Sure, Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas cruise ship is a little on the older side. Launched in the 1990s, if this ship were a child, it’d be old enough to enjoy a cocktail on vacation. However, just because this vessel is a bit elderly compared to some of the others sailing around the world, that doesn’t make it any less worthy of your consideration.
Thanks to a 2013 dry dock and modern updates, as well as Royal Caribbean’s customary family-geared fun and loads of activities throughout, this ship can deliver a stellar vacation. Furthermore, Vision of the Seas is ideal for cruisers who want a smaller ship (mega ships — who need ’em?), fewer crowds, a classic cruising experience and not so many activities that they feel overwhelmed.
So, ready to learn more about all this ship offers and whether or not it’s the perfect fit for your next trip? Keep reading for everything you need to know.
In This Article…
Vision of the Seas Stats
Vision of the Seas is very comparable to its sister ships that also launched around the same time, as part of Royal Caribbean’s Vision Class. The ship comes in at…
- 78,340 gross tonnage
- A length of 279 meters (915.4 feet)
- A width of 105.6 feet
- 11 passenger decks (12 total decks)
- 11 guest elevators
- A capacity for 2,050 passengers (2,514 passengers at maximum occupancy)
- And a crew of 742 members
Construction and Refurbishment
Vision of the Seas was launched in 1998, laid down in 1996 as the last Vision-class cruise ship, following six sister ships: Grandeur of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Splendor of the Seas.
After launch, the ship sailed around Europe for a year, before moving on to other routes. Currently, the ship sails around the Southern Caribbean and, sometimes, the Western Mediterranean, sailing from both Fort Lauderdale and Barcelona.
In 2013, the ship received a dry docking and underwent a few refurbishments, including a refresh for all of the staterooms and bathrooms. The refurbishment also added on a few amenities that were originally developed for Royal Caribbean’s Oasis Class.
Today, Vision of the Seas does show its age in spots, but for those who don’t need everything all bright and shiny, and new, new, new, Vision of the Seas will hardly disappoint.
Ship Class
Vision of the Seas is a Royal Caribbean Vision-class cruise ship (hence the name, obviously). The Vision class includes six other ships. However, today, you won’t find all six of these ships on Royal Caribbean’s roster.
A few have been sold off, including Legend of the Seas and Splendor of the Seas. If you like Vision of the Seas but just wish it were a little larger, you might want to check out sister ship Enchantment of the Seas, which, while a little older, is the largest of the class.
Staterooms and Suites
Vision of the Seas offers more than a thousand staterooms, for a total of 1,142 accommodation options. As you search for the right stateroom for your Vision of the Seas sailing, you’ll find…
- Interior staterooms
- Ocean-view staterooms
- Balcony staterooms
- And suite staterooms
Interior staterooms are the most basic and plentiful of your stateroom options. However, while they are the smallest rooms available, they don’t necessarily seem cramped. Thanks to the 2013 refresh, they feature a lot of natural, toned-down colors that make for a lighter, roomier atmosphere.
If you hate the idea of staying in a stateroom with absolutely no window whatsoever, but you don’t want to spring for an ocean-view room, you can book a Promenade interior stateroom, which overlooks the ship’s interior Promenade thanks to a big bay window.
Ocean-view staterooms are a little bit roomier, with some extra seating space, and are ideal for families or groups of more than just two people. They include, of course, big windows overlooking the water. Balcony staterooms similarly give you that extra living space, plus furnished outdoor space.
Suites are the biggest and most luxurious of your options aboard Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas. Plus, you get extra suite amenities. Each suite guest receives “Suite Life” amenities including priority check-in, complimentary Concierge Club service, reserved prime seating (as available), VIP pool deck seating (as available), complimentary luggage valet, luxury spa bathrobes and even complimentary pressing service.
All staterooms, regardless of which you pick, come outfitted with either two twin beds or one queen bed, a sitting area, vanity and shower in the bathroom, 24-hour room service, an in-room safe, nightly turn-down service and round-the-clock attendant service.
Dining
Vision of the Seas is home to nine different dining options, including:
- The Main Dining Room
- Park Cafe
- Windjammer Buffet
- Ben & Jerry’s
- Cafe Latte-Tudes
- The Chef’s Table
- Chops Grille
- Giovanni’s Table
- Izumi
If you’ve sailed on some of Royal Caribbean’s newer ships, you’ll notice that Vision of the Seas doesn’t offer quite the same number of restaurants as those newer vessels, but you still get the basics and most well-loved Royal Caribbean offerings.
As part of your standard cruising fee, you’ll get access to the main dining room, Park Cafe and the Windjammer Buffet, no extra fees required.
The large main dining room offers a classic cruise dining experience, with sit-down service and timed seatings at dinner (unless you pay for My Time Dining, which allows you to show up and dine any time between 5:15 and 9 p.m.).
Breakfast options are pretty standard, with a large selection of breakfast staples. Lunch includes a range of sandwiches, pastas and salads, similar to what you might find at any sit-down American restaurant chain.
Dinner is the most formal of the offered meals, with three courses and more upscale offerings, such as lobster, filet mignon and risotto. Royal Caribbean is pretty admirably competent at catering to diners with food allergies or special diets as well, though there are no strictly vegan options.
The Windjammer Buffet provides cruisers with buffet-style service during set times for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner. You can find just about any kind of food here, from casual eats to international fare. There are even some grab n’ go options, in case you want to just grab a bite and take it back to your room.
The Park Cafe in the ship’s Solarium offers more casual, cafe-style eats, such as sandwiches and salads. In addition to all of the above, you can also enjoy select room service on a complimentary basis.
The specialty restaurants and dining options that you’ll have to pay extra for include dining at The Chef’s Table, Chops Grille, Giovanni’s Table, Izumi, Ben & Jerry’s and Cafe Latte-Tudes.
Cafe Latte-Tudes is much like an upgraded version of the Park Cafe, with specialty coffee and sandwiches. The Ben & Jerry’s is just an outpost from the brand, similar to what you’ll find in any city or vacation destination.
Chops Grille offers steakhouse-style dining, while Izumi provides Japanese favorites. Giovanni’s Table is your family-style Italian eatery. All of these three offer more of an upscale experience, perfect for a special dinner during your cruise.
For a truly VIP experience, though, you might want to try The Chef’s Table, which is a specialty experience that allows you to dine in a small space with only a handful of other diners, as you interact with the chef and try items off a prix fixe menu that you won’t see elsewhere.
Bars and Lounges
You’ll find nearly as many bars aboard Vision of the Seas as you will restaurants! Options include…
- The Pool Bar
- R Bar
- Schooner Bar
- Solarium Bar
- Some Enchanted Evening Lounge
- The Viking Crown Lounge
The pool bar is — as you likely guessed — by the pool and your spot to get a frosty, adult beverage while enjoying the sun. R Bar is a smaller space, but lively, with lots of planned activities led by cruise staff.
Schooner Bar is nautically-themed and a Royal Caribbean favorite, with a cozy pub feel and trivia nights. Solarium Bar sits within the adults-only Solarium and is your spot to enjoy a poolside drink without having to deal with any bothersome children.
Some Enchanted Evening Lounge is your place to go for music all night long, from karaoke to dancing. The Viking Crown Lounge is a quieter option during the day, but also comes alive at night with dancing after dark.
VIP Clubs
During the 2013 refurbishment, Vision of the Seas gained two new VIP clubs, the Concierge Club and the Diamond Club. The Concierge Club is only open to Diamond Plus, Pinnacle Crown and Anchor Society loyalty program members, as well as some suite passengers, while the Diamond Club is only open to Diamond-level (or higher) loyalty program members.
Both of the VIP clubs offer a quiet spot for these top-tier members to get away from the cruising hubbub, while enjoying concierge service and great views.
Things to Do
But beyond enjoying your stateroom, all of Royal Caribbean’s classic dining options, and the lounges and bars located throughout the ship, what else can you do while aboard Vision of the Seas? As you jump from island to island, regardless of what itinerary you choose, you can enjoy your mornings, nights and sea days in a range of ways.
Vision of the Seas offers two pools — the main, all-ages pool and the Solarium, adults-only pool. The main pool features four hot tubs (though do note that, unlike other Royal Caribbean ships, Vision of the Seas does not offer a splash area for young children near the main pool). The Solarium pool also boasts two hot tubs.
Also Read: What Is a Royal Caribbean Quantum-Ultra Class Cruise Ship?
Other fun outdoor activities beyond hanging by the pool include enjoying the rock climbing wall on Deck 10, as well as the shuffleboards and ping pong tables. Lots of indoor and outdoor fun and activities are scheduled and led by cruise staff every day.
If you want some adults-only fun indoors, you can head to the onboard casino. For a little bit of relaxation, there’s the Vitality Spa, with a full menu of classic spa treatments. If you prefer to work out your travel woes than soothe them away with a massage, you’ll find the fitness center located nearby.
As for the kids, you’ll find the Adventure Ocean kids clubs for ages 3 and up, as well as separate spaces for teens.
Ready to Book Your Royal Caribbean Vision of the Seas Cruise?
If all of the above sounds like your idea of a perfect, family-friendly, fun-filled cruise, what are you waiting for? Vision of the Seas is a small and intimate ship, but it packs in a lot to love for its size. This is one cruising experience you won’t regret booking.
FAQ:
Vision of the Seas is on the smaller side, measuring in at a weight of 78,340 GT, a length of 279 meters (915.4 feet), and a width of 105.6 feet. It has 11 passenger decks (12 total decks) and a capacity for 2,050 passengers at normal occupancy, or 2,514 passengers at maximum occupancy.
Vision of the Seas is one of Royal Caribbean’s Vision-class cruise ships. The Vision class includes six ships: Grandeur of the Seas, Enchantment of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, Legend of the Seas and Splendor of the Seas.
There are two pools on Vision of the Seas, the main pool and the Solarium pool. The main pool is open to cruisers of all ages and is the most crowded, while the Solarium pool is only open to cruisers age 16 and up.
