Vision of the Seas

[sher21]

I am looking for opinions of Vision of the Seas. It is the only ship going where I want to go (Southern Caribbean-Bonaire, Curacao) at the time I want to go. However, we love ships like Oasis and Harmony. I'm afraid we'll be disappointed in the smaller ship - or bored! Can anyone give me some perspective, please?

[Host Kat]

4 hours ago, sher21 said:

I am looking for opinions of Vision of the Seas. It is the only ship going where I want to go (Southern Caribbean-Bonaire, Curacao) at the time I want to go. However, we love ships like Oasis and Harmony. I'm afraid we'll be disappointed in the smaller ship - or bored! Can anyone give me some perspective, please?

 

@sher21

 

Howdy & welcome back to posting on the Cruise Critic message boards! I see it has been quite a while since you have posted.  

 

Thank you for starting a new thread on the Ask a Cruise Question forum for general questions regarding cruising. 👍 

 

However since your inquiry concerns a specific cruise line I have moved your thread to the Royal Caribbean International forum where it will be on topic. The majority of your fellow Cruise Critic members that have sailed Vision of the Seas as well as Oasis of the Seas and Harmony of the Seas frequent the forum and provide feedback there. Browse through the thread titles on the forum looking for threads of interest. You will probably find your fellow Cruise Critic members have already posted questions and received answers about RCI and their ships that will be of interest to you.

 

I sincerely hope this will be helpful and glad to have you back aboard Cruise Critic! 

 

Happy sails,

 

Host Kat 

 

Edited October 25, 2020 by Host Kat
Typo due to fat fingers & skinny laptop keys!

[gmachar]

I have only cruised on small to mid-size ships. However, after being on the Vision for a month last winter, I thought it was too small - not enough food choices, activities, etc. Still had a great time, though! Especially if you’re on a port-intensive trip.

 

Charlene

[twangster]

Oasis class are in a league of their own.  It's hard for any other class of ship to be compared to them.  With that in mind there will be a long list of differences primarily because a ship around 3 times larger has space for all that stuff on that long list.

 

Once you accept that a ship that much smaller just can't offer everything that Oasis class can you need to focus on what Vision class can offer and why they remain a popular smaller ship.

 

Vision class have better access to the sea.  The broad outdoor promenade decks are great for lounging, reading a book or taking a nap.  If there is one consistent comment about Oasis class is the disconnection from the sea.  

 

Vision class can offer all the core essentials for a great cruise.  Pool, pool bar, hot tubs, loungers in the sun, solarium, casino, live music, theater acts,  Schooner Bar, casino, dining options, Windjammer, spa, etc.  

 

There is no ice skating rink, no promenade, no zip line, no water slides, no boardwalk, no Central Park.  

 

The secret to enjoying any ship is setting the appropriate expectations and that begins with research which is what you are doing so you are on the right track.  Only you know what is important to you.  I can sail any ship and find things to like about it.  I've sailed Vision twice and would have no problem booking her again understanding she isn't as new as Oasis class and is nowhere as large.  

[PhillyFan33579]

6 hours ago, sher21 said:

I am looking for opinions of Vision of the Seas. It is the only ship going where I want to go (Southern Caribbean-Bonaire, Curacao) at the time I want to go. However, we love ships like Oasis and Harmony. I'm afraid we'll be disappointed in the smaller ship - or bored! Can anyone give me some perspective, please?

I think a lot depends on your cruising history. If you have sailed on several different ship classes, you know the experience can be vastly different depending on the ship. However, if most of your experience is on Oasis class ships, I think Vision will be a major disappointment from a ship perspective. But if the ports you want to visit are important to you, that can help compensate for the difference in the on-board experience. 

[Norwich Cruiser]

Although we do miss a few of the extras that the Oasis class ships have we’ve cruised on VOTS three times had excellent cruises and would quite happily cruise on her again.

[nchusker]

We like the smaller ships .We just like to relax when we cruise. We just booked Vision for November from San Juan to Fort Lauderdale.

 

[island lady]

We love all class of ships, and enjoy each and every one.  Small ships are close to my heart though, as we do enjoy the more laid back "small ship experience".   It's like going to the country for a quiet and natural stay in a B&B/cabin...or ....going a hotel/resort in the big city for the lights, glitter, and entertainment.

 

You can certainly have preferences...but it's more fun for me (IMHO) to experience it all.  🙂 

 

BTW...spent three weeks on Vision last January in a favorite corner aft JS (with that huge aft wrap balcony) out of PR.  Loved it!!  

 

 

[twangster]

1 hour ago, island lady said:

 

Had to do a double take... thought he had a cigar in his hand 😉 

 

Maybe I'll photoshop one in and stir the pot 😇

[leen50]

We did a 17 day TA on Vision from TX to Spain. If you have already seen the evening shows, there was little else to do. We like more "bells & whistles" than this ship offered.

[Ashland]

I've sailed on Vision a few times...Most recently a Med/Greece 2019. It was perfect for this itinerary and my

true aft JS...views and location just amazing!. We missed nothing that the big ships offer. 

We always opt for the itinerary....ship doesn't matter.

[island lady]

2 hours ago, leen50 said:

We did a 17 day TA on Vision from TX to Spain. If you have already seen the evening shows, there was little else to do. We like more "bells & whistles" than this ship offered.

