Grandeur of the Seas

[suennorm]

I know she's an older ship, which I like (sailed a lot on Explorer and Voyager, never on the mega-ships). Has anyone sailed on her and what are your thoughts? I like the Barbados itineraries for 2022. Hope RCCL will be sailing!

[TravelerThom]

Voyager and Explorer used to be considered mega ships.  They were the largest cruise ships in the world when built, almost twice the size of Grandeur 138k GRT vs 74 GRT. That said she is a fine ship. There is a whole thread you should read:

 

 

[ONECRUISER]

2 minutes ago, TravelerThom said:

Voyager and Explorer used to be considered mega ships.  They were the largest cruise ships in the world when built, almost twice the size of Grandeur 138k GRT vs 74 GRT. That said she is a fine ship. There is a whole thread you should read:

 

 

True, but that said even Grandeur in 90's was a Mega-Ship, similar sized Sovereign was the first Mega-Cruise ship. Since 70's every Decade there was significant increase in Largest ship, 2010's was first one there was not. Personally will miss the Vision to Brilliance Class sized ships when their gone, Covid shutdown has just sped up when that happen's

[shipgeeks]

We like Grandeur a lot.  Very comfortable.  More traditional than some of the mega-ships, including a full Promenade Deck.

[BND]

We've sailed on her 7 times.  Love that ship, but we're not looking for big bells and whistles all the time.  We did different itineraries out of Baltimore everything from 5 night Bermuda to12 night southern Caribbean.  GR has a huge following out of Baltimore and while Enchantment is replacing her, we all will miss GR.  Too many make the mistake though of booking her not knowing anything and then complaining about how she doesn't have xyz like newer ships.  Our most relaxing trips have been on GR.    BTW, there is a huge difference between EX/Voyager and GR.  You can't compare them.  

[Another_Critic]

34 minutes ago, BND said:

We've sailed on her 7 times.  Love that ship, but we're not looking for big bells and whistles all the time.  We did different itineraries out of Baltimore everything from 5 night Bermuda to12 night southern Caribbean.  GR has a huge following out of Baltimore and while Enchantment is replacing her, we all will miss GR.  Too many make the mistake though of booking her not knowing anything and then complaining about how she doesn't have xyz like newer ships.  Our most relaxing trips have been on GR.    BTW, there is a huge difference between EX/Voyager and GR.  You can't compare them.  

 

7 times for me too!  We did 7 night Bermuda, 7 night Bahamas, 8 night Bahamas (x2), 10 night eastern, 10 night western, 12 night southern ... all RT Baltimore.

[Callythecat]

I sailed on Lady G 12 times and will miss her and the crew !!!!!

[clarky213]

My First cruise was on Grandeur in 2011 from Palma.

At the time, it was a big ship to us as we didn't know anything else.

Certainly got us hooked on cruising.

 

After working our way up to Ovation it would be great to return to her one day.

If they are still doing the new cruises from Barbados in 2025, I may look at this for my 60th Birthday.

[RocCruisers]

We booked the Dec 5 sailing - yeah for us!

Only question is will there be any other sailings BEFORE then?  Maybe a test sailing, or a repositioning?  It sounds exciting to be the first cruise out of Barbados, but I'd to have a few of the kinks worked out before we sail.  

[chmusar]

I have sailed on Jewel of the Seas can anyone tell me how the Grandeur compares as looking at 2022 from the Bahamas due to my TA being cancelled on Anthem

[little britain]

21 hours ago, Callythecat said:

I sailed on Lady G 12 times and will miss her and the crew !!!!!

She’s not going anywhere...??

[Ourusualbeach]

9 hours ago, little britain said:

She’s not going anywhere...??

I’m guessing the poster meant that she will miss her sailing from Baltimore  .

[Sunshine3601]

20 hours ago, chmusar said:

I have sailed on Jewel of the Seas can anyone tell me how the Grandeur compares as looking at 2022 from the Bahamas due to my TA being cancelled on Anthem

I love the Serenade and her sister the Jewel.  I have sailed on Grandeur several times and always enjoyed the ship and the crew.   

One thing I dont like is location of windjammer.  It's at the front of the ship and on a couple sailings we had rough seas and you will rock around in the jammer.

Casino is a bit small compared to Jewel

We have always enjoyed ourselves.  

I booked sailing for feb 6 2022 out of barbados.  Love the new itinerary.  As soon as I got off the phone I started looking at doing a b2b so I called back that afternoon and booked for 2.13.22.   Having 2 full days in Aruba is very nice.   Out of 8 cruises we have booked these are the 2 I am really excited about.  We got great prices for a JS too!

I say go for it!  You will enjoy!

[suennorm]

My biggest concern, really, is the placement of the balcony cabins. I always book a cabin that is "in-between" two other cabin decks so that I am not above, or below, lounges, pool area, restaurants, etc. Grandeur does not have a large choice for that and even the suites, on Deck 8, are under public areas. I am sure I would enjoy the size of the ship--I also (like some of the other folks have mentioned) am not a cruiser who needs all the bells and whistles. I like sailing for sailing, and being on a ship. Always enjoyed Holland America for that reason, and the smaller Norwegian ships (Gem, Jewel) but they don't sail out of NY anymore (or very rarely). But I do like Barbados, and the itineraries (yes, you're right!) are great. Haven't been to those islands in a long time. Appreciate everyone's input--thank you! 

[Sunshine3601]

1 hour ago, suennorm said:

My biggest concern, really, is the placement of the balcony cabins. I always book a cabin that is "in-between" two other cabin decks so that I am not above, or below, lounges, pool area, restaurants, etc. Grandeur does not have a large choice for that and even the suites, on Deck 8, are under public areas. I am sure I would enjoy the size of the ship--I also (like some of the other folks have mentioned) am not a cruiser who needs all the bells and whistles. I like sailing for sailing, and being on a ship. Always enjoyed Holland America for that reason, and the smaller Norwegian ships (Gem, Jewel) but they don't sail out of NY anymore (or very rarely). But I do like Barbados, and the itineraries (yes, you're right!) are great. Haven't been to those islands in a long time. Appreciate everyone's input--thank you! 

.I recommend a suite on deck 8 Aft as the salon and fitness center are on  deck 9 and really dont here much of any noise from them.

If you go with mid ship and pool deck above you that can be noisy at various times of day and night when they clean.

[little britain]

Does Grandeur have that secret aft staircase like Legend  had, that takes you up to the spa area ?

[Mkripke]

Is the Grandeur going in dry dock before it goes to Barbados?

[Biker19]

1 hour ago, Mkripke said:

Is the Grandeur going in dry dock before it goes to Barbados?

She is due for one, though don't expect any updates.

[Pumbaamd]

7 hours ago, little britain said:

Does Grandeur have that secret aft staircase like Legend  had, that takes you up to the spa area ?

Yes. But don't get caught using it. Sign says "Crew Only".

[CntPAcruiser]

I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned her "Stinky of the Seas" moniker. We sailed Grandeur out of Baltimore in late February 2020, just a few weeks before the shutdown and in many ways liked the ship. But every now and then there was that ... aroma ... wafting through the air on one deck or the other.

 

I actually like the smaller ships. As another poster mentioned, they feel "comfortable." I don't need the water slides and other county-fair-type attractions on every cruise. And it certainly was convenient sailing out of Baltimore, so we'll miss her there, too.

 

By the time anyone is cruising on Grandeur again presumably management will have changed, and Diamond Lounge practices will probably have changed, too, but on that February 2020 cruise, I have to say I experienced some of the worst bar service I've had anywhere, both in the lounge and in several of the bars on board. Diamond lounge drinks were made in a remote bar behind the scenes and brought to the lounge, so you never knew what you were getting, or what you were going to get. Hopefully that will improve on future sailings (and no one else will ever again be treated to a scotch and soda that is made with Sprite. Blecch!).

[Merion_Mom]

1 hour ago, CntPAcruiser said:

I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned her "Stinky of the Seas" moniker. We sailed Grandeur out of Baltimore in late February 2020, just a few weeks before the shutdown and in many ways liked the ship. But every now and then there was that ... aroma ... wafting through the air on one deck or the other.

 

I actually like the smaller ships. As another poster mentioned, they feel "comfortable." I don't need the water slides and other county-fair-type attractions on every cruise. And it certainly was convenient sailing out of Baltimore, so we'll miss her there, too.

 

By the time anyone is cruising on Grandeur again presumably management will have changed, and Diamond Lounge practices will probably have changed, too, but on that February 2020 cruise, I have to say I experienced some of the worst bar service I've had anywhere, both in the lounge and in several of the bars on board. Diamond lounge drinks were made in a remote bar behind the scenes and brought to the lounge, so you never knew what you were getting, or what you were going to get. Hopefully that will improve on future sailings (and no one else will ever again be treated to a scotch and soda that is made with Sprite. Blecch!).

 

That "remote" location is right behind the wall that you are staring at when you are sitting outside the lounge proper during happy hours.

[CntPAcruiser]

On 1/28/2021 at 10:46 PM, Merion_Mom said:

 

That "remote" location is right behind the wall that you are staring at when you are sitting outside the lounge proper during happy hours.

 

I did see where they staff were coming and going from. It really seemed to mess up the flow of ordering and getting drinks. They never seemed to have enough cocktail servers, and even with tipping, orders were wrong and drinks were badly made. And that went for some of the actual bars elsewhere on board. I had initially hoped to skirt the issue with the lounge by using the preloaded drinks and ordering at an actual bar, but that didn't help much. The only bar I seemed to get decent drinks at was usually very crowded, probably for that reason.

[lenquixote66]

On 1/18/2021 at 6:30 PM, suennorm said:

I know she's an older ship, which I like (sailed a lot on Explorer and Voyager, never on the mega-ships). Has anyone sailed on her and what are your thoughts? I like the Barbados itineraries for 2022. Hope RCCL will be sailing!

We cruised on the Grandeur every December for 4 consecutive years beginning in 2015.We had the same cabin on each cruise.We loved that ship.The crew was great.The only negative for me is that the elevator does not go to the deck that the Fitness Center is on .You have to walk up a stairway.

I am disabled and cannot walk up and down steps.The Hotel Manager gave me permission to use the crews exercise room.