Jump to content

Live update on vision of seas


Recommended Posts

Since we have appreciated so much first hand knowledge of others I am giving some update on Vision.  I wont be able to be live continuously but will give some periodic update for those who might benefit.  First I will acknowledge that this is our 9th cruise on a variety of cruise lines and we are in early 60’s.  Cruise left out of New Orleans which had a few snags as there is some construction going on in port area and we did not benefit from large clear signage like we have in other ports.  We ended up parking in Fulton garage simply because we missed main port parking and the traffic was so crazy we gave in and used Fulton.  It save about 20 dollars for the week but since we will end up doing tips to shuttle drivers we will not profit anything so just consider all that if you are using New Orleans in next few months.  By far more stressful than prior embarkation parking on all other cruises......not meaning to be so negative but just a fact.

 

  As we expected, Vision is a smaller and older ship and it’s recent dry dock did not update a lot of furnishings as we have experienced on some prior cruises so we can see some maintainence issues.....nothing major but things you observe on a ship that has not had updates in 5 or 6 years.  First and foremost I will say STAY AWAY FROM DECK 8 UNDER THE POOL........dragging chairs, loud music is easily heard......I knew this could occur on some ships but we wanted a jr suite so we took 8022 but I would caution anyway looking at this area of ship to reconsider if noise is a concern.   We have stayed on Holland and Princess below pools but never heard this much noise so it might be the age of ship or the fact there are more young kids and families on this ship......but either way I have to express disappointment in this cabin so be forewarned.

 

Lido deck (windjammer) was kinda typical buffet at lunch, not great but ok.   Dinner in dining room was very good with both fish and prime rib entrees. We had requested about 8 months ago to have a few medical accommodations with extension cords for Cpap machine, distilled water, sharp container.......email confirmation from special needs dept was received...........none was in room upon arriving and took quite a while to get.   

 

We are still on mississippi and not yet out to sea but already got a bit of movement going on??   Dont have weather that we know of but just sensing some movement more than we thought on the river portion.

 

hope to update more later as we are hoping to explore ship more tomorrow......

 

 

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Forgot to mention there is a limited number of TV channels compared to other cruises we have been on but we brought some reading for our 3 sea days.   Even in junior suite the bathroom storage is limited but we made due......I would however say I forgot to bring something that was suggested by someone earlier......it was recommended to get some of the small cheap baskets like you get at walmart or dollar tree for 1.00 or so that might be about 4 by 6 inches.....to use for small items like make up or meds in bottles ......to hem things up a bit so they dont roll off narrow counter tops.......now that I am here seeing counters and space I better understand and wish I had......just a tip......

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

11 minutes ago, matj2000 said:

Are you sure you are on the Vision?

 

I am pretty sure that RC sold that old ship a few years ago.

 

Double check your paperwork and get back...

Royal Caribbean sold Splendor OTS in 2016 and Legend OTS in 2017. We were on the final B2B sailings on both ships.

Vision, which recently completed the Panama Canal itinerary, is indeed sailing from NOLA til March.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, matj2000 said:

Are you sure you are on the Vision?

 

I am pretty sure that RC sold that old ship a few years ago.

 

Double check your paperwork and get back...

Better be,(it is), I'm doing a B2B2B 26nites on Vision this APR/May. Also Royal still has 5 ships even older then Vision, and is about same age as Voyager.

Edited by ONECRUISER
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Very interested in your experience. We haven't been on specifically Vision since she left San Pedro. Actually looking forward to our cruise on her this May Med/Greece....we have cabin #8590. This sailing has booked very well and the suites went fast...we feel lucky to have at least booked this cabin. 

 

Do you have any idea if an Amazon firestick can be used on the TV's?...We were recently on Freedom and had no problem doing this.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Would love to hear more..will be on this ship in two weeks, especially about the formal nights.  Are people dressing up and what nights are they on this itinerary?  Are you doing any specialty restaurants?  Chef's table?   Thank you in advance.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

4 minutes ago, cathyrn55 said:

Would love to hear more..will be on this ship in two weeks, especially about the formal nights.  Are people dressing up and what nights are they on this itinerary?  Are you doing any specialty restaurants?  Chef's table?   Thank you in advance.  

