Royal Caribbean International has been building up a large fleet in recent years. By far the largest are the Voyager class ships. Measuring 142,000 tons, Voyager, Explorer, Adventure, Mariner and Navigator are currently the largest cruise ships afloat. Next up are Radiance, Brilliance, Serenade and Jewel, four 90,000 ton beauties that are hybrids, featuring many of the facilities of the larger Voyager Class, yet "small" enough to pass through the Panama Canal.

Grandeur of the Seas is part of the Vision class, consisting of the protypes Legend and Splendour, and their larger and modified sisters Grandeur, Enchantment, Rhapsody and Vision. The 70,000 ton Sovereign, Monarch and Majesty are employed on short cruises from Florida and California, while Nordic Empress is the only RCI ship to call at Bermuda regularly. 

Grandeur of the Seas was designed to cruise worldwide. She has expansive open decks for Caribbean cruising, but when the temperatures drop her heated Solarium pool can be covered by a glass roof. Her Windjammer Cafe has ample seating inside, but those wanting to have lunch alfresco can do so overlooking the pool. All in all, there are more than enough possibilities on this fine ship, wether you cruise in subtropical waters or choose to join Grandeur of the Seas in colder climes.

The main swimming pool on deck 9 is of a good size and has an adjacent shallow wading pool for children. With two jacuzzis, an inviting Pool Bar and the upbeat tones of the resident Calypso Band, who would ever want to leave? So it is good to know the Windjammer Cafe is just a few steps away. Here, food is served almost around the clock, with walls of windows looking out over sea and sky.  

Let's go down to Deck 6, which is largely given over to public rooms. Walking aft from the Centrum is Royal Caribbean's signature Schooner Bar, with its wooden accents and maritime memorabilia. Right next door is the Sining in the Rain Lounge, a multi-purpose area. All the way aft you'll find the beautiful South Pacific Lounge, Grandeur's secondary showroom.  

One deck lower is the ship's Casino Royale, complete with flashing neon signs, in-your-face artwork and lots of noisy slot machines. And let's not forget the elegant shopping gallery, followed by the stunning Palladium Theater. Seating some 1,000 passengers comfortably on two levels, this is what a floating theater should look like! The chairs and sofas in this show lounge are amongst the most comfortable afloat, and the whole decor is just very upmarket and luxurious.

Last but not least is another double-height room. Sandwiched between decks 4 and 5 is the bright, airy and elegant Great Gatsby Dining Room. Decorated in "Roaring Twenties" style with matching artwork, this dining room is perfect for elegant shipboard dinners in fine company.

We have come to the end of this PhotoTour of the beautiful Grandeur of the Seas, one of four gracious sisters that provide an easy-going lifestyle in a very elegant, contemporary decor.