Just off Vision out of Baltimore

[Nadey]

I'm going on the ship leaving from Baltimore in September so I'm glad to hear it worked out well I'm afraid of the complaints people have been making on other boards about the menus and the condition of the ship being so old but it will be easy to drive to Baltimore and not have to fly. Thank you 

[shipgeeks]

While we were onboard Vision recently, we heard a passenger say the ship is so clean that it could pass for a new ship.  We agree.

[Merion_Mom]

3 hours ago, PompeySailor said:

Perfect 

The 6 night is exactly what we would want and Yacht Club as well 

For us just the logistics of getting to NY and squeezing in a cruise for dates we have, but that’s all doable 

but this is the one for us ⭐️ 
Now if it was out of a FL port it would be 💯 

Thank you 

That's what you get for living in Florida.  😜

[Merion_Mom]

3 hours ago, Tatka said:

 

Eh.. there is a beautiful Fortress with a great museum. There are dolphins inside too. Beach is right next to it, so you can walk there.

Stores, blowing glass show, restaurants.

I thought West End had tons of things. We sometimes sail there for 3 days/2 nights and just spend all time there.

Month ago we took ferry to Hamilton. Beautiful sail.

No glass-blowing.  Without going into details, it's gone.

[Merion_Mom]

3 hours ago, Tatka said:

 

We did 3 days (almost full)/ 2 nights twice on Celebrity Summit out of New Jersey and NCL once out of Boston.

 

One Summit cruise actually turned into 4 days/3 nights in Sept 2019 as Grandeur could not sail from Baltimore due to hurricane.

 

We were booked on Empress for Summer 2020 to do 3 nights (1 in St George's and 2 in Hamilton), but obviously it did not happen due to Covid.

 

During our travels we LOVED Bermuda. Just taking a bus through this island is a pleasure. We loved Hamilton, Crystal Caves, St Georges, Horseshoe bay and Long Bay and some other places

I was booked on the Empress, too, for multiple cruises.  That was one of the big losses for me, of the shutdown.

[miked0035]

5 hours ago, PompeySailor said:

I am in agreement and finding it hard to actually get a cruise that will do a full 2 day stop 3 night itinerary.

If anyone has information on any ship or line that offers such, I’d be interested regardless of loyalty .

Would prefer out of FL, but appreciate Cape Liberty and Baltimore favor the route.

TIA

Dis has a 6 night cruise to Bermuda with 2 overnights in Oct out of NYC. I am doing the 10/21....dont know if it is offered other dates or if its a 1 time thing

[PompeySailor]

Just now, miked0035 said:

Dis has a 6 night cruise to Bermuda with 2 overnights in Oct out of NYC. I am doing the 10/21....dont know if it is offered other dates or if its a 1 time thing

No Casino and too many kids 

I live by Mickey and I get my fix daily 😎

 

Thanks for the info though 👍🏻

[Tatka]

With Bermuda you need to be ready for any weather during summers.

First time in 2011 we went on NCL Dawn for 3 days 2 night in July... There was overcast and rain at times we only saw Sun by midday of day #3. 🙂  Second time also in July 2015 it was similar, but a bit better.

 

In the beginning of September 2019 we had 4  days 3 nights of perfect sunny weather and water was 90F! There was so much fish in snorkeling park by the Fortress ... it was fish soup. 🙂 During the same time hurricane was raging from Bahamas to Canada!

 

Several times we went via Bermuda to Caribbeans in July and August weather was fine.

 

Worst weather we experienced on May 11 of 2016(?) ... It was 66F and crazy rain... This May (almost June) we had pretty much overcast and some son. Still very beautiful, but I felt for people who went on a trip of their lifetime. (I hate when weather is not perfect because I want people experience what we did) .

Edited June 23, 2023 by Tatka

[moposh]

Loved Bermuda when I visited last year.  Going to Bermuda again this August on Vision.  I plan to go to Horseshoe Bay one day and an excursion the other.  Will also visit Nassau and Coco Cay.

 

Glad to hear Vision is a good ship and great crew.

[KPookey]

The Vision was clean! The crew are very pleasant and positive.  The MDR service was excellent, the food is mostly good. It’s not 5 star, I didn’t love every part of dinner. I ordered an extra appetizer if the main didn’t thrill me. Never went hungry.  The smaller portions enable you to waste less and get from app to dessert without feeling too full. Order a second entree if you loved it. Order a vegetable plate for the table if you love veggies, they are scarce at dinner. Breakfast and Lunch in Windjammer are a little lackluster. I used the Park Cafe often and also saved my appetite for dinner. Presentation is always top notch when dining. All in all, Vision was a very typical cruising experience for us. It’s almost frozen in time, like a cruise I took 15 years ago.  Or, like visiting an old friend when you know exactly what to expect and how it’s going to go.  Best update to cruising…the app.  Getting on and off the ship and doing muster requirement online is simply fantastic.  

