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Vision of the Seas - Photo Review - 1/10/15 VOS

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WinksCruises

WinksCruises

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Noooo i dont want it to end.

Thanks for your kind words. Still a post or two to go. But just take it as a sign - that your own special adventure is about to begin! And nothing is better than that! You're going to have a blast!

Edited by WinksCruises
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WinksCruises

WinksCruises

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One question about the "Bar Hop", did you book that through the ship or on your own & may I ask the cost PP?

I may be wrong, but I don't believe Royal offers this as an excursion. We booked it on our own, in conjunction with fellow Cruise Critic members from our itinerary's Roll Call. Got a 5$ per-person group discount off the 57$ per-person fee. That fee includes a free Cozumel Bar Hop t-shirt and a signature shot at each of the 4 stops. Plus THEY do the driving... so it's not really a bad deal considering how much it might cost you go do it by cab. It's very professionally run. We plan to do it again next time we're in Cozumel (which may be sooner than later if Mrs. Winks pulls off this next cruise deal!)

 

If I lived near Tampa, I'd try to be on Vision every week!

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WinksCruises

WinksCruises

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I enjoyed seeing who won the bottle of champagne after I told them to re-draw for it. Our table was afraid of being lynched after winning almost everything at the M&M:p
Well, it WAS getting a little out of hand! :) Edited by WinksCruises
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WinksCruises

WinksCruises

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1001_Day7.jpg

 

Far too quickly, our breezy, carefree days had flown by and our fun-filled week on Vision was finally come to a close. We woke up from our Cozumel-induced haze the next morning to find ourselves sharing the bed with an obese and ugly thing called Friday, a skanky, hanger-on that our Cruise Compass kept referring to as Day 7.

 

Mrs. Winks calls the last day at sea the “Get Off Our Ship!” day. The cruise director suddenly adopts a serious demeanor and insists we watch the hour long disembarkment tips video he’s specially produced for our benefit. Someone, surely not our room steward, is leaving color-coded luggage tags, customs forms and extra tip envelopes on the stateroom bedspread. A member of housekeeping, who we’ve never seen before, is knocking on the door and cheerfully reminding us to have our bags out for collection by 10 pm. Even our Concierge takes the time to explain to us that, yes, he too can receive a WOW card - if we feel so inclined.

 

Even the weather is encouraging us to pack. It's windy and grey. There's no last pool day for you guys. Today it’s all business! And every shiny thing onboard seems to be telling us that business is making sure we’re ready to get out tomorrow by 7 am. Sharp!

 

 

1001_Capt_Corner.jpg

Cruise Director Marvin hosting the Captain's Corner in the Masquerade Theater

 

 

The Captain seemed to be having a busy day, nonetheless. While we were moping about, trying to come to grips with the sobering reality that fun time was coming to an end, he was off leading the senior officers and an army of Make A Wish volunteers around the top deck for a charity walk. Later, donned in the same Make A Wish T-shirt, he was in the pool leading the officers in a volleyball game against the passengers. Right after that, he was fielding questions in the Masquerade Theater during the Captain’s Corner session. (More on that below). Then, miraculously, he appeared immediately thereafter on the ship's bridge for a special tour for us Suite Guests.

 

While Mrs. Winks chose to spend the hour trying to find a way to pack all her shoes into one carry-on, I attended the Captain's Circle. There, the master and several members of his team, for some bizarre reason, invite passengers (mostly disgruntled, opinionated, cruise critic miscreants looking for entitlements) to sit there and harangue them for 60-minutes with painstakingly, silly questions. Nine times out of ten, it’s a question meant for housekeeping or guests services, not the Captain of a 6,300 ton floating vessel.

 

Here’s a sampling of the questions and comments:

 

  • Will the ships ever be outfitted to run on wind turbines? (Since it’s always so windy at sea)

  • Why don’t the MDR waiters dance and sing as much anymore?

  • Is the brown seaweed we’re seeing caused by ship pollution?

  • Why is the water pressure in my cabin bathroom so low?

  • Can you please eliminate My Time Dining? It’s ruining the cruise experience.

  • Why don’t the elevators feature the day-of-the-week carpet squares anymore?

  • The stateroom door of my inside cabin hits the wall mounted flat screen.

    - - and the always awkward - -

  • What happens if a passenger or crew member dies on the ship?

