Welcome to your floating Grand hotel

Regent Seven Seas claims to be the world's most luxurious fleet, and DEBORAH STONE finds its latest ship, Grandeur, is a masterpiece on the ocean waves

- DEBORAH STONE

When you first board Seven Seas Grandeur, the effortless elegance and luxury are almost overwhelming. For a start, there’s a Fabergé Egg in the reception lounge - part of a £4.5million art collection that includes three Picasso paintings. And the upmarket ambience doesn't stop there.

The £390million Regent Seven seas ship has several hundred crystal chandeliers, plus marble bathrooms for every cabin, while its biggest suite - the 4,400 sq ft Regent Suite - costs more than £12,000 a night. Thankfully, standard cabins - Veranda Suites - are significantly more affordable and cruise prices include complimentary drinks all day long, at least one free excursion a day, unlimited speciality dining, wifi, and prepaid gratuities.

Cruise ships are often described as floating hotels and this ship is definitely a Grand Hotel. With a maximum 744 guests on board, it never feels crowded or even busy and its lounges and bars are reminiscent of a modern five-star hotel that you might find in London's Mayfair or uptown Manhattan. During the day, it’s always quiet and peaceful probably because passengers are off enjoying their included excursionswhile at night, there’s a comfortable buzz of conversation in the restaurants and bars - all complimentary.

Grandeur has the wow factor virtually everywhere you look, but my favourite space was the free-to-use Serene Spa, which has his and hers saunas, steam and ice rooms, plus a luxurious deck at the back of the ship with an infinity plunge pool flanked by two hot tubs.

It's the perfect place to enjoy sailaways or sunsets at the end of a day exploring in port. The spa also has a gorgeous relaxation room with a hot tub and heated ceramic recliners, which are free to use, although you do have to pay for treatments and the hair salon.