Growing up, I primarily cruised on Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships. However, within the past year, I've started branching out to explore what makes their older vessels appealing.
After spending 5 nights onboard Vision of the Seas, I discovered a level of intimacy that the larger ships lack. Still, not everything about this 20+ year-old ship was perfect.
While I appreciated the overall atmosphere, some areas showed the ship's true age, such as the cabin's bathroom, which I found to be dated compared to the sleek, modern design of newer vessels. Plus, the entertainment options were more limited. I missed the Broadway-style shows and the AquaTheater's high-diving spectacles.
That said, the charm of Vision of the Seas captivated me. It was reminiscent of a different era of cruising, where the focus was connecting with the sea and fellow passengers, rather than flashy attractions. Royal Caribbean ships didn't always have FlowRider surf simulators, water slides, and ice skating rinks onboard!
Ease of embarking from Baltimore
Many cruisers—including myself—limit their searches to popular ports like Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Port Canaveral, Galveston, Seattle, and Cape Liberty. However, Royal Caribbean also deploys ships from smaller ports, such as Tampa and Baltimore.
Though smaller, sailing from Baltimore is convenient for those who live in the DMV area, with the Maryland Cruise Terminal just 40 miles from the heart of Washington D.C. The Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport is also only 10 miles away, so it's easy to access if you're flying in.
Earlier this year, I had a horrible experience embarking on Carnival Elation in Jacksonville, Florida. I was worried I'd have a similar experience in Maryland, with both ports being outdated compared to newer terminals in South Florida and even Galveston.
Thankfully, the Maryland Cruise Terminal was efficient, clean, and well-organized. After clearing security, the port agents checked our travel documentation, and we were onboard Vision of the Seas in less than twenty minutes, akin to the time it has taken to board larger ships in modern facilities.
We found disembarkation to be just as easy. Our assigned group was scheduled to be called off around 9:00am; however, the process went faster than expected, with all groups receiving clearance at 8:45am as we finished breakfast in the Main Dining Room.
Once off, locating our suitcases was easy, and I was impressed with the terminal's rideshare pick-up area. Instead of pulling up to the sidewalk, all cars were instructed to pull into a parking spot, effectively reducing congestion and helping keep the area organized.
Read more: 30 cruise ship embarkation do's and don'ts
Impressive main and specialty dining
Compared to recent sailings on Quantum and Freedom of the Seas, Vision's main and specialty dining experience didn't leave much to be desired. Izumi, in particular, was a standout.
Everything was drool-worthy, from the edamame to the creamy firecracker shrimp rolls, savory miso ramen, and tender champagne lobster roll. In my opinion, it was worth the $40 per person upcharge (note the price includes the pre-cruise Cruise Planner sale and gratuity).
Aside from one meal in Hamilton, Bermuda, the remaining nights were spent in the Main Dining Room. Prior to the cruise, I advised my friend not to expect anything mindblowing. While I've found included cruise food satisfactory, it's rarely exceptional.
To my surprise, a few dishes in the MDR were that good, such as the French Onion Soup, Rustic Chicken Korma, Crispy Coconut Jumbo Shrimp, and Tirasmu.
Though Vision doesn't have as many venues as larger ships in the fleet, what it lacks in quantity, it makes up for in quality!
Activities and amenities
Vision of the Seas might not have some of the WOW factors that have come to define the Royal Caribbean brand (i.e., the Perfect Storm water slides, FlowRider surf simulator, AquaTheater, zip line, and more), but you won't be bored during your cruise.
On embarkation day, we decided to attend the silent disco in the Centrum. It was a lively activity that was more popular than I thought! After dancing the night away, we worked up an appetite and headed to the Park Cafe in the Solarium for some pizza.
While the next day was more relaxing, I loved the enclosed Solarium. It proved to be the perfect retreat, as most of our cruise was plagued with poor weather.
Additionally, it was steps away from the complimentary sauna and steam room in the Vitality Spa. This made it easy to switch from lounging in the peaceful Solarium to relaxing in the sauna and letting the heat work its magic whenever we wanted.
Whether we wanted to attend a trivia session, watch a production show, listen to live music at the Schooner Bar, try our luck at Bingo, climb the rock wall, or participate in The Crazy Quest, there was always something to keep us entertained.
Read more: All about Vision Class cruise ships
Basic cabin
My inside stateroom on Vision was like a time capsule.
The soft lighting and furnishings were simple yet inviting, and I appreciated the functional layout with plenty of storage, a small seating area, and dual nightstands with extra drawers.
That said, the most disappointing aspect of my cabin was the clingy shower curtain. No matter how hard I tried, it always seemed drawn to my skin, making showering a bit challenging. Because of this, more water would escape from the shower than I'd like.
Read more: I sailed in tiny interior cabins on old Carnival and Royal Caribbean ships. I'd only book one again
I also wish Royal Caribbean would update its older cabins to feature more charging options. When I cruised on Carnival Elation, a ship roughly the same age as Vision, I was surprised to find multiple outlets, including USB ports beside the bed.
Thankfully, I came prepared with European power adapters, so we could use all four outlets (two American and two European) at the vanity. I'd also recommend bringing a portable charger if you want to charge your phone in bed, as there aren't any outlets near the bedside.
Inconsistent buffet
My least favorite thing about Vision of the Seas was the buffet, particularly during breakfast. I enjoy a simple breakfast, typically eggs for protein, fruit, and a hashbrown patty, and throughout my 5 days onboard, the quality of the Windjammer's breakfast varied greatly.
On the first full morning, my eggs were cold—though I liked the small avocado toast. The eggs were again cold the following day, but the hash brown patty was perfectly crispy. Things went really downhill from there.
Deciding to mix it up, I grabbed a hardboiled egg instead of scrambled eggs, but the heat lamp made the shell too hot to touch. By the time I finally removed the shell, I found the hardboiled egg to be overcooked, rubbery, and dry.
Additionally, the hash brown wasn't as crispy as the day before. Instead, it was on the soggy side. After a few disappointing breakfasts in the Windjammer, we decided to carve out extra time each morning to eat in the Main Dining Room, where the quality of the food was consistently better.
Read more: 11 things you should never do at a cruise ship buffet