 

Look at PCWalton's recent thread about Vision's EB Panama Canal cruise.  He has a complete report on the Chef's Table.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Is Royal Caribbean dressy compared to Norwegian? I hate dressing up on vacation. Also, we like to stay up late and party.  Is this a good ship for casino activity and late night activity?

Edited by pcjr2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

30 minutes ago, pcjr2 said:

Is Royal Caribbean dressy compared to Norwegian? I hate dressing up on vacation. Also, we like to stay up late and party.  Is this a good ship for casino activity and late night activity?

 

Royal does not enforce dress suggestions, so you see the full range of attire.  You can wear what you please.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Interesting comment on storage in Junior Suite.  We were in 8028 for 10 days in 2017 and found there was much more storage in both bath and cabinets than other ships.  Far more than balcony on Oasis, for example.  And while we were concerned with noise we heard very little from above.  The bigger concern is being too close to the atrium, since a lot of parties and entertainment are held there.  Definitely loud music from there!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

We will be on Vision on the 12th and are also wanting to know if you can use Amazon Firestick, especially in view of the poor TV offerings.  Have never been on a cruise with Miami as a port stop - only as embarkation.  It looks like there will only be 3 ships in port during the Miami stop.  We are planning to leave the ship and have lunch at Versailles in Little Havana.  Would you (or anyone else) know the easiest transportation to Little Havana? Cab, Uber, free trolley, private hire, rental car? We were leaning toward Uber, but cannot find the uber pickup. Thanks.    

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Update to the questions and posts I can remember:

 

yes indeed we are on vision of seas and it was not sold off .........

 

have not been to speciality resturant yet

 

regarding storage in bath.....yes we have sufficient storage but I still say it was have been better for us if we have slipped in one or two of the small cheap storage baskets that are about 4 by 6 inches or similar.......you can buy them for a dollar and a couple of them could have held my small make up items or small medical items...........some of the storage is flat and narrow in dept and some is beneath the sink and ship movement causes item to roll a bit .....no big deal, just thought some of prior posters were correct that it might have been nice and convenient to have since they are so cheap

 

regaring electric cords for CPAP........my only comments were to confirm that we also have brought our own for years and due to info received from royal Caribbean we decided to let them provide them for this trip.....however, as noted we did see 3 others getting questions and 2 being confiscated during our check in......not saying others have not gotten the items on that you have described and we have in the past, just saying that this time we observed security not allowing such on board as the particular time that we were checking in......for us it was not a big deal whether we brought our cord or they provided, the bigger deal is there is very very limited places to plug anything in for any of their items or our items,   In our room we have a double plug on desk area that is being used for cpap machines, electronic devises and coffee pot .....hasn’t ruined trip, just letting others know what we have encountered....

 

yes it has been noisy .......despite most schools being back in session there are a fair number of kids aboard but a lot of the noise is the music and entertainment activities that you find on ships like royal Caribbean and carnival.......not quieter like holland and princess or celebrity....just a different environment......

 

regarding TV channels I have seen 3 or 4 channels of RC selling items and shore excursions and their activities,  a couple of news channels, couple of sport channels, one or two channels that look like kid shows and 1 channel that says movies but we have not found anything on it yet......so it is sufficient but just not as many channels as we have had on some other ships.......not the interactive TV system that we have seen on some other ships but it might be because this particular RC ship is older

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

17 hours ago, Bee Guy said:

Thanks for this.  We will be following this as we will be on the Vision 4 weeks from today.  We have room 8072 which is quite a bit aft from you.

 

Enjoy your cruise!

 

 

Hope you have better luck with 8072 than we did.  That cabin is under the solarium pool, frequently during the night you could hear the service trucks with hard rubber wheels clunk, clunk, clunk while rolling over the tiles around the pool.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

14 hours ago, ONECRUISER said:

Better be,(it is), I'm doing a B2B2B 26nites on Vision this APR/May. Also Royal still has 5 ships even older then Vision, and is about same age as Voyager.

