the ship’s best features
Royal Caribbean’s newest ships are designed like floating cities. You can spend an entire day walking through restaurants, shops and neighborhoods without seeing the ocean.
Grandeur of the Seas takes a more traditional approach. The ship has an outward-facing design with expansive windows throughout its public spaces. Instead of trying to make you forget you are at sea, Grandeur constantly reminds you.
The Centrum was one of my favorite places onboard. This six-deck atrium is surrounded by glass, allowing natural light to fill the interior. There were plenty of chairs overlooking the water, and we never struggled to find somewhere to sit.
On our first morning, my sister and I grabbed coffee from Café Latte-tudes and found seats near the windows. We watched the ocean pass by while slowly starting our day, and this routine became one of my favorite memories from the cruise.
The Centrum also transformed into an entertainment space throughout the day. Live musicians performed in the evenings, while other activities were hosted nearby during sea days.
Vision-class ships once offered aerial performances in the Centrum, although none were scheduled during our sailing. This was disappointing because the tall, open space is perfectly designed for an aerialist show.
Even without the aerial performances, I loved Grandeur’s light-filled design. There were also plenty of places to appreciate the scenery from the pool deck and adults-only Solarium.
Grandeur of the Seas might lack the flashy neighborhoods found on Royal Caribbean’s newest ships, but she offers uninterrupted views of the sea around every corner.
3. Having fewer attractions made the cruise more relaxing
You will not find waterslides, zip lines or a surf simulator on Grandeur of the Seas. The top deck has one main pool, several hot tubs and a rock-climbing wall, while the adults-only Solarium has another pool and hot tub.
That’s about it for major attractions. Surprisingly, I did not miss having more things to do.
My sister and I booked this cruise because we wanted to relax, enjoy being pampered, and sip cocktails near the pool. Grandeur was perfectly suited for this type of getaway. Since there were fewer attractions onboard, I never felt pressured to spend the day racing around the ship or checking activities off a list.
I took a nap every single day during the cruise, and I actually returned home feeling refreshed! I have sailed on some ships where the schedule was so busy that I needed a vacation from my vacation afterward. That was not the case with Grandeur of the Seas!
There was plenty of deck space to relax, whether we wanted to sit near the main pool or find a quieter chair inside the Solarium. I found that Grandeur of the Seas gave me an opportunity to really disconnect, slow down, and enjoy being at sea without worrying that I was missing something.
4. The smaller size made Grandeur incredibly easy to navigate
After sailing on some of Royal Caribbean’s largest ships, I had forgotten how convenient it can be to cruise on a smaller vessel. Grandeur was easy to navigate, and we rarely needed more than a few minutes to walk between our cabin, the dining room, theatre and pool deck.
Even our cabin on Deck 3 provided quick access to the Centrum and Café Latte-tudes. I loved being able to grab coffee in the morning without navigating a maze of hallways or waiting for a crowded elevator.
The smaller size also made the ship feel more intimate. We recognized familiar faces throughout the cruise, and the crew seemed to remember guests more easily. Although nearly 2,000 passengers were sailing with us, Grandeur never felt overwhelmingly large or difficult to navigate.
5. The crowd was much younger and rowdier than I anticipated
Before sailing, I assumed Royal Caribbean’s oldest ship would attract an older and quieter demographic. Our cruise was anything but quiet!
Grandeur was filled with bachelor and bachelorette parties, friend groups, and family reunions. Everyone seemed ready to let loose for the weekend, and I had never seen so many tables covered with empty beer and cocktail glasses.
Honestly, you could have fooled me into thinking we were sailing with Carnival based on the party atmosphere. This was not necessarily a bad thing, but it was completely different from what I had pictured.
The energetic crowd made interactive events particularly entertaining. Karaoke, the Love and Marriage Game Show, and pool-deck competitions were livelier because everyone wanted to participate! Sea-day staples like the belly-flop competition were a hoot with this group.
However, the party atmosphere overwhelmed Grandeur’s limited number of bars. Lines were consistently long, and the bartenders struggled to keep up with demand. Whenever we wanted a drink, we had to decide whether it was worth waiting.
The noisy crowd followed us back to our cabin as well. We could hear our neighbors talking in the morning and late at night because the walls were extremely thin. Luckily, I always pack earplugs when I cruise and my portable white-noise machine.
The atmosphere on any ship can vary depending on the itinerary, price, and time of year. Our inexpensive weekend sailing naturally attracted groups looking for a quick getaway, while a longer cruise would likely have a different demographic.
However, the rowdy crowd was one of the biggest surprises of the trip. Grandeur might be Royal Caribbean’s oldest ship, but our sailing certainly did not feel sleepy.
6. Our inexpensive inside cabin was comfortable enough for four nights
To keep costs down, my sister and I booked the cheapest stateroom available: an inside guarantee cabin. Inside cabins have no windows or natural light, while booking a guarantee means the cruise line chooses your location.
We were assigned cabin 3505 on Deck 3, nearly as far forward as possible. Since the cruise was only four nights, we were not super concerned about the location. Deck 3 also gave us convenient access to the Centrum and Café Latte-tudes.
Our cabin measured approximately 142 square feet, but it felt larger than we expected. The beds were originally configured together, although navigating around the sides was difficult. After the first night, we separated them into two twins, which immediately made the room feel more spacious.
