Royal Caribbean Makes Grand Stand

With a new name, a new logo and advertising slogan and yet another new ship in its rapidly growing fleet, Royal Caribbean International, formerly Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, bears a passing resemblance to the proverbial old woman who lived in a shoe. With six of its 10 ship names ending in “of the Seas,” it must get confusing down at the office.

We were struck with deja vu aboard the new Grandeur of the Seas. The 74,000-ton, 1,950-passenger ship, slightly larger than its predecessors, has the same soaring seven-deck atrium called the Centrum and the same glass-walled Viking Crown Lounge set atop the ship 11 decks above the sea.

The top three decks of the ship are devoted to spa and fitness areas, outdoor activities, swimming, jogging, sunbathing and casual meals. Two-and-a-half decks house the two-level show lounge, a smaller cabaret lounge, the two-deck dining room, shops, a conference center, casino and the nautical Schooner Bar.

Two of the 4 1/2 decks allotted to passenger cabins are lined with private verandas, offering six different sizes and price ranges, from a magnificent royal suite with a baby grand piano and marble bathrooms to a more modest deluxe double cabin. Even the smallest inside cabins measure 138 square feet and include a sitting area with sofa in addition to two lower beds.

Seventeen cabins designated wheelchair-accessible are available in both inside and outside configurations.

The biggest difference most passengers will notice is the absence of the 18-hole miniature golf course found on sister ships Legend of the Seas and Splendour of the Seas. Instead, the space is used for an expanded fitness center with aerobics and weight rooms.

With a year-round itinerary that includes two beach days at private islands per cruise, the ship is ideal for beach and water-sports fans.

But every member of the family should find a favorite spot on this ship, from the lavish Roman-style spa with a sliding overhead glass dome to the bigger main pool flanked by four shaded Jacuzzis.

Teens will gravitate to the bright disco with its brushed-chrome walls, and younger kids have their own Club Ocean with a long tube to crawl through and a chute exit into a sea of brightly colored plastic balls.

The entertainment, produced by the cruise line in house, features what cruise director Ray Rouse calls “young shows” aimed at the increasingly younger Caribbean cruise passenger, a mix of ‘60s- and ‘70s-oriented music.

Passengers eat well in the two-deck, glass-walled Great Gatsby dining room, with a mainstream menu offering appetizers; soups; salads; a pasta course; six main dishes including fish, steak, duckling, crab meat and lobster cannelloni; a vegetarian specialty; and desserts such as marble cheesecake and Key lime pie.

Casual self-service breakfast and luncheon buffets are served in the glass-walled Windjammer Cafe.

The casino is Las Vegas bright and has whimsical touches such as a glass floor at the entrance with a wealth of “pirate treasure” underneath.

Prices for a cabin with veranda, sitting area and mini-refrigerator on a seven-day Caribbean cruise begin at $2,269 per person, double occupancy, including air fare from LAX. The least expensive inside cabin is listed at $1,499 per person, double occupancy.

The ship cruises year-round in the eastern Caribbean, sailing on Saturdays from Miami and calling at Labadee, Haiti; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and the Bahamas.

The Grandeur of the Seas is fourth in the series of Project Vision ships, which began with the Legend of the Seas in 1995.

In 1999, Royal Caribbean will bring out the first of a pair of gigantic ships in its new Project Eagle series, each a 130,000-ton, 3,100-passenger vessel.

Royal Caribbean also operates the Sun Viking, Song of America, Viking Serenade, Nordic Empress, Sovereign of the Seas, Monarch of the Seas and Majesty of the Seas.

To get a free color brochure, contact a travel agent or call (800) 327-6700.

Slater and Basch travel as guests of the cruise lines. Cruise Views appears twice monthly.