Us too April 15th!  Suites are all on 8.  Last January we were in 8516, no noise at all, April will be 8512. Grand Suites.

 

Had hoped for new upholstery etc.  But we love her anyway.  This trip is from Galveston and we'll be staying aboard all 4 days.

Edited by BecciBoo
Link to comment
Share on other sites

We're in JS 8088 all the way in the back, corner aft, on the Jan 4, 2020 sailing out of San Juan. Our last time on Vision was in Sep 2010 in the Baltics. I enjoyed the ship and welcome the smaller size compared to some of the behemoths out there - our last cruise was on Oasis in Apr 2018 and, while I loved it much more than I thought I would, it was A LOT of people.  

Edited by NCMtnBoys
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, BecciBoo said:

Us too April 15th!  Suites are all on 8.  Last January we were in 8516, no noise at all, April will be 8512. Grand Suites.

 

Had hoped for new upholstery etc.  But we love her anyway.  This trip is from Galveston and we'll be staying aboard all 4 days.

Kool! First time on Vision though did many cruises on Grandeur and Enchantment between 1996-2002. For the April 10th cruise in cabin 7151, first inside in 19yrs. But the 15th and 19th, the TA, scored B2B in Aft/Corner 7652. At least the Inside is close to the Balcony room. But yeah Royal doesn't replace/update cabins too much. Dry Dock for that takes 4weeks to do and if lucky they will do it once in ships lifespan while sailing for Royal

Edited by ONECRUISER
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Today's sea day weather was perfect, if I may butt in.

I'm enjoying the music--the bands have been good and the DJ's playlist is to my liking. But I can see how it would be intrusive if the selection was not your taste.

The activities have been fun and well-attended. The activities staff is high-energy and humorous. The food has been meh. 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Weather was great yesterday with departure and today it has been great at sea.  

 

Regarding earlier comments on updates:  we have sailed other cruise lines who would take their short 2 week drydock times to upgrade some of their mattresses or linens and do some cosmetic work.  We have been told they updated a little of their carpet in some public spaces and did some painting and maintenance outside ship but we have observed several areas that have some rust spots and some carpet even in public area that looks old.  As mentioned, we are in jr suite and our mattress needs replacing and the sink is rusty along with some rusty spots on balcony rail..........room is plenty spacious and we have a sofa and 2 side chairs and balcony plenty large for small table and 2 chairs.   For us the limited TV channels and mattress and noise we hear is the most disappointing so that is why i called myself just being upfront for those that are asking ahead about detail......i very much appreciated the others who shared info ahead that helped prepare me for the trip

 

We have run into several travelers who have been on multiple cruise lines who are a bit disappointed in ship and services and food quality but that is often subjective and based on a persons taste.  I can say that service level in cabins has been less than we have had on other ships as we have had to ask for ice (still have not received on day 2)  and they dont come to cabin and tidy and check things out twice a day automatically like some cruise lines do......but it is ok as we dont need to be catered to that much, just an observation.  On other cruise lines we have had cabin stewards speak to us in hall, rush in while we are at meals to tidy up, set the bed up for night, put our the next days agenda on the bed along with either towel animals or chocolates.......but none of that in our cabin thus far........again, not necessary but just observing services is different

 

i enjoyed a while in the solarium today and it started off nice and quiet as it was described but got a bit noisy in there as a few couples were having loud conversations.......but it is still pleasant option to the very loud main pool environment.  The snack area to the back of the solarium (park cafe) is very nice as quick option for a small salad or sandwich and drink without having to go to the noise and congestion of windjammer.  

 

Regarding question about windjammer:  it is just plain standard buffet food.......nothing outrageously great......some salad items, some sandwich items, a couple of entrees and veggies.......a sweet,dessert area with good cookies and small pieces of cake or pie......sweets are ok but nothing spectacular.   Family says soft serve ice cream has been pretty good.  Some tried the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream for a fee that they said was good.

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, creel5857 said:

Weather was great yesterday with departure and today it has been great at sea.  

