Ship Profile of the Day--Vision of the Seas

Ship Name: Vision of the Seas

Gross Registered Tonnage: 78,491

Length: 915 feet

Double Occupancy Passenger Load: 2000

Passenger Load All Berths Occupied: 2435

Total Crew: 765, with European officers

Entered Service: 1998

Flag of Registry: Bahamas

Sister Ships: Legend, Splendour, Enchantment, Grandeur, and Rhapsody of the Seas.

Distinctive Features: Royal Caribbean signature Centrum; Viking Crown Lounge

Public Rooms of Note: Above noted Viking Crown Lounge on Deck 11. During the day, it is an observation lounge with a nearly full circle 360 degree glassed in view of whatever scenery you happen to be passing at the moment. At night, it turns into the ship's disco. The That's Entertainment Theater boasts RCI's typical Vegas style shows at night, with good views from the vast majority of seats in the theater.

Casual Dining: The Windjammer Lido Cafe boasts breakfast and lunch buffets, afternoon tea and late night snacks.

Main Dining Rooms/Restaurants: Royal Caribbean International continues the old standard of assigned seatings, assigned tables, and assigned dining rooms; not yet having opted for NCL's Freestyle or Princess' Personal Choice styles of more freedom in dining and activities. The main dining room, two decks in height, handles approximately 1000 diners per seating with huge floor to ceiling glass windows for great vistas of sea and scenery.

Service: RCI insists on service par excellence, and it shows. With few exceptions, the crew are friendly, helpful and efficient. I have personally found that, after the first day aboard, I have not had to tell the wait staff my drink preferences because they already had them memorized, and I never had to worry about finding my water glass empty, as they would silently slide in to fill it when I turned for a moment to speak to a table mate.

Tipping: As with most of the major cruise lines today, RCI prefers that you add "prepaid gratuities" to your onboard account, thereby eliminating the old fashioned hunt for tip envelopes and searching out of your stewards and wait staff on the final night of the cruise. The general amount added today is $10.00 per person in the cabin per day (or $70.00 for a seven night cruise). You do, of course, have the option to handle the tipping yourself, and/or to add additional monies to what you have authorized to your account for exceptional service.

Staterooms: Run the gamut from inside to suites, with perhaps fewer balconies than many would like to see, due to the age of the ship. The ship does boast a Royal Family suite, with two bedrooms and two bathrooms, about 450+ square feet in size. Decor is tasteful and well kempt, for the most part.

Specialty Facilites: Include spa, childrens' activities centers, fitness center.

Attire/Formal Nights: There are generally two formal nights on a seven night cruise. Again, because of RCI's adhering to the more old fashioned standards of dining and dress, you will find the vast majority of the passengers participating in formal night--far more so than the more relaxed mass market lines.

Destinations: Vision of the Seas travels to Alaska for the summer season; and the Mexican Riviera for the winter season.