The cabin also had a loveseat, two nightstands, a vanity and plenty of storage. I unpacked my entire suitcase into three large drawers, while my sister used the closet. We had more storage than we needed for such a short sailing.
Although some parts of the room showed their age, everything was clean and comfortable. The beds were also in good condition, despite my concern that the mattresses might feel worn.
The lack of modern technology was more noticeable. We had two outlets to share, no USB ports near the beds and no mini-fridge. Unfortunately, I forgot both my USB adapter and portable charger, so we had to be strategic about charging our devices.
Whenever we left the cabin, we made sure something was plugged in. I had remembered to pack an extra-long charging cord, which allowed me to use my phone in bed when it was my turn for the outlet.
The bathroom also looked better than I anticipated. It appeared to have been updated with light wood finishes, white flooring, and a colorful backsplash behind the sink. Most bathrooms I have seen on ships from the same era are filled with unusual colors and unmistakably outdated finishes, so Grandeur’s bathroom was a pleasant surprise.
Unfortunately, there was hardly any counter space or storage near the sink. Between the two of us, the counter became cluttered almost immediately.
The shower was easily the bathroom’s worst feature. It was oddly shaped like a trapezoid and covered by a clingy curtain, making the already-small space feel even tighter. If we pushed the curtain away, water dripped onto the floor.
I certainly do not book cruises for a luxurious showering experience, but this was one daily activity we did not enjoy.
Even with these inconveniences, the cabin worked well for a short cruise. It became a comfortable place to cool down, take an afternoon nap and return to each evening.
7. The food was better than the reviews suggested
Food is highly subjective, but our dining experience was much better than we anticipated. Before sailing, we read numerous complaints describing the food on Grandeur as bland, repetitive, and poor quality.
We spent our first evening at Giovanni’s Table, which was easily the dining highlight of the cruise. The food was excellent, and the attentive service made the additional charge feel worthwhile.
We ate in the main dining room during the other three evenings. Several guests told us the first night had been rough, so we were hesitant to see what everyone was complaining about. However, we enjoyed our meals and received excellent service.
Our dining neighbors, who had been disappointed on the first night, also agreed that the food improved as the cruise continued.
The Windjammer buffet was more inconsistent. Some dishes were bland, while others were perfectly fine. My sister tried pasta and pork that lacked flavor, while I enjoyed my hot dog—but it is difficult to mess up a hot dog!
The buffet’s glass-enclosed design also made the space feel hot and stuffy. We did not spend much time there because of this and found alternative venues instead.
Park Café in the Solarium served pizza, salads and sandwiches, so we stopped there for lunch and snacks. The food was decent, although the selection was limited.
The lack of complimentary dining variety was more notable than the food quality. Grandeur relies heavily on the main dining room and Windjammer, with Park Café and Café Latte-tudes offering lighter options. Even during a four-night cruise, the choices started to feel repetitive.
I would love to see Royal Caribbean add another complimentary venue to its older ships. A casual option like El Loco Fresh would bring much-needed variety without requiring a complete redesign.
Grandeur of the Seas would not be my first recommendation for foodies, but we never went hungry. More importantly, our meals, especially in the main dining room and Giovanni’s Table, were way better than the reviews had led us to expect.
8. The simple entertainment was enough for a short cruise
Royal Caribbean offers some of the most impressive entertainment at sea. Depending on the ship, you might find ice-skating performances, high-diving spectacles, and massive theatrical productions.
Grandeur of the Seas does not offer entertainment on this scale. The evening lineup consisted of more traditional cruise acts, including a comedian, an impersonator and a Royal Caribbean production featuring singers and dancers.
Were these shows jaw-dropping or life-changing? Not exactly. However, we enjoyed every performance and appreciated having something to watch each evening.
The activities team also hosted trivia, karaoke, movies and game shows throughout the day. Between the scheduled activities, pool-deck events and nightly performances, we never felt bored during our four-night sailing.
I could see the entertainment becoming repetitive during a longer cruise with multiple sea days. Anyone hoping to experience the best of Royal Caribbean’s productions should choose a newer and larger ship.
For a short getaway, however, Grandeur offered enough to keep us entertained without making the schedule feel overwhelming. We could watch a show when we wanted something to do or skip it without feeling like we had missed a once-in-a-lifetime performance.
Grandeur of the Seas was much better than I expected
Grandeur of the Seas is not the best ship in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, but she was far better than the negative reviews suggested.
The ship was clean and well maintained, our cabin was comfortable and the food exceeded our expectations. I also loved Grandeur’s natural light, expansive windows and constant ocean views.
Most importantly, the ship’s simplicity created one of the most relaxing cruises I have taken in years.
Grandeur of the Seas still has obvious limitations. The complimentary dining selection is repetitive, the bars can become overwhelmed, and the cabins lack modern technology. Families looking for waterslides and nonstop thrills will probably be happier on a newer ship.
Personally, I would not choose Grandeur for a long sailing, such as a transatlantic cruise or an itinerary with numerous sea days. For a longer cruise, I would prefer a larger ship with more restaurants, activities, and entertainment.
However, Grandeur of the Seas was perfect for our four-night getaway. I would also consider booking the ship for a port-intensive itinerary where I planned to spend most days exploring ashore.
For $466 per person, our cruise felt like a great value. I returned home rested rather than exhausted, which does not happen after every vacation.
Sometimes the best cruise is not the one with the most impressive attractions. It is the one that gives you exactly the vacation you need!