 

Regarding earlier comments on updates:  we have sailed other cruise lines who would take their short 2 week drydock times to upgrade some of their mattresses or linens and do some cosmetic work.  We have been told they updated a little of their carpet in some public spaces and did some painting and maintenance outside ship but we have observed several areas that have some rust spots and some carpet even in public area that looks old.  As mentioned, we are in jr suite and our mattress needs replacing and the sink is rusty along with some rusty spots on balcony rail..........room is plenty spacious and we have a sofa and 2 side chairs and balcony plenty large for small table and 2 chairs.   For us the limited TV channels and mattress and noise we hear is the most disappointing so that is why i called myself just being upfront for those that are asking ahead about detail......i very much appreciated the others who shared info ahead that helped prepare me for the trip

 

We have run into several travelers who have been on multiple cruise lines who are a bit disappointed in ship and services and food quality but that is often subjective and based on a persons taste.  I can say that service level in cabins has been less than we have had on other ships as we have had to ask for ice (still have not received on day 2)  and they dont come to cabin and tidy and check things out twice a day automatically like some cruise lines do......but it is ok as we dont need to be catered to that much, just an observation.  On other cruise lines we have had cabin stewards speak to us in hall, rush in while we are at meals to tidy up, set the bed up for night, put our the next days agenda on the bed along with either towel animals or chocolates.......but none of that in our cabin thus far........again, not necessary but just observing services is different

 

i enjoyed a while in the solarium today and it started off nice and quiet as it was described but got a bit noisy in there as a few couples were having loud conversations.......but it is still pleasant option to the very loud main pool environment.  The snack area to the back of the solarium (park cafe) is very nice as quick option for a small salad or sandwich and drink without having to go to the noise and congestion of windjammer.  

 

Regarding question about windjammer:  it is just plain standard buffet food.......nothing outrageously great......some salad items, some sandwich items, a couple of entrees and veggies.......a sweet,dessert area with good cookies and small pieces of cake or pie......sweets are ok but nothing spectacular.   Family says soft serve ice cream has been pretty good.  Some tried the Ben and Jerry’s ice cream for a fee that they said was good.

 

 

 

 

Wow, I understand that with RC in some rooms you have to request ice, but not having twice a day service is a real cut back, and not what we are use too on Celebrity. I sure hope we see better in our suite in Feb, or we will not be doing RC again, which is a shame since we are D+ On them and Elite + on Celebrity.

Have you tried asking for a mattress topper, maybe it will help. I can deal with a bit of rust, wear and tear on the carpets, but lack of service and food being just meh is not a good thing. I sure am hoping for more on our Feb cruise.

Thank you and please keep reporting. I hope you have a great cruise!

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

5 hours ago, NCMtnBoys said:

We're in JS 8088 all the way in the back, corner aft, on the Jan 4, 2020 sailing out of San Juan. Our last time on Vision was in Sep 2010 in the Baltics. I enjoyed the ship and welcome the smaller size compared to some of the behemoths out there - our last cruise was on Oasis in Apr 2018 and, while I loved it much more than I thought I would, it was A LOT of people.  

 

 That is a wonderful stateroom on Vision. We actually thought that the docking vibrations were kind of fun. Kind of like Magic Fingers that you used to have pay 25  cents for to make your bed vibrate. :classic_biggrin::classic_smile: And the balcony is huge and awesome!

Edited by Coralc
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't followed a thread regarding an "older" ship in quite a while so I'm finishing it interesting. Although I love the mega ships for all they offer part of me wants to experience a smaller boat again like we did 20 years ago. Regarding the ice, that is frustrating. It's a pretty common request. Have a great rest of your trip and I can't wait to read more. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Please sign in to comment

You will be able to leave a comment after signing in



Sign In Now
 Share

  • Forum Jump
    • Categories
      • Welcome to Cruise Critic
      • New Cruisers
      • Cruise Lines “A – O”
      • Cruise Lines “P – Z”
      • River Cruising
      • ROLL CALLS
      • Digital Photography & Cruise Technology
      • Special Interest Cruising
      • Cruise Discussion Topics
      • UK Cruising
      • Australia & New Zealand Cruisers
      • Canadian Cruisers
      • North American Homeports
      • Ports of Call
      • Cruise Conversations
×
×
  • Create New...