[schlimazel_traveler]

On 6/24/2023 at 8:50 AM, KPookey said:

 Breakfast and Lunch in Windjammer are a little lackluster. 

How so? Just trying to adjust my expectations. We were on the Vision once in the before times and found the buffet options very limited, repetitive, and unimaginative. (Essentially, the boring hot dog/hamburger/plain pasta that are typically the kids menu "alternative" options alongside more interesting things, but instead these were the ONLY options!) It was disappointing because I love to try new things, but we didn't starve.

[ValerieJo]

On 6/23/2023 at 9:16 AM, PompeySailor said:

I am in agreement and finding it hard to actually get a cruise that will do a full 2 day stop 3 night itinerary.

If anyone has information on any ship or line that offers such, I’d be interested regardless of loyalty .

Would prefer out of FL, but appreciate Cape Liberty and Baltimore favor the route.

TIA

Hi Graham,  Not quite what you are looking for but we are doing Liberty of the Seas out of Bayonne, May 18, 2024.  It’s a 5 day sailing with 2 full days in Bermuda with 1 overnight.

 

Hope to sail with you again soon. 

[alex_drew]

Loved Vision. We were on from May 25 until June 3.  Very well maintained and, having read some questionable reviews, I thought the dining room food was really very good. One night (can't remember which one) we weren't thrilled with the menu options (on the app) so we booked/went to Chef's Table, which we absolutely loved. We did not eat in the Windjammer.  Park Cafe was pretty good except for their pizza which is the worst I've ever had on any ship (or on land, for that matter!) Service was fabulous, everyone was pleasant and went out of their way to make sure their guests were happy. 

 

 My only complaint, which is standard on all of the Vision class ships over the past few years, is that every entertainment venue is so loud that I cannot enjoy being there. Centrum and Schooner both have great entertainment, but the volume hurts my ears so much that we can't enjoy those venues at all.  It is very frustrating that the ship feels they have to dial the volume up so loud that it blasts us out of the venue.  Seriously, my husband turns his hearing aids totally off and the volume is still too loud, even for him... 

[Another_Critic]

5 minutes ago, alex_drew said:

Seriously, my husband turns his hearing aids totally off and the volume is still too loud, even for him... 

Ditto for me.  😲

[Baron Barracuda]

Friends have asked us to join them on a January Viision sailing.  We've never been aboard Vision but have happily sailed Grandeur a number of times.  Was very disappointed to read quite a few recent negative reviews online.  Some were unhappy with insufficient port time in Bermuda (which would not affect us) but there were numerous references to the ships age, condition, entertainment and food.  This has left us wondering whether we'd regret this sailing and would be better off trying to talk our friends into switching to another Anthem cruise instead.  Oddly, fares on Anthem with all she has to offer are somewhat cheaper than Vision.  

[HBCcruiser]

@KPookey We board the Vision next Thursday. I am worried about having too many kids in the pools/hot tubs. Do you remember if the Solarium was adult only? 

[KPookey]

Regarding Windjammer….

Vision Windjammer experience wasn’t great. It is awkwardly set up and kind of narrow.  The buffet is very spread out. I often filled my plate with stuff near the entrance that I wasn’t thrilled with and found deeper into the room things I wanted. Eggs were powdered, no home fries, only hash brown triangles. Often times stuff was empty for a while. Lettuce would run out. The crew were hustling though. The hotdogs/hamburger/fries were actually the best thing at lunch, but I really don’t cruise to eat that. There was a carving station with meats by drinks at lunch that was usually good. I didn’t care for many of the hot lunch buffet items, the fish etc. Breakfast had lots of muffins that were displayed well and fruit. I like the yogurt parfaits, oatmeal and tend to eat a light breakfast. Lunch always had good desserts, sometimes a giant cake they were serving which was delicious.  Lunch often had prior nights MDR soup, not all bad if you wanted to try it and didn’t (butter squash) . Windjammer was just a bit repetitive too. What I will say is you will find variety in WJ.  Maybe walk the room before you commit to food. I used the Park Cafe at breakfast and lunch often. Dinner was in the MDR and generally good, presentation always excellent.  

The entertainment is same old thing…but if you like familiarity, you are good.

We are simple, we always laugh at the belly flop/sexy man poolside.  We like the Centrum party atmosphere.  We didn’t sail Vision thinking it was going to be a really unique experience.  It was familiar, but fun. 

[KPookey]

There were a fair amount of kids, go to the Solarium adult pool (16+). It’s quiet, with 2 hot tubs and no kiddies. If the Solarium top is closed and you want sun, go one deck up. Kids don’t tend to hang there.  

[KPookey]

13 minutes ago, HBCcruiser said:

@KPookey We board the Vision next Thursday. I am worried about having too many kids in the pools/hot tubs. Do you remember if the Solarium was adult only? 