 

That is indeed why the choice is there.  We like all classes of ships..but still like the small ship cruising.  We almost never go to the shows.  Used to go, but so many of them are repeats from different ships, that we got used to not going.  We do go if we end up on a ship we have not tried yet...but that hasn't happened lately.  And many of the guest entertainers just go from ship to ship.  

 

Loved the first time we sailed on Harmony...did go to most of the shows that were all new to us.  🙂 

 

We had no problem being on Vision for 21 nights last January...never got bored.  But then again...it doesn't take much to keep our old bones entertained.  😉 

Edited October 26, 2020 by island lady

[Missusdubbya]

On 10/26/2020 at 4:27 AM, sher21 said:

I am looking for opinions of Vision of the Seas. It is the only ship going where I want to go (Southern Caribbean-Bonaire, Curacao) at the time I want to go. However, we love ships like Oasis and Harmony. I'm afraid we'll be disappointed in the smaller ship - or bored! Can anyone give me some perspective, please?

Vision is a lovely ship - I also prefer larger ones though.
 

We spent 26 nights on Vision on a very port intensive set of cruises and had an excellent time.

 

The Southern Caribbean ports are worth it, you won’t regret it.

[Bailey & Sophie]

 

We've sailed Vision once. Had booked another one for next Feb. However, we did the lift & shift for Feb 2022. Same itinerary.

We loved the ship. It's easy to get around. In our down times we usually read or walk our miles so we don't need all the bells and whistles the large ships have.

That said, someday I hope to do a back-to-back on one of the big girls. I do wish they offered 10 nighters on them.

[island lady]

9 hours ago, Bailey & Sophie said:

 

That said, someday I hope to do a back-to-back on one of the big girls. I do wish they offered 10 nighters on them.

 

We do...B2B.  😉 

 

Love doing eastern/western on the large ladies out of PC....now if we could actually GO..would be even better!  😮 

[packercruising]

On 10/25/2020 at 1:27 PM, sher21 said:

I am looking for opinions of Vision of the Seas. It is the only ship going where I want to go (Southern Caribbean-Bonaire, Curacao) at the time I want to go. However, we love ships like Oasis and Harmony. I'm afraid we'll be disappointed in the smaller ship - or bored! Can anyone give me some perspective, please?

We are booked on Vision for March 8. Sounds like the same itinerary. We did a B2B on Vision several years ago, 11 days Norwegian Fjords and 11 days Baltics. We really like the ship! We have sailed Allure, and there is obviously more to do on a larger ship like that. It sounds like you are choosing it for the itinerary, so maybe that should be given a little more weight. At any rate, the food and the service, as well as the shows, were very good on Vision.

[We Be Floatin !]

We have booked Vision of the Seas for July 2021.  We have sailed Allure and loved it, but we have loved the smallest ships also.  We chose this for the 7 Night  Southern Caribbean itinerary that we are wanting.  There will be no at sea days with this itinerary,  so we do know we will probably be tired each evening and satisfied to  just enjoy what Miss Vision has to offer.  

[SilkySal]

12 hours ago, Bailey & Sophie said:

 

We've sailed Vision once. Had booked another one for next Feb. However, we did the lift & shift for Feb 2022. Same itinerary.

We loved the ship. It's easy to get around. In our down times we usually read or walk our miles so we don't need all the bells and whistles the large ships have.

That said, someday I hope to do a back-to-back on one of the big girls. I do wish they offered 10 nighters on them.

DH and I are booked on Vision for April, 2022 for a B2B for 10 followed by 11 nights including an overnight in Aruba! Excited about that! Got us great AFT balconies for both segments! Yay!

[Bailey & Sophie]

18 hours ago, island lady said:

 

 

...now if we could actually GO..would be even better!  😮 

 

Right now I'm patiently waiting. As winter sets in and I don't have a cruise to get ready for, I'm afraid cabin fever will make a showing. I have high hopes for 2022.

[island lady]

5 hours ago, Bailey & Sophie said:

 

Right now I'm patiently waiting. As winter sets in and I don't have a cruise to get ready for, I'm afraid cabin fever will make a showing. I have high hopes for 2022.

 

I have winter 2021 cruises to get ready for...trouble is...the ships probably won't be at the port to pick me up!!  😮 

[CntPAcruiser]

I absolutely loved Vision and enjoyed the small ship experience. We started with Voyager-class, then did Oasis and Allure, and then tried the smaller ships. My husband, on the other hand, was bored with Vision and frustrated with the comparative lack of amenities and activities. If the itinerary includes many sea days, unless you're ready to just spend them relaxing and reading, Vision may not be for you. But I enjoyed its access to the sea and the ease of getting around on a smaller ship. It definitely was a slower-paced cruise, but I liked that.

[packercruising]

Sounds like you need a Radiance class ship. 🙂 We agree with you about the Vision. We did like the Allure too.

[welshrich]

We've sailed on every class and sometimes done a cruise on a big one then got off and done another on one half the size (Freedom then Monarch) and although you notice the difference we've loved it.

 

We've sailed Vision 5 times including 2 TA's, we don't really go to the song and dance shows but prefer to meet people and hang out with them so this size is ideal.  Dining choices are limited but I've never lost weight on a cruise either!

 

I would sail on her (or any other ship right now) in a heartbeat, the crew are so friendly it makes up for the lack of the bells and whistles, but, saying that, I've never climbed a rock wall or the surf, but have enjoyed the zipline on Oasis class and iFly on Quantum class.