Royal Caribbean, Vision of the Seas Review

Overall Rating

Good Points

Great value. Stateroom (deck 2 outside) was much better than anticipated, even though we had seen photos on website. Very quiet in room - had expected noises. Well noise insulated? Food that we ordered was excellent. Crew great. Public rooms magnificient.
Initial dock experience was pretty good.

Bad Points

Too short a time at Hubbard Glacier.
Found it offputting to be told that we HAD to give our credit card as no other form of payment was accepted on board this or any shipping line. Nonsense - this was not true.
Also, I know that everything had been printed and prepared for us in advance (and also, we had completed the online boarding system) but my lighthearted request for a better stateroom was ignored..... not even an option or reason given....just a "sometimes that can be arranged." Huh? but not for us? What did that mean?

Had been booked on the 7a.m. train Seward-Anchorage when we had requested 6 p.m. so we could do our tours in Seward. Therefore told we just had to cancel it and fend for ourselves at Seward. Thanks a lot excursion desk.
Those constant photographs as souveniers - being herded in front of the ocean view at check in. No thank you - pushy, pushy people. Ok - we bought it - why? I don't know.

General Comments

Royal Caribbean, Vision of the Seas - Ok - the destination of Alaska is great. And Vancouver is wonderful port.

Meals were a good size to be able to enjoy all three or four courses in the dining room without feeling guilty. I did enjoy breakfast in the dining room most of the time, as well, which ensured that I didn't overeat, but got a fresh variety of well made foods!

Able to find excellent foods to our tastes in the Aquarius Dining Room and the Windjammer Buffet. Room stewards were unobtrusive and did an excellent job. Waiters/Assistant waiters were attentive and caring, I thought. Some of our U.S. table mates seemed to expect more. But we were nice to them and they were very helpful and thoughtful.

What should I have been told? I felt dumped in Seward - early morning, no idea how to get into town.... so, we and dozens of others walked into town - long way with luggage. It felt like - "your cruise is over - get off the ship - NOW!"

What should I have been told about Icy Strait? that the "tour desks" at the dock were very much connected to the ship. The costs of the tours we took far outweighed the value we received. I know that the Hoonah folk have been doing a lot of work to gain tourism - but it is a little overpriced, even if it is out of the way. We enjoyed walking and talking in town, too.

Ketchikan excursion options from the ship were very commercialised.... but we did two.

Skagway - went up to Fraser after booking at the rail depot - enjoyed this immensely.

Juneau - up Mount Roberts - great walking areas.

The ship and crew did all they could to make us feel comfortable and relaxed on board. Just the excursions need a little fine tuning with the locals at the ports.