Favorite and Least Favorite Ship

[mander_44]

What is your favorite and least favorite cruise ship from RC and why?

 

 

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[clwnmt2]

Allure is my favorite. It is so big but I never felt crowded. I do not have one that I do not like.

[PSCruiser]

Favorite ; Jewel (and other Radiance class)- size is perfect, lots of glass, you always know you're at sea. Oceanview elevators, beautiful enclosed Solarium. This is a cruisers ship.

 

Least Favorite: Oasis: large size eliminates most port stops. Windjammer and some other venues too small for the ship. All gimmick - a ship for those looking for the latest theme park. Why even sail it? -just tie it up like some of those barge casinos.

[leaveitallbehind]

We have been fortunate to have sailed on at least one ship in every current RCI ship class and have liked all of them for different reasons - really can't say that any is our least favorite.

 

Independence (Freedom class) and Oasis (Oasis class) are two of our favorites, however. Serenade / Jewel (Radiance class) are not far behind.

Edited February 10, 2014 by leaveitallbehind

[Kartgv]

We've spent a total of 43 nights on the Radiance - just love this ship! It's a perfect size - big enough to not get bored, small enough to not get lost, lots of open views of the water, light & airy, beautiful Centrum, just a classic beauty. Can't say we have a 'least favorite'; we've been on the Rhapsody and Explorer, they were both OK, but didn't compare with the Radiance in our minds. We don't have much interest in the huge ships, so will probably never go on the Allure or Oasis or the Quantum unless they were the only ships doing an itinerary we were interested in.

[Big_G]

Favorite ; Jewel (and other Radiance class)- size is perfect, lots of glass, you always know you're at sea. Oceanview elevators, beautiful enclosed Solarium. This is a cruisers ship.

 

Least Favorite: Oasis: large size eliminates most port stops. Windjammer and some other venues too small for the ship. All gimmick - a ship for those looking for the latest theme park. Why even sail it? -just tie it up like some of those barge casinos.

 

Oasis Class isn't my favorite but why such a hater? We had a blast on that ship as well as the Jewel and Brilliance. No need to hate on other people's preferences.

[kruzerci]

Favorite- Tie between Freedom and Oasis. We love different things about both, but both are gorgeous ships and have so much to offer.

 

Least favorite- Jewel. It's just such a "blah" ship. Radiance is the only class of ship I have no desire to sail on again.

[Pumbaamd]

We really love the smaller ships, Empress, Monarch, Majesty, Vision class. We feel very close to the staff and crew. Have become dear friends with many. It's such a pleasure to venture about the ship and say "Hi" to and chat with them, often about their families at home. Also, they can give you all the info you care to know about the ports

We've been on Oasis, Allure, Freedom and the Voyager class ships. Have had wonderful cruises there and will do them again. But there is just a better feeling sailing on the smaller ships with staff and crew that you really know.

Rick and Deirdra

[KMagz]

Oasis Class isn't my favorite but why such a hater? We had a blast on that ship as well as the Jewel and Brilliance. No need to hate on other people's preferences.

 

 

 

The very premise of this thread is to name your favorite and your least favorite ship "and why." Don't think anyone needs to be offended if one of their favs is not a fav of someone else. :)

 

 

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Edited February 10, 2014 by KMagz

[mander_44]

Trying to get a idea of some good ships for a family of 15

 

 

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[Big_G]

The very premise of this thread is to name your favorite and your least favorite ship "and why." Don't think anyone needs to be offended if one of their favs is not a fav of someone else. :)

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

 

Sorry, must be me then. I thought this was a little insulting to Oasis Class fans. :rolleyes:

 

All gimmick - a ship for those looking for the latest theme park. Why even sail it? -just tie it up like some of those barge casinos.

Edited February 10, 2014 by Big_G

[laurac22]

Freedom is our favorite!

 

Oasis was our least. Not because she isn't an amazing ship, but because she doesn't have the accommodations we need. :confused:

[maitaiguy]

Favorite ship still currently sailing is Mariner. I also have some very fond memories of a Mexican Riviera sailing on Sun Viking, one of the original three ships for RCI.

 

Mariner was awesome and we got to try one of the promenade staterooms and it was fun! Lots to do and the staff was great.

 

The Sun Viking was wonderful in that it was small, although average size back then. We only had 500 passengers on a mid January 7 day sailing.

You could get to know your bartenders and other staff. Wonderfully uncrowded and the last time I knew we were on a ship that wasn't full.

 

Least favorite would be Viking Serenade. An ugly ship that had an awesome staff on board. This ugliness was NOT Royal Caribbean's fault. The ship was the Stardancer for Admiral Cruise Lines, which RC purchased. They put it in drydock, added a Viking Crown Lounge and many passenger cabins (the ship used to carry cars too) and tried to make the best of it.

 

I will say that it was great to take the cruise anyway because the staff was terrific! I am not picking on Viking Serenade for being an ugly ship. At the time you could either not find a picture in the brochures or in another brochure it was a tiny picture. RCI thought it was ugly too.