Solarium is awesome!  Loungers are better, there is a bar. No kids.  The Park Cafe is attached. The Spa is accessed on the rear to the left, which has a sauna and steam room you can use. They opened the Solarium up a few times as well. 

[HBCcruiser]

8 minutes ago, KPookey said:

Solarium is awesome!  Loungers are better, there is a bar. No kids.  The Park Cafe is attached. The Spa is accessed on the rear to the left, which has a sauna and steam room you can use. They opened the Solarium up a few times as well. 

Sounds perfect - Thank you! 

[alex_drew]

7 hours ago, Baron Barracuda said:

Friends have asked us to join them on a January Viision sailing.  We've never been aboard Vision but have happily sailed Grandeur a number of times.  Was very disappointed to read quite a few recent negative reviews online.  Some were unhappy with insufficient port time in Bermuda (which would not affect us) but there were numerous references to the ships age, condition, entertainment and food.  This has left us wondering whether we'd regret this sailing and would be better off trying to talk our friends into switching to another Anthem cruise instead.  Oddly, fares on Anthem with all she has to offer are somewhat cheaper than Vision.  

Baron, if you liked Grandeur, don't worry, you'll be happy with Vision!  The port time in Bermuda was unfortunate...that changed for our May 25th cruise after we booked so I felt bad for the cruisers that had never been there before because instead of being there for 24 hours, it was cut to 3 pm arrival and then you had to be back on board at 12:30 pm the next day.  Neither of those days has enough time to really enjoy an excursion or the beach, in my opinion.  So far our next cruise on Vision in October is still arriving at 1 pm (not 3 pm), so it really gives you the entire afternoon.

 

The entertainment was fine, I thought. The lead singers on our cruise did not have strong voices, but the dancers were great. The "outside" entertainment was fine...equal to what you would have experienced on Grandeur.  Having read a lot of negative comments about the new dinner menus, I was pleasantly surprised. I really enjoyed pretty much everything and if you weren't sure about something/couldn't decide, the waiter brought two separate meals, so you could try both. 

 

No, it is not a new ship...none of the Vision Class ships are, but as I said earlier, if you liked Grandeur, you will be happy with Vision.  We have four more cruises booked on her.

 

 

[LibertyBella]

I am also a Bermuda fan!  The island is so clean, lovely and safe, much different from some other higher-poverty Caribbean islands. The pink sand beaches are gorgeous and the sand is so soft.

 

I have been to Bermuda several times on several different cruise lines, including that RC stop of two half days.  Bermuda port charges are a bit costly, so by doing it that way, passengers are really only charged for one full day. 

 

I really think you cannot get the flavor of the island at all with the half days, as you barely have time to tour, shop, get to a beach, go snorkeling, etc., etc. It is just like a quick introduction.

 

I am always ready to return to Bermuda!

[Merion_Mom]

12 minutes ago, LibertyBella said:

I am also a Bermuda fan!  The island is so clean, lovely and safe, much different from some other higher-poverty Caribbean islands.

 

Just a quick note.  Bermuda is not in the Caribbean, and thus is not a Caribbean island.  It's in the North Atlantic.  It's pretty much due east of South Carolina.  🙂 

[Alamana]

On 6/26/2023 at 4:03 PM, HBCcruiser said:

@KPookey We board the Vision next Thursday. I am worried about having too many kids in the pools/hot tubs. Do you remember if the Solarium was adult only? 

 

I was on this same June 17-22 sailing to Bermuda. The regular pool and the hot tubs there were full of kids the whole time. The solarium is supposed to be adults only, but we gave up on it almost right away -- lots of kids running around and no one enforced the adults only rule. (Perhaps things would have been different if we hadn't been sailing right around the beginning of when most kids are getting out of school for the summer.)

 

A few other things: It sounds like I'm alone with this here, but we did not enjoy this cruise. We thought the food and service was downright bad, so much so that after the second night we relied on specialty dining. The staff was nice, but the ship seemed very understaffed. The food in the MDR was awful and the buffet was cheap hot dogs and hamburgers like in a school cafeteria. A majority of the activities on any given sea day were attempts to sell you something (free skin consultations! guess the size of the gemstone! ladies pamper party! etc). The 24 hour turnaround in port left us without the time to do anything fun on the second morning (we had been thinking of the cruise as 2 days in Bermuda -- it really isn't, it's more like 24 hours). 

 

One star. Would not do again. Ever. 

 

ETA: Would do Bermuda again though. Just wouldn't cruise there. Would fly in and stay at a nice resort. 

 

Edited June 27, 2023 by Alamana
added a thought about Bermuda

[Rogueperson]

I am unsure of the schedule of the top of my head, but when i went there last September, there was a free (yes free) tour that met at the Stargate (yeah, i call it a stargate, if you know, you know).  The cool thing was that they had a couple actors spread out over the Dockyard where we would "encounter" them and they would tell their story.  It lasted maybe 2 hours at most.  I thought it was fun.