 

About the only piece of useful information I gleaned from the exchange was news that they were planning to get rid of the Captain's noon time report. You know, the one they usually broadcast over the PA system. The reason? Because it interferes with activities at the pool, rock climbing wall, sports area etc. Most of the audience in the theater was against this move. And yet, according to the Captain, the policy was being introduced based on passenger feedback. Passengers, he was told, didn’t enjoy the Captain interrupting the ice sculpting demonstrations and the like with longitudinal reports and the weather forecast.

 

I imagine they’re paying Captain Mareck a nice salary given his responsibilities. But after attending this Captain’s Corner, and knowing he must entertain one every week; they’re not paying him nearly enough!

 

1003_Voytech-1.jpg

The Vision Bridge - Look, they have their own Concierge Lounge!

 

Next up was a special tour of the ship’s bridge which our Concierge arranged for the Suite Guests. At least, we thought it was special. But since our cabin stateroom was located right off the elevator landing where these bridge tours were told to meet – mainly because each participant has to go through a security scan before being cleared to the bridge – we got to see several groups congregating there over the course of the last day… so it wasn’t a Suite Guest exclusive by an means.

 

Bridge tours are pretty fun to take. This one was a little overcrowded – I think we had more than 20 people on it - which isn’t typical. Captain Mareck and his team did a commendable job running us through the basics of ship operations. And even though it was windy, he invited us out onto the exterior wings, the ones that jut out from the ship, and explained how the docking procedure worked.

 

1003_Voytech.jpg

Our Concierge Vojtech and Mrs. Winks charting a course to nowhere!

 

Captain Mareck is refreshingly candid, explaining odd protocols that come down from the corporate office and commenting on the strong union control ship pilots maintain on the industry, in his entertaining bid to relate colorful tales about running a ship the size of Vision at sea.

 

While we missed having the same tour from Captain Liz, one of only a few female cruise ship captains, by a week (she started her vacation the day we embarked), Captain Mareck was as entertaining and personable as they come, so both Mrs. Winks and I were happy we had a chance to meet him.

 

1005_Goodbyes.jpg

Saying our goodbyes - including to the photo team, whom I tried to join!

 

After the bridge tour, there was no more putting it off. We had to get our bags packed and attend the miserable task of preparing ourselves for the reality of disembarkation.

 

We spent the evening saying goodbyes to the crew members we had met. And then took in a final show at the theater, which was a comedian (Thankfully. So much better than the usual,vapid Farewell – Get off our ship! – Production they usually close with). This comedian had a bunch of vacation-on-a-cruise-ship jokes which had the audience laughing - as he recapped the silly foils we dealt with all week… from odd elevator stories to tiny stateroom shower-stall jokes. Great way to send us off.

 

1006_Tampa_Port.jpg

Singing the Tampa Disembarkation Blues...

 

7 am came too quickly. Mrs. Winks and I woke up to watch the ship dock… reflecting back on how different this same experience had been, a week before, watching from a frigid marina walkway. Spirits high because our week was about to begin…

 

We took our carry-ons down to Chops where Vojtech had the Suite Guests assembled until our color was called (which was after the self assist walk offs were complete). We had some some coffee and danish, and then Vojtech informed us it was time - and escorted our group to the gangway.

 

Once in the terminal, we found our bags no problem. Got through customs no problem. And then waited about 10 minutes in a cab line for a taxi to the airport. Our 11:30 am flight back to New York was on time.

 

Overall, it was an exceptional cruise…. Made all the better by a terrific crew and an interesting itinerary. Get out there!

Edited by WinksCruises
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IrishLassie

IrishLassie

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I may be wrong, but I don't believe Royal offers this as an excursion. We booked it on our own, in conjunction with fellow Cruise Critic members from our itinerary's Roll Call. Got a 5$ per-person group discount off the 57$ per-person fee. That fee includes a free Cozumel Bar Hop t-shirt and a signature shot at each of the 4 stops. Plus THEY do the driving... so it's not really a bad deal considering how much it might cost you go do it by cab. It's very professionally run. We plan to do it again next time we're in Cozumel (which may be sooner than later if Mrs. Winks pulls off this next cruise deal!)

 

If I lived near Tampa, I'd try to be on Vision every week!

 

Thank you so much for the info on the Bar Hop, we may give it a try. :D Also, thanks for a great review.