 

Did I mention that the staff was excellent?

 

IMO it's the people at Royal Caribbean that really enhance the cruise experience!!!!

Edited February 10, 2014 by maitaiguy

[grandgeezer]

Favorite is Seranade of the Seas. Like everything about it.

Least favorite Allure and Oasis. Not going to say why. Don't want to be flamed by their cheerleaders.

[Yorkvillain]

Favorite is Allure/Oasis by far. There is nothing in the world like these two. Something for everyone. Lots of open air space with pool deck, central park, boardwalk, Aqua Theater. Never feels crowded to me.

 

No least favorite. I will probably never go on Carnival or HAL so...Oh geez, I'm getting off topic here. Nevermind.

[Big_G]

Favorite ship still currently sailing is Mariner. I also have some very fond memories of a Mexican Riviera sailing on Sun Viking, one of the original three ships for RCI.

 

Mariner was awesome and we got to try one of the promenade staterooms and it was fun! Lots to do and the staff was great.

 

The Sun Viking was wonderful in that it was small, although average size back then. We only had 500 passengers on a mid January 7 day sailing.

You could get to know your bartenders and other staff. Wonderfully uncrowded and the last time I knew we were on a ship that wasn't full.

 

Least favorite would be Viking Serenade. An ugly ship that had an awesome staff on board. This ugliness was NOT Royal Caribbean's fault. The ship was the Stardancer for Admiral Cruise Lines, which RC purchased. They put it in drydock, added a Viking Crown Lounge and many passenger cabins (the ship used to carry cars too) and tried to make the best of it.

 

I will say that it was great to take the cruise anyway because the staff was terrific! I am not picking on Viking Serenade for being an ugly ship. At the time you could either not find a picture in the brochures or in another brochure it was a tiny picture. RCI thought it was ugly too.

 

Did I mention that the staff was excellent?

 

IMO it's the people at Royal Caribbean that really enhance the cruise experience!!!!

 

It's always nice to hear about the old ships from long time cruisers. Thanks. :)

[Desertbelle]

We loved the Freedom and the Oasis, but truth be told, we love whatever ship we are on! Don't have a least favorite, because I don't think you can go wrong with a RCI ship, they are all beautiful and clean, have a lovely staff and I don't have to cook or clean for however long the cruise lasts!! :D

[Mlkkc]

Navigator waiting to cruise freedom no least favorite

[PSCruiser]

Oasis Class isn't my favorite but why such a hater? We had a blast on that ship as well as the Jewel and Brilliance. No need to hate on other people's preferences.

 

I think "hate" is a strong term to use for the displeasure I expressed with Oasis, I cruised her soon after launch, and sorry, but she wasn't my favorite. The reason, I think, is that even though she was supposed to be staffed with top people from other ships, they did not have their act together, and were not up to RC standards in many areas, especially MTD - things like being asked to join people at tables where they were already eating their entrees.

We started cruising about 10 years ago, and to be honest, pretty much liked the way things were done at that time - what I guess would be called traditional cruising.

The problem is that to me Oasis represents the evolution of RC cruising- try to cram so many on a ship that only the same few ports can be visited, after a while, why get off at the ports, its better on the ship. I'm afraid its a step in the direction of why move the ship and travel, when all the theme-park attractions are right onboard. Just sorry to see all vestiges of "old" style cruising disappear - they are new ships for a new generation of passengers with new attitudes.

[erniebert]

I've only been on three so far - Explorer was my favourite, although I loved Freedom as well. I was bitterly disappointed by our Navigator cruise but to be honest that was issues we had with staff rather than the ship

[Retiredprofessor]

This thread is a perfect example of how we all view. Things through different glasses. It's great to read. For me, I love explorer for several reasons. No flying to get to port, the staff is wonderful, and the ship is"just the right size" for us. I know I will have critics for this, but have been on Liberty twice and had some negative experiences. We will not sail her again. (Embarkation and disembarkation a nightmare, staff not what we were used to, some expected amenities not given). We also loved the older girls like Empress and Majesty.

[edamethyst]

The Oasis was definetly our favorite by far!! we loved it, best vacation ever. I don't have a least favorite, they are all great. We are going on the Allure this summer so i'm thinking it might just tie the Oasis for favorite.

[Sharon I]

Favorite: Jewel (such a pretty ship)

Least Favorite: Haven't sailed on it yet. but (Titanic)

[mommabean]

Favorite to me has nothing to do with location of the ship. I'll fly to my favorite if I have to and I do have to.

 

Favorite: Radiance specifically (21 cruises on Radiance alone but have been on and love the entire class.)

 

Least favorite: Freedom just because. If I want that style I prefer Voyager class since it's smaller and basically the same. (1 cruise only on Freedom although it's the closest drive from the house - none on any other in the class)

 

Oasis has it's place. Thought I'd hate it but don't. It's not as much like being on a ship though and the whole feel is different.

Edited February 10, 2014 by mommabean

[houstoncruisers2001]

Favorite: Oasis of the Seas

Least Favorite: Carnival Magic