A yr in the past final August, I embarked my first Royal Caribbean cruise on Mariner of the Seas. Since then, I’ve spent 67 nights on 12 Royal Caribbean cruise ships, traveled to 25 totally different ports, collected 141 Crown & Anchor Society factors, and made numerous recollections all over the world.
Royal Caribbean has six distinct courses of cruise ships, every with their very own layouts, facilities, itinerary choices, and onboard environment. I lately cruised to Alaska on Radiance of the Seas, finishing my aim of crusing on each class of Royal Caribbean ships.
Though all Royal Caribbean cruise ships are distinctly Royal Caribbean in branding and design, they’ll really feel fairly totally different from each other when evaluating the ships facet by facet.
My cruising type
Earlier than understanding why I really feel the way in which I do about Royal Caribbean’s ship courses, it’s essential to grasp my cruising type.
I are likely to spend extra time stress-free and not using a plan onboard slightly than making an attempt to expertise as many points of interest as potential. Whereas infinite actions and leisure choices are actually appreciated, I’ll take pleasure in a cruise equally with or with out these actions.
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I additionally don’t cruise with kids, so actions like water slides, zip strains, and children programming don’t think about as to whether I choose one ship class over one other.
I like utilizing cruising (and touring typically) as a option to uncover as many cultures, nations, cuisines, and ports as potential. The cruise ship’s itinerary issues far more to me than what the ship’s format is like, what number of passengers are onboard, which eating venues can be found, and so forth.
With all that being mentioned, right here’s what I like (and dislike) about every class of Royal Caribbean ships.
Quantum Class
Ships I’ve sailed on: Odyssey of the Seas, Ovation of the Seas, Anthem of the Seas
The Quantum Class could also be my favourite class of Royal Caribbean’s ships. The mix of chic design, indoor areas, and improbable itineraries make them a powerful contender for Royal Caribbean’s greatest cruise ships.
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Quantum Class ships sail to maybe the widest vary of locations provided by Royal Caribbean, from the Caribbean to northern Europe, Israel, Greece, Turkey, Australia, the South Pacific, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Alaska, Hawaii, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, and extra.
As somebody who values itineraries much more than ships, the itinerary choices are a powerful contender for me selecting to sail on a Quantum Class ship.
The Quantum Class has a few of the greatest venues within the fleet as nicely. The climate-controlled Solarium is unquestionably my favourite within the fleet, and Two70 is a wide ranging venue providing not solely one of the best views of the ship’s aft, however nice leisure reveals, too.
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The outside eating space on the Windjammer on Quantum, Anthem, and Ovation of the Seas is one other main plus for the Quantum Class.
I haven’t got many drawbacks in regards to the Quantum Class. Whereas the Royal Esplanade generally jogs my memory extra of a shopping center than a cruise ship and I want the outside Promenade deck wrapped round the entire ship for a greater strolling expertise, these aren’t make it or break it drawbacks.
Oasis Class
Ships I’ve sailed on: Concord of the Seas, Surprise of the Seas, Oasis of the Seas
Oasis Class cruise ships are undoubtedly a formidable feat of engineering and design. Strolling onboard an Oasis Class ship for the primary time is mind-blowing. The dimensions, format, and quantity of actions accessible on Oasis Class ships are unparalleled within the cruise trade.
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My favourite place on an Oasis Class cruise ship is Central Park, just because it’s so distinctive. Being onboard a cruise ship in the midst of the ocean and strolling by way of a park crammed with bushes, shrubs, and flowers is tough to wrap your head round!
Moreover, my favourite time to have a eating bundle is once I’m crusing on an Oasis Class ship. Oasis Class ships have an insane quantity of locations to dine, each complimentary and specialty. My favourite Oasis Class-exclusive eating venue is 150 Central Park. The fried cheesecake is to die for! Vitality Cafe is one other favourite, and I order a customized smoothie almost each day of the cruise.
The largest downside of the Oasis Class ships to me are the shortage of areas with ocean views. So many areas and venues, like eating places and lounges, don’t have any views or very restricted views of the ocean.
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I additionally discover the itineraries on Oasis Class ships fairly boring as they lack variation. Whereas I am going to by no means complain about spending the day in Cozumel, Costa Maya, St. Maarten, or St. Thomas, there are such a lot of different ports all over the world to find that aren’t accessible by Oasis Class ships!
These two drawbacks make me unlikely to ebook many cruises on Oasis Class ships myself, however I positively really feel that Oasis Class ships are the “good” cruise ship for a lot of forms of cruisers, particularly households with younger kids.
Freedom Class
Ships I’ve sailed on: Independence of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas
Freedom Class ships supply one thing for everybody onboard with out being too large, and that’s one of many issues I like most about them. In addition they have a tendency to supply a fantastic worth whereas nonetheless providing a lot of Royal Caribbean’s latest facilities.
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My favourite leisure reveals to observe on a cruise are the ice-skating reveals in Studio B, in order that’s one plus of Freedom Class ships. I additionally really feel the Most important Eating Rooms on the Freedom Class (and Voyager Class) are essentially the most lovely in Royal Caribbean’s fleet.
The amplification of Freedom of the Seas was superior and it’s the good ship to sail weekend occasion cruises from Miami! My 3-night cruise on Freedom of the Seas was, by far, essentially the most high-energy cruise I’ve skilled on Royal Caribbean.
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The draw back to the Freedom Class, for my part, is the shortage of any assorted itineraries because of the ships providing primarily 3 and 4-night sailings to Nassau and Excellent Day at CocoCay.
That being mentioned, I do assume the scale and vary of actions on Freedom Class ships are good for brief Bahamas itineraries.
Voyager Class
Ships I’ve sailed on: Mariner of the Seas, Navigator of the Seas
Whereas my first cruise was on a Voyager Class ship, I’ve solely spent a complete of 6 nights onboard the Voyager Class (4 on Mariner and a pair of on Navigator). That being mentioned, I’ve actually loved my time on Voyager Class ships, and it’s one in all my favourite ship courses.
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I like the scale of a Voyager Class cruise ship because it’s neither too large nor too small. A number of of the ships have acquired amplifications, bringing one of the best of Royal Caribbean’s eating and actions with out an overwhelmingly massive dimension.
The very best spot onboard Voyager Class ships needs to be the helicopter pad for the wonderful views you’ll see throughout sailaway!
My favourite bar of any Royal Caribbean ship, The Bamboo Room, is discovered solely on the Voyager Class (Mariner and Navigator), and the bar is dwelling to my favourite drink within the fleet, the Banana Colada!
One characteristic I discover attention-grabbing and distinctive in Royal Caribbean’s fleet is the peek-a-boo bridge I encountered on Mariner of the Seas. Situated all the way in which ahead and accessible from the entrance of the Vitality Health Middle, the peek-a-boo bridge permits visitors to “peek” into the bridge beneath and observe the work of the officers.
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One other plus is that Voyager Class cruise ships sail comparatively assorted itineraries, from the Mexican Riviera to Europe, the northeast/Canada, Bermuda, and the Caribbean.
Radiance Class
Ship I’ve sailed on: Radiance of the Seas
Whereas I’ve solely been on one Radiance Class cruise ship, I’m already wanting ahead to crusing on the opposite 3 ships within the class.
The Radiance Class cruise ships are beautiful because of the quantity of window house that was constructed into the ships’ designs. Radiance Class ships have over three acres of glass onboard, that means you’ll have picture-perfect views of the ocean from almost any venue.
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As I discussed, one in all my greatest complaints in regards to the Oasis Class is that it’s too straightforward to neglect you’re on a ship because of the inward going through design of the category. With what number of home windows are discovered on a Radiance Class ship, it could be nearly inconceivable to neglect you’re within the ocean whereas onboard!
Certainly one of my favourite options on Radiance Class cruise ships is the cinema, a small movie show with a special film proven 4 instances every day. The cinema is freed from cost and is a calming option to spend a number of hours, particularly on chilly days at sea.
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I might sail on the Radiance Class time and time once more only for the wonderful itinerary choices. Radiance Class ships, like Quantum Class ships, sail everywhere in the world. A few of Royal Caribbean’s most original ports, corresponding to Nuuk, Greenland and Lifou, Loyalty Islands, are visited by Radiance Class cruise ships.
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The one downside I discovered on Radiance Class ships is that I had bother discovering a quiet space of the ship at night time. The “library” is situated within the Centrum, which has a full schedule of dwell music each night time, and different public areas normally have dwell or DJ music as nicely.
Typically I simply wished to take a seat and have a pleasant dialog or learn a ebook, but it surely was too loud all over the place besides my room!
Imaginative and prescient Class
Ship I’ve sailed on: Rhapsody of the Seas
I heard so many complaints about Royal Caribbean’s Imaginative and prescient Class earlier than crusing on Rhapsody of the Seas. Some folks even scoffed once I talked about I used to be crusing on a Imaginative and prescient Class ship!
Cruising on a ship with no Royal Promenade or 15 eating places? How might I try this to myself?
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All jokes apart, I beloved my time on Rhapsody of the Seas. It introduced me again to a extra traditional cruise expertise with out the necessity for water slides, zip strains, and carousels. In reality, I’d put the Imaginative and prescient Class as my second favourite of Royal Caribbean’s ship courses.
My itinerary to the Greek Isles on a Imaginative and prescient Class ship was port-intensive. The ship labored completely as a spot to relaxation and unwind on the finish of the day earlier than having to get up early for one more day in port. In truth, I wouldn’t have had time or power for infinite onboard actions and leisure choices.
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I loved the environment of the Imaginative and prescient Class Centrum and the way it related totally different decks of the ship collectively. A lot of my time onboard was spent sipping a cocktail or espresso within the Centrum whereas listening to dwell music and having fun with views of Greece within the distance.
I additionally beloved the household really feel onboard Imaginative and prescient of the Seas. With far fewer passengers than a much bigger cruise ship, I felt extra like a visitor and fewer like only a quantity.
In the event you’re touring with children, the Imaginative and prescient Class might be on the backside by way of onboard actions, however there may be nonetheless Journey Ocean programming accessible in addition to a rock-climbing wall and different kid-friendly actions.
Last ideas
I’ll gladly sail on any Royal Caribbean cruise ship irrespective of the category. 7-night Jap Caribbean cruise on Symphony of the Seas? Rely me in. 14-night Transatlantic on Imaginative and prescient of the Seas? I’ll be there.
Whereas I’ll choose sure courses over others, the onboard experiences are sometimes extra related than totally different. Hanging out at Schooner Bar on a Radiance Class ship will supply an analogous expertise to Schooner Bar on some other class, a pool day is a pool day irrespective of the ship, and the eating expertise in venues just like the Windjammer or Most important Eating Room is fairly normal all through the fleet.
There’s no “good” cruise ship on the market, and what works greatest for one passenger could not work as nicely for one more. For me? I choose in search of a novel itinerary first earlier than even wanting on the ship. Others could choose to decide on a cruise primarily based on the ship with the itinerary as an afterthought, and that’s completely okay, too.