 

We don't sail to much out of Tampa as we like the Eastern Carrib. more & not to many of our cruises out of here go there! :( But if I see a good deal on this ship, we will give it a try.

 

Thanks again & will look forward to your nx review!

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WinksCruises

WinksCruises

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1101_Centrum.jpg

The Centrum

 

 

And finally, here's the Cruise Compass and Main Dining Room Menu from Day 7.

 

CC_7_1.jpg

 

 

CC_7_2.jpg

 

CC_7_3.jpg

 

 

Dining_Menu_7.jpg

 

If the fates allow, we'll be back in early May with another stupid photo review of a Royal Caribbean cruise... stay tuned.

 

And until then, safe travels!

1102_End.jpg

Byyyyeee!!

 

 

 

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Dan-P

Dan-P

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Winks and MrsWinks - thanks so much for the review, great pictures, and the daily cruise compass/menus. Awesome job.

 

We board the Vision in a couple weeks and are more excited than usual now. :eek:

 

Dan.

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Dan-P

Dan-P

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I hope WinksCruises doesn't mind, but I took all of the pictures of the Daily Compass and dinner menus from this review and combined them into one PDF document. I did NOT include the Teen Compass though.

 

First time I've tried using Google Drive - but I think this will work!

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz4r1jt-vLDJS0ZFZVBscUtheTQ/view?usp=sharing

 

Hopefully helpful to someone!

 

Dan.

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canuckgirl7777

canuckgirl7777

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I hope WinksCruises doesn't mind, but I took all of the pictures of the Daily Compass and dinner menus from this review and combined them into one PDF document. I did NOT include the Teen Compass though.

 

 

 

First time I've tried using Google Drive - but I think this will work!

 

 

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz4r1jt-vLDJS0ZFZVBscUtheTQ/view?usp=sharing

 

 

 

Hopefully helpful to someone!

 

 

 

Dan.

 

 

Works like a charm. Saved to my Google Drive for my upcoming cruise! Thanks!

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WinksCruises

WinksCruises

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I took all of the pictures of the Daily Compass and dinner menus from this review and combined them into one PDF document.

 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz4r1jt-vLDJS0ZFZVBscUtheTQ/view?usp=sharing

 

Great! Ultimately, this community's strength and value stems from its ability to share - so the more outlets from which information can be disseminated the better. Thanks!

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WinksCruises

WinksCruises

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What cruise are you planning in May?
Thanks for reading... I'm sure it's not always easy, especially if you don't have the particular ship or itinerary in mind. But I'll vouch for a Vision cruise any day.

 

As for May, Mrs Winks and I are still batting the options about. And of course, her side is winning. So most likely Liberty of the Seas... which we have cruised before - but not formerly reviewed.

 

Personally, I'm so hooked on the intimacy of the smaller vessels, I've been pushing for Majesty (the soon to be sold baby of RCI's fleet). But the timing isn't working out quite right, so I'll shelf this one for now (if one can do that with a ship) and try again at year's end. So stay tuned.

 

In the meantime, I'll go check out your reviews. Thanks!

 

Costa_Maya_8.jpg

Edited by WinksCruises
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mickev99

mickev99

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Thanks for reading... I'm sure it's not always easy, especially if you don't have the particular ship or itinerary in mind. But I'll vouch for a Vision cruise any day.

 

As for May, Mrs Winks and I are still batting the options about. And of course, her side is winning. So most likely Liberty of the Seas... which we have cruised before - but not formerly reviewed.

 

Personally, I'm so hooked on the intimacy of the smaller vessels, I've been pushing for Majesty (the soon to be sold baby of RCI's fleet). But the timing isn't working out quite right, so I'll shelf this one for now (if one can do that with a ship) and try again at year's end. So stay tuned.

 

In the meantime, I'll go check out your reviews. Thanks!

 

 

Darn it, I was hoping you'd being doing Indy Eastern...purely for selfish reasons...Indy is doing 8 day/6 day until May and doesn't start the itinerary I'm doing until May 10th. I want someone to post compasses before I go in July and would have loved to read a review from you before I go!!

And my reviews are not nearly as detailed as yours, plus I was too lazy to go back and figure out how to post pics for the Freedom one since I had forgotten since my Norwegian cruise, LOL!!

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