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Where Art Meets Ocean
From Picassos at dinner to the first Fabergé egg at sea, Regent Seven Seas redefines what it means to sail in style
By Jessica Huras
From the pier, Seven Seas Grandeur could pass for any elegant liner: sleek white hull, broad decks for lounging and long rows of private balconies. But step aboard and the impression shifts.
A Picasso hangs casually above a dining table. A 12-metre tapestry spirals through the atrium. A Fabergé egg gleams under soft light. This isn’t a cruise with art for decoration. It’s a gallery at sea.
Art Everywhere You Turn
With space for only 744 guests, Seven Seas Grandeur, the newest vaunted Explorer Class vessel from the often touted “The World’s Most Luxurious Fleet” is far more intimate than your average cruise ship. Miami’s design firm Studio DADO shaped every corner with light, texture and flow in mind. It’s a luxurious cruise ship designed to feel collected and personal, like a private yacht of someone with very good taste and an enviable art advisor.
At the heart of this luxe vessel, is a soaring atrium anchored by Brazilian artist Walter Goldfarb’s Enchanted Tree, a towering tapestry of organic beauty visible from the glass lifts. Branches seem to climb deck by deck. Curved staircases reveal new perspectives as you move through the space. Lounges open to the sea through glass walls, and the restaurants stay deliberately understated so the art does the talking. Each space offers a fresh visual surprise, from a striking sculpture to a perfectly framed ocean view.
Suites start at 28.5 square metres and stretch up to the palatial 472.7-square-metres Regent Suite, complete with a wraparound veranda, glass-enclosed parlour, private hot tub and its own in-suite spa with a private sauna and steam room. Even entry-level staterooms have balconies, L’Occitane bath products and a refined look that’s more chic pied-à-terre than hotel room.
The ship’s public space design is deliberate. Find tucked-away reading corners that give way to buzzy bars and performance spaces. Each transition feels architectural, as if you’re exploring a purpose-built cultural space rather than a luxury cruise ship.
Inside the Curated Art Program
Regent Seven Seas spent nearly two years sourcing and commissioning more than 1,600 works, assembling a collection many museums would envy. Art director Sarah Hall Smith sourced pieces from artists worldwide, evolving the curatorial approach she’d shaped for earlier Regent ships.
Anchoring it all is Journey in Jewels, a one-of-a-kind Fabergé egg created exclusively for Seven Seas Grandeur and the first Fabergé egg ever to live permanently at sea. Its seven sculpted blue blades unfurl like waves, a subtle homage to the ocean below.
Unexpected pieces surface everywhere. You might pause at Joan Miró’s The Bullfighter Move mounted near Eduardo Arranz-Bravo’s Bull in one of its exclusive restaurants. Or perhaps feel Zen-like at Zheng Lu’s reflective Water in Dripping – Waterfall shimmering by the spa. Outside the pan-Asian Pacific Rim, a luminous bronze cherry blossom tree by Savoy Studios signals dinner is as much about art as it is about food.
Nothing here is tucked away in a gallery. Art lives in stairwells, corridors and restaurants, so the entire Seven Seas Grandeur feels like a floating gallery at sea.
A Self-Guided Gallery, Right in Your Pocket
Unlike a static museum, the ship’s collection unfolds interactively. The Regent mobile app turns your phone into a pocket docent. Point it at an art piece and short films explain the artist’s vision and process. Suddenly, that polished steel sculpture by the spa makes sense and the playful lines in a Picasso take on new meaning.
It’s an easy, low-pressure way to engage. You can dip in for a two-minute backstory or let the app lead you on a deeper dive if you’re feeling curious. The app also folds in menus, daily schedules and shore excursions, so art browsing becomes part of a relaxed day rather than a formal tour.
Where the Artwork Shares the Table
Meals come with a side of art. At Prime 7, the ship’s classic steakhouse, an original Picasso hangs among dark wood panelling and leather banquettes—an unexpected backdrop to a dry-aged ribeye.
In Compass Rose, the cruise line’s largest specialty restaurant at sea, thousands of individually placed crystal-faceted leaves create the sense of dining in an enchanted forest.
Pacific Rim announces itself with a luminous bronze bonsai before serving pan-Asian plates from silky miso black cod to fragrant Thai curries. Even the ship’s casual venues are designed with care, from bright cafés to poolside spots, keeping the artful atmosphere present wherever you eat, so every meal feels both memorable and part of the creative journey.
Art Beyond the Ship
The art obsession doesn’t stop at the gangway. Many itineraries include Behind the Design shore excursions. These curated tours are designed for small-groups giving access to collections often closed to the public. In Oslo, guests can explore the striking waterfront Munchmuseet; in Marseille, step inside the bold forms of MuCEM and Villa Méditerranée. These outings are natural extensions of the onboard collection rather than unrelated sightseeing. For travellers who choose cruises for enrichment or for escape, Seven Seas Grandeur is like a cultural thread that continues seamlessly ashore.
Some voyages go further. The 13-night “Spotlight on Fabergé” sailing (departure on May 24, 2026) from Rome to London is hosted by Sarah Fabergé, great-granddaughter of Peter Carl Fabergé and Seven Seas Grandeur’s godmother. Guests enjoy private viewings of Fabergé treasures, curator talks, and overnights in Monte Carlo, Barcelona, La Coruna, Paris and London. Expect plenty of collectors and design lovers on board for this one. It’s a rare chance to travel with someone carrying the Fabergé name and hear first-hand stories behind the legendary house.
Life On Board
You don’t need to be an art historian to feel at home here. The ship’s vibe is intentionally unhurried and fares fold in what usually costs extra elsewhere: business-class flights on intercontinental routes, unlimited shore excursions, valet laundry service, premium drinks and a pre-cruise hotel night for Concierge-level suites and above.
Top suites include butlers who handle unpacking, reservations and garment care. The Serene Spa & Wellness offers thermal suites and treatments. Days can be tailored to pace and interests. Join a culinary class in the Culinary Arts Kitchen, linger over wine beneath a Picasso or catch live music at night.
You’ll likely end the night in your suite, balcony doors open to the ocean air, a mellow close to a day that felt more art crawl than cruise.
Did You Know?
The Regent Suite’s bed is a custom $200,000 Hästens Vividus, handmade in Sweden by four master craftsmen. It’s filled with horsetail hair, cushioning flax, slow-growing pine, superior wool and long-fibre cotton. And yes, you can actually sleep on this work of art during your cruise.
Insider Cruise Tip
Revisit standout pieces like the Fabergé egg and Walter Goldfarb’s Enchanted Tree at different times of day. The changing light and shifting atmosphere can make each viewing feel new.
Travel Planner
For more travel information about Regent Seven Seas Cruises, visit RSSC.com, call 1-844-405-2789 or contact your travel advisor.
