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Opinion7 First Impressions of the Vision of the Seas: Live from the...

7 First Impressions of the Vision of the Seas: Live from the Ship

We are currently on a 5 night cruise to the Western Caribbean aboard Royal Caribbean’s Vision of the Seas.  As we enjoy our first sea day, we would like to share our first impressions of the Vision.

Embarkation – Royal Caribbean had record time boarding passengers on the Vision of the Seas.  We were onboard the ship by 10:40 a.m., over 6 hours before the ship was scheduled to set sail.

The only line we had to wait in was waiting for security to open.  Once we made it through security, we checked in to receive our room keys and then immediately boarded the ship.  Great job by Royal Caribbean getting passengers aboard quickly, it was a great way to start to our cruise.

Ship – Even though the Vision of the Seas is one of the older ships in Royal Caribbean’s fleet, last fall’s renovations brought some modern innovations to the vessel.

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The ship never feels crowded unless you are by a dining room when dinner lets out or the show lounge after a show.  There seems to be plenty of loungers by the pool although on sea days the best spots are taken early, as they are on every cruise ship.

Solarium –  The Solarium is an enclosed adults only (16+)  area with a Mayan theme that has a pool and 2 hot tubs.  It is located right next to the Vitality Spa so you have easy access to the saunas and steam rooms.

This quickly became one of our favorite spots on the ship and is the quietest pool to relax at.  There is also a small cafe so you can grab a bite to eat without leaving this area.

Promenade –  While the promenade on the Vision does not go completely around the ship (all but the bow), it is wider than the promenade on most ships and there are plenty of loungers for sitting and catching those ocean views.

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At night, it is one of our favorite places to take a quiet, relaxing walk and to get away from all of the activities on the ship.

Stateroom –  Our oceanview stateroom shows its age but the upgraded bathroom and flat screen TV are nice modern touches.  There is ample closet space for our 5 night cruise for my wife and I.  The room sleeps 4 but can’t imagine how crowded it would be with 2 more people staying in the cabin with us.

There was some confusion about our cabin as it set up with 2 twin beds, even though we stated that it was our anniversary on our cruise reservation.  We got a good laugh out of it as my wife joked about how we received the “Dick Van Dyke Show Special”.  Our cabin steward quickly changed the beds into a queen once we brought it to her attention.

Staff – The staff onboard the Vision have been terrific.  The assistant maitre d Alex has done a phenomenal job in the Windjammer.  The service he has provided is the best I have ever received at a buffet at sea.

Several of the staff members remembered my name from the first time I met them.  Also, a  few have inquired about my last name and took an interest in knowing about it.  In all of my cruises, I have never had so many ask about it.  The staff has done a tremendous job so far on this cruise.

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Internet – The internet speeds onboard seemed faster with my own tablet and smartphone than with the computers provided by the ship. They offer unlimited wifi for the duration of the cruise for $99.  For those like me that need to stay connected, it is a great deal.

The internet speeds are also much better than I have experienced on a cruise ship.  While they are no where near DSL speeds of back home, they are much faster than the dialup like speeds of most ships.

We will have a full review (with video) after our cruise.  If you have any questions about the Vision, leave a comment below and I will do my best to answer them for you.

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Ben Souza
Ben Souza
Ben is a world traveler who has visited 40+ countries, taken over 70 cruises. He is one of USA TODAY's experts for their 10Best Readers' Choice Awards. His writings have appeared and been cited in various media outlets such as Yahoo News, MSN, NPR, CNN, Fox, and ABC News. Ben currently resides in Cincinnati, Ohio. Follow Ben on Instagram. Visit Ben Souza on Linkedin. You may email Ben at [email protected].
Opinion7 First Impressions of the Vision of the Seas: Live from the...

6 COMMENTS

    • There was 1 comedy show and a couple Broadway type shows. They had some seafood in the main dining room including lobster tail one night.

    • Honestly, there aren’t many children onboard. The ones that we have seen onboard have been having a blast by the pool all day. There is a rock climbing wall and video arcade but no basketball court.

  1. I am sailing on the Vision of the Seas on the September 29th sailing and was wondering how the food is and how expensive the drinks are if you are buying à la carte. I purchased the package which gets us Beer, wine and non alcoholic beverages, but if I want a alcoholic cocktail, how much is it?

    Also, are you planning on booking excursions through the ship or going on your own once in port? What are the best spots on Roatan and Cozumel?

    Thanks

    Chantal

    • We have no complaints about the food, just wish the Windjammer was open longer. Cocktails average between $6-8 each. We are doing our own excursions. We did an island tour in Roatan (we highly recommend this) and we plan on renting a car in Cozumel and taking a trip around the island.

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