Regent Seven Seas Grandeur: A New Cruise Ship For Art Lovers

29.10.2023 - 21:23 / forbes.com / Monte Carlo / Joan Miró / Andrea Demarco / Art

When Regent Seven Seas Grandeur sets sail in November 2023, an impressive multimillion-dollar contemporary art collection with 1,600 works will offer guests a bespoke experience, akin to that of cruising on a floating museum.

The accessible collection, complemented by unique lighting and installations, is spread across public spaces, specialty restaurants, and guest suites. Passengers will also be surrounded by refined beauty and elegance throughout the new ship,

A seven-inch tall Fabergé egg created in partnership with the legendary royal jeweler, one of the masterpieces in the collection, will take center stage in the ship’s soaring atrium.

Called “Journey in Jewels, the ombre enamel egg comprises seven waves of deep blue representing seven seas with a sea spray of pearls. It took Fabergé artisans some 48 months to create this one-of-a-kind objet d’art, the first to be permanently displayed at sea.

In her role as the new ship’s Godmother, Sarah Fabergé (a great-granddaughter of legendary jeweler Peter Carl Fabergé) will host art lovers on a special Spotlight Voyage on the Mediterranean in July 2024.

Sailing on a Rome to Monte Carlo itinerary, guests will be afforded behind-the-scenes access to Fabergé through both master classes and shoreside excursions.

“The artwork features on Seven Seas Grandeur include work from some of the most notable artists of our time, from Pablo Picasso to Eduardo Arranz-Bravo,” said Regent’s art director Sara Hall Smith in a press release announcing the new catalog.

Also noteworthy is a nearly 40-foot-tall, intricate hand-woven tapestry, called “The Enchanted Tree,” created by Brazilian artist Walter Goldfarb that will grace the atrium.

Other works in central guest areas include pieces by Rauschenberg, Matta, Sophie Elizabeth Thompson, and Eduardo Arranz-Bravo. The multimedia collection consists of sculptures, original paintings, photographs, and more that have been sourced from artists and galleries across the world.

To complement the collection, Regent has developed an exclusive digital art tour, called “Art Experience” that passengers can download via a mobile app for an immersive, self-guided experience.

“It is extremely rare to enjoy such personal access to artwork of this caliber, and now guests will be able to connect deeper with the art and artists…,” explained Andrea DeMarco, President of Regent Seven Seas Cruises.

However, this isn’t the first time that art has enhanced the aesthetics of the luxury cruise experience for passengers sailing on Regent Seven Seas.

Although each new build seems to raise the bar, the entire fleet is known for its contemporary art. Grandeur’s sister ships, Seven Seas Explorer and Seven Seas Splendor feature works by Picasso, Joan